Chariot Energy

Chariot Energy launched in Texas in 2018, making them one of the newer light companies in the deregulated market. PUCT-licensed (#10197), they operate across Texas with a clear focus: 100% solar energy on every plan. That’s the whole pitch. Not a renewable add-on, not a partial green option. Every plan they sell is backed by solar power.

Being newer than most Texas light companies is worth naming directly. Chariot doesn’t carry a 15-year track record. What they have is a focused product built around solar and an online-first account experience. If solar is important to your household and you qualify, they offer something most Texas light companies don’t.

Credit Check: Yes. Deposit: Possible.

Chariot Energy runs a credit check when you apply. Every post-paid light company in Texas does this. The system is designed to estimate financial risk, not to help you get your lights on. If your credit comes back below their threshold, they’ll require a deposit before service starts. The minimum startup runs $50 if a deposit applies.

Chariot does not guarantee $0 deposit. That’s honest. But a deposit with one company isn’t the same as a deposit everywhere. Every light company sets their own thresholds and those numbers shift based on current enrollment goals and how much bad debt they’re carrying at any given time. Someone who gets quoted a deposit from Chariot might get approved at $0 from a different company on the same day.

That’s why checking multiple companies at once makes sense before assuming a deposit is locked in. Many people with thin or damaged credit find a $0 deposit traditional option through that process. See how deposits actually work in Texas before you start filling out applications.

What Chariot Energy Does Well

The solar commitment is real. Chariot sources 100% of their supply from solar generation. Wind handles most of the renewable market in Texas. Chariot’s focus on solar specifically is a differentiator if you want your lights tied to that source.

Rates are competitive for a renewable light company. Solar-backed plans from other companies often carry a premium. Chariot has kept their pricing in line with market rates, which means you’re not paying extra just for clean energy sourcing.

Online account management handles the basics without friction. Bill pay, usage history, and plan details are accessible through the web without needing to call in.

Same-day lights are available if you sign up before 2 PM CT Monday through Friday. Before that cutoff, they can move fast. After it, next business day is the standard timeline.

What to Know Before You Commit

Chariot is newer. That’s not disqualifying, but it means there’s less independent customer feedback available compared to companies that have been operating since 2005 or 2009. Newer companies have shorter documented complaint histories with the PUCT and less established service infrastructure. That’s not a red flag, it’s just context worth having.

Chariot does not offer pay-as-you-go plans. If their credit check requires a deposit and you can’t cover it right now, there’s no prepaid fallback through Chariot. You’d need a different light company for that path. How pay-as-you-go lights work covers the no-credit-check option in full. Startup runs $40 to $75 depending on the company, and that money goes toward your usage, not into a fee you lose.

The Solar Angle

Your lights run on the same Texas grid as everyone else. The difference is what Chariot purchases on your behalf. The megawatt-hours they buy come from solar facilities. That transaction funds solar generation and keeps the economics working for clean energy buildout in Texas.

For some households, that sourcing distinction matters. If you’re choosing between two companies at similar rates and one of them runs on solar, that’s a real differentiator that doesn’t cost you extra.

Who Chariot Energy Works For

Chariot fits people who want 100% solar lights at competitive rates without paying a green energy premium. If you qualify for a traditional plan at $0 deposit and renewable sourcing is a priority, Chariot is worth comparing directly against other Texas light companies.

It also works for people who prefer handling their account online and don’t need phone-based support for routine questions.

Who Should Look Elsewhere First

If you need a pay-as-you-go fallback and Chariot’s credit check doesn’t go your way, you’ll need a different company. Chariot is traditional-only.

If you’re uncertain whether you’d qualify for $0 deposit anywhere, run a multi-company check before committing to pay-as-you-go rates. Pay-as-you-go costs roughly $600 to $900 more per year than a traditional fixed-rate plan. That gap is real. Compare traditional and pay-as-you-go side by side before you decide.

If you want to see the full landscape before picking a single company, our best no-deposit light companies guide covers who’s operating in Texas, what they require, and where they’re competitive. We check multiple companies at once before concluding a deposit is unavoidable.

If traditional doesn’t work out right now, the path back to traditional plans is real. Twelve months of on-time payments builds the history that opens more doors. Read our full Chariot Energy review for current rates and a closer look at their plan structure.