Last Updated on April 2, 2023 by Mary Pressler
How Does the TXU Season Pass 12 Plan Work?
When comparing electricity plans, you might have noticed the TXU Energy Season Pass 12. This electricity plan is advertised with 50% savings during winter and summer, where the energy charge is reduced from 20.20 to 10.10 cents/kWh. The discount is applied during the two following periods:
- Winter: December 1st 12:00 AM – February 28th 11:59 PM
- Summer: June 1st 12:00 AM – August 31st 11:59 PM
Here we will break down the TXU Season Pass plan, so you can get an idea of the actual costs and savings during the 12-month contract. Let’s start by reviewing the Electricity Facts Label (Updated for the Oncor service territory, as of December 2022):
| Average Monthly Use Per kWh | 500 kWh | 1,000 kWh | 2,000 kWh |
| Average kWh Price | 21.2￠ | 19.9￠ | 19.2￠ |
These average prices assume that 59.90% of electricity consumption happens during the discount period, and 40.1% during the normal months (no discount). This means the actual kWh price is higher than these values outside the discount period, and lower than these values during Season Pass months.
We can estimate average kWh prices for TXU Season Pass, based on the information provided in the EFL:
- Base charge: $9.95 per month
- Energy charge, normal months: 20.20￠per kWh
- Energy charge, Season Pass months: 10.10￠per kWh
- TDU fixed charge: $3.42 per month
- TDU delivery charge: 4.4076￠per kWh
Comparing Electric Rates in the TXU Season Pass 12 Plan: Discount Months vs Normal Months
There is a base charge of $13.37 per month, regardless of the Season Pass discount. After the fixed charge, the total price per kWh varies by season:
| Month | Energy Charge | TDU Charge | Total kWh Price |
| December – February | 10.10￠per kWh | 4.4076￠per kWh | 14.5076￠per kWh |
| March – May | 20.20￠per kWh | 4.4076￠per kWh | 24.6076￠per kWh |
| June – August | 10.10￠per kWh | 4.4076￠per kWh | 14.5076￠per kWh |
| September – November | 20.20￠per kWh | 4.4076￠per kWh | 24.6076￠per kWh |
Does Season Pass Take 50% Off Your Total Electric Bill?
The 50% discount is calculated with only the energy charge. When you consider the total kWh price, including TDU fees, the actual discount is 41%.
On a month where your consumption is exactly 1,000 kWh, you can expect the following amounts on your power bill:
Season Pass months = $13.37 + 1,000 kWh x $0.145076/kWh = $158.45
All other months = $13.37 + 1,000 kWh x $0.246076/kWh = $259.45
The average price is 15.8￠per kWh during Season Pass discount periods, increasing to 25.9￠per kWh during other months. Consider that TXU Energy has a 12-month contract, with an early termination fee of $150. This means you must stay on the plan for one year, and must pay $150 if you switch to a cheaper plan for months without discounts.
The TXU Season Pass 12 Electricity Facts Label assumes that 59.9% of consumption happens during the discounted months, and 40.1% happens outside of this period. This is how TXU calculates the average price of 19.9 cents/kWh at a 1,000 kWh consumption level:
Average power bill = $158.45 x 59.9% + $259.45 x 40.1% = $198.95
Average kWh price at 1,000 kWh = $198.95 / 1,000 kWh = 19.9￠per kWh
The following table summarizes the average kWh prices at the three consumption levels just like the EFL, but separated for Season Pass months and other months:
| Average Monthly Use | 500 kWh | 1,000 kWh | 2,000 kWh |
| Average kWh Price (Season Pass Months) | 17.2￠ | 15.8￠ | 15.2￠ |
| Average kWh Price (Other Months) | 27.3￠ | 25.9￠ | 25.3￠ |
Here is how TXU Energy calculates the average prices during the 12-month contract, assuming 59.9% of consumption during Season Pass months:
Average price at 500 kWh = 17.2￠x 59.9% + 27.3￠x 40.1% = 21.2￠
Average price at 1000 kWh = 15.8￠x 59.9% + 25.9￠x 40.1% = 19.9￠
Average price at 2000 kWh = 15.2￠x 59.9% + 25.3￠x 40.1% = 19.2￠
These are the average prices offered in the Electricity Facts Label. However, you never get power bills that actually reflect these prices, since they are the average value of discounted and undiscounted periods.
Is the TXU Season Pass Plan Worth It?
No. The TXU Season Pass 12 plan offers below-average electricity prices during summer and winter, but above-average prices during spring and fall. A free electricity plan like this can be useful if your annual electricity consumption is heavily concentrated in summer and winter. Otherwise you can expect very high bills in spring and fall, even if your consumption is lower than in summer and winter.
Using 1,000 kWh during a discounted month, you pay $158. On a month without discounts, you get the same bill ($158) for only 590 kWh.
How to Get Fixed Electricity Prices in Texas
If you prefer predictable electricity prices during a 12-month contract period, you can consider the Payless Power Premier 12 Plan. Your electricity price is fixed during the entire contract duration, with TDU charges included in this value.
A kWh price that doesn’t change depending on the month results in more predictable power bills, since they only increase and decrease based on consumption. A kWh price that changes depending on the season makes your bill less predictable – you can end up with higher bills in months with low consumption.
