All Your Options, Fastest to Slowest
Here's every way to get your lights on when your credit's been through some things:
Pay-As-You-Go Lights
Get Lights TodayNo credit check. No money down. Guaranteed approval — no one gets denied. You can have lights on today. Rates are higher (30-50% more), but there's nothing standing in your way.
Pay a Little Each Month Instead of a Big Deposit
Light companies like TXU Energy and Reliant let you pay $5-10/month instead of $300 upfront. You get regular rates without having to come up with that money all at once. PUCT Rule 25.24
Light Companies That Work With You
Second-chance providers like Discount Power and 4Change Energy expect their customers to have credit issues. Their deposits range from $75-150 instead of $300-400.
Prove You've Been Paying Somewhere Else
Get a letter from your old utility saying you paid on time for 12 consecutive months. Show that to the new company and most will waive the deposit entirely - even with credit scores below 550.
Just Pay the Deposit (If You Can Swing It)
If you can come up with $200-400 now, you get the lowest rates. Pay on time for a year and they give it all back. PUCT Rule 25.24
Bad credit doesn't mean you're stuck with prepaid.
Every light company has different credit thresholds. One might deny you, another might approve you with $0 deposit. We check multiple companies to see if you qualify for traditional plans with better rates. Many people with bad credit find at least one option. Can't promise it, but it's worth a 2-minute check. And if you can't qualify? Prepaid is always there as your guaranteed option.
Option 1: Pay-As-You-Go Lights
This is how most people get their lights on fast when credit's an issue. Pay-as-you-go is guaranteed approval — there's no application to get denied on, no credit check to fail, and no money down for a deposit. Here's exactly how it works:
How It Works
To Get Started
Pay $40-75 up front. That's not a deposit - it goes straight toward your power.
As You Use It
Your balance goes down each day based on what you actually use. You'll get a text when you're running low.
When You Need More
Top off your account through an app, over the phone, or at CVS, Walmart, and similar stores.
What's Good About It
- + They don't check your credit. At all.
- + No big deposit to come up with
- + You can have lights on today
- + No contract - leave whenever
- + You always know exactly what you're spending
What's Not Great
- - You'll pay more - rates are 30-50% higher
- - If your balance hits $0, your lights get cut off
- - You gotta keep an eye on your balance
- - Won't help your credit score
Use the Same-Day Finder — see which light companies can get your lights on today and their cutoff times.
Option 2: Pay Monthly Instead of a Big Deposit
Some light companies let you skip the deposit if you pay a small monthly fee instead. You get regular rates (way cheaper than pay-as-you-go) without having to find $300 right now.
Here's How It Works
Instead of $200-400 upfront (PUCT Rule 25.24), you pay $5-10 extra each month
Pay on time for a year or two, and they drop the extra fee
Meanwhile, you're paying regular rates - a lot cheaper than pay-as-you-go
Let's do the math: $10/month for 12 months = $120 total. A $300 deposit would be refunded eventually, so you're technically paying $120 you won't get back. But the lower rates save you way more than that over a year.
Full breakdown of deposit waiver programs and who qualifies
Need help paying a deposit? The Texas CEAP program provides energy assistance for qualifying households.
Option 3: Second Chance Light Companies With No Credit Check or Low Deposits
Not every light company treats you like a risk. Some are second chance light companies built for people who need affordable lights with no credit check and no down payment. They expect their customers to have credit issues and plan for it.
What to Ask About
- - Deposits under $150 (some as low as $75)
- - Can I split the deposit into payments?
- - Do you do a hard credit check? (You want soft only)
- - Do you have a second-chance program?
Put your ZIP code in below and we'll show you which companies in your area work with folks who've had credit issues.
Option 4: Show Them You've Been Paying Somewhere Else
Here's something a lot of people don't know: if you've been paying ANY utility on time for 12 months - lights, water, gas, wherever - you can use that to skip or lower your deposit. It's actually your right under Texas law ( PUCT Section 25.24).
How to Get This Letter
Call your old light company (or water, or gas)
Ask for a "letter of credit" - they know what this means
The letter should say you paid on time for 12 months straight
Hand it to the new light company when you get started
This works because you're proving you pay your bills - even if your credit score doesn't show it.
Okay, How Do I Actually Get My Lights On Today?
