The Smart Meter Texas website helps Texans review their home’s monthly energy usage when shopping for an electricity plan from electric companies. Knowledge of your electric usage is an important factor in getting the cheapest electricity rate for your home and preventing bill surprises.
If you need your home’s energy usage information or to report a problem, call Smart Meter at 888-616-5859 or access it online at the Smart Meter Texas website.
The Smart Meter Texas energy usage data can be used with Home Energy Club’s Electricity Fact Label guide and Texas Electricity Savvy Shopper’s guide to help you choose the best electricity plan for your home.
Below are sample electricity rates from trusted electric companies in Texas which you can use to compare your current energy bill by multiplying with Smart Meter Texas usage information. For rates in your area, enter your zip code in the box on this page.
Electricity Rates for use with Smart Meter Texas Usage Data
Speak with a top-rated Reliant operator about additional plans at 833-339-0416.
Call Reliant (English/Spanish)
Speak with a Gexa Energy operator about discounted rates for your home at 855-639-8212.
Call 4Change Energy about their low rates on trusted no-gimmick plans at 888-366-7291.
Call 4Change (English/Spanish)
Can’t afford a deposit? Call Payless Power about “No Deposit” plans in English or Spanish at 833-926-9776.
Call Payless (English/Spanish)
What Is a Smart Meter?
Technology gets better every day, and so do metering systems and devices. If you don’t have a smart meter at your home or business, it might be a good idea to get one, as it will save you time and help you come up with an electricity plan that suits your energy consumption. Keep reading to find out why smart meters are worth it, how they work, and how they are different from conventional electricity meters.
Every residence and business has an electric meter that registers the amount of consumed electricity in kilowatt-hours (kWh). A conventional analog meter has to be read monthly by a meter reader who comes to your premise to record the amount of consumed electricity displayed on your meter.
However, metering technology has significantly improved, making it possible for smart meters to record the amount of consumed electricity and send it automatically to your Transmission and Distribution Utility (TDU). This is why a smart meter doesn’t require anyone to record its readings every month.
Keep in mind that not all digital meters are smart meters, but all smart meters are digital. There are many digital meters in Texas that still have to be read by employees of the TDUs every month.
How Do Smart Meters Work?
The main purpose of any electricity meter is to record the amount of electricity a home or business consumes. Smart meters basically do the same in addition to sending the necessary electricity data to your Transmission and Distribution Utility every 15 minutes.
You will also have access to all the detailed readings of your consumption and the corresponding prices, which makes it easier to control your electricity usage. The communication between smart meters and TDUs is done through radio frequency signals that take place for one to two seconds at a time.
Is a Smart Meter in Texas Free?
Having a smart meter in Texas isn’t free, but you won’t have to pay the full price when it gets installed at your location. You will just have to pay a surcharge that will be added to your monthly bill. In 2005, with the approval of the Texas Legislature, the Public Utility Commission (PUC) authorized electricity companies to add a surcharge to the bills of the customers who get new smart meters in order to recover the extra costs.
If you don’t have a smart meter and want to have one, contact your Transmission and Distribution Utility regarding its smart meter distribution plans and costs in your neighborhood. You can usually find the phone number of your TDU on your electric bill. Otherwise, here are the numbers of TDUs in Texas in our Power Outage Guide and below:
- Centerpoint Energy: 800-332-7143
- AEP Texas: 866-223-8508
- Texas-New Mexico Power: 888-886-7456
- Oncor Electric Delivery: 888-313-4747
Can You Refuse to Have a Smart Meter Installed?
Yes, you can choose not to have a smart meter installed at your home or business. Although smart meters are safe and beneficial, some people don’t want them. However, if you already have a smart meter and want to exchange it for an analog meter, you will have to pay a hefty one-time fee or an extra charge that will be added to your monthly bill. For more details about the process and costs of opting out of a smart meter, contact your Transmission and Distribution Utility.
Are Smart Meters Worth It?
Smart meters are definitely worth it, especially if you want to choose the right energy plan, regulate your electricity consumption and lower your expenses. After getting a smart meter, you can easily register on the Smart Meter Texas (SMT) website in order to receive and view all of your energy consumption data and reports online.
Smart meters are also more convenient, as you won’t have to worry anymore about the meter reader who comes to your home every month. Moreover, your smart meter will instantly notify the Transmission and Distribution Utility in case of a power outage.
