Just Energy Review | Rates & Deposit (2026)

Just Energy is one of the bigger names in the Texas lights market. They’ve been operating here since 1997, survived a bankruptcy, got bought by IGS Energy, and still serve customers across every deregulated area in the state. If you’ve searched for light companies online, you’ve probably seen them.

But name recognition doesn’t mean they’re the right fit. Especially if your credit isn’t perfect and you’re trying to avoid a deposit. Just Energy runs a credit check on every new customer. Some pass, some don’t. That changes everything about whether this company makes sense for you.

Here’s what you actually need to know.

Just Energy at a Glance

Just Energy is a PUCT-licensed traditional light company in Texas (PUCT #10052). They started in 1997 as a Canadian company and expanded into Texas early on. They also own Amigo Energy and Tara Energy, so you might see those names around. Same parent, different branding.

What they offer:

• Fixed-rate plans from 12 to 60 months
• Free Nights and Free Weekends plans
• Green energy options through their JustGreen program
• Same-day service (with restrictions)
• Up to $150 bill credit for new customers switching from another company

Service areas: All deregulated Texas markets, including Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, and surrounding communities.

Contact: 1-866-587-8674 Same-day cutoff: 12 PM CT, Monday through Friday only

The big caveat: Just Energy requires a credit check. If your credit doesn’t meet their standards, you’ll need a deposit. This is a traditional light company, not prepaid. If you need no credit check options, that’s a different conversation.

What Just Energy Actually Costs

Just Energy’s rates shift based on your ZIP code, plan length, and usage. They don’t show pricing until you enter your location. Here’s the general picture for 2026:

Average rate: Around 19-20 cents per unit at 1,000 units of monthly usage. That’s not the cheapest in Texas, but it’s within the normal range for a traditional company.

Monthly cost for a typical Texas home (1,000 units):

Cost Component	Approximate Amount
Energy charges	$100-$140
Delivery charges	Included in advertised rate
Monthly fees	Varies by plan
Total monthly estimate	$120-$160

Cancellation fee: $175 if you leave before your contract ends (except for moves). That’s higher than average. A 12-month plan gives you flexibility. A 60-month plan locks you in for a long time with a steep exit cost.

The $150 bill credit: Just Energy offers up to $150 to cover your old company’s cancellation fee when you switch. Nice perk if you’re leaving a contract early. But read the fine print on usage requirements, because some plans only give you the full credit if you use over 2,000 units per month.

Compare those numbers to prepaid options where you’d pay $150-$200 per month for the same usage but skip the credit check entirely. Traditional plans like Just Energy’s cost less monthly. The question is whether you can get approved.

How Just Energy’s Billing and Plans Work

Just Energy is straightforward traditional billing. You use power, they send you a bill at the end of the month, you pay it. No daily balance tracking. No disconnection if you forget to reload.

Plan types:

• Simple Choice: Basic fixed-rate plan. Pick your term length, lock in a rate, done. No gimmicks.
• Mega Saver: Lowest rate, but designed for high-usage homes. Includes a $150 bill credit if you use over 2,000 units monthly.
• Renters Choice: Flexible cancellation for renters. Useful if your lease situation is uncertain.
• Weekends Free: Free power from 7 PM Friday to 11:59 PM Sunday. Fixed rate during the week.
• Free Nights: Free power from 9 PM to 7 AM every night.

The free nights and weekends plans sound great. They can save money if you’re genuinely home during those hours and can shift heavy usage (laundry, dishwasher, charging) to free periods. But if your schedule doesn’t line up, you’ll pay more during peak hours than you would on a simple fixed-rate plan.

Contract lengths: 12, 24, 36, or 60 months. The longer the term, the lower the rate. But the longer you’re locked in with that $175 cancellation fee hanging over you. For most people, 12 to 24 months hits the sweet spot.

What Just Energy Gets Right

Term length options. A 60-month plan is rare in Texas. If you want to lock in a rate for five years and protect yourself from market swings, Just Energy is one of the few companies that offers it. That kind of price stability matters when rates spike.

Variety of plan structures. Between fixed-rate, free nights, and free weekends, you have real choices. Most light companies give you one or two options. Just Energy gives you five or six. You can match a plan to how you actually live.

The switching credit. Up to $150 toward your old company’s cancellation fee removes a real barrier. If you’re stuck in a bad plan with another company, this makes it easier to leave. That’s a legitimate differentiator.

National backing. Since IGS Energy completed the acquisition in July 2025, Just Energy has the financial stability of one of North America’s largest energy retailers. After the bankruptcy scare, that matters. They serve nearly 7.5 million customers combined.

