How does the Texas electricity market work?

Texas has a deregulated electricity market in most ERCOT areas. You choose your Retail Electric Provider (REP) for supply, while Transmission and Distribution Utilities (TDUs) like Oncor and CenterPoint deliver the power. This means your bill includes both energy charges and delivery charges — and verifying both is important.

Does Utility Check support Texas electricity bills?

Yes. Utility Check supports bills from all major Texas TDUs (Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas) and the REPs that serve them. We verify your energy charges, delivery charges, and any fees to make sure your bill matches your plan's Electricity Facts Label (EFL).

What should I check on my Texas electricity bill?

In Texas's deregulated market, your bill includes energy charges from your REP and delivery charges from your TDU. Common issues include introductory rates that have expired, minimum usage charges, and delivery fees that don't match published TDU rates. Utility Check verifies all of these independently.

How can I verify my Texas electricity bill is accurate?

Upload your Texas electricity bill to Utility Check. We recalculate your energy charges against your plan's rate, verify TDU delivery charges, check for expired promotional rates, and flag any discrepancies. If everything checks out, you get confirmation. If not, we provide a step-by-step guide to resolve the issue.

Utility Check

Texas Electric Utility Comparison

Texas has a deregulated electricity market, meaning you can choose your Retail Electric Provider (REP) while your local Transmission and Distribution Utility (TDU) handles delivery. Understanding both components helps you find the best rates.

How Texas Electricity Works

Your bill has two parts: Energy charges (from your chosen REP) and Delivery charges (from your TDU, which you can't choose). When comparing rates, make sure to include both components for accurate comparison.

Transmission & Distribution Utilities (TDUs)

Your TDU is determined by your address. These are the delivery charges you'll pay regardless of which REP you choose.

TDU	Service Area	Base Charge	Delivery Rate	Avg Total Rate	Customers
LargestOncor	Dallas-Fort Worth, West Texas, Waco	$5.25/month	3.7¢/kWh	16.1¢/kWh	3.9 million
CenterPoint Energy	Greater Houston, Galveston, Coastal Texas	$5.47/month	4.1¢/kWh	16.6¢/kWh	2.8 million
AEP Texas North	Abilene, Lubbock, Midland-Odessa	$10.53/month	3.7¢/kWh	17.9¢/kWh	280,000
AEP Texas Central	Corpus Christi, South Texas, Rio Grande Valley	$6.06/month	3.8¢/kWh	16.8¢/kWh	1 million
Texas-New Mexico Power (TNMP)	Texas City, Galveston, scattered areas	$7.85/month	4.2¢/kWh	17.2¢/kWh	250,000

Popular Retail Electric Providers (REPs)

These are some of the most popular REPs in Texas. Rates shown are energy-only and don't include TDU delivery charges.

Frontier Utilities

8.5¢/kWh

energy only

Fixed Rate

No deposit options
Renewable plans available
Simple pricing

Gexa Energy

8.9¢/kWh

energy only

Fixed Rate

100% renewable options
Cashback rewards
No hidden fees

TXU Energy

10.5¢/kWh

energy only

Fixed/Variable

Longest operating REP
Free nights/weekends plans
Bill credits

Reliant Energy

10.8¢/kWh

energy only

Fixed/Variable

NRG subsidiary
Truly free nights
Rewards program

Green Mountain Energy

11.2¢/kWh

energy only

Fixed Rate

100% renewable
Carbon neutral options
Environmental focus

TDU Detailed Profiles

Oncor

Dallas-Fort Worth, West Texas, Waco

16.1¢/kWh

avg total

3.9 million

3.7¢/kWh delivery

Advantages

• Largest TDU in Texas with extensive infrastructure
• Competitive delivery rates
• Strong storm restoration capabilities
• Wide REP selection in service area

Considerations

• Some rural areas have limited REP options
• Delivery charges can vary by usage tier
• Smart meter rollout still ongoing in some areas

CenterPoint Energy

Greater Houston, Galveston, Coastal Texas

16.6¢/kWh

avg total

2.8 million

4.1¢/kWh delivery

Advantages

• Excellent infrastructure in Houston metro
• Advanced smart grid technology
• Strong hurricane preparedness
• Many REP options available

Considerations

• Slightly higher delivery rates than Oncor
• Hurricane-prone area may see outages
• Transmission charges can add up

AEP Texas North

Abilene, Lubbock, Midland-Odessa

17.9¢/kWh

avg total

280,000

3.7¢/kWh delivery

Advantages

• Reliable service in West Texas
• Lower per-kWh delivery rate
• Good for high-usage customers

Considerations

• Higher base charge than other TDUs
• Fewer REP options in rural areas
• Limited competition in some zones

AEP Texas Central

Corpus Christi, South Texas, Rio Grande Valley

16.8¢/kWh

avg total

1 million

3.8¢/kWh delivery

Advantages

• Moderate base charge
• Growing infrastructure investment
• Coastal wind energy integration

Considerations

• Hurricane exposure in coastal areas
• Some rural areas underserved
• Fewer REP choices than Houston/Dallas

Texas-New Mexico Power (TNMP)

Texas City, Galveston, scattered areas

17.2¢/kWh

avg total

250,000

4.2¢/kWh delivery

Advantages

• Focused service in specific communities
• Local customer service
• Moderate overall rates

Considerations

• Smallest TDU with limited coverage
• Fewer REP options
• Higher delivery rates

Understanding Your Texas Electric Bill

Energy Charges (from your REP)

This is the cost of the electricity itself, charged per kWh. This is the part you can shop for and compare between different REPs. Rates typically range from 8-15¢/kWh depending on your plan.

Delivery Charges (from your TDU)

These are the costs to deliver electricity to your home through the power lines. You can't choose your TDU—it's determined by your address. Delivery typically adds 3-5¢/kWh plus a base charge.

Taxes and Fees

Various state and local taxes, plus regulatory fees. These are typically a small portion of your total bill but should be factored into comparisons.

Frequently Compared: Texas City Rates

Compare electricity rates and utility providers across popular Texas cities. Each city guide includes rate plans, bill breakdowns, and local assistance programs.

Dallas

Oncor (TDU) + Retail Provider

Fort Worth

Oncor (TDU) + Retail Provider

Arlington

Oncor (TDU) + Retail Provider

Plano

Oncor (TDU) + Retail Provider

Houston

CenterPoint Energy (TDU) + Retail Provider

The Woodlands

CenterPoint Energy (TDU) + Retail Provider

Galveston

CenterPoint Energy (TDU) + Retail Provider

Dallas

TXU Energy

Verify Your Bill

Whether you're with any Texas utility, our verification service can check your bill for accuracy and ensure you're being charged correctly.