Let us take you through everything you need to know about this wonderful city in North Texas, whether you’re moving from within or outside the Lone Star State.
We’ll cover its booming business scene, neighborhoods, and how to find the best Dallas electricity deal, among others.
Why Are So Many People Moving to Dallas?
Dallas is officially the ninth-largest city in the U.S. with 1.4 million residents, behind fellow Texan cities like Houston (2.3 million) and San Antonio (1.55 million).
But that doesn’t tell the whole story because Dallas is much larger. You need to include the entire Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area covering 13 North Texas counties.
The population for this area, also known as DFW metroplex, Dallas metroplex, and the DFW area, was 7.4 million in 2017. The DFW attracted 146,000 extra residents that same year — so why are people heading to the Dallas-Fort Worth area?
Dallas offers a variety of housing from affordable to luxury, competitive salaries, and diverse cultures, as well as great weather.
What Is the Average Cost of Living in Dallas?
The cost of living in Dallas is about 2% more than the United States national average but the median price of a home is 21% lower than the national average. As such, many people (particularly those from high-cost big cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York) are moving to Dallas.
In 2019-2020, an average household in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area spent $62,306 per year, which isn’t too far off from the national average. These expenses were primarily on housing, transportation, insurance, food, and healthcare.
Part of the allure of Dallas is that it has no state income tax, keeping those hard-earned dollars in residents’ pocket. But taxes do need to be paid somehow, and Dallas and the metro area achieve this through 8.25% sales and use taxes.
What Is the Price of Real Estate in Dallas?
There is a wide range of price ranges for people looking to buy real estate in the Dallas area. (We’ll look at the different neighborhoods in a bit.)
To give an approximate idea, in November 2021, real estate site Realtor listed Dallas as having a median home price of around $400,000, or $224 per square foot. Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and can fluctuate.
By comparison:
- Austin: $585,000, or $313 per square foot
- Houston: $335,000, or $167 per square foot
- New York City: $865,000, or $723 per square foot
Be warned: Dallas has one of the highest property taxes rates in the United States, which you will need to consider when buying a home.
What Are the Job Market Prospects in Dallas?
In 2019, Forbes listed Dallas as the second-best place for business and careers. The median household income is around $72,000 a year, with job growth anticipated.
Many big companies have made Dallas their home. Corporations with headquarters in or near Dallas include American Airlines, AT&T, ExxonMobil, and Kronos Worldwide. Such a rich portfolio attracts talent from experienced workers to young professionals looking for career progression.
What’s the Weather Like in Dallas, Texas?
Dallas has excellent weather, albeit with some caveats. There is abundant sunshine year-round, with just 79 rainy days annually. Snowfall in winter is rare, and January’s temperatures range from 35 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit (0-12 degrees Celsius).
Summers can get hot and humid, bringing thunderstorms, and the area does get tornadoes. July and August are the warmest, and many people reach for the air conditioning to stay cool.
That’s why choosing your electricity plan is so important when moving to Dallas.
Moving to Dallas: How to Get the Best Electricity Rates
Upon moving to Dallas, you’ll find out just how important energy is to “Dallasites.” Texas produces — and consumes — more electricity than any other U.S. state.
The state of Texas also boasts a deregulated energy market, covering cities like Houston, Fort Worth, Dallas, and more. Anyone moving to a new home — bought or rented — needs to know how to choose an energy plan.
There are a multitude of energy companies and energy rates offering an array of electricity rates. We’ll help you understand why and how to choose an energy provider suited to your lifestyle, from saver plans to renewable energy, and how to drill down into pricing.
Dallas electricity rates offer some incredible deals, from free nights to free weekends. Once you understand deregulation, you are already on your way to a lower electricity bill.
How Do Dallas Electricity Utilities Work?
Dallas residents and the majority of Texans (85%) can, and have to, choose their electricity provider. There are more than 120 retail electric providers (REPs) across Texas.
Those who can’t elect an electricity provider receive their electricity from a utility company approved by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC or PUCT).
The other player in the regulated market is the service provider or TDU. A TDU is a Transmission and Distribution Utility. They maintain the grid, measure usage, and are your contact point for a power outage. They are not your electricity provider.
Can I Set up Gas and Electricity Before Moving to My Dallas Home?
Yes, you can set up gas and electricity before you move to your new home, and we recommend that you do. We suggest contacting your current gas and electricity suppliers several weeks in advance of your move. That should give you enough time to cancel, transfer, and set up any new deals.
