Power to Choose for Business: Does a Commercial Version Exist?
Power to Choose is the residential-only PUCT marketplace. There is no Power to Choose business site, no powertochoose commercial portal, and no PUCT-sponsored commercial price comparison tool. Here is why, and the four PUCT alternatives that actually serve commercial customers.
The short answer: no. Power to Choose is the residential-only marketplace operated by the Public Utility Commission of Texas. There is no Power to Choose business marketplace, no powertochoose commercial site, and no official PUCT-sponsored commercial price comparison portal. A small business owner who tries to use power to choose Texas commercial features will find the site filters for residential meters, returns no commercial plans, and routes the user to a directory of providers without a comparison tool.
This article explains what Power to Choose actually does, why the commercial version does not exist, and what Texas business owners should use instead. For the broader market context, see the pillar guide on commercial electricity rates in Texas and the retail electric provider Texas comparison.
What Power to Choose Is, and What It Is Not
Power to Choose is a PUCT-mandated residential price comparison site authorized under PUCT Substantive Rule 25.479. The site lists every residential plan offered by every certified Retail Electric Provider (REP), filtered by ZIP code and Transmission and Distribution Utility (TDU) territory. The Electricity Facts Label (EFL) for each residential plan is normalized to three reference usage points (500, 1,000, and 2,000 kWh per month) so a residential customer can compare like to like.
Power to Choose has a Business and Non-Residential page, but that page is a directory of REPs, not a comparison tool. There are no rate listings, no plan comparisons, no enrollment links for commercial customers. The page redirects business shoppers off the platform entirely.
The PUCT explicitly disclaims commercial coverage: "Power To Choose is for residential customers only." This is by design.
Why a Power to Choose Business Site Does Not Exist
Three structural reasons explain why no powertochoose commercial equivalent exists, and why one is unlikely to be built.
1. Commercial Rates Are Not Standardizable to Three Reference Points
Residential plans price three usage levels because residential load is well-clustered around an average household profile. Commercial plans price differently for every load profile. A retail boutique using 4,000 kWh per month, a restaurant using 25,000 kWh, and a manufacturer using 250,000 kWh face entirely different rate structures, hedge costs, and contract terms. A single price comparison table cannot represent them honestly.
The five-component commercial rate stack (energy, TDU delivery, ancillary, capacity/demand, regulatory) layers differently for each customer. The TDU delivery alone shifts from a small base charge for a sub-50 kW account to a per-kW demand charge plus base for accounts over 50 kW peak. Power to Choose cannot show a meaningful commercial comparison without knowing the customer's load factor, peak demand, and TDU territory.
2. Most Commercial Pricing Is Quote-Driven
A residential REP publishes rates and lets customers shop them. A commercial REP almost always quotes per customer, using the customer's 12-24 months of historical usage data, peak demand profile, credit profile, and term length. The same REP quotes the same kWh volume at different prices to two different customers, depending on load shape and credit. There are no publishable commercial rate cards to put on a comparison site.
PUCT Substantive Rule 25.475 (Authorization for REP to Act on Behalf of Customer) requires the customer to release historical usage data via a Letter of Authorization (LOA) before a REP can produce a quote. That release process is the foundational layer of commercial shopping and cannot be replicated by a self-service residential marketplace.
3. Brokers and Direct Sales Already Cover Commercial Shopping
The PUCT certified 1,300-plus brokers under Project No. 49947 (effective September 1, 2019) precisely to handle commercial-quote complexity. Brokers compare 20 to 50 REP partners, manage the LOA process, and handle the contract negotiation that commercial customers cannot do efficiently on a self-service site. The PUCT directs commercial buyers to brokers and to direct REP shopping, not to a commercial Power to Choose.
Power to Choose Business Workarounds That Do Not Work (Power to Choose Texas Commercial Edge Cases)
A few approaches small businesses sometimes try, and why each fails:
Using a residential ZIP search and selecting a "small business" plan. Power to Choose has no plans tagged for small business. Selecting a residential plan for a commercial meter is not legal under most REP contract templates and the REP will reject the enrollment when the meter type is verified.
Looking up commercial REPs on the Power to Choose REP list. The list shows residential REPs only. Many commercial-focused REPs (Calpine Energy Solutions, Constellation Energy, Shell Energy, Engie Resources) do not appear on Power to Choose at all because they hold Option II PUCT certification (commercial only) and have no residential listings to surface.
Comparing residential rates as a proxy for commercial. Residential rates are typically 3-5 cents per kWh higher than competitive small commercial rates because residential includes regulated utility-fund contributions, a different supply hedge, and different bill credit structures. The proxy comparison is misleading enough to drive bad decisions.
What Power to Choose for Business Looks Like in Practice: the PUCT Power to Choose Business Alternatives
The PUCT directs commercial buyers to four official resources, none of which are a price comparison marketplace. They are directories, registries, and rule references.
