The cost of gasoline you see listed at the pump may be the most prominent indicator of energy costs for a very large share of humanity. Regardless of whether driving a car or taking a bus or even walking on a street, the ‘arm and a leg’ brightly lit sign that sparks a “WTF” moment at some high figure is the most instantaneous interaction that consumers have with the price of energy.

Deregulation in TX broke up the electricity market place into various elements. The crucial players are the ones who produce the electricity, those who distribute and transmit the electric power, and then finally the firms that end-users interact with directly. The companies that interact directly with end users are retail electricity providers (REPs). They are the ones which are responsible for buying energy wholesale and reselling it to you.