Houston Electricity Rates 2026

Houston sits at the heart of Texas deregulation. CenterPoint Energy serves as the Transmission and Distribution Utility (TDU) for approximately 2.7 million metered customers across Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, and surrounding Gulf Coast counties. CenterPoint owns the infrastructure — lines, meters, and transformers — but has no role in setting your electricity supply rate.

More than 70 REPs are licensed to serve Houston-area ZIP codes, making it among the most competitive retail electricity markets in the United States. Residential rates generally range from 9 to 15 cents per kWh. Houston's humid subtropical climate means high air conditioning demand from April through October, and customers who sign fixed-rate annual contracts before summer typically pay less than those on month-to-month variable plans during peak months.

Leading providers serving Houston include Reliant Energy (headquartered in Houston), TXU Energy, Direct Energy, Gexa Energy, Pulse Power, Discount Power, Payless Power, Green Mountain Energy, and Frontier Utilities.

FAQ — Does CenterPoint choose my electricity rate? No. CenterPoint only charges a regulated delivery fee. Your supply rate is set by the REP you choose. Switching REPs does not change your CenterPoint service or cause any interruption.

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