1. PUCT REP Directory
The PUCT alphabetical REP directory lists 139 active REPs operating under 160 DBAs (Doing Business As entities) as of 2026. The directory shows certification option (I, II, or III), contact information, and registration date. It is the primary tool for verifying a REP is legitimate before signing.
| Option | What it covers | 2026 count |
|---|---|---|
| Option I | Residential and commercial | 93 (149 DBAs) |
| Option II | Commercial and industrial only | 44 (8 DBAs) |
| Option III | Aggregator, no power supply | 2 |
2. PUCT Broker Search
The PUCT broker registry lists all brokers registered under Project No. 49947. Brokers are intermediaries who match commercial customers to REP partners. Registration costs $550 initially and $330 annually, with a designated responsible party background check and required errors-and-omissions insurance. Verify any broker on this directory before signing a Letter of Authorization.
3. PUCT Substantive Rule 25.475
PUCT Rule 25.475 governs the authorization process for any third party to access a customer's historical usage data. Commercial enrollment requires:
- Written or electronic authorization (verbal alone is insufficient)
- Customer name, address, ESI ID, REP or broker name, and explicit release statement
- Verification by the REP or broker before requesting data from the TDU
- Recordkeeping for 24 months, subject to PUCT audit
- TDU notification to customer within 3 days of switch
4. PUCT REP Scorecards and Complaint History
PUCT publishes complaint counts by REP. Before signing, check the REP's complaint history at puc.texas.gov. A commercial-heavy REP with a low residential complaint count is not necessarily safe; ask specifically about commercial complaint patterns when speaking with the REP.
Power to Choose Business Alternatives That Actually Work for Texas Owners
Three categories of resources fill the gap a commercial Power to Choose would have served:
Direct REP Shopping
For a small business owner who would have used a power to choose business marketplace if one existed, direct REP shopping under 100,000 kWh per year often produces the best rate because it avoids broker commission of 0.1 to 0.5 cents per kWh embedded in the contract. The process: pull EFLs from three to five REP websites (TXU Energy, Reliant, Direct Energy, Champion, APG&E, Gexa, Cirro), compare on the same usage profile and term, negotiate the early termination fee, bandwidth, auto-renewal, and base charge.
PUCT-Registered Brokers
For loads above 100,000 kWh per year, broker leverage typically pays back the commission. Broker partners with 30-50 REPs can present rates that are 0.2 to 0.5 cents per kWh below direct rates after the embedded commission, because the broker volume gets preferred pricing from the REP. The trade is the loss of direct REP relationship and the embedded commission. Verify the broker on the PUCT registry, demand commission disclosure in writing under Project 49947, and understand which REPs the broker does not represent.
Third-Party Commercial Comparison Sites
A handful of private aggregators (ElectricityPlans.com, ChooseTexasPower.org, ChooseEnergy.com, ComparePower.com) offer commercial price comparisons for small business loads. They are the closest thing to a power to choose business experience that exists. None are official PUCT resources, and the rate listings always reflect partner-REP relationships rather than the full 139-REP universe. Useful as a first-pass benchmark; not a substitute for direct quotes or broker engagement.
Frequently Asked Questions About Power to Choose for Business
Can I use power to choose for my business? No. Power to Choose is residential only by design and rule. The PUCT does not operate a commercial price comparison marketplace. A small business shopping electricity in Texas should pull EFLs directly from REP websites or work with a PUCT-registered broker.
Why is there no powertochoose commercial site or power to choose business marketplace? Three reasons: commercial rates are not standardizable to three reference usage points (the way Power to Choose works for residential), most power to choose business equivalents would require quote-driven pricing requiring an LOA and 12-month usage history, and the PUCT broker registry already covers commercial shopping by design.
What is the official power to choose business alternative for Texas commercial customers? There is no single alternative. The PUCT REP directory at puc.texas.gov verifies provider legitimacy. The PUCT broker registry verifies broker registration. PUCT Rule 25.475 governs the LOA process. None are a price comparison site.
Can a Texas small business shop electricity rates without a broker? Yes. For loads under 100,000 kWh per year, direct REP shopping often produces the best rate. Pull EFLs from REP websites, compare on the same usage profile, and enroll directly. For loads above 100,000 kWh per year, broker volume leverage typically pays back the embedded commission.
Are the rates on Power to Choose available to small businesses? No. Power to Choose lists residential plans, which are not legally available to commercial meter accounts. A residential plan signed on a commercial meter is typically rejected by the REP at meter verification. Commercial customers must shop commercial plans, which is why a power to choose business equivalent does not exist.
What to Do Next
If a small business owner has been searching for a power to choose business or powertochoose commercial site, the search ends here. Pull the most recent business electricity bill, confirm the ESI ID and contract end date, and shop direct via REP websites or via a PUCT-registered broker. The pillar guide on commercial electricity rates in Texas covers the rate stack, and the REP comparison pillar lists every commercial-focused REP active in the Texas market.