Long track record. Operating in Texas since 1997. Nearly 30 years. They’ve survived deregulation, market crashes, a pandemic, Winter Storm Uri, and a bankruptcy. Still here.

What Just Energy Gets Wrong

The complaint rate is high. Just Energy logged 233 PUC complaints over the past 12 months. That’s nearly double the industry average of about 120. Their billing clarity score sits at 15 out of 100. Translation: customers frequently get confused by their bills and feel charges aren’t transparent.

The bankruptcy is a real thing. In March 2021, Just Energy filed for bankruptcy after Winter Storm Uri left them with a $335 million ERCOT bill they couldn’t pay. They emerged in late 2022 and got acquired by IGS Energy in 2025. They’re stable now, but that history means they weren’t strong enough to weather the same storm that other companies survived.

Same-day cutoff is early. 12 PM Central Time, weekdays only. Most competitors offer cutoffs at 2 PM, 4 PM, or even 6 PM. Payless Power does 6 PM seven days a week. If you need lights in the afternoon or on a weekend, Just Energy won’t help you today.

Door-to-door and retail sales tactics. Multiple customer complaints mention being approached at Sam’s Club or Walmart, told they’d save money, and then seeing their bills increase. The plans themselves may be fine, but the sales channel has earned a bad reputation. Always verify rates online before signing up through a salesperson.

No prepaid option. If your credit doesn’t pass their check, Just Energy has nothing for you. They’re traditional only. You’ll need to look at prepaid companies or find another traditional company that will approve you.

Who Just Energy Is Actually For

Just Energy makes sense if you:

• Pass a credit check and want a fixed-rate traditional plan
• Value long-term rate locks (up to 60 months)
• Want free nights or free weekends plans
• Are switching from another company and want the $150 cancellation credit
• Prefer a large, established light company with a long Texas history

Just Energy does NOT make sense if you:

• Can’t pass a credit check (they have no prepaid fallback)
• Need same-day lights after noon or on weekends
• Want the absolute cheapest rate in Texas (others beat them)
• Have had bad experiences with aggressive sales tactics and want a hands-off enrollment process
• Are looking for month-to-month flexibility (minimum 12-month contract)

Before You Sign Up: Check Traditional Options First

If your credit is a concern, signing up directly with Just Energy is a gamble. You’ll go through their credit check, maybe get hit with a deposit requirement, and then you’re back to square one.

Every Texas light company sets their own credit thresholds. One company might approve you with $0 deposit while another wants $400. The rules change constantly based on each company’s business needs. We check multiple companies at once to find who will take you without a deposit. It takes minutes instead of an afternoon of phone calls.

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 you either pay a deposit to Just Energy or settle for higher prepaid rates.

If traditional doesn’t work anywhere, pay-as-you-go is always available. No credit check, no deposit, same-day lights. You haven’t lost anything by checking the traditional path first.

Just Energy vs the Alternatives

Feature	Just Energy	Traditional No-Deposit	Prepaid
Credit check	Yes	Yes (we find who approves you)	None
Deposit	Depends on credit	$0	$0
Startup cost	$0 if approved	$0	$40-$75
Monthly cost (1,000 units)	$120-$160	$90-$130	$150-$200
Contract	12-60 months	3-24 months	None
Same-day service	Before 12 PM weekdays	1-3 business days	Yes (7 days)
Cancellation fee	$175	$50-$200	None

See the Just Energy provider page for current plan availability, or browse the full best no-deposit light companies to see how they stack up across the board.

The Verdict on Just Energy

Just Energy is a legitimate light company with real plan variety and a nearly 30-year track record in Texas. The 60-month fixed rate, free nights and weekends options, and $150 switching credit are genuine selling points. The IGS Energy acquisition gives them financial stability they didn’t have a few years ago.

But the high complaint rate, bankruptcy history, early same-day cutoff, and aggressive sales reputation are real concerns. And if your credit is the reason you’re reading this review, Just Energy might not have an answer for you. They don’t do prepaid. If you don’t pass their credit check, they’ll ask for a deposit and that’s it.

Check if you qualify for a no-deposit traditional plan first. If Just Energy is the one that approves you, great. If not, there are other options.

Get Your Lights On

Before you apply directly with Just Energy and risk a deposit, let us check multiple light companies at once. Many people find a $0 deposit traditional plan. If that doesn’t work out, pay-as-you-go is always there with no credit check, no deposit, and same-day lights.

Find No-Deposit Light Companies

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