When selecting a power company, Texas residents may find it confusing to sort through the dozens of competitors to compare plans. Payless Power provides these comparisons to help you make an informed decision and size up our plans with some of the state’s other providers, including Ambit Energy.
Ambit Energy has provided electricity and natural gas to Texas residents and other deregulated energy markets (including outside of the US) since 2006 from their Dallas headquarters. Ambit offers a unique model, acting as a multi level marketing (MLM) company that offers incentives and extra income to its Ambit Energy Consultants, or direct sales representatives who pay a fee to affiliate with the company. Independent sales consultants find potential customers, educate them on the energy plans, and give them information on becoming part of the sales team. The initial buy-in is typically more than $700 (which includes a $429 buy-in and $24.95 monthly toward the marketing website).
To recoup their initial investment and earn money and bonuses, consultants must sign up customers and recruit other sales team members. Before receiving commissions, it’s reported that 20 active paying customers must be on the consultant’s customer list. MLMs often require consultants to employ assertive sales tactics and have a large base of potential customers.
AMBIT ENERGY PLANS VS PAYLESS POWER
Ambit Energy’s MLM business model, with independent consultants serving as middlemen, often means they cannot offer the lowest rates on the market. The average rate for an Ambit Energy electric plan is 14.3 cents/kWh, which includes month-to-month plans and those with contracts of 12, 24, or 36 months.
Lone Star Flex is the company’s only variable rate, monthly plan with rates ranging from 17.5 cents (with usage of 2000 kWh or more) to 18.7 cents (500 kWh). The plan is not a prepaid plan, which could result in unexpectedly high end-of-month bills. In contrast, Payless Power’s variable rate plans run 2 cents to 3 cents less per kWh than Ambit’s, offering significant savings along with the flexibility of no contract.
In addition to the variable rate plan, Ambit Energy’s fixed rate plans include incentives such as “summer break” pricing with 50 percent off energy charges during summer months. While these plans may seem attractive to customers, they often include higher prices per kilowatt-hour and higher early termination fees.
By comparison, Payless Power offers prepaid plans with more transparent rates than the sometimes-confusing free promotional pricing. We offer several major plan options:
- Premier 12 – A 12-month fixed rate plan
- Simple 6 – A 6-month fixed rate plan
All are prepaid energy plans that require a $40 connection balance (to be applied to your electric usage on connection).
There are Ambit Energy’s Plans
| Ambit Plan | Plan Length | Rate* |
| Lone Star Flex | Month to Month | 18.9¢ / kWh |
| Free & Clear Nights 12 | 12 months | 18.3¢ / kWh |
| Lone Star Classic 24* | 24 months | 16.5¢ / kWh |
| Summer Break 12 | 12 months | 16.2¢ / kWh |
| Summer Break 24 | 24 months | 15.9¢ / kWh |
| Lone Star Plus 24* | 24 months | 14.1¢ / kWh |
| Lone Star Plus 12* | 12 months | 13.7¢ / kWh |
| Energy Bank 12 – 2000kWh | 12 months | $330 (up to 2000 kWh) + 17.3¢ / kWh over 200 |
| Secure Savings 12* | 12 months | 14.9¢ / kWh |
| Secure Savings 36* | 36 months | 13.9¢ / kWh |
*These plans are based on 2000kWh/month in a Dallas-area zip code as of 05/02/22. They do not include the reduced e-plan rate, which is the MLM’s referral credit given to customers who maintain a minimum of 15 qualified referred customers.
PAYLESS POWER – THE CLEAR CHOICE OVER AMBIT ENERGY
NO DEPOSIT, CREDIT CHECK, OR LONG-TERM CONTRACTS
Ambit Energy requires customers to undergo a soft credit inquiry to see if a deposit is needed, while Payless Power provides instant approval with our prepaid plans. With no credit check and no deposit required, customers don’t have to go through a lengthy approval process to switch to a Payless Power plan. Everyone should have access to affordable electricity, so Payless Power offers easy sign up and money-saving knowledge to help you stay ahead of your bills with our alerts and pay-as-you-go plans.
