Testing a free Texas electric bill review tool — looking for a few volunteers

[u/Carlowes1]

Hey everyone — I’m testing a small project called TX WattWise that’s meant to help Texans better understand their electric bills and avoid overpaying.

The idea is simple: you upload a recent Texas electric bill, and we review it for things like:

• your real all-in cents/kWh
• bill-credit traps
• free nights/weekends pricing issues
• contract end date or renewal risk
• cancellation fee concerns
• whether your current plan looks confusing, risky, or possibly overpriced

This is an early manual test, not a polished automated tool yet. I’m looking for a small number of people willing to submit a recent bill so we can test whether the review is actually useful.

What you get back

If you submit a bill, you’ll receive a plain-English review that explains:

• what your bill appears to show
• your estimated real rate based on the bill
• any plan traps or confusing charges we notice
• whether your contract timing may be risky
• what your next smart step may be: switch, wait, or verify first

No spreadsheets. No confusing energy jargon. Just a simple explanation of what may be going on and what to look at next.

What information we need visible

Please keep these parts visible if possible:

• electric provider/company name
• city or ZIP code
• billing period
• total amount due
• kWh used
• energy charges
• delivery/TDU charges if shown
• plan name if shown
• contract end date if shown
• early termination/cancellation fee if shown
• any bill credits, free nights/weekends details, or usage tiers

What you should cover for privacy

Before uploading, feel free to cover or blur:

• account number
• full service address
• full mailing address
• phone number
• email address
• payment/bank information
• meter number if you prefer
• barcode/QR code
• any other personal details you’re not comfortable sharing

Please leave at least your city or ZIP visible because electricity costs and delivery charges can vary by area.

Privacy note

The goal is to help people understand their bills — not sell anyone’s information.

We are not asking for payment. We are not asking for your account login. We are not asking for your Social Security number. You should not upload anything you’re uncomfortable sharing.

If you want to participate, you can upload your bill here:

https://txwattwise.com

Feedback on the idea is also welcome. I’m trying to make this genuinely useful for Texans dealing with confusing electricity plans.

Quick privacy note: You can blur account number, full address, phone/email, payment info, barcode/QR code, and anything personal. We only need provider, ZIP/city, kWh used, total amount, plan name, contract date, fees, and credits visible to calculate the real rate.

[u/Zamboni411]

www.texaspowerguide.com basically does a form of this already.

[u/Carlowes1 → u/Zamboni411]

Appreciate it — Texas Power Guide is definitely a useful tool. What I’m testing with TX WattWise is a more bill-first/simple explanation approach: someone uploads their actual bill, and we show their real effective rate, possible traps like credits/fees/renewal timing, and plain-English next steps.

I’m not trying to replace every comparison tool — mainly validating whether people want a simpler “explain my bill and tell me what to watch for” version.