Quick summary: Learn about Ambit Energy—a retail electricity provider available in deregulated markets like Texas—including details about its plans, areas of operation, contact information, and bill-pay options.
Living in a deregulated energy market like Texas means you have the power to choose your energy provider from dozens of options. One is Ambit Energy, a retail electricity provider serving residential and commercial customers in Texas and several other states.
But is Ambit Energy available in your service area, and does it offer the best affordable electricity plan for you? Learn what you need to know about Ambit Energy’s electricity services, how the company compares with other local energy providers, how to connect with Ambit, and payment options.
What Is Ambit Energy?
Ambit Energy is a retail energy provider, which means it packages, markets, and sells energy plans to people and businesses. Ambit does not operate the power grid or the transmission lines that deliver electricity to your house; that’s up to your local utility company or an energy regulator like the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, commonly known as ERCOT.
Your energy provider is the entity that calculates your home energy usage, sends you an electricity bill, responds to requested assistance, and handles any customer service complaints.
Ambit provides electricity and natural gas services, although natural gas is available in only some of the company’s service areas.
Where Is Ambit Energy Located?
Ambit Energy was founded in Dallas in 2006. Although it has expanded to deregulated markets in other states, it maintains its headquarters in Dallas.
Other markets Ambit covers include California, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
Who Owns Ambit Energy?
Ambit Energy was named one of America’s “fastest-growing companies” by Inc. magazine in 2010. In 2019, it became part of the Vistra Corp. energy company family.
Vistra Corp. is based in Irving, Texas, and owns power plants in California and other states. It also owns TXU Energy, Luminant, Dynegy, and other subsidiaries.
How Can You Communicate with Ambit Energy?
Ambit Energy offers several ways to reach out to someone on their team, listed below. Its customer support team is available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Central Time.
Ambit Energy contact information:
Customer service phone: (877) 282-6248 or (877) 28-AMBIT
Fax: (877) 805-5606
Business customers and inquiries:
Phone: (877) 654-3396
Fax: (877) 419-8706
Ambit’s mailing address for general correspondence:
P.O. Box 864589
Plano, TX 75086
Ambit’s mailing address for payments:
P.O. Box 660462
Dallas, TX 75266-0462
What Are Ambit’s Service Areas?
Ambit is available in 15 service areas, including Texas, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, California, New Hampshire, and Washington, D.C.
Note that just because your state is on the list, it doesn’t mean that Ambit is available in your area. For example, in Texas, Ambit Energy is available in only some parts of the state, including Dallas and Houston, but not in others, like El Paso and Austin.
That’s because the deregulated energy market does not extend to the entire Texas power grid. When searching for energy providers, you’ll need to enter your ZIP code to determine what electricity plans are available in your area.
How Does Ambit Energy Compare to Other Energy Companies?
One big difference between Ambit Energy and other energy companies is that it uses a multilevel marketing strategy to reach consumers.
Instead of traditional advertising, it has a network of 600,000 independent consultants who serve as a “direct sales channel,” selling energy plans directly to people.
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Consultants pay a fee to become part of the network and receive bonuses for signing up new customers. Consultants are prohibited from telemarketing and unethical business practices when engaging with prospective clientele.
Ambit has been the subject of several lawsuits and investigations, mostly over whether its marketing strategies incentivize consultants to exaggerate energy savings.
What Ambit Energy Plans Are Offered?
Ambit subscribers can choose from several energy plans depending on their location. For example, in Texas, they can select the Summer Break plan, which offers 50% off their bill between June and September.
Folks in the Northeast and Midwest have access to the Winter Break plan instead, which offers a similar discount between the months of November and February.
Plans may have a variable rate or fixed rate. They can also vary in duration and cancellation fees. Some of them use only renewable energy sources, called green plans.
There’s even a free energy program for customers who refer 15 or more friends. Ambit calculates the average daily energy cost for the people you referred, multiplies it by the number of days in your billing cycle, and provides you with the total. You can earn free energy each month, up to the amount of your total energy cost (excluding taxes, transmission charges, and other fees). Ambit will either credit your account directly or mail you a check, provided you maintain a minimum of 15 qualified customers.
The best way to find plans that are available in your area is to enter your ZIP code here.
What’s the Best Plan With Ambit Energy?
The best plan with Ambit Energy will depend on your energy usage and personal needs and preferences. For instance, to lock in a fixed rate for several years, you’ll want to consider a long-term contract like Secure Savings 36.
But if you move frequently or think you’ll switch providers in the near future, consider a short-term contract or one with a smaller cancellation fee.
And if you want to make the most of a free energy plan, consider whether you can save money by waiting to use your higher-energy appliances at night or on weekends.
Does Ambit Energy Offer Competitive Rates?
Ambit’s energy plans are similar to those of other companies in Texas, with a range of contracts to choose from. However, their energy rates may not be the cheapest on the market.
It’s often the case that the least expensive plans are the ones that require the longest commitment. Plans can also vary significantly in price based on your expected usage. For example, there may be some plans you can switch to that reduce their rates once you pass a certain usage threshold for the kilowatt-hours used.
It’s essential to shop around for electricity because the same company may offer higher rates or guarantee lower, more affordable rates based on your specific location and energy usage. You’re also free to research Ambit Energy reviews to find out what other residential or commercial clientele have to say. Consult with friends and family, too, and see if it’s worth the switch.
Remember, you can obtain important standardized information that will allow you to compare this product with other offers. Call Ambit Energy at (877) 282-6248 or visit www.ambitenergy.com.
What Is the Electricity Facts Label (EFL)?
The EFL is an informational guide that retail electricity providers in Texas must show you before you sign up for their energy services. You can download the EFL for each Ambit Energy plan directly from the company’s website.
The EFL was designed by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and is inspired by nutrition labels on food products. Instead of having to navigate each company’s policies separately, you’ll find a standard set of information on each form.
You’ll see the average price per kilowatt-hour right at the top, followed by transmission and delivery charges, the contract term, and any early termination fees.
Electricity is measured in kilowatt-hours, so make sure you’re looking at plans based on your actual energy usage: usually 1,000 or 2,000 kWh for a small-to-midsize home. Even fixed-rate plans can result in unexpected charges because low energy usage in a given month — say, 500 kWh — can actually result in a higher rate.
How Can I Pay My Ambit Energy Bill?
There are several payment options. You can log in to your myAmbit account on the website to review your statement and set up the paperless billing process.
If you want to pay by mail, you can send a check or money order (along with your payment slip or account number) to:
Ambit Energy
P.O. Box 660462
Dallas, TX 75266-0462
Other options include visiting their website and setting up automatic payment through your bank or with a credit card, or paying in cash at certain Western Union or MoneyGram locations.
You can also make over-the-phone payments by calling the customer service number (877-282-6248) during customer support hours or 24/7 if you use their automated system.
Keep in mind that some payment methods may incur a fee.
Does Ambit Energy Save You Money?
Ambit Energy is one of many energy providers available in deregulated energy markets. But will signing up with this provider save you money? That depends. The amount of money you pay for electricity is determined by many factors, including your energy usage, current market rates, and the terms and conditions of your contract.
Remember that by choosing a plan wisely and watching your energy usage, you could save money on power by locking in a long-term rate or benefit from seasonal energy discounts. Be sure to shop around, review competitive rates, and read the fine print before choosing an electricity plan.
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