Southeast Texas, Houston Metro

CenterPoint Energy Service Area

CenterPoint Energy delivers electricity to homes in Houston and much of the surrounding area. It maintains the lines and restores outages, but it doesn't sell electricity plans. You choose your electricity provider, and CenterPoint delivers the power.

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Current CenterPoint Electricity Rates

Compare current CenterPoint electricity rates by usage and plan type. We recommend straightforward fixed-rate plans of 12 months or longer, and we generally steer customers away from bill-credit and short-term plans.

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CenterPoint service area · Rates at 1,000 kWh

On this page

Utility vs. provider

What CenterPoint Does

Texas splits electricity service between two companies. CenterPoint Energy is the transmission and distribution utility (TDU) for the Houston area, which means it manages the poles and wires that deliver electricity to your home. You can't choose CenterPoint or any other TDU, but you can choose the electricity provider that supplies your energy.

CenterPoint Energy

  • Owns and maintains the poles, wires and substations
  • Restores power after outages and storms
  • Installs and reads your smart meter
  • Connects and disconnects service when you move
  • Sets regulated delivery charges, approved by the PUCT

Your electricity provider

  • Sells you the electricity plan and sets its energy rate
  • Sends your monthly bill, including CenterPoint's charges
  • Handles enrollment, payments and customer service
  • Sets contract length, fees and renewal terms

On your bill

CenterPoint Delivery Charges

Every home in the CenterPoint area pays the same regulated delivery charges, no matter which provider it uses. CenterPoint doesn't bill you directly. The charges appear on your electricity provider's monthly bill, and they change several times a year as the PUCT approves updates.

Monthly charge
$4.90per month
Delivery charge
6.5333¢per kWh

Residential rates, current as of October 2026. Source: CenterPoint Energy.

Example: A 1,000 kWh Month

Here is how CenterPoint's charges add up on the bill for a home that uses 1,000 kWh in a month.

Monthly charge$4.90
Delivery charge1,000 kWh × 6.5333¢$65.33
CenterPoint charges on your bill$70.23

Your provider's own energy charge is added on top. At 500 kWh, CenterPoint's charges come to about $37.57; at 2,000 kWh, about $135.57.

What Makes Up the Charge

  • Customer and metering charges

    The monthly charge is two fixed charges you pay regardless of usage: a customer charge for the cost of serving your account, and a metering charge for installing, reading and maintaining your meter.

  • Distribution charge and riders

    The per-kWh charge combines CenterPoint's base distribution rate with riders that recover specific costs, including transmission, distribution investment and energy-efficiency programs.

Why it matters

When CenterPoint's delivery charges change, many plans pass the change straight through to your bill, including some fixed-rate plans. Your plan's EFL says whether yours does.

Where it serves

CenterPoint Service Area

CenterPoint serves Houston and much of the surrounding region in Southeast Texas, including the suburbs below. Homes near the edges of the territory may be served by a different utility or an electric cooperative, so confirm your address when you shop: plans offered at your address will list CenterPoint as the utility.

When the power goes out

Reporting a CenterPoint Outage

Outages are CenterPoint's responsibility, not your provider's. Your provider can't dispatch a crew or speed up a restoration, so report the outage to CenterPoint directly.

  • Report the outage on CenterPoint's Outage Tracker using your phone number or meter number
  • Check the map for the estimated restoration time at your address
  • Stay away from downed lines and report them to CenterPoint right away
Open CenterPoint's Outage Tracker

Get Outage Alerts

CenterPoint's free Power Alert Service sends a text, email or phone call when an outage affects your home, with status updates, estimated restoration times and a notice when power is back. You can add up to 15 people to the alerts. Standard text messaging fees may apply.

Sign up for Power Alert Service

Your choices

Switching Providers and Moving

Switching providers doesn't change your utility. CenterPoint keeps delivering your electricity, reading your meter and handling outages. Your new provider submits the switch, so there is typically no interruption in service and no technician visit.

When you move to a new home in the CenterPoint area, you sign up with a provider for the new address and the provider asks CenterPoint to start service. Because CenterPoint reads your smart meter remotely, your usage history is also available through Smart Meter Texas, which is the most accurate way to compare plans at your real usage.

Want us to do that comparison for you? Send us your Smart Meter Texas usage file and we'll recommend a plan based on how much electricity your home actually uses. Get a recommendation from your usage.

Learn how to switch electricity providers

Questions

CenterPoint Energy FAQ

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Related Guides

Personalized electricity guidance

Get a Personalized Electricity Recommendation

CenterPoint's charges are the same on every plan, so the difference comes down to the provider and the plan. Share your usage and we'll recommend the best option for your address.

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