Retail Competition · Verified
Texas Retail Electric Provider Counts: PUCT Certificates vs. Power to Choose Brands
Two different provider counts that are often confused: retail electric provider certificates issued by the PUCT, and provider brand names listing plans on Power to Choose.
143 vs 44
PUCT certificates vs Power to Choose brands
Key findings
- The PUCT directory lists 143 distinct retail electric provider certificates.
- The Power to Choose export lists 44 distinct provider brand names (42 in English-language rows).
- These are different units: one certificate can operate several brands, and many certificated providers do not list on Power to Choose. The two numbers should not be compared as if they measure the same thing.
Data
| Measure | Count | Unit | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| PUCT retail electric provider certificates | 143 | distinct REP certificate numbers | Distinct certificate numbers in the PUCT alphabetical Retail Electric Provider directory (all certificate options). One certificate can carry several brand or DBA names. |
| Provider brands listing on Power to Choose | 44 | distinct RepCompany names in the export (all languages) | Distinct provider names in the Power to Choose plan export. Names are brands, not certificates, and include only providers that list plans on the site. |
| Provider brands listing English-language plans on Power to Choose | 42 | distinct RepCompany names in English rows | Same as above, limited to English-language plan rows (the rows used for the plan price medians). |
Chart
Retail Competition · As of Nov 10, 2026
143 PUCT certificates and 44 Power to Choose brands count different things
As of Nov 10, 2026. Certificates and brands are different units; do not subtract one from the other.
- 143PUCT REP certificatesDistinct certificate numbers; one certificate can run several brands
- 44Brands on Power to ChooseDistinct provider names in the plan export; only providers that list
- 42Brands with English plansThe rows used for the plan price medians
Source: PUCT Retail Electric Provider directory and PUCT Power to Choose plan export, Nov 10, 2026.
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Cite this chart
Power Hopper Research Team. "Provider counts defined: PUCT certificates vs Power to Choose brands, Nov 10, 2026." Chart. Texas Retail Electric Provider Counts: PUCT Certificates vs. Power to Choose Brands dataset. Power Hopper Media Data Room, published November 10, 2026. https://powerhopper.energy/media/charts#chart-texas-retail-electric-provider-count-definitions-2026-11-10. Accessed [date accessed].
Data table
| Step | Count | Note |
|---|---|---|
| PUCT REP certificates | 143 | Distinct certificate numbers; one certificate can run several brands |
| Brands on Power to Choose | 44 | Distinct provider names in the plan export; only providers that list |
| Brands with English plans | 42 | The rows used for the plan price medians |
Methodology
- Certificates: distinct certificate numbers in the PUCT directory page (retained with hash). Brands: distinct RepCompany values in the Power to Choose export.
- Only counts and definitions are published; directory contact details are not republished.
Limitations
- Counts are as of one date.
- Brand names in the export are provider-entered and may differ in spelling from PUCT names.
Data dictionary
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
as_of | Date |
measure | What is counted |
value | Count |
unit | Unit of the count |
definition | Definition |
source_url | Source |
source_file_sha256 | SHA-256 of the retained source |