Green Mountain Energy vs. Chariot Energy: Green Electricity Plans Compared
NRG Energy’s Green Mountain Energy (PUCT #10009, founded 1997) vs. Hanwha Group’s Chariot Energy (PUCT #10260, founded 2019). Neither provider is universally better for every Texas household: the right choice depends on your five-digit ZIP code, your monthly kWh usage pattern, and the specific Electricity Facts Label (EFL) offered on the day you shop.
Bottom-Line Summary:
- Corporate Ownership: Green Mountain Energy (Green Mountain Energy Company, PUCT #10009) is owned by NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG). Chariot Energy (174 Power Global Retail Texas, LLC d/b/a Chariot Energy, PUCT #10260) is owned by 174 Power Global / Hanwha Group.
- Physical Reliability Is Identical: Regardless of whether you pick Green Mountain Energy or Chariot Energy, your local Transmission & Distribution Utility (Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas, TNMP, or LP&L) owns the power lines and restores outages.
- Power Hopper Feed Availability: Green Mountain Energy is active in Power Hopper’s comparison feed; Chariot Energy is active in Power Hopper’s comparison feed.
Side-by-Side Comparison: Green Mountain Energy vs. Chariot Energy
| Comparison Dimension | Green Mountain Energy | Chariot Energy |
|---|---|---|
| Legal REP Entity | Green Mountain Energy Company | 174 Power Global Retail Texas, LLC d/b/a Chariot Energy |
| PUCT REP Certificate | #10009 | #10260 |
| Brand Founded Year | 1997 | 2019 |
| Parent Company (Founded) | NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG) (1989) | 174 Power Global / Hanwha Group (1952) |
| Headquarters | Houston / Austin, Texas | Houston, Texas |
| Service Territories (TDUs) | Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas Central, AEP Texas North, TNMP | Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas Central, AEP Texas North, TNMP, Lubbock Power & Light |
| Primary Plan Types | 100% renewable fixed-rate plans (12–24 months); Time-of-use renewable plans; EV charging & night-rate plans; Solar buyback plans | 100% solar fixed-rate plans (Solarize & Shine series: 12, 15, 18, 24, 36 months); Solar buyback plans (Rise & ShineBuyback series); Usage-tiered and bill-credit plans (GridEdge series); Time-of-use EV/night plans |
| Renewable Energy Approach | Every residential plan offered by Green Mountain Energy is 100% renewable, backed by wind and solar Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) disclosed on the plan’s Electricity Facts Label. | Every Chariot Energy residential plan is backed by 100% solar Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) generated in Texas, affiliated with parent Hanwha’s utility-scale solar development portfolio. |
| Early Cancellation Fee (ETF) Policy | Typically assesses a flat early termination fee (commonly $150 for 12-month plans and $295 for 24-month plans, as stated on each plan’s EFL), waived when moving to a new address with proof of move-out. | Typically charges $15 per remaining month of the contract term for early cancellation (as stated on the EFL), waived when moving out of the service address. |
| Power Hopper Feed Status | Active Partner (15 listings across 12/24 mos) | Active Partner (101 listings across 12/15/18/24/36 mos) |
When Green Mountain Energy Fits Better vs. When Chariot Energy Fits Better
Consider Green Mountain Energy When:
Green Mountain Energy is a sister company to Reliant Energy, Direct Energy, and Discount Power under parent NRG Energy, Inc. While every Green Mountain plan is 100% renewable, several other Texas REPs (including Chariot Energy, Rhythm Energy, and Gexa Energy) also sell 100% REC-backed renewable plans—often at lower cents-per-kWh rates. Always check the EFL to verify whether a 'Preferred' rate depends on continuous autopay and paperless billing.
Consider Chariot Energy When:
Chariot Energy is backed by Hanwha Group’s solar development arm, making it one of the most prominent 100% solar-backed REPs in Texas. When comparing Chariot Energy plans, pay close attention to the plan family name: 'Solarize' and 'Blaze' plans are straightforward flat fixed-rate plans, whereas 'GridEdge' plans use tiered usage credits that create sharp bill swings outside 1,000 kWh.
How to Decide Using Your Actual Usage:
Do not choose between Green Mountain Energy and Chariot Energy based on brand name alone. Instead, compare the specific EFL offered for your ZIP code at 500 kWh (apartments and mild spring/fall months), 1,000 kWh, and 2,000 kWh (summer air-conditioning months). You can plug both EFLs into our Texas Electric Bill Calculator or Bill-Credit Cliff Analyzer to see which plan produces the lower annual cost across all 12 months.
Frequently Asked Questions: Green Mountain Energy vs. Chariot Energy
Are Green Mountain Energy and Chariot Energy owned by the same company?
No. Green Mountain Energy (PUCT #10009) is owned by NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG), whereas Chariot Energy (PUCT #10260) is owned by 174 Power Global / Hanwha Group.
Does Green Mountain Energy or Chariot Energy have better outage reliability?
Neither retail provider controls physical power reliability. Your local Transmission and Distribution Utility (Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas, TNMP, or LP&L) owns the poles, wires, and meters and responds to outages identically regardless of whether your bill comes from Green Mountain Energy or Chariot Energy.
Last verified 2026-11-04 by Power Hopper (BJW Ventures LLC d/b/a Power Hopper, PUCT Broker Registration BR260201). Explore individual profiles: Green Mountain Energy Profile · Chariot Energy Profile · All Texas Electricity Providers.