How to Get Your Lights On With $20 or Less in Texas

You’ve got $20. Maybe $30. Definitely not $300 for a deposit. You need your lights on today. Can you actually do it?

Yes. Here’s how.

Which Light Companies Start at $20?

A handful of prepaid light companies in Texas let you start with as little as $20-40. That’s not a deposit — it’s credit on your account that gets used up as you consume power.

Here’s what to expect:

Company	Minimum to Start	What You Get
Payless Power	$40	Lowest typical startup, same-day connection
Frontier Utilities	$49	Quick approval, 7-day service
Now Power	$50	No credit check, flexible refills
Acacia Energy	$50	Competitive rates for prepaid

Reality check: These numbers can change based on your area and current promotions. Some companies run specials that drop the minimum even lower — sometimes as low as $25-30.

How Long Will $20 Actually Last?

This is the question that matters. $20 gets you in the door, but how much power does that buy?

Short answer: 1-3 days in a typical Texas home.

Math breakdown:

Let’s say you’re using 33 units per day (average for a 1,000 sq ft apartment in summer with AC set to 78°):

Prepaid rate: ~$0.14-0.16 per unit (including delivery charges)
Daily usage: 33 units × $0.15 = $4.95/day
$20 balance lasts about 4 days

If you’re in a bigger place running the AC harder, or it’s peak summer:

Daily usage: 50 units × $0.15 = $7.50/day
$20 balance lasts less than 3 days

If you’re in a small apartment, keeping lights/fans minimal, not home much:

Daily usage: 15 units × $0.15 = $2.25/day
$20 balance could last a week

What Happens When Your $20 Runs Out?

Your lights don’t just cut off the second you hit $0. Here’s the typical sequence:

Low balance alert — Text/email when you drop below $10
Second warning — Another alert around $5
Grace period — Most companies give you 24-48 hours after hitting $0
Disconnection — Power shuts off if you don’t add funds

To turn them back on: Add money to your account (usually $20 minimum). Power restores within a few hours, sometimes minutes.

The Real Cost: Startup vs Monthly

This is where people get tripped up. $20 to START is different from $20 to RUN.

If you only have $20 right now:

You can get your lights on today. But you’ll need to add more money within a few days. Budget-wise, you’re looking at:

Small apartment (500-800 sq ft): $80-120/month
Medium apartment/house (1,000-1,500 sq ft): $120-180/month
Larger home (1,500+ sq ft): $180-250/month

These are prepaid rates — about 30-50% higher than traditional plans. The tradeoff for no credit check and no deposit.

When Starting With $20 Makes Sense

Good scenario:

You’re getting paid in 3-4 days
You need lights NOW (medical equipment, kids, work-from-home)
$20 is literally all you have access to today
You can add $50-100 when you get paid

Bad scenario:

You’re hoping $20 will last the month (it won’t)
You have zero plan for adding more funds
You could wait a week and scrape together $75-100 for more buffer

How to Make Your Balance Last Longer

If you’re starting with $20-40, every unit counts. Here’s how to stretch it:

Big impact moves:

AC to 78° instead of 72° — Saves 3-5 units/day (~$0.50-0.75/day)
Turn off AC when you leave — Saves 5-10 units/day if gone 8+ hours
Skip the dryer — Hang-dry clothes (dryer uses 3-5 units per load)
Unplug phantom loads — TV, cable box, chargers when not in use

Smaller tweaks:

Cook less (oven/stove use adds up)
Skip the dishwasher (wash by hand)
Shorter showers (water heater is electric for most)
LED bulbs if you have them (incandescent bulbs waste power)

Read our full guide: How to Lower Your Prepaid Light Bill in Texas

Which Company Should You Pick?

If you’re starting with $20-40, here’s what to prioritize:

1. Lowest startup cost

Payless Power ($40) and Frontier Utilities ($49) usually have the lowest minimums. Check current rates at your address.

2. Same-day connection

If you need lights TODAY, confirm the company does same-day before you pay. Most prepaid companies do, but cutoff times vary (usually 2-3 PM CT).

3. No daily fees

Some prepaid companies charge $0.50-1.50/day just for having an account. When your balance is $20, daily fees eat into it fast. Look for companies with lower or no daily fees.

4. Easy refills

You’ll be adding money every few days. Make sure they accept your payment method (debit card, credit card, cash at stores).

The Path Forward: $20 Today, Traditional Later

Starting with $20 isn’t a long-term strategy. It’s a bridge.

Here’s the path most people take:

Month 1-3: Prepaid survival

Start with $40
Add $20-50 every week as you get paid
Track your usage (prepaid apps show real-time)
Keep balance above $10 to avoid disconnection stress

Month 4-12: Build payment history

Keep paying on time (auto-refills help)
After 12 months, you can get a letter of credit
That letter proves you pay your bills

Month 13+: Switch to traditional

Use your letter of credit to skip the deposit
Get approved for traditional plans (lower rates)
Save $80-100/month compared to prepaid

Prepaid is the way IN. Traditional is where you want to be long-term.

The Bottom Line

Can you get your lights on with $20? Technically yes, if a company is running a promo that low. Realistically, you’ll need $40-50 to start with most prepaid companies.

Will $20 last you? 2-4 days in a typical apartment. Maybe a week if you’re aggressive about conservation.

Is it worth it? If $40 is all you have and you need lights NOW — yes. Get them on today, figure out the rest later. But have a plan to add more money within the week.

If you can scrape together $75-100 to start, do it. More buffer = less stress about running out.

Ready to find the cheapest startup prepaid plans at your address?

Enter your ZIP below. We’ll show you which companies serve your area and what it actually costs to get started.

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