Houston electricity rates: what you’ll really pay in 2026

On October 5, 2026, flat-rate Houston plans ran from 10.6 to 13.7 cents per kWh at 1,000 kWh, with CenterPoint delivery included. Compare that with the 15.88 cents the average Texas home paid in July 2026. Not sure if your own rate is fair? Grade it in 60 seconds.

In most of Houston, you pick your own electric company, called a retail provider. CenterPoint delivers the power to every home, no matter which provider you choose. So you get your bill from your provider, but you call CenterPoint about outages. Not sure who serves your address? Try our utility finder.

Report it to CenterPoint by phone at 713-207-2222 or 800-332-7143, or on its online outage tracker, where you can also sign up for alerts. Your provider can’t fix lines, so calling it wastes time. If a line is down, call 911 first.

Plan prices were close in October 2026. Our checks in both cities found flat-rate plans from 10.6 cents per kWh at 1,000 kWh, topping out at 13.7 cents in Houston and 14.1 cents in Dallas. Delivery is a little cheaper here: CenterPoint adds $70.23 to a 1,000 kWh bill, while Oncor adds $72.73 in Dallas.

Watch for any plan that pays a credit only when you hit a usage line. In our October check, Rhythm’s Max Saver 24 cost 8.3 cents per kWh at 1,000 kWh but 20.8 cents at 500 kWh. Run any plan through our 10-second trap checker before you sign.

In our October 5 check of the 10 companies we’d scored by then, Frontier Utilities’s Frontier Power Saver 3 had the lowest flat rate: 10.6 cents per kWh at 1,000 kWh. The catch is that it lasts only 3 months. Prices move daily, so look up today’s rates at your own use on Power to Choose.

A 3-month plan can look like the best deal, but your rate can rise once it ends. A 12-month or longer plan holds your price, though you may owe a fee if you leave early. If you plan to stay in your home, the longer plan with a fair cancel fee is usually the safer bet.

Houston’s long, humid summers keep the AC running for months, often day and night. When your use doubles, even a low rate adds up fast. Raise the thermostat a few degrees, seal air leaks and shade sunny windows. Our high bill guide shows what else to check.

Choose a provider and plan, and give it your new address or ESI ID plus your move-in date. Your provider then asks CenterPoint to switch your power on. Some providers want a deposit first, but there are free ways to skip it.

Sign up for CenterPoint outage alerts, charge phones and power banks early, and plan for several days without power. After Beryl in July 2024, some homes waited days to get power back. If someone in your home needs powered medical equipment, ask your provider about CenterPoint’s critical care listing. A home battery can keep key things running.

It can be, but it depends on your plan. In Houston, your provider decides what it pays for extra solar power through a buyback plan. Compare buyback plans before you buy panels. A battery adds backup power during outages, which many homes want after Beryl.

It means CenterPoint delivers your power. The ESI ID is the number that identifies your home’s electric meter, and providers use it to start or switch service. Look for it on an old bill, ask your landlord, or look it up by address.

They’ve swung a lot. Federal price data for the Houston area shows prices rose about 24% from 2020 to 2022, then fell back in 2023. In 2024, they were close to 2020 levels. That’s why a good fixed rate can protect you.

Call your provider first and ask for a deferred payment plan before the due date. Then reach the state’s energy aid program, CEAP, at 877-399-8939 on weekdays, or dial 211. Homes with income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level can apply. Our bill help guide lists more options.