CLEAR PRICING
With Payless Power, what you see is what you get when it comes to clear pricing. Prepaid electricity is very transparent in that it only uses the funds in your account to provide you electricity at the predetermined rate in the plan. There are no hidden fees for calling customer service, no payment/load fee to simply put your money on your account on top of prepaying for services, no minimum usage charges, or late payment fees, like you might see with our competitors. We pride ourselves in providing convenient, affordable electricity to Texas residents.
SATISFIED CUSTOMERS, EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE
From same day connection to personalized texts or email alerts regarding usage and costs, the Payless Power bilingual customer service representatives are committed to offering dedicated service to our customers. Payless Power takes great pride in the service we deliver and the savings customers enjoy every month. Our customer satisfaction shows in our ratings. By contrast, Ambit Energy reviews are low with complaints of poor customer service, unexpected charges, and billing issues.
Thank you for the 4.6/5.0 stars given to us by nearly 8,500 Payless Power customers! See what some of our customers are saying:
“Payless Power has been my go-to electric company for a while now. Easy to set up, easy to pay, daily usage texts, and wonderful customer support!” – Karen H. in Dayton, TX
“It only took a mere 10 seconds to pay the light bill. As someone with no credit, I find this method of paying easy and affordable.” – Cedriko R. in Dallas, TX
“I like that I get notified when my balance is running low, and it’s so easy to make a payment!” – Jose V. in Los Fresnos, TX
“I called customer service and got help with everything I needed and was treated with kindness, payment was the easiest it’s ever been to pay a bill.” – Tyler S. in La Porte, TX
DAILY USAGE ALERTS
Only want to spend a certain amount each month? Payless Power sends alerts when your account balance is low so you can either decrease your energy usage or prepay for more power. Our auto pay plans allow customers to set an amount to add to their balance when the account gets low. With our personalized text or email alerts, you can monitor your daily usage, energy costs, and account balance. At the end of the month, we send a statement detailing your prior month’s payments, charges, and savings history. Ambit Energy’s prepaid plans provide the same bill pay options with their online portal, but the complexity of their billing is often confusing and may offer surprises when it’s time to pay. Payless Power wants to ensure our customers make informed decisions that suit their varying budgets.
SELF-SERVICE PORTAL
Payless Power offers an easy-to-use self-service portal that helps you stay informed about your electricity usage. The portal is a one-stop shop where you can make payments, check your account balance, see how many kilowatt hours you consume daily, and view other valuable information to save you money. This level of transparency puts the power back in your hands to determine how much you are willing to spend each month. With Payless Power, you will never be surprised when paying your electricity bill again!
SAME DAY SERVICE
Ready to make the switch to prepaid electricity with Payless Power? At Payless Power, you can expect a quick, easy same day connection so that you can start saving money on your electricity bill as soon as possible. Our team is here to ensure you receive power when you need it! Check out the simple steps below to switch your electricity provider.
HOW TO SWITCH FROM AMBIT ENERGY TO PAYLESS POWER
If you’re moving or simply want to switch providers in your current home, you can do so quickly and easily.
- Estimate your usage based on previous bills (the number of kWh per month). In Texas, apartments average about 600 kWh a month up to large homes using 2,400 kWh.
- Find a Payless Power plan in your zip code that fits your needs and your budget.
- Once your plan is decided, provide your address, name, and set up an account easily online or over the phone.
- Make your first Payless Power payment that goes toward the cost of your first bill.
- If you’re moving, make sure your home has a smart meter for remote activation by the power company; most Texas homes do. Then inform your current provider of the move. Most companies will waive an early termination fee if proof of the move is provided.
- If you’re switching electricity providers in your current residence, the new provider (in this case, Payless Power) will inform the previous provider of the switch.
- Set up same day connection. When possible, plan early in the day as the process can take 4-6 hours.
- Enjoy your day as you begin to start saving up to 20% on your energy bills!