Here's what to do, step by step:
First, Make Sure There's No Block on Your Address
If you owe money to an old light company, there might be a "switch hold" on your address. Nobody can turn your lights on - not even pay-as-you-go - until that's handled. Here's how to check and fix it
Get Your Info Together
You'll need: your address, your ID, your Social Security number (for regular plans - pay-as-you-go doesn't need it), and a way to pay. If you've got a letter from your old utility saying you paid on time, grab that too.
See What's Available at Your Address
Put your ZIP code in below. We'll show you pay-as-you-go options, low-deposit companies, and regular plans. Look at what you'd pay upfront versus what your monthly bill would be.
Get Started
For pay-as-you-go: fill out the form online, pay your startup amount, and your lights can be on today. For regular plans: apply online or call them, handle the deposit situation however you worked out.
Think About Your Next Move
If you went with pay-as-you-go, treat it like a bridge, not your forever plan. The rates are higher. When you can, switch to a regular plan and put that money back in your pocket.
When Nothing Works: Your Last-Resort Options
Traditional companies want deposits you can't afford. Prepaid requires $40 upfront you don't have. Letter of credit requires 12 months you haven't had yet. Here's what to do when you've hit every wall.
1. Emergency Utility Assistance (CEAP)
CEAP (Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program) pays deposits and past-due bills for Texans earning less than 150% of federal poverty level ($49,500/year for family of 4 in 2026).
What they cover:
- • Deposits: up to full amount required
- • Past-due balances: up to $1,800
- • Connection fees: included
Apply through: Call 211 for nearest CEAP agency. Processing: 5-10 business days typical, emergency vouchers available for same-week disconnection.
2. Company-Specific Hardship Programs
Some light companies have internal assistance funds that aren't advertised. These can waive deposits or provide bill credits for customers in documented financial hardship.
Companies with known programs:
- • TXU Energy: TXU Energy Aid (call 1-800-818-6132, ask for "customer assistance programs")
- • Reliant: Reliant Helps (1-866-222-7100, mention "hardship program")
- • Direct Energy: Neighbor to Neighbor fund (1-888-305-3828)
Required documentation: Proof of income (pay stubs, unemployment letter, SSI statement), proof of hardship (medical bills, layoff notice, divorce decree). Approval: 3-7 business days.
3. Co-Signer or Guarantor
If you have a family member or friend with good credit (650+), they can co-sign your account. Their credit gets you approved; your on-time payments build your own credit history.
How it works:
- • Co-signer applies with you (both names on account)
- • Light company runs co-signer's credit, not yours
- • If you don't pay, co-signer is legally responsible
- • After 12 months of on-time payments, you can remove co-signer and take over account solo
Risk to co-signer: Late payments hurt their credit. Switch hold affects their ability to get service elsewhere. Only ask someone who understands these risks.
4. Temporary Housing with Utilities Included
While you work on credit rebuilding or save for deposits, consider short-term housing where electricity is included in rent:
- • Extended stay hotels: Weekly rates $200-400, utilities included
- • Shared housing/roommates: Utilities split or included in rent
- • Transitional housing programs: Call 211 for housing assistance with utilities covered
- • RV parks: Monthly rates $400-600 with electric hookups
Bridge strategy: Use 3-6 months in included-utilities housing to save $300-600 for traditional deposit + first prepaid payment. Builds runway for better options.
5. Rapid Income Generation (Bridge to $40-50)
If you're $40-50 short of prepaid startup, here are 24-48 hour income options used by others in your situation:
- • Plasma donation: First-time donors: $50-100 same-day payment (BioLife, CSL Plasma)
- • Day labor: Labor Ready, People Ready (daily cash payment, $80-120/day)
- • TaskRabbit/Handy: Handyman/moving jobs ($30-50 for 2-3 hours)
- • Sell items: Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp (same-day local pickup cash transactions)
- • Food delivery: DoorDash/Uber Eats instant pay (available after first delivery)
Timeline: Most methods generate $40-50 within 1-2 days. Combine plasma donation ($50) + 1 day labor shift ($100) = $150 for prepaid startup + first week of power.
If You're Truly Stuck
If none of these options work and you have no path forward: Call 211 Texas (24/7) and explain your situation. They connect you to crisis intervention services, emergency shelter with utilities, case management, and resources we can't list here. This is what they exist for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get lights if my credit's not great?
Is there a credit score you need for lights?
Will getting started hurt my credit?
Can paying my light bill help my credit?
What's a deposit waiver program?
How do I know if there's a switch hold on my address?
This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. For official rules, visit the Public Utility Commission of Texas. NoDepositLights.com is powered by Compare Power (PUCT License BR190020).
