Earlier this month the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) released an easy-to-use redesign of Power to Choose, its shopping website to help consumers in competitive areas of the state navigate the competitive retail market.

When visiting the site, you’re presented with two options. Either you can see all the Retail Electric Provider (REP) offerings in your area, or you can narrow your search by answering three simple questions:

“On average, how much electricity do you use in a month?”

“What plan types are you interested in (e.g. fixed rate, changing rate, or market rate)?”

“How long do you want your contract to last?”

If you choose to view all the retail offers in your area that are available, a comparison chart is generated featuring the REP company name, plan details, price/kWh, pricing details (including fact sheets, terms of service, and any applicable cancellation fees); there is even a way to sign up for a plan through the site or by calling a toll free number (provided). The comparison chart also provides a complaint scorecard for every provider along with a viewable complaint history.

The new Power to Choose provides a very user-friendly interface. It allows you to be very selective about how to power their homes. Using a drop-down menu, you can input your estimated monthly energy use, provide a particular price range, set your contract length, and even locate prepaid plans or time of use plans that provide incentives to use energy during typically off-peak times (i.e. nights and weekends).

If you are looking for an easy way to find the right electric plan for you, this is a good place to start.