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Houston Electricity Rates & Plans for a Humidity-Driven Market

Compare plans in Houston by estimated monthly cost at your usage, with CenterPoint delivery charges included.

Estimated costs are informational. Provider rates and plan terms may change. Confirm current details directly with the provider.

CenterPoint Market Snapshot
162
Plans available
all plan types · CenterPoint territory
39
Providers competing
in this service area
7.2¢/kWh
Cheapest standard rate
standard-priced plans · 1,000 kWh
$129/mo
Avg standard bill
standard-priced · $1552/yr annually

Live eligible-plan inventory — CenterPoint territory; the same active, validation-clean, fresh plan set the compare tool ranks, with TDSP delivery charges included. Rate and bill figures cover standard-priced plans only (free-period and time-of-use plans are counted in inventory but excluded from rate figures). Source: daily EFL capture of the state plan feed; refreshed with this page about every 6 hours. Confirm current rates with the provider before enrolling.

Top Electricity Plans in Houston (Ranked by Real Monthly Cost)

Plans below are ranked by estimated total bill including CenterPoint delivery charges. Enter your actual monthly kWh for personalized results and confirm final details with the provider.

Top 5 of 162 active plans in Houston (CenterPoint territory), ranked by estimated monthly bill at 1,000 kWh — the same deterministic ranking used in the live comparison below. Snapshot as of September 5, 2026; plan data is refreshed from provider EFL filings multiple times daily.
#PlanProviderRate (1,000 kWh)Est. bill (1,000 kWh)TermFine print
1SimpleSaver 12AP GAS & ELECTRIC (TX) LLC7.2¢/kWh$72/mo12 moCredit cliff at 1,000 kWh, $150 cancel fee
2The Lone Saver Plus 12Energy Texas7.4¢/kWh$74/mo12 moCredit cliff at 1,000 kWh, $20 cancel fee
3Sure Saver 12SPARK ENERGY LLC7.8¢/kWh$78/mo12 moCredit cliff at 1,000 kWh, $100 cancel fee
4Rhythm Max Saver 24RHYTHM7.9¢/kWh$79/mo24 moCredit cliff at 1,000 kWh, $20 cancel fee
5Variable AdvantageSOUTHERN FEDERAL POWER LLC9.7¢/kWh$97/mo1 moVariable rate

Estimated bills include CenterPoint delivery charges. Confirm final pricing on the provider's Electricity Facts Label before enrolling. Use the interactive comparison below to rank all 162 plans at your own usage, or the full comparison tool.

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Houston residents can compare electricity plans from dozens of retail providers to find the best fit for their home in CenterPoint delivery territory. Houston is one of the largest deregulated electricity markets in Texas, and high heat plus Gulf humidity can push monthly usage well above benchmark assumptions. Comparing by estimated monthly cost at your actual usage pattern, rather than relying only on advertised headline rates, helps households identify the plan structures that work for their monthly consumption.

Houston's humidity adds moisture removal to the air conditioner's cooling load. The effect on monthly kWh depends on your home, equipment, thermostat settings, and weather; use your bill history rather than a fixed humidity allowance.

Houston Electricity Rates — August 2026

Weekly standard-priced market index — CenterPoint territory, snapshot from the week of August 31, 2026. Unlike the live inventory above, rate figures here exclude free-period and time-of-use plans.

In the week of August 31, 2026, 163 standard-priced plans from 41 providers were on the market in CenterPoint territory. At 1,000 kWh, the cheapest works out to 5.9¢/kWh all-in (about $59 for the month), and the territory average is 12.2¢/kWhdown 0.7¢ vs the week of August 3, 2026. All figures include CenterPoint delivery charges.

Monthly usageCheapest rateAverage rateCheapest est. billAverage est. bill
500 kWh10.0¢/kWh13.0¢/kWh$50/mo$65/mo
1,000 kWh5.9¢/kWh12.2¢/kWh$59/mo$122/mo
2,000 kWh9.3¢/kWh12.1¢/kWh$186/mo$242/mo

Standard-priced plans in the CenterPoint service territory tracked in the TrueBill database, weekly snapshot from August 31, 2026. Rate = estimated all-in monthly bill (energy + CenterPoint delivery charges) divided by usage — the same average-price definition the Electricity Facts Label uses. Time-of-use and free-period plans are excluded from rate figures. CenterPoint delivery charges are identical across the territory, so these rates apply to Houston addresses served by CenterPoint. Plan pricing changes often — confirm current terms with the provider.

See how Texas electricity rates have trended · Monthly Texas market reports

Provider Rates on the CenterPoint Grid This Week

Lowest and average all-in rates per provider at 1,000 kWh, from the snapshot for the week of August 31, 2026.

