Customer Service Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Who is Champion Energy?
• What is deregulation?
• What happens if I have an emergency or power outage?
• What happens if I switch to a new provider and they leave the market?
• Do I need to contact my current provider when switching?
• How do I know if I am in a de-regulated part of the state and eligible to choose a Retail Electric Provider?
• Can you tell me about environmentally friendly or green electricity?
• Is there a chance I will lose power when I switch to Champion?
• Will I still get the same reliable electric service to my home or small business?
• What is an REP?
• How long does the switch take?
• Why is Champion able to offer rates lower than many of its competitors?
• What will I pay per kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity based on 1,000 kWh of average monthly usage?
• Does this rate include everything, including the electricity cost, the transmission and distribution charges, fuel charges, if any, as well as the monthly customer charge or other fees?
• Will a deposit be required for me to sign up?
• Will you check my credit when I sign up?
• What customers does Champion Energy serve?
• Is this offer a fixed rate offer or a variable rate offer? If it is a variable rate offer, how can it change and how do I find out when the rate will change?
• What are my payment options?
• What if I miss a payment or am late on a payment?
• What happens when my contract period expires?
• Is there a contract involved and if so, how long is it?
• Is there a penalty if I break the contract?
• How do I apply for a job with Champion?
• Can I change my due date?
• Can I change the date my meter is read?
• How much is the late fee if I am late?
• Can I sign up for email bills?
• How can I change my account information?
• Do you charge a fee to switch from my current provider to Champion?

Who is Champion Energy?
Champion, a Retail Electric Provider currently active in the Texas and Illinois markets, was established with the ideals of integrity, accountability, and continuous improvement. Champion is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

What is deregulation?
Deregulation in Texas started in 2002 under Title 7 for the retail market which makes it possible for energy companies to compete for your business, breaking up the monopolies and theoretically generating lower prices and innovation for the consumer. Bottom line, deregulation helps bring cheaper and better energy services to all retail electric customers.

What happens if I have an emergency or power outage?
Contacting your local TDSP (meter, wires and poles) company is the fastest way to get a response to an emergency or power outage situation, because regardless of which Retail Electric Provider you choose, your TDSP company is responsible for the maintenance and repair of the equipment designed to flow power to your service location. Please check your bill for the TDSP that covers your area. For reference, below are listed the TDSP contact numbers.

TDSP Service Area Emergency Service:

• CenterPoint Houston & surrounding areas (800) 332-7143
• TXUED North & West Texas including DFS (888) 313-4747 or (888) 313-6862
• AEP – CP&L/WTU Central, South & West Texas (866) 223-8508 or (877) 373-4858
• TNMP S. Central Coast, Far West & North TX (888) 866-7456

What happens if I switch to a new provider and they leave the market?
If your provider leaves the market for any reason, your service will be transferred to an alternative Provider with no loss of service. The PUCT (Public Utility Commission of Texas) seeks to make the transition to and from the alternative Provider as seamless and as inexpensive as possible. Notification of any such change in Provider status is automatically generated and forwarded to the customer.

Do I need to contact my current provider when switching?
No, in concert with ERCOT, we will notify your current provider. We suggest that you refer back to your current provider's Terms of Service to see if anything specific is required from you. Even if you are under a contract that allows you to leave your current provider in the middle of a term, it is not uncommon that a 30-day notice be provided to avoid paying a penalty.

How do I know if I am in a de-regulated part of the state and eligible to choose a Retail Electric Provider?
Contact us at info@championenergyservices.com, visit www.powertochoose.com, or call 1-866-PWR-4-TEX.

Can you tell me about environmentally friendly or green electricity?
Champion Energy makes it easy to make a difference for our environment with our Green Power 100% Renewable Energy Service Plan.

Is there a chance I will lose power when I switch to Champion?
No, there will be no interruption of service if you switch to Champion Energy.

Will I still get the same reliable electric service to my home or small business?
Yes. It's important to know that the local TDSP will still deliver the electricity to your home or business. Existing power lines and meters will stay in place and continue to be maintained by the TDSP. You will pay your local utility's transportation and distribution charges (T&D) for using their power lines and meters which will appear on the Champion Energy bill; we pass those charges through and do not mark up the cost for that service as regulated by the PUC.

What is an REP?
A Retail Electric Provider (REP) is a company registered with the state through the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to sell energy directly to the public.

How long does the switch take?
A standard switch takes up to 4-6 weeks because it works with your regular meter cycle. You will still get at least one more bill from your current provider. This timeframe is standard with all Retail Electric Providers. Off cycle switches are available for a pass thru fee; off cycle switches still take up to 15 – 18 calendar days.

