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New Texas Retail Brand, TXU Affiliate, Launches "No Frills" Service, "Rock Bottom" Prices

Offers Include Under 3¢/kWh Plans, Flat (Non-Volumetric) Pricing Plans

May 10, 2017

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Copyright 2010-17 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com

Express Energy, a new brand of the recently renamed Value Based Brands LLC, has launched retail electric service in Texas.

Value Based Brands LLC was formerly legally known as 4Change Energy Company LLC (4Change Energy remains a trade name and brand for the company), and is a unit of Vistra Energy and an affiliate of TXU Energy

Express Energy said that it is, "offering rock-bottom rates for Texas electricity customers," and that it, "offers a streamlined, 100 percent online shopping experience, followed by 100 percent online account management. No paper needed."

It has adopted the tagline, "No Frills. Low Bills."

Among Express Energy's offers in the Oncor service area is a 12-month fixed rate called Express Energy Quick 12, which, for usage at or under 1,000 kWh, includes only a flat charge with no volumetric fees. In the Oncor service area, Express Energy Quick 12 has an average all-in rate, at 1,000 kWh usage, of 3.9¢/kWh (the all-in rate is 7.8¢/kWh at 500 kWh and 8.8¢/kWh at 2,000 kWh). This reflects the following:

• Charge if you use at least 1 kWh: $39 per billing cycle

• Additional charge if you use at least 1001 kWh: $49 per billing cycle

• Additional charge if you use more than 1000 kWh: 8.80¢ per kWh in excess of 1000 kWh

• Base Charge: $0

• Notably, Express Energy describes Oncor TDU charges as, "not passed through," and included in the all-in charges above

As of publication time, Express Energy's various offers quoted at 3.9¢/kWh at 1,000 kWh usage were the second-lowest rate on Texas Power to Choose for the default view in the Oncor service area (the lowest offer is quoted at 3.8¢/kWh from Infuse Energy).

When including plans with minimum usage fees/credits in the Oncor service area, Express Energy still has the second-lowest rate on Texas Power to Choose, but with a plan (Speedy 12) quoted, at 1,000 kWh, at 2.9¢/kWh (still second to Infuse Energy's 2.8¢/kWh)

Express Energy's Speedy 12 has an average all in rate of 2.9¢/kWh at 1,000 kWh usage, 12.3¢/kWh at 500 kWh usage, and 8.3¢/kWh at 2,000 kWh usage, reflecting the following:

• Base Charge: $7.95

• Usage Bill credit: $80 per billing cycle ≥1000 kWh and ≤1500 kWh

• Usage Bill credit: $40 per billing cycle >1500 kWh and ≤2000 kWh

• Energy Charge: 6.330¢ per kWh

• Oncor TDU Charges: $5.25 per billing cycle and 3.286¢ per kWh

Notably, Express Energy's Speedy 12 which is listed on Power to Choose is not featured on Express Energy's website when simply entering an Oncor zip code.

Express Energy also offers a more traditional 12-month plan, Express Energy Express 12, which for the Oncor service area has an average all-in rate, at 1,000 kWh usage, of 8.9¢/kWh. This reflects the following: a base charge of $9.95 per month, an energy charge of 4.100¢ per kWh, and Oncor TDU charges of $5.25 per billing cycle and 3.286¢ per kWh

All of the products listed above include an early termination fee equal to $20 multiplied by the number of months remaining on the term of the contract

"We've come up with a number of ways to lower costs so that we can pass those savings on to our customers," said Brigitte Cerwick, chief marketing officer for Express Energy, who holds a similar position at 4Change Energy. "We're taking advantage of today's technology and keeping all of our business transactions electronic, from signup to customer communications to bill-pay. This enables Express Energy to offer the reliable service people want, but they pay a whole lot less. In addition, we are reducing our impact on the environment by being a paperless company," Cerwick said

With its launch, Express Energy announced a referral program which provides customers with a $25 Visa gift card for each successful referral.

The creation of Express Energy had been first reported by EnergyChoiceMatters.com

Offers of various term lengths, including 6 and 24 months, are also available.

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