What Happens If I Don’t Set Up Electricity When Moving to Dallas?
Several things may happen if you don’t organize your utilities until after moving. First, the supplier to your previous home may still charge you for your old household’s contract.
Secondly, it may be harder to arrange a new deal or transfer your contract to your new home, depending on your previous contract’s terms and conditions.
Thirdly, you may find that there is no gas or electricity in your new home. The previous occupants will most likely have ended their contract with suppliers.
If you do find yourself in your new home without power, all is not lost. Some companies can turn the lights on the same day, even on weekends, and with a quick 30-minute call.
Is Electricity Expensive in Dallas?
We all like to get the best deal. Moving to Dallas may mean you need to look at your electric plan differently. For example, Texans enjoy lower electricity prices than the national average. But then, the average Texan household pays more each month because they consume more electricity than the average U.S. household.
A positive for Texas is its position as the United States’ leading wind energy producer and second to California in solar power generation.
If you are moving to the Dallas area from outside Texas, you must read on to find the best plan and best electric company for you.
How Do I Transfer My Energy Service to Dallas?
If you are moving to Dallas from within the state of Texas, contact your current electricity supplier to see if you can transfer your existing deal, or any associated costs if you terminate your deal. Add up the pros and cons — it may be worth your while to look for a new Dallas electricity provider.
For our purposes, we’ll focus on residential electricity rates as that’s our expertise. Businesses searching for retail prices should check commercial electricity rates.
Pro tip: Ask your realtor for your new home’s approximate energy usage levels to help you find the best deal.
Are There Different Types of Dallas Electricity Deals?
The short answer is yes, and there are many Dallas electricity deals.
All electricity providers advertise in kilowatt-hours (kWh). There are three fundamental pricing options to understand when looking at electric company deals: fixed-rate, variable-rate, and indexed rates.
- Variable-rate plans: As the name suggests, electric rates (kWh) fluctuate depending on market conditions. Your electricity provider sets the price, which changes. For example, if you put your dishwasher on the same cycle at the same time every day, the amount it costs changes depending on your supplier’s rate on each day.
- Fixed-rate electricity plans: Fixed-rate plans mean paying the same kWh rate for the length of the contract. These plans are designed to give you more price security.
- Indexed rate: There are few indexed plans, but you need to know how to spot them. Like variable-rate plans, the kWh price goes up and down. However, the prices are set via a publicly available index rather than by an electricity company.
There are many lifestyle reasons to choose any of these types of plans. As a rule of thumb, fixed-rate deals have higher kWh prices than the other two plans. Variable rates often offer cheaper kWh rates at the outset, but these can rise and make bills more expensive.
Finding the cheapest electricity rates for you is not just looking for the lowest kWh price. You need to think about your electricity usage. Are you out all day? Perhaps there is a deal with cheap nighttime electricity that would be better suited. Some companies even offer free electricity at night.
Work from home and love turning on the air conditioning? You’ll need to factor that in, so perhaps a fixed-rate deal works, so you know what to expect on your electric bill.
How Do I Choose a Supplier in Dallas, Texas?
The Lone Star state wants to help create Texas savers, from Dallas to Houston and further afield. The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC or PUCT) designed Powertochoose.org to bring choice to your fingertips.
The Power to Choose website only lists PUCT-registered electricity companies. Any electricity provider that advertises on this site must comply with strict PUCT rules. The independent website turns you into a powerful shopper and means you can avoid private price comparison websites.
Pro tip: Read our guide on using the Power to Choose tool to get your FAQs answered.
Are you moving to Dallas from out of state? Visit Powertochoose.org and enter your ZIP code to check if your new home is in a deregulated area. If yes, read on. If not, then your electricity will be provided by a pre-chosen utility company.
Are you moving from within the state of Texas? You’ve got one step to complete before checking your new ZIP code. Call your current supplier and ask if you can transfer it to your new home, and add up the costs.
Don’t like your current deal? Ask about early termination fees and what happens to any bill credits. If there are cancelation fees, you’ll need to weigh up any savings of a new deal against the costs of paying those fees. It may be best to let your current deal run.
How Do I Set up New Utilities in Dallas, Texas?
