Texas Electricity Market Report — May 2026
Figures average 4 weekly snapshots of the publicly listed Texas retail plan inventory (weeks of May 4 through May 25, 2026), captured from Power to Choose listings with TDSP delivery charges included. This is a dated archive record; it is not revised after publication. The weekly series behind these figures is published on the Texas rate history page, and the estimation method is documented in how we rank plans.
May broke the four-month decline, with the market average ticking up to 13.95 cents per kWh as summer pricing began to firm. The listed inventory also grew noticeably — from roughly 610 to about 707 plan listings per week — and free-period (time-of-use) plans expanded to about 13% of listings.
What changed in May 2026
- Market-average all-in pricing at 1,000 kWh firmed to 13.95¢/kWh (+0.16¢ vs April 2026), with the median moving +0.03¢.
- Within the month, the weekly average moved from 13.76¢ (week of May 4) to 14.25¢ (week of May 25) — a 0.49¢ climb inside the month.
- The listed inventory averaged about 707 plan listings per week from roughly 38 providers — 97 more weekly listings than April 2026, with the provider count up 2.
- The month's lowest listed estimated bill at 1,000 kWh was $74.00 (Rhythm Saver 14, RHYTHM, week of May 4) — +$0.00 vs April 2026's cheapest.
- Plan structures: bill credits on 3.1% (-0.2 pts); minimum-usage fees on 2.0% (-0.5 pts); free-period pricing on 13.2% (+4.2 pts) of listings, changes vs April 2026.
- Twelve-month fixed-rate terms averaged 13.45¢ against 14.88¢ for 36-month terms — the longer lock priced 1.43¢ above the shorter one. Vs April 2026, 12-month pricing moved -0.05¢ and 24-month +0.06¢.
- By delivery territory, the largest move at 1,000 kWh was Oncor, +0.36¢ to 13.82¢ — the delivery-territory table below breaks out each territory.
Interpretation, not measurement: listed offers averaged higher than the month before — a firming market, where shoppers whose contracts end soon give up little by comparing early rather than waiting. Directional reads like this describe the listed inventory, not a prediction of future prices.
Average all-in rate by usage level
| Monthly usage | Avg rate | Avg est. bill | Lowest est. bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 15.32¢ | $76.60 | $53.00 |
| 1,000 kWh | 13.95¢ | $139.52 | $74.00 |
| 2,000 kWh | 13.99¢ | $279.89 | $192.00 |
All-in averages over standard-priced listed plans (energy plus TDSP delivery), averaged across the month's weekly snapshots.
Average rate by delivery territory (TDSP)
| Territory | 500 kWh | 1,000 kWh | 2,000 kWh | Listed plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oncor | 15.12¢ | 13.82¢ | 13.84¢ | 149 |
| CenterPoint | 14.41¢ | 13.01¢ | 13.06¢ | 145 |
| AEP Texas North | 15.57¢ | 14.36¢ | 14.47¢ | 138 |
| AEP Texas Central | 14.79¢ | 13.60¢ | 13.70¢ | 140 |
| TNMP | 16.82¢ | 15.06¢ | 15.00¢ | 136 |
Delivery charges differ by territory, so the same plan prices differently in each. Listed plans is the average weekly count of standard and time-of-use listings in that territory at 1,000 kWh.
Plan structures
| Structure | Share of listings | vs prior month |
|---|---|---|
| Bill credits | 3.1% | -0.2 pts |
| Minimum-usage fees | 2.0% | -0.5 pts |
| Free periods (time-of-use) | 13.2% | +4.2 pts |
Fixed-rate pricing by contract term
| Term | Avg rate at 1,000 kWh |
|---|---|
| 12 months | 13.45¢ |
| 24 months | 14.75¢ |
| 36 months | 14.88¢ |
36-month terms averaged +1.43¢ versus 12-month terms this month. Current inventory for each term is on the 12-month and 24-month pages; what a fixed rate does and doesn't lock is covered in the fixed-rate guide.
Weekly detail (1,000 kWh)
| Week of | Avg rate | Median rate | Listings | Cheapest listed plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 4, 2026 | 13.76¢ | 13.60¢ | 635 | Rhythm Saver 14 · RHYTHM · $74.00 |
| May 11, 2026 | 13.88¢ | 13.70¢ | 745 | Rhythm Saver 14 · RHYTHM · $79.00 |
| May 18, 2026 | 13.92¢ | 13.75¢ | 780 | Rhythm Saver 14 · RHYTHM · $79.00 |
| May 25, 2026 | 14.25¢ | 14.00¢ | 668 | Rhythm Saver 12 · RHYTHM · $83.00 |
Estimated costs are informational. Provider rates and plan terms may change. Confirm current details directly with the provider.
Data caveats
- Figures are unweighted averages of 4 weekly snapshots of the publicly listed residential inventory; a week belongs to the month containing its Monday, and months with an ingest gap average fewer snapshots. The weekly detail table above is the complete set behind this report.
- Averages describe listings, not enrollments — a plan listed all month counts the same whether one household or ten thousand chose it, and offers sold only through provider channels aren't captured.
- Month-over-month comparisons use the same method for both months. Structure shares (bill credits, minimum-usage fees, free periods) reflect what our EFL parsing detected on listed plans.
Figures reflect plans as listed during May 2026 and are historical records, not current offers. Estimated costs depend on usage, TDSP territory, plan terms, and availability. Users should confirm final pricing and terms with the provider before enrolling. TrueBill Energy is a free comparison tool and does not sell electricity or enroll customers.