ProviderPlansLowest rateAvg rate
AP GAS & ELECTRIC (TX) LLC75.87¢10.57¢
SPARK ENERGY LLC46.53¢10.11¢
TARA ENERGY58.50¢12.00¢
JUST ENERGY49.64¢13.17¢
AMIGO ENERGY49.64¢13.17¢
SOUTHERN FEDERAL POWER LLC59.70¢11.02¢
Companion Energy29.80¢10.35¢
Octopus Energy69.86¢13.04¢
Rhythm Energy410.01¢10.84¢
Energy Texas410.01¢11.35¢

Rates are EFL average prices at 1,000 kWh including CenterPoint delivery charges. This is territory-level data — identical for every city on the CenterPoint grid, because providers price by TDSP territory, not by city. Full history on the Texas rate history page.

Typical Homes in Houston

Houston has extraordinary housing diversity, from high-rise condos in Midtown and the Galleria to 1920s–1950s bungalows in Montrose and The Heights, newly-built townhomes replacing older stock in the Inner Loop, and large homes in outer suburbs like Sugar Land, Katy, and The Woodlands. A 700-kWh apartment and a 3,000-kWh house are useful contrasting comparison scenarios, not measured averages for those neighborhoods. Your bill history determines which usage levels fit.

How to Compare Houston Electricity Plans

What to compareWhy it matters in Houston
Monthly usageCompare plans at your real kWh use, especially during high summer air-conditioning months.
Bill creditsA plan that looks cheap at 1,000 kWh can cost more when your usage falls above or below its bill-credit threshold.
Minimum usage fees and base chargesThese can materially affect your total during lower-usage months.
Contract term and early termination feeChoose a term that fits how long you expect to stay, and check the cost to leave early.
CenterPoint delivery chargesThese regulated charges apply regardless of retail provider and should be included in the estimated total cost.

Local planning angle for Houston

In Houston, humidity-driven cooling demand can shift month-to-month usage enough to change plan rankings. Comparing only at a single benchmark often misses this effect.

Why Houston Residents Compare Electricity Plans

Houston residents compare electricity plans because seasonal cooling demand can make plan rankings shift between summer and winter. If your own August bill is much higher than February's, compare both usage levels to see how credits, fees, and energy charges behave across that range.

Who Delivers Electricity in Houston

CenterPoint (your delivery utility)

CenterPoint owns and maintains the poles, wires, transformers, and meters in Houston. They handle outages and infrastructure, but they do not sell electricity plans. You choose a retail provider separately, and CenterPoint delivers the power regardless of which provider you pick.

CenterPoint's delivery charges are the same for every customer in Harris County, regardless of retail provider. TrueBill includes these charges in every estimate.

Review CenterPoint TDSP delivery charges and service-area details →

Understanding Houston Electricity Bill Components

Energy Charge (the supply portion of your bill)

The energy charge is the per-kWh rate your retail electricity provider charges for the electricity you consume. This is the competitive portion of your bill - providers compete on this rate. Energy charges can be fixed for a contract term, tiered (different rates at different usage levels), or variable month-to-month. Check the Electricity Facts Label for each plan to see the exact energy charge and how it applies at different usage levels.

CenterPoint TDU Delivery Charges (the wires portion)

CenterPoint Energy charges a separate fee to deliver electricity to your home, regardless of which retail provider you select. These delivery charges are regulated by the Texas Public Utility Commission and are identical for every Houston household in CenterPoint territory. They include a fixed monthly customer charge plus a per-kWh delivery charge. TrueBill includes CenterPoint delivery charges in every plan estimate so your comparison reflects the full bill.

Bill Credits and Usage Thresholds

Many Houston electricity plans include bill credits that apply only when your monthly usage falls within a specific range. A common structure offers a usage credit at exactly 1,000 kWh but no credit (or a smaller credit) above or below that threshold. If your Houston household uses 1,200-1,800 kWh in summer, a credit designed for 1,000 kWh may not apply. Some plans also include time-of-use credits for free nights or weekends. Review the Electricity Facts Label for each plan to understand exactly when credits trigger and how they affect your estimated monthly cost at your actual usage level.

Illustrative Electricity Usage in Houston

Illustrative summer peak: Aug (2,000 kWh)

This example household curve illustrates seasonal cooling demand in Houston; it is not a measured city average.

That seasonal swing changes plan economics: bill credits, minimum usage fees, and usage-based pricing can behave very differently as monthly usage moves up and down.

TrueBill ranks plans using your actual usage profile whenever possible instead of relying only on the standard 1,000 kWh benchmark.

Illustrative household scenario using assumed seasonal ranges and an assumed CenterPoint seasonal pattern. These values are not measured Houston averages; use your own monthly bills for a personal comparison.

Seasonal Usage & Weather in Houston

Monthly Usage Patterns

For a Houston household comparison, you could test an illustrative summer range of 1,600–2,400 kWh and a winter range of 700–1,200 kWh. These are example inputs, not observed city averages or a humidity adjustment. Replace them with your own seasonal bills, especially if electric heating changes your winter pattern.

How Houston's Weather Affects Your Bill

Houston's Gulf Coast position creates a dual cooling challenge: both temperature and humidity must be managed by the AC system. Moisture removal can extend cooling-system runtime, but the resulting electricity use varies with the equipment and building. This page does not assign a measured kWh premium to Houston's humidity.