We recommend that you know your home’s approximate energy usage in kWh per month, which type of rate (fixed or variable) you prefer, your ZIP code, and preferred contract length. Also, think about whether you want a renewable energy plan that uses more eco-friendly sources of energy.
Once you are on the Power to Choose website, there are various filters to help your search. These include:
- Rate types (e.g., fixed or variable)
- Kilowatt-hour prices
- Energy usage levels: Try starting with 1,000 kWh a month — it’s close to a household’s national average use
- Contract term length: Are you looking for a long-term or a short-term deal? There are long, 36-month contracts to snappy month-to-month terms and many in between
- Renewable energy: Look for green energy plans and help battle climate change
- Customer reviews: See what real customers think about electricity companies
What Is a Good Rate per kWh in Dallas?
We did a quick search on the Power to Choose site (Nov 4, 2021) for a home in Plano, ZIP code 75023, fixed-rate plans for 12 months using an average of 1,000 kWh each month.
We found:
- 47 plans
- Prices start at 11 cents per kWh up to 15.9 cents per kWh
- Cancelation fees from $0-200, or $20 per month remaining on the contract
- Company ratings from one to five stars
- Renewable energy levels from 0-100%
- Some offers were for new customers only
Note: All rates and examples are subject to change as companies frequently update their products.
Most of the cheapest rates were with companies with one or two-star ratings. Higher-rated companies tended to offer rates around 12-14 cents per kWh. Fiddle around with the various filters to see the different types of offers. Whatever you do, don’t commit at this first stage.
There’s one more critical step to take: It’s time to introduce you to the Electricity Facts Label (EFL).
Why Are Electricity Facts Labels So Important?
The Electricity Facts Label (EFL) is perhaps not the most exciting text you will ever read, but it is where you can get down to the bare bones of the electricity plan offer. The EFL is often where the very cheapest deals can lose their appeal.
Companies must list all costs, such as any deposits, cancelation fees, and other charges. As such, a seemingly good deal might not be best suited to someone who’s spending just a few months in Dallas. On the other hand, if you have a large family or are putting down some roots in Dallas, a fixed-rate deal can give you peace of mind and extended contracts can often deliver lower prices.
It’s not just energy use that you need to ponder. How do you budget and organize your finances? Some companies allow you to pay energy bills by check, card, or cash. We recommend keeping a keen eye on the following:
- Early termination fees: Cancelation fees can run high if you leave your contract early.
- Deposit or no deposit: Check how easy it is to get deposits returned. Do you have the budget for the move and a high deposit?
- Contract length: Lengthy deals may not suit people looking to try a few neighborhoods before settling, especially if the offer has early termination or cancelation fees.
- Bill credit: Companies have different bill credit policies. Find out what happens to overpayments and how quickly you can expect credits to be returned.
- Hidden charges: These charges live up to their name. “General charges” and “electric service charges” are among the potential traps.
- Credit check: Some companies will ask for these, and some people don’t like them and prefer prepaid electricity. Consider a prepaid plan without long-term commitment and no credit checks.
- Minimum usage levels: Be very careful with minimum usage offers. They come from goodwill but can catch people unaware. Electricity companies, like many businesses, reward high consumption customers with lower rates, and it’s no different with energy bills. However, you could be charged a much higher rate for all of your energy usage if you fail to use at least the agreed amount of kWh each month. Minimum usage levels are excellent for people who know how much electricity they consume.
What Is the Cheapest Energy Company in Dallas, Texas?
It’s impossible to list the cheapest energy company in Dallas. There are too many variables to give an accurate answer, with prices and offers that change all the time.
A high energy user may attract lower prices than a low energy user; a longer contract may advertise a better rate than a short-term contract, and so on.
Pro tip: Use our guide to learn more about electricity companies and costs.
You can also take a look at what Amigo Energy, Just Energy, and Tara Energy can offer you.
Can You Do Electrical Work Without a License in Dallas?
Dallas City Hall has very clear rules on people doing electrical work in their homes. In short, you can if you can prove you know what you are doing. Otherwise, you need to hire a licensed electrician. The official advice reads:
“Electrical work must be performed by a licensed electrician unless the homeowner can prove to the Chief Electrical Inspector that they have the knowledge and expertise to perform the electrical work on their own home. Permits, unless exempted by Chapter 52 of the Dallas Building Code, are required for electrical work.”