Why is Champion able to offer rates lower than many of its competitors?
Champion Energy has built its company with a focus on maintaining a very low cost structure. We actively manage our supply position; we don't have steep advertising and marketing costs. We also have worked hard to negotiate the purchase of wholesale power from power plant generators at very reasonable prices. By doing these things, Champion Energy is able to pass along the savings to its customers by providing lower rates.

What will I pay per kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity based on 1,000 kWh of average monthly usage?
Please refer to the Energy Facts Label (EFL) for your particular product. The EFL can be seen under the 'details' option next to the product name on our website or on the www.powertochoose.com website. In any case, the rate will vary according to your preference of variable or fixed rate plans and the area you live.

Does this rate include everything, including the electricity cost, the transmission and distribution charges, fuel charges, if any, as well as the monthly customer charge or other fees?
The average rate includes the energy charge, as well as transmission and distribution charges. Monthly service fees, if any, will be noted on your Terms of Service or Energy Facts Label (EFL). The average rate does not include taxes/regulatory fees as is the standard for most Retail Electricity Providers.

Will a deposit be required for me to sign up?
Possibly. If you do not have much credit history or if we cannot accurately match you to a credit history, or if your score does not meet the established threshold, you may be required to put down a deposit when getting started. The requirement will be determined during the enrollment process.

Will you check my credit when I sign up?
Yes, Champion Energy will perform a credit check to determine if a deposit is required. If applying on-line and a deposit is required, you will be notified via email address provided.

What customers does Champion Energy serve?
We are currently serving both residential and commercial customers in Texas and commercial customers in Illinois.

Is this offer a fixed rate offer or a variable rate offer?
If it is a variable rate offer, how can it change and how do I find out when the rate will change?
There are two main types of residential product offers: fixed and variable. We offer both from time to time; the most popular offer among our customer base is fixed. Our variable rate is based on the ERCOT published market clearing price of energy (MCPE). You can view the current rates on the ERCOT website hourly (published every 15 minutes) and you will also see rate fluctuations on your invoices. Note that published MCPE prices do not reflect individual dwelling usage profiles so to see your exact price/profile combination, you would have to reference our MCPE calculator.

What are my payment options?
You can pay online through our secure website or over the phone via bank draft. You can also mail your check, money order, or cashier's check, if you prefer. An option that many customers find to be the most convenient payment option is to get set up on automatic payments - via bank-draft - to pay your bill at the same time every month. All of our payment options are available without additional fees*.

* Credit card option may be accompanied by a fee if/when we offer credit cards as a payment option

What if I miss a payment or am late on a payment?
If your payment does not post by the due date, you likely will be sent a reminder notice. If payment becomes overdue, a late payment notice will be sent to you and you will have 10 days to process payment, otherwise the account will be subject to disconnection for non-payment.

What happens when my contract period expires?
You have the choice to enter into another fixed energy rate contract at current rates, or the account will go into month-to-month status with the current variable rate. We will attempt to send you a notice reminding you to renew but be assured that your service will not be automatically terminated simply because your contract period expires.

Is there a contract involved and if so, how long is it?
If you choose our one of our fixed plans, the terms vary in term length, typically between 6 and 36 months. From time to time, we may also offer month-to-month plans.

Is there a penalty if I break the contract?
If you close the account or switch to another electricity provider before your contract ends, you may be subject to an early termination fee. The cancellation fees can be found on the Terms of Service and Energy Facts Label (EFL) for your particular product. Please see your Terms of Service for additional details.

How do I apply for a job with Champion?
If you are interested in joining our team please email your resume to careers@championenergyservices.com.

Can I change my due date?
Not at this time

Can I change the date my meter is read?
The changing of meter read dates is typically reserved for larger commercial users and is not allowed by residential customers.

How much is the late fee if I am late?
Five percent of the balance when a payment is not received.

Can I sign up for email bills?
Yes, in fact, we recommend that even if you prefer to get a paper bill in the mail, you also receive a soft copy bill via email.

How can I change my account information?
Call our customer service department directly or you can download our Customer Change Form here. You can fax, email, or mail in the form and we will be happy to change your account information.

Do you charge a fee to switch from my current provider to Champion?
There is no fee for an on cycle switch. A request for a special read (aka: off cycle switch), where the TDSP makes a special trip to your service location to take a read, does come with a marginal fee – typically between $6 and $20, depending on your local TDSP charges.