What "Second Chance" Means
A "second chance" light company is any company that works with people who've been turned down elsewhere. Maybe you got denied because of your credit. Maybe your lights got cut off. Maybe you owe money to an old company and nobody wants to touch you.
The system makes it feel like you're out of options. You call one company, they want a $300 deposit. You call another, same thing. You spend hours on the phone with overseas call centers getting the runaround.
Here's what they don't tell you: every light company in Texas has different rules. The company that wants $400 from you might sit next to one that takes you for $0. You just have to find it. That's what this guide is about.
The bottom line upfront:
No matter what happened before, you can get lights today. Prepaid companies approve everyone. And through our process, many people who thought they'd need a deposit find a traditional plan with $0 down. There's always a path forward.
3 Paths to a Second Chance
You don't need luck. You need to know which door to knock on. Here are three ways to get your lights on, ranked from best deal to guaranteed approval.
Check Multiple Companies at Once (Best Deal)
Saves ~$900/year vs prepaid
Every light company sets its own credit threshold. One might require 650, another accepts 550, another takes 500. The problem is you don't know who takes what, and calling them one by one takes hours.
We check multiple companies at the same time. When you enter your ZIP and try to enroll, we'll ask the participating companies if they'll take you without a deposit. Many people find at least one that says yes.
Can't promise it'll work for everyone. But it's free to check, takes minutes instead of hours, and the savings are massive if you qualify. Traditional plans run about $80-100/month less than prepaid.
Prepaid / Pay-As-You-Go (Guaranteed Approval)
No credit check, same-day lights
Prepaid light companies don't check your credit, don't look at your history, and don't ask questions. Everyone gets approved. If you need lights today and can't wait, this is your guaranteed path.
How it works:
- Pay $40-75 upfront (this is NOT a deposit, it goes toward your usage)
- Your lights come on, usually the same day
- You use power until your balance gets low
- Add more money when you need to
The catch: Prepaid rates are higher than traditional plans. You'll pay roughly $80-100 more per month. But the startup cost isn't lost money. It goes straight into your account as credit for power you'll use. Learn more in our guide to how prepaid works.
Deposit Waivers (If You Qualify)
Texas law protects you
There's no Texas rule that waives your deposit just because you're on SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, SSI, or TANF. But if you get SNAP, TANF, or SSI, you may qualify for help paying your light bill through the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) — call 211 or visit 211texas.org to find your local agency. That's bill-payment help, not a deposit waiver.
You can also skip the deposit by showing satisfactory credit under Texas PUCT §25.478: if you've been a customer of any light company within the last two years and had no more than one late payment in your last 12 months, that history counts. Your old company's affiliated retailer or the provider of last resort must honor it — other light companies may accept it, and many do. Ask your old light company for a letter of credit history to help prove it — they're encouraged, but not required, to give you one.
See our full deposit waiver guide for step-by-step instructions.
Which Light Companies Give Second Chances?
Some companies have built their entire business around second chances. Others give second chances through our process, even if that's not how they market themselves. Here's the breakdown.
Prepaid Companies (Approve Everyone)
Payless Power
Been around since 2005. The original prepaid light company in Texas. No credit check, $40 to start, same-day service in most areas.
Prepaid Lights Co
Another solid prepaid option. No credit check, no deposit, no contract. Straightforward pay-as-you-go service.
Now Power
Prepaid service with daily usage notifications so you always know where you stand. No surprises, no credit check.
Direct Energy Power-To-Go
Backed by a major company. Pay-as-you-go with no credit check. Top up at thousands of locations across Texas.
Traditional Companies (Through Our Process)
Here's what most people don't realize: every traditional light company in Texas is technically a "second chance" company. They all have different credit thresholds, and those thresholds change based on business conditions.
The company that denied you last month might approve you today. The one that wanted $400 might sit next to one that takes you for free. You just have to check.
When you enter your ZIP below, we check multiple participating companies at once. If any of them will take you without a deposit, we'll show you that option. It takes minutes, not hours. For more on this, see our guide to getting lights with bad credit.