At a Glance: More Top Tips for Moving to Dallas
Now that you have some solid information on how to find the best electricity deal for your new life in Dallas, it’s time to think about other aspects of your move. Check our moving to Texas guide with tips on everything from obtaining your driver’s license to registering to vote.
Once you’ve cracked the admin, an exciting time awaits. Read on for more answers to your questions about moving to Dallas.
What Are Some Noteworthy Neighborhoods in Dallas?
As we’ve seen, the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is a populous and vast area with a broad spectrum of neighborhoods to match. Here’s a quick run through some Dallas neighborhoods.
Central Dallas has a central location that brings proximity to nightlife, fine dining, and shopping.
Park Cities is in North Dallas. This is one of the most expensive areas surrounded by top-end shops and restaurants. Highland Park is one of the most sought-after locations in this zone.
Oak Cliff exemplifies the diversity of Dallas. People from all backgrounds mix in an area that switches from developed to run-down, block by block.
East Dallas is close to White Rock Lake and perfect for lovers of the outdoors, particularly the Lakewood area. Sports like swimming and kayaking can be practiced on the lake. Active people may also like Frisco, a city in North Dallas, which markets itself as “The City That Plays.’”
West Dallas is historically a working-class neighborhood close to Arlington.
Plano is some 15 miles north of central Dallas and has excellent schools.
Is Dallas a Commuter-Friendly City for Workers?
Dallas, or the DFW metroplex, is a vast area sprawling over some 9,286 square miles. This area covers Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, among 10 major cities with 13 counties.
Commutes, therefore, can be long. The average commute is 29 minutes each way, and “super commutes” of more than 90 minutes each way are increasing.
Does Dallas Have Good Public Transportation?
The Big D is a car-focused city, but there are good public transportation options.
Dallas is home to the longest light rail system in the U.S. Dallas Area Rapid Transit, or DART, helps more than 220,000 people move every day around its 700-square-mile light rail and bus service network. DART passes can help with cost and do take time to study the many routes and timetables.
Downtown Dallas and Downtown Fort Worth are connected by the Trinity Railway Express (TRE), which stops at many mid-cities and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
For something a little different, ride the vintage M-LINE trolleys in the trendy uptown area. If you love the experience, you can even adopt a stop.
Does Dallas Have a Good Education System?
The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex has a wide range of schools. They are often among the highest-performing school districts in Texas.
According to U.S. News & World Report, the DFT area has 303 high schools, with three in the U.S. Top 50.
There are many universities in the area, too, including the University of Texas at Dallas, the University of Dallas, and the Southern Methodist University.
What Fun Activities Can I Enjoy in Dallas?
There is something for all tastes across Dallas, from food to fine art to live music. Here is a (very) brief look at just some of the possibilities for Dallas residents, old and new.
- Food: Try tacos, Tex-Mex, and margaritas, for starters.
- Live music: The Deep Ellum area has everything from blues to jazz, small bands to big hitters.
- Shopping: Uptown and Highland Park offer high-end products.
- Performances: Check the AT&T Performing Arts Center for dance, opera, music, and theater.
- Green spaces: Wander around the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, set around White Rock Lake.
- Dallas Arts District: There is so much in this area, from the Dallas Museum of Art to the Winspear Opera House.
Are There Any Professional Sports Teams in Dallas?
Sports fans won’t be disappointed by what Dallas has to offer. Football fans can watch the Dallas Cowboys at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, just west of Dallas. The five-time Superbowl winners haven’t won the top title for a while, but that doesn’t stop their fervent fans from believing next year will be their year.
The Dallas Mavericks are the local NBA team that calls the central American Airlines Center home. Baseball fans can follow the Texas Rangers, and ice hockey lovers have the Dallas Stars.
What’s the Difference Between Dallas and DFW?
Locals instantly recognize the difference, and you will pick it up quickly, too. Dallas is the central city of Dallas. Dallas-Fort Worth, or DFW, is Dallas’s sister city about 35 miles west. They share a name but do feel like different places.
Get Moving to Dallas and Choose Your Dallas Electricity Plan
From finding the best electricity company for your needs to settling in a neighborhood that appeals to you, there are so many choices to make whe moving to Dallas. We hope this guide helped make the process a little easier. Don’t forget, the cheaper your Dallas electricity rates, the more you can enjoy everything this wonderful, enormous, and diverse city has to offer.
Brought to you by amigoenergy
All images licensed from Adobe Stock.
Featured image: