Amigo Energy Review | Bilingual Plans & Rates (2026)

Amigo Energy has been in Texas since 2003, originally founded by a Hispanic father-son team in Houston. Their whole pitch is bilingual service for Spanish-speaking families who want to handle their lights in their own language. That’s a real differentiator in a market where most light companies treat Spanish support as an afterthought.

But a bilingual website doesn’t tell you whether the rates are fair, the deposits are reasonable, or the customer service actually delivers. And since Just Energy bought them in 2011, the company has changed. Here’s what you need to know before signing up.

Amigo Energy at a Glance

Amigo Energy is a PUCT-licensed light company in Texas (PUCT #10117). They’ve been operating since 2003, making them a 20+ year veteran of the Texas market. They’re a subsidiary of Just Energy, a large North American energy company.

What they offer:

• Traditional fixed-rate plans (credit check required)
• Prepaid pay-as-you-go plans (no credit check)
• Fully bilingual English/Spanish service
• Same-day connections Monday through Saturday
• Plans across all deregulated Texas areas

Service areas: Oncor (Dallas-Fort Worth), CenterPoint (Houston), AEP Central (Corpus Christi), AEP North, and other deregulated zones. If you’re in a deregulated Texas city, Amigo Energy likely serves your area.

Contact: 1-866-239-4696 Same-day cutoff: 12:00 PM CT (noon), Monday through Saturday Hours: Mon-Fri 7 AM - 8 PM, Saturday 8 AM - 5 PM

What Amigo Energy Actually Costs

Amigo Energy’s average rate sits around 16-17 cents per unit as of early 2026. That puts them in the mid-to-upper range for Texas light companies. Not the cheapest, not the most expensive.

Traditional plan costs for a typical Texas home (1,000 units/month):

Cost Component	Approximate Amount
Energy charges	$130-$170
Base/service fees	$0-$10/month (varies by plan)
TDU delivery charges	Included in advertised rate
Total monthly estimate	$140-$180

Compare that to the cheapest traditional plans where the same home might pay $90-$130 per month. That’s potentially $10-$50 more per month with Amigo Energy.

Prepaid plan costs run higher still. Expect $150-$200+ per month for the same 1,000-unit home on a prepaid plan. That’s the standard prepaid premium you’ll find at any light company. Our how prepaid works guide explains why.

Bill credit plans can change the math. Amigo Energy offers plans like Mega Saver ($150 credit at 2,000 units) and Bright 75 Plus ($75 credit at 1,000 units). High-usage homes can benefit from these. Low-usage apartments probably won’t hit the thresholds.

How Amigo Energy’s Plans and Billing Work

Amigo Energy operates two billing models. Which one you land on depends on your credit.

Traditional (post-paid) plans:

• You get a monthly bill after using the power
• Fixed-rate plans lock your rate for 12, 24, or 60 months
• Credit check required at signup
• Deposit required if credit doesn’t meet their threshold
• Early termination fees apply (typically $150-$200)

Prepaid (pay-as-you-go) plans:

• Load money upfront, use it as you go
• No credit check, no deposit
• Daily balance deductions based on usage
• Alerts when your balance gets low
• Lights go off when the balance hits zero
• No contract, no termination fee

One thing that trips people up: the prepaid startup cost isn’t a deposit. That $50-$75 goes into your account as a starting balance and gets used as you consume power. Think of it like putting gas in the car. You’re prepaying for lights, not losing money to a fee.

The plan names can be confusing. “Basics” is their no-frills fixed-rate option. “Mega Saver” targets high-usage homes with a bill credit. Some plans include base charges, others don’t. Always compare the total cost at your estimated usage, not just the per-unit rate. Our prepaid vs traditional guide breaks down when each type makes sense.

What Amigo Energy Gets Right

Fully bilingual service. Everything. This isn’t a Spanish option buried three menus deep in a phone tree. Amigo Energy’s entire operation, from website to customer service to account management to billing, runs in English and Spanish. For the roughly 9 million Spanish-speaking Texans, this matters. A lot of light companies offer “press 2 for Spanish” and then connect you to a third-party translator. Amigo Energy has native Spanish-speaking staff.

Low complaint volume. Just 52 PUCT complaints over the most recent 12-month reporting period. The industry average is around 120. That’s a meaningful difference. It suggests fewer billing disputes, fewer surprise charges, and fewer service problems than most competitors.

Plan variety. Fixed-rate plans from 12 to 60 months. Bill credit plans for high-usage homes. Prepaid options for people who can’t pass a credit check. Green energy plans. Free nights plans. They cover most use cases.

Houston Chronicle recognition. Named Best Electricity Company in the Houston Chronicle’s Best of Houston 2023. Not the most scientific award, but it reflects positive brand perception in their strongest market.

What Amigo Energy Gets Wrong

Rates aren’t competitive at the bottom. At 16-17 cents per unit on average, Amigo Energy sits above the cheapest options in Texas. You can find traditional fixed-rate plans from other companies at 10-13 cents per unit. Over 12 months on a 1,000-unit home, that difference adds up to $360-$480. Being bilingual doesn’t change the math on your light bill.

