The Texas electricity market uses a lot of industry terms and acronyms. Here are some of the most common ones you may see on your bill, contract documents, or our website.
General Electricity Terms
kWh (Kilowatt-hour)
The standard unit used to measure electricity consumption. Your monthly electricity usage is measured in kWh.
kW (Kilowatt)
A measure of electricity demand, or the amount of electricity being used at a specific point in time.
Demand Charge
A charge based on the highest level of electricity demand during a billing period. Demand charges generally apply to certain commercial accounts and typically do not apply to residential customers.
Common Charges
Energy Charge
The charge for the electricity you consume, typically calculated using your usage (kWh) and your plan's energy rate.
Base Charge
A recurring monthly charge that may apply regardless of how much electricity you use.
Late Payment Fee
A fee that may be assessed when a past-due balance is not paid by the due date shown on your bill.
Organizations and Market Participants
REP (Retail Electric Provider)
A company that sells electricity plans to customers and handles billing and customer service. Revolution Energy is a REP.
TDU (Transmission and Distribution Utility)
The local utility company responsible for delivering electricity, maintaining poles and wires, reading meters, and restoring power outages. Examples include Oncor, CenterPoint Energy, AEP Texas, and TNMP.
ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas)
The organization responsible for managing the flow of electricity across most of Texas and coordinating the state's electric grid.
PUCT (Public Utility Commission of Texas)
The state agency that regulates the Texas electric market and protects consumers.
Account and Service Terms
ESI ID (Electric Service Identifier)
A unique number assigned to a specific electric service location and meter.
Switch Hold
A restriction that may prevent a customer from changing electricity providers until certain requirements have been satisfied.
Advanced Meter (Smart Meter)
A digital meter that automatically records and communicates electricity usage information.
Contract Documents
EFL (Electricity Facts Label)
A standardized document that summarizes the key features of an electricity plan, including pricing, contract length, renewable energy content, fees, and other important details.
TOS (Terms of Service)
The document that outlines the terms and conditions of your electricity service agreement.
YRAC (Your Rights as a Customer)
A document that explains your rights and protections as a Texas electricity customer.
Together, the EFL, TOS, and YRAC make up the primary documents governing your electricity service agreement.
If you don't see a term you're looking for, please contact our Customer Care team and we'll be happy to help.