Rhythm Energy Review | Green Plans & Costs (2026)

Rhythm Energy keeps showing up in Texas light company searches, and it’s easy to see why. They’re the green energy company that actually looks modern. Clean website. Slick app. Every plan is 100% renewable. Goldman Sachs money behind them. Founded in Houston in 2021 by energy industry veteran PJ Popovic.

But if you’re searching for Rhythm Energy because you need lights on without a deposit, you need the full picture before signing up. Rhythm runs a credit check. They may require a deposit. And their rates, while competitive for green energy, aren’t the cheapest in Texas.

Here’s what matters.

Rhythm Energy at a Glance

Rhythm Energy is a PUCT-licensed traditional light company in Texas (PUCT #10343). They launched in January 2021, making them one of the newer companies in the state. They’re backed by Goldman Sachs private equity, headquartered in Houston, and focused entirely on 100% renewable energy plans.

What they offer:

• Fixed-rate plans from 6 to 36 months
• 100% renewable energy on every plan (solar and wind)
• Solar buyback plans for homes with panels
• Time-of-use plans with peak/off-peak pricing
• 30-day satisfaction guarantee for new customers
• ETF reimbursement up to $150 from your old company

Service areas: Oncor (Dallas-Fort Worth), CenterPoint (Houston), AEP Central (Corpus Christi), AEP North, and TNMP areas. Most deregulated Texas addresses are covered.

Contact: 1-833-743-1300 Same-day cutoff: 2 PM CT, Monday through Friday only

What Rhythm Energy Actually Costs

Rhythm’s rates land in the middle of the Texas market. Not the cheapest, not the most expensive. For a 100% renewable company, the pricing is competitive.

Current rate range: Roughly 10.5 to 15 cents per unit depending on your area and plan length. Rates shift with market conditions, so what you see today might differ next month.

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

Cost Component	Approximate Amount
Energy charges	$90-$130
TDU delivery charges	Included in advertised rate
Base charge	$0 on most plans
Total monthly estimate	$105-$150

The deposit question: If your credit doesn’t meet Rhythm’s standards, expect a deposit of $200-$400. That’s based on two months of estimated billing. You get it back after 12 months of paying on time, with interest. They also offer a deposit alternative program with a non-refundable fee instead.

Cancellation fee: $20 per month remaining on your contract. Walk away from a 12-month plan after 2 months and you owe $200. The 30-day satisfaction guarantee protects new customers from this during the first month.

To see how these rates compare to prepaid options, the math matters more than the marketing.

How Rhythm Energy’s Plans Work

Rhythm operates as a traditional (post-paid) light company. You sign a contract, use power for a month, then get a bill. Standard stuff. But they’ve added some features that set them apart.

Plan types:

• Simply Select: Basic fixed-rate plans at 6, 12, or 24 months. Straightforward pricing, no gimmicks. Their bread and butter.
• Saver Plans: Bill credit plans that give you a credit at 1,000 units of usage. These can look cheap at exactly 1,000 units but cost more if your usage is higher or lower.
• Watt a Deal: Bill credit at 2,000 units. Better for larger homes.
• PowerShift: Time-of-use pricing where you pay more during peak hours and less during off-peak. Good if you can shift heavy usage to nights and weekends.
• Solar Buyback: For homes with solar panels. Rhythm credits you for excess energy sent back to the grid.

Monthly billing: You get a bill once a month. Autopay is available. The app shows your usage in near real-time so you can track spending before the bill arrives. This daily visibility is genuinely useful for staying on budget.

Rate parity on renewal: When your contract ends, Rhythm offers renewing customers the same rates as new customers. Most Texas light companies jack up renewal rates to squeeze extra money from people who don’t bother shopping around. Rhythm’s rate parity policy is uncommon and worth noting. Keep in mind that rates still change with market conditions, so your renewal rate might differ from your original rate. But at least you’re not paying more than someone signing up fresh.

Customer service: Available 7 days a week by phone, email, text, or chat. Rhythm earned a 4.8 out of 5.0 star rating with a net promoter score of 78, which puts them near the top in Texas for customer satisfaction.

What Rhythm Energy Gets Right

100% renewable, every plan. This isn’t a premium add-on or a special green tier. Every single Rhythm plan is backed by solar and wind energy from Texas sources. If going green matters to you, Rhythm doesn’t make you pay extra for it. Compare that to companies like Green Mountain Energy, which specifically charges a green premium on top of base rates. Rhythm bakes it in.

The app is genuinely good. Rhythm was built as a tech company from day one. The app shows daily usage, sends smart alerts when your consumption spikes, and makes account management painless. You can see what yesterday’s power cost you before breakfast. For a traditional light company, this level of visibility is rare. Most competitors give you a monthly bill and call it a day.

