A free-hours plan saves only when your usage pattern beats its higher paid-hour cost.
Do not judge the plan by the word free. Compare its complete estimated bill with a normal plan using the same monthly usage and your real share of electricity used inside the free window.
See the day the way the plan sees it
This is an illustrative free-night window, not a quote. Every plan defines its own hours in the Electricity Facts Label.
Paid9am
Paid12pm
Paid3pm
Paid9pm
Free12am
Free
Read the exact window
Find the start time, end time, days covered, paid rate, and delivery-charge treatment on the Electricity Facts Label.
Measure your timing
Use interval data to calculate the percentage of your kWh that actually lands inside those hours.
Compare whole bills
Price the time-of-use plan and a flat-rate alternative at the same usage pattern.
The calculation that matters
(paid-window kWh × paid energy rate) + delivery charges + base charges + taxes and fees
If the plan's Electricity Facts Label says some charge still applies during the free period, include it. A $0 supplier energy charge does not automatically make every component of those hours $0.
Who may benefit
- EV owners who can schedule most charging during the exact free window.
- Households that can move dishwashing, laundry, pool pumps, and other flexible loads.
- People whose interval data already shows a large nighttime or weekend share, before changing behavior.
Who should be cautious
- Work-from-home households with heavy daytime HVAC and appliance use.
- Anyone relying on a routine they may not maintain for the full contract.
- Shoppers comparing the free-hours plan's best-looking rate with a flat plan at a different usage level.
Tex says: test the plan against a hot weekday.
Texas cooling demand can be hardest to move. If the paid window overlaps your home's heavy afternoon AC use, scheduled laundry alone may not overcome the higher paid rate.
What to collect before you compare
Your interval usage
Hourly or 15-minute data shows when you use electricity. A monthly total cannot.
The current Electricity Facts Label
Record the exact free hours, paid energy rate, delivery charges, term, and Early Termination Fee.
A flat-rate alternative
Compare complete projected bills at the same monthly use, not two unrelated headline prices.
Compare plans using your home's real usage
Our Texas electricity marketplace can use your address and, when available, your historical usage to estimate plan costs based on how your home actually uses power.
For the broader list of bill credits, usage thresholds, base charges, and other structures, read Texas electricity plan traps.
Frequently asked questions
Are the free hours really free?
The supplier energy charge in the exact plan-defined window may be $0. Check the Electricity Facts Label to learn whether delivery charges, base charges, or other fees still apply.
How do I know how much electricity I use at night?
Use interval data from Smart Meter Texas or a usage view provided by your utility, retailer, or marketplace. Monthly kWh does not show which hours created the total.
Is an EV enough to make free nights cheaper?
It can help if most charging is scheduled inside the free window, but the complete bill still depends on all household usage, the paid rate, delivery charges, and fees.
- Public Utility Commission of Texas: Types of Electric Plans
- I Moved to Texas: Texas Electricity Plan Traps
Last reviewed August 11, 2026. The timeline is illustrative; plan hours and charges vary. Verify the current Electricity Facts Label before enrolling.