Check your options right now
Enter your ZIP to see which companies serve your area. We'll check for traditional plans with $0 deposit first. If that doesn't work, prepaid is always there.
After Disconnection: Getting Your Lights Back On
Your lights got cut off. It feels like the end of the line. It's not. Here's what happens and what you can do about it.
Step 1: Check for a Switch Hold
When a light company disconnects you for non-payment, they can place a "switch hold" on your meter. This prevents you from switching to a different company until the debt is resolved.
How to check: Call your old light company or check your account online. If there's a hold, they'll tell you the balance needed to release it. See our full reconnection guide for detailed steps.
Step 2: Deal with Past Debt
You have options even if you owe money. Some companies offer payment plans to clear the hold. Others will negotiate a reduced balance. The key is to call and ask, don't just assume you have to pay the full amount at once.
Our old utility debt guide breaks down every option, including what happens if you can't pay at all.
Step 3: Sign Up with a New Company
Once the switch hold is cleared (or if there isn't one), you can sign up with any company. You don't have to go back to the one that cut you off.
Timeline: Prepaid lights typically come on the same day. Traditional plans take 1-3 business days after approval.
Can't clear the switch hold right now?
If you can't pay the past-due balance, prepaid light companies can sometimes still get you connected. The switch hold rules work differently for prepaid in some situations. It's worth trying, and it costs nothing to check.
After Bankruptcy: Your Rights
Bankruptcy doesn't lock you out of lights. Texas has specific protections for people coming out of bankruptcy.
- ✓ Prepaid is always available. Bankruptcy, no bankruptcy, doesn't matter. No credit check means no denial.
- ✓ Traditional plans are still possible. Under 11 U.S.C. §366, a light company can't refuse or cut off your service just because your old light bill debt was discharged in bankruptcy. They can still require a deposit based on your current credit, but they can't hold the discharged debt itself against you.
- ✓ Switch holds don't last forever. The hold comes off once the debt behind it is cleared — and a bankruptcy discharge wipes out that debt, so the company should release the hold. If they won't, file a PUCT complaint at 1-888-782-8477.
For the full picture, including what documentation you need and how to handle pushback, see our bankruptcy and lights guide.
Building Your Way to Better Rates
A second chance is just the start. Here's how to turn it into a long-term win.
Start with prepaid if you need to
Prepaid gets your lights on today. Yes, rates are higher. But you're building a track record from day one.
Build a clean payment record
Under Texas rules, being a customer within the last two years plus 12 consecutive months of on-time payments (no more than one late payment, no disconnection for nonpayment) means a new company generally can't require a deposit. Ask your light company for a letter of credit history to help prove it.
Use that record to switch to a traditional plan
Showing that record means a new light company generally can't require a deposit based on your credit. Now you can pick a traditional plan with lower rates. That's $80-100/month back in your pocket.
Save roughly $1,000+ per year
The difference between prepaid and traditional rates adds up fast. That's the payoff for those 12 months of building your record.
Want the full roadmap? Our path from prepaid to traditional guide walks you through every step.
The Bottom Line
Getting told "no" by a light company feels final. It's not. The Texas market has over 100 light companies, and they all have different rules. Getting denied by one doesn't mean anything about the next one.
Your action plan:
- Enter your ZIP and let us check multiple companies for a $0 deposit traditional plan
- If you get approved, take it. Traditional plans save you ~$900/year over prepaid
- If no traditional option works, go with prepaid. Same-day lights, $40-75 to start, guaranteed approval
- Build 2 years as a customer with a clean 12-month payment record, and you generally can't be required to pay a deposit for traditional service in the future
- If you're on SNAP, TANF, or SSI, call 211 or visit 211texas.org — you may qualify for help paying your light bill through CEAP
The system made it hard. That's on the system, not on you. But there's always a way to get your lights on. Always.
Ready to get started?
Texas ZIP codes only. We'll show you no-deposit plans in your area.
Consumer Advocate
I make sure light companies treat you right. When you don't know your rights, they take advantage. I fix that.
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