Stream Energy Rates vs Payless Power Rates

Stream Energy offers variable month-to-month plans for new customers only, as well as fixed-rate contracts for 12, 24, or 36 months. Their lowest rates are on the longest contract plans, which may make customers feel stuck in a plan that isn’t right for them. Changing plans may result in early
termination fees of several hundred dollars.

In this guide, we break down current Stream Energy rates and Ambit Energy rates in Texas, explain the brand relationship, compare energy plans side by side, and show you how to switch to a simpler, more affordable energy provider like Payless Power — with no credit check, no deposit, and
flexible prepaid or fixed-rate options.

What Happened to Stream Energy?

Stream Energy company (once a leading Texas retail electricity provider) was acquired by NRG Energy in 2019 for $300 million. Today, the energy portion of what was Stream Energy continues to operate under their online Stream Energy portal as part of NRG’s multi-brand retail strategy.

When shopping for new electricity service in Texas, you may also encounter Ambit Energy, which is a separate Dallas-based retail electricity provider founded in 2006 that operates independently but shares a similar multi-level marketing (MLM) sales model to the original Stream Energy. Ambit
serves customers across the same Texas utility territories like Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas, and TNMP, and is often compared alongside Stream Energy when Texans research their electricity options.

Stream Energy Rates in Texas (2026)

Stream Energy currently offers a range of fixed-rate, variable, and renewable electricity plans for Texas customers.

Stream Energy Plans

Plan	Term (months)	Features	Price (average)*
Smart Choice 24	24	Extended Term	19.9¢/kWh
Smart Choice 36	36	Extended Term	18.9¢/kWh
Green & Clean 12	12	100% Renewable	20.9¢/kWh
Conserve and Save 12	12	Lower price for usage ≤1,000 kWh	21.6¢/kWh
Flex Choice Intro	Variable	Low rate intro	20.9¢/kWh*
Simple & Secure 24	24	All-inclusive	19.9¢/kWh
Simple & Secure 36	36	All-inclusive	19.5¢/kWh
Green & Clean 24	24	100% renewable energy	20.5¢/kWh

*Electricity rates may vary by city and are subject to change. Always review the Electricity Facts Label (EFL) for the most accurate pricing in your area before enrolling in any plan.

Payless Power Rates: Simpler, More Affordable, More Flexible

While Stream Energy locks customers into contracts of up to 36 months at rates ranging from 18.9¢ to 21.6¢/kWh, Payless Power offers straightforward prepaid plans starting at just 16.8¢/kWh with no long-term commitment required. For example, choose from a 12-month fixed prepaid plan at 16.8¢/kWh
or a 6-month fixed prepaid plan at 16.9¢/kWh, both well below what Stream Energy customers are paying today.

Beyond the lower rate, Payless Power’s prepaid model puts you in control. There are no surprise energy bills at the end of the month; you pay as you go, monitor your usage daily, and only use what you load onto your
account. And unlike Stream Energy, there is no credit check and no deposit required. You’re never locked in.

Disclaimer: Payless Power rates may vary by city and are subject to change.

Why Payless Power Is Better

Here’s why Payless Power is top-rated.

Happier Customers

At Payless Power, we care about our customers and always aim to continue providing them the best possible service. We are very proud to have a 4.6 out of 5 star rating based on over 5,600 reviews from our customers who say that Payless Power is affordable, easy to set up and pay, and that they
are happy to be our long-term 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

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 with 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, as you might see with our competitors. You can also choose autopay options for easy top-ups. We
pride ourselves on providing convenient, affordable electricity to Texas residents.

No Credit Check

Payless Power believes that everyone should have access to affordable electricity regardless of their income or credit history, so we do not require a credit check for you to switch to one of our prepaid electricity plans. We
ensure a very quick and easy sign-up process as well as same-day service so that you can start saving money on your electricity bill as soon as possible. At Payless Power, we won’t let a credit check get in the way of you gaining control over your energy usage and spend.

No Deposit

When you choose a Payless Power prepaid electricity plan, a hefty deposit is not required. In fact, only a minimal connection fee is paid that goes directly toward the
cost of electricity, not a costly admin fee you’ll never see again. You’ll start saving right away with Payless Power’s no-deposit plans that are easy to connect.

Instant Approval

Everyone deserves access to electricity. Regardless of the electric plan you choose, we require no deposit, no credit check, and no long-term contract. If you live in our Texas power areas, you’re automatically approved! At Payless Power, we will always put our residents first, give them control
with pay-as-you-go service, and provide them with affordable electricity. We take great pride in the service we deliver to our customers and the savings we can help them achieve.

Switching From Stream Energy to Payless Power

If your current Stream Energy rates are eating into your monthly budget, you’re not alone. Many Texas electricity customers are surprised to learn how easy it is to switch electric companies in the state’s deregulated energy market and how much they can save by doing so. Make the switch from
Stream Energy to Payless Power in just a few steps.

Step 1: Review your Stream account and current plan Log in to your Stream Energy account at mystream.com and check your current electricity plan, contract end date, and whether any early termination fees apply. If you’re on a variable rate plan, you can typically switch without penalty. If you’re on a fixed-rate plan with remaining months, weigh the termination fee against your potential monthly savings with Payless Power.	Step 2: Check your service area Payless Power serves customers across Texas’s deregulated electricity market, including major utility service areas like Oncor (Dallas, Plano, and surrounding areas) and CenterPoint (Houston and surrounding areas). If you’re in one of these areas, you’re likely eligible to switch your electricity provider today.	Step 3: Know your energy usage Pull up your last few electricity bills from your Stream account management portal to get a sense of your average monthly kWh usage. This helps you choose the right Payless Power plan for your household and gives you a true cost comparison between your current Stream Energy rates and what you’d pay with Payless Power.
Step 4: Choose your Payless Power plan Payless Power offers simple electricity plans, including a 12-month prepaid fixed-rate plan at 16.8¢/kWh and a 6-month prepaid fixed-rate plan at 16.9¢/kWh, though costs vary by city. Both are well below current Stream Energy rates, with no deposit, no credit check, and no hidden fees.	Step 5: Sign up for instant approval Signing up with Payless Power takes just minutes online. All Texas residents in our service area are automatically approved with no credit check, no lengthy application, no waiting. Same-day electricity service is available, so you can have peace of mind and start saving on your energy bill right away.	Step 6: Your switch is handled for you Once you enroll with Payless Power, we coordinate directly with your local utility to transfer your electricity service. You do not need to contact Stream Energy to cancel. The Public Utility Commission of Texas regulates this process to ensure a smooth, uninterrupted transition for all retail electricity customers.
Step 7: Start monitoring your energy usage daily One of the biggest advantages of Payless Power’s prepaid electricity plans is the ability to track your energy usage every single day via text alerts. No more bill shock at the end of the month; just clear, transparent information about what you’re using and what it’s costing you, giving you real control over your energy bill.

Choose Payless Power Today

When you choose Payless Power over Stream Energy, you’ll join a community of people enjoying some of the best electric plans in Texas, with competitive rates and monthly savings, regardless of income or credit history.

Payless Power offers prepaid electricity, with no credit check or deposit required. As a family-owned power company, we’re committed to serving our customers with care and respect, setting us apart from larger electric providers. Choose
Payless Power today for an affordable, customer-focused energy experience.