30-day satisfaction guarantee. Don’t like the service? Switch within 30 days, no cancellation fee. This removes the risk of trying them out. Most light companies lock you in from day one.

Rate parity for renewals. Getting the same rate as new customers when you renew is a big deal. The Texas light market is notorious for hiking renewal rates. Rhythm doesn’t play that game.

ETF reimbursement. Switching from another company? Rhythm covers up to $150 of your early termination fee from the old company. That lowers the switching cost significantly.

What Rhythm Energy Gets Wrong

Credit check required. There’s no way around it. Rhythm runs your credit before approving service. If your score is below their threshold, you’ll face a deposit of $200-$400. They don’t publish the cutoff, so you’re flying blind until you apply. They do offer some deposit waivers for customers 65 and older, victims of family violence, and people who can show a letter of good payment history from a previous light company. But for most people with credit issues, the deposit stands.

No prepaid option. If you can’t pass the credit check and can’t afford the deposit, Rhythm has nothing for you. No pay-as-you-go fallback. You’ll need to look at prepaid light companies or find a traditional company that approves you without a deposit.

Weekday-only same-day service. Rhythm’s 2 PM cutoff is Monday through Friday. Need lights on a Saturday? You’re waiting until Monday. For someone in crisis mode on a weekend, this is a real problem. Prepaid companies like Payless Power handle same-day connections 7 days a week.

The cancellation fee adds up fast. At $20 per remaining month, leaving a 24-month contract early can cost $200-$400 depending on timing. The 30-day guarantee helps new customers, but after that window closes, you’re locked in. Compare this to prepaid plans with zero termination fees.

Billing clarity could be better. Rhythm’s billing clarity score is 53 out of 100 according to industry reviewers. That means your bill might not be as easy to read as you’d expect from a “modern” company. Bill credit plans in particular can confuse people when usage doesn’t land exactly at the credit threshold.

They’re still young. Rhythm launched in 2021. Five years of track record is decent, but it doesn’t match companies that have been serving Texas for 15-20 years. Goldman Sachs backing provides financial stability, but longevity earns trust in a different way.

Who Rhythm Energy Is Actually For

Rhythm makes sense if you:

• Can pass a credit check (or handle the deposit)
• Want 100% renewable energy without paying a green premium
• Value a modern app and daily usage tracking
• Plan to stay at the same address for 12+ months
• Have solar panels and want a buyback plan

Rhythm does NOT make sense if you:

• Need lights today with no credit check (try prepaid options)
• Can’t afford a deposit of $200-$400
• Need weekend same-day service
• Want month-to-month flexibility without cancellation fees
• Need the absolute cheapest rate regardless of energy source

Before You Sign Up: Check Traditional First

If you’re reading this review because your credit has you worried about deposits, pause before assuming you need prepaid.

Every Texas light company sets its own credit threshold. Rhythm might want $300 from you while another company says $0. We check multiple companies at once to find who’ll approve you without a deposit. It takes minutes, not the afternoon of phone calls you’d spend doing it yourself.

Many people who assume they’ll need a deposit discover they have a no-deposit traditional option. Can’t promise it, because every credit situation is different. But it’s worth checking before either paying Rhythm’s deposit or settling for higher prepaid rates.

If traditional doesn’t work out, prepaid is always there. Same-day service, no credit check, no deposit. You haven’t lost anything by checking first.

Rhythm Energy vs the Alternatives

Feature	Rhythm Energy	Traditional No-Deposit	Prepaid (Pay-as-You-Go)
Credit check	Yes	Yes (we find who approves you)	None
Deposit	$0-$400 (credit dependent)	$0	$0
Startup cost	$0 if approved	$0	$40-$75
Monthly cost (1,000 units)	$105-$150	$90-$130	$150-$200
Contract	6-36 months	3-24 months	None
Same-day service	Weekdays by 2 PM	1-3 business days	Yes (7 days)
Cancellation fee	$20/month remaining	$50-$200	None
100% renewable	Yes	Varies by company	No

For a deeper comparison of traditional versus prepaid costs, see our prepaid vs traditional guide.

The Verdict on Rhythm Energy

Rhythm Energy delivers exactly what it promises: 100% renewable plans, a modern app experience, and competitive rates. The rate parity policy and 30-day satisfaction guarantee show a company that respects its customers. For people with decent credit who care about green energy, Rhythm is one of the better options in Texas.

But this is a traditional light company with a credit check and potential deposit. If your credit is the reason you’re here, Rhythm might not be the answer. Check whether you can get approved for a no-deposit traditional plan first. If you can, and renewable energy matters to you, put Rhythm on your short list.

If traditional plans don’t work out, prepaid is always available. No credit check, no deposit, same-day lights.

Get Your Lights On

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

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 gotrhythm.com. NoDepositLights.com is powered by Compare Power (PUCT License BR190020).