Some states allow fixed contract prices. Not sure if TX does or not.
Edit: Not sure why I'm downvoted. I'm just saying some places allow consumers to buy a fixed rate plan. The parent comment was asking about how the process has varied in the past and I was pointing out that some people might be protected via a fixed rate contract.
The overwhelming majority of retail electric plans in Texas are fixed or nearly-fixed rate. By "nearly," I mean the rate changes by bands based on time (e.g. power you use after 10pm is $0.05/kWh where power you use between 12pm and 4pm is $0.21/kWh).
Some plans are so-called variable rate where the per-kWh rate you pay changes per month based on the price of natural gas.
But an increasing majority are these time-of-use, rates-can-move plans, of which Griddy's is the logical extreme.
Edit: Not sure why I'm downvoted. I'm just saying some places allow consumers to buy a fixed rate plan. The parent comment was asking about how the process has varied in the past and I was pointing out that some people might be protected via a fixed rate contract.