The noon cutoff hurts. Same-day service requires signing up before 12 PM Central Time. Most other light companies give you until 2 PM, 4 PM, or even 6 PM. If your lights went out this morning and you don’t discover Amigo Energy until the afternoon, you’re waiting until tomorrow. No Sunday connections either. For people in crisis who need lights now, those extra hours and missing days matter. Compare that to companies like Payless Power, which offers same-day service until 6 PM, 7 days a week including Sundays.

Just Energy’s baggage. The parent company went through bankruptcy in 2021 after Winter Storm Uri. They emerged and continue operating, but the BBB notes a “pattern of complaints” related to sales tactics across Just Energy’s brands. Amigo Energy’s own complaint numbers are low, but the corporate parent’s reputation creates uncertainty. Not accredited by the BBB.

Billing clarity scores poorly. Independent reviews flag Amigo Energy’s billing clarity at 22 out of 100. That means the bill itself can be confusing. Plan structures with base charges, bill credits at usage thresholds, and tiered rates make it hard to predict your actual cost. Read the facts label carefully before you sign.

Who Amigo Energy Is Actually For

Amigo Energy makes sense if you:

• Want to manage your lights entirely in Spanish
• Need a bilingual customer service experience (not just a translation line)
• Can pass a credit check and want a mid-range traditional plan
• Are a high-usage home that can hit bill credit thresholds
• Value a light company with low complaint history

Amigo Energy does NOT make sense if you:

• Are shopping purely on price (cheaper options exist)
• Need same-day service after noon or on Sundays (their cutoff is earlier than most)
• Can’t pass a credit check and want to avoid deposits (check traditional no-deposit options first)
• Don’t need bilingual service (you’re paying a slight premium for a feature you won’t use)
• Have SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, or TANF (you likely qualify for deposit waivers on traditional plans at other companies)
• Are 65 or older (Texas law gives you a deposit waiver on traditional plans, so shop the cheapest rate instead)

Before You Sign Up: Check Traditional First

If you’re looking at Amigo Energy because you want no-deposit lights, pause here.

Amigo Energy’s prepaid plans skip the credit check, but you’ll pay more per month. Their traditional plans run a credit check, and if your credit falls short, they’ll want a deposit. Either path has a cost.

There’s a better first step. Every Texas light company has different credit thresholds for deposits. One company might require $400 from you while another says $0 for the exact same credit profile. We check multiple companies at once to find who will approve you without a deposit. It takes minutes.

Many people who assume they need prepaid discover they qualify for a traditional plan somewhere. Can’t promise it, but it’s worth checking before paying prepaid rates or a deposit. See our path to traditional plans guide for how the process works.

If traditional doesn’t work out, prepaid is always there. No credit check, no deposit, same-day lights. Amigo Energy’s prepaid plans are one option. Others are listed in our best no-deposit light companies rankings.

Amigo Energy vs the Alternatives

Feature	Amigo Energy (Traditional)	Traditional No-Deposit	Prepaid Companies
Credit check	Yes	Yes (we find who approves you)	None
Deposit	Depends on credit	$0	$0
Startup cost	$0 if approved	$0	$40-$150
Monthly cost (1,000 units)	$140-$180	$90-$130	$150-$210
Bilingual service	Full English/Spanish	Varies by company	Varies
Contract	12-60 months	3-24 months	None
Same-day service	Before noon, Mon-Sat	1-3 business days	Varies
Termination fee	$150-$200	$50-$200	None

For a broader comparison of bad credit options and what’s available, browse our full provider rankings. You can also see current Amigo Energy plans available in your area.

The Verdict on Amigo Energy

Amigo Energy fills a specific niche well. If you’re a Spanish-speaking household that wants to handle your lights in your own language, from signup to billing to customer service, Amigo Energy delivers that better than anyone else in Texas. Their complaint numbers are low. Their plan variety is solid. They’ve been doing this for over 20 years.

The Just Energy ownership adds some uncertainty, and the rates won’t win any cheapest-in-Texas awards. But if bilingual service is your top priority and you can pass the credit check for a traditional plan, Amigo Energy is a legitimate option.

If you’re here because you need no-deposit lights, don’t start with Amigo Energy’s prepaid plans. Check if you qualify for a cheaper traditional plan with $0 deposit first. That could save you $500+ per year. The prepaid route is always available as a backup.

Get Your Lights On

Before paying prepaid rates or a deposit, let us check if you qualify for a cheaper traditional plan with $0 deposit. Many people find one. If not, Amigo Energy and other prepaid companies are always available, no credit check, no deposit, same-day lights.

Find No-Deposit Light Companies

---

This review is for informational purposes only. Rates and policies change. For current plans and pricing, visit amigoenergy.com. NoDepositLights.com is powered by Compare Power (PUCT License BR190020).