What to Check Before Picking a Plan in Houston

High summer usage variability

Plans that look competitive at one usage point may not remain competitive during peak cooling months.

Bill-credit threshold cliffs

Credits may apply at specific usage levels and may not apply when usage moves outside threshold ranges.

Minimum usage and base charge interactions

Fixed monthly charges and minimum-usage terms can materially change low-to-mid usage outcomes.

Contract term and ETF terms

Contract and termination terms may change and should be confirmed directly with the provider.

TrueBill factors these plan structures into every estimate. Plan terms can change, so confirm details with the provider before enrolling.

Frequently Asked Questions About Electricity in Houston

How do I compare electricity plans in Houston?
Start with your actual monthly kWh usage from a recent bill rather than relying on advertised benchmark rates. Compare plans using estimated monthly cost that includes CenterPoint delivery charges, not just the energy rate. Pay attention to bill credit thresholds — a credit that applies at 1,000 kWh may not help if your usage is consistently higher in summer. Review contract length, early termination fees, and whether the plan is fixed-rate or variable. Check for minimum usage fees that may apply in lower-usage months. TrueBill estimates show all-in monthly cost at your usage level to make comparison straightforward.
What fees affect my Houston electricity bill?
Your Houston electric bill has several components beyond the advertised energy rate. CenterPoint TDU delivery charges include a fixed monthly fee and a per-kWh delivery charge regulated by the Texas PUC. Some plans charge a monthly base fee regardless of usage. Minimum usage fees may apply if your consumption falls below a specified threshold. Bill credits can reduce your total but only if your usage meets the exact conditions on the Electricity Facts Label. Early termination fees apply if you cancel a fixed-rate contract before the term ends. The Electricity Facts Label for each plan details all charges, and TrueBill includes them in every cost estimate.
How do bill credits work on Texas electricity plans?
Bill credits are conditional terms on the Electricity Facts Label, often tied to a specific usage range or threshold. A common structure offers a credit at exactly 1,000 kWh but no credit above or below that point — so a plan can look inexpensive at 1,000 kWh yet cost more when your usage is higher or lower. This matters in Houston because summer cooling demand often pushes usage well above 1,000 kWh, meaning a credit triggered only at that exact level may not apply during your highest-cost months. Some plans use tiered credits that scale with usage, while others offer time-of-use credits for free nights or weekends. Always review the EFL to see the exact credit structure, trigger thresholds, and credit amounts. Compare plans using estimated monthly cost at your actual usage level — not just the advertised rate — to understand whether a credit will actually reduce your bill.
Why is my Houston electricity bill so high?
Houston's heat and humidity can increase cooling demand, but there is no fixed extra kWh amount that applies to every home. Compare your summer and winter bills at their actual usage levels and confirm current provider terms. Also check whether your current plan has bill-credit thresholds you're missing or minimum usage fees that are adding to your bill.
Are Houston electricity rates different at different usage levels?
Yes. Most Texas plans price differently by usage level: the Electricity Facts Label discloses average prices at 500, 1,000, and 2,000 kWh, and structures like bill credits, tiered energy charges, and minimum usage fees can make the same plan cheap at one level and expensive at another. This matters more in Houston than in most cities because humidity-driven summer cooling can move a home's usage across those levels between seasons. Compare at your own kWh from a recent bill — ideally checking both a summer and a winter month — rather than at a single benchmark.
Does CenterPoint have an outage hotline?
For power outages, call CenterPoint at 713-207-2222 or visit their outage map online. For electrical emergencies, call 911. Your retail electricity provider cannot restore power; outage restoration is handled entirely by CenterPoint.
Can I switch electricity providers in Houston?
Houston is in the CenterPoint deregulated service territory for choice-eligible addresses. Retail choice may not apply to every address in the metro area. Use your exact ZIP in compare flow to confirm eligibility and available plans.
How do CenterPoint delivery charges affect my total Houston electricity bill?
CenterPoint delivery charges are regulated by the Texas PUC and passed through by every retail provider — they appear on your bill regardless of which company you choose. They include a fixed monthly base charge plus a per-kWh delivery fee. TrueBill includes CenterPoint delivery charges in every plan estimate for Houston addresses so the comparison reflects your actual all-in cost, not just the energy supply rate.
What is the difference between the CenterPoint delivery charge and the energy charge on my Houston electricity bill?
Your electricity bill has two main cost components: the energy supply charge set by your retail provider, and the CenterPoint delivery charge set by the Texas PUC. The energy supply portion is where provider competition happens — different plans offer different per-kWh rates, bill credits, and contract structures. The CenterPoint delivery charge is fixed and identical for every customer at your Houston address regardless of which provider you choose. Comparing plans by total estimated monthly cost — energy plus delivery — gives you a more accurate picture than comparing supply rates alone.

Houston ZIP Codes

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Estimated costs are informational. Provider rates and plan terms may change. Confirm current details directly with the provider.