Smart meters are also good for the environment, as meter readers are no longer going to drive around the town to record the readings of many meters at different places. So there will be fewer vehicles on the road, thus reducing fuel consumption, pollution, and traffic. See our unique guide for other ideas on how to reduce your electricity bill and help the environment, and our article on finding cheap electricity rates by Texas zip code.
How to Read/Analyze/Interpret the Smart Meter Reports
The SMT website enables you to download your energy data in the form of a CSV file. Depending on the type of report you request, the data will be either available for immediate download or you will get an email notification when it’s ready for download. If you have trouble reading or analyzing your usage reports, contact the Smart Meter Texas team by clicking on the Contact Us tab on the left side of the SMT webpage. You can also contact your Retail Electric Provider (REP) for more guidance.
Want to Use Your Smart Meter Information to Pick the Perfect Energy Plan for Your home?
There are many energy plans that you can choose from, depending on the size of your premise and the amount of your energy usage. In the Electricity Facts Label (EFL) of every Texas energy plan, you will see the prices for different monthly energy usage levels of 500, 1,000, and 2,000 kilowatt-hours. Your smart meter readings will show you how many kWh you consume every month so you can select the right usage level when considering energy plans.
Some energy plans offer free nights and weekends, and time of day usage information will allow you to determine whether these plans are a fit for your home (these plans are expensive for typical home usage levels). Having a smart meter at your location will also let you have more control over your electricity usage, as you will be able to view the detailed readings of your usage so you can understand your costs to make decisions. Thus, you can know which devices in your home or office consume the most energy and when energy consumption is at its maximum, so you can regulate your usage according to when consumption is free.
Smart meters are more convenient than conventional meters, and they will help you regulate your monthly energy usage so you can cut down your expenses. However, you may have to pay an extra monthly surcharge that will be added to your bill if you get a smart meter installed.
Now Shop for an Energy Plan and Cut your Electricity Rate
Make sure to select the perfect energy plan for your home based on your energy usage, and avoid billing surprises, by visiting HomeEnergyClub.com. There are many Texas energy providers to choose from (also called light companies and electric companies), and you’ll also want to check on electricity facts related to your city. Some plans have special discounts with rates that are lower than the ones you’ll find on the provider sites.
Don’t forget to check out our energy provider reviews before selecting a supplier. And to help you instantly cut your rate, see our electric company promo codes that you can use directly on their websites and share with family members. The promo codes (also called referral codes and discount codes) deliver an off-the-top reduction to the regular provider rates when you view their plans and enroll.
Want a great resource to learn more about electricity? Check our Texas Electricity Glossary.
Smart Meter Texas Frequently Asked Questions
What is Smart Meter Texas?
Smart Meter Texas™ (SMT) is an online portal that allows Texas residents with digital electric meters (smart meters) to access data detailing their home energy usage. You can use the data to help you choose the correct energy plan based on your home’s usage on HomeEnergyClub.com, where you’ll find electricity rates that are lower than the ones on provider sites for the same brand and term length. Selecting the right energy plan based on your usage patterns makes it possible for you to reduce bill surprises.
Smart Meter Texas is a collaborative effort with five Transmission Distribution Utility companies:
- AEP Texas Central Company
- AEP Texas North Company
- Centerpoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC
- Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC
- Texas-New Mexico Power Company
Energy data recorded by smart meters is stored at the Smart Meter Texas site in daily, monthly, and quarter-hour intervals. The information can also help you better manage your consumption of electricity, as it provides insights on how to further reduce energy costs. Learn more at Home Energy Club.
Why is it important to use Smart Meter Texas data to choose an energy plan in Texas?
To choose the right energy plan in Texas from HomeEnergyClub.com in order to take advantage of cheap discount rates and reduce the odds of a bill surprise, it is important to know the monthly energy usage data for your home. Texas residents are able to review their monthly electricity usage history on the Smart Meter Texas website.
Start by checking Smart Meter Texas for your energy usage data, then go to Home Energy Club to review both their Texas Electricity Savvy Shopper’s guide and the Electricity Facts Label guide for plans you’re considering.
You can choose a discount rate plan from top Texas electric companies on our electricity rate comparison site, where we use our bargaining power to offer rates that are lower than ones you’ll find on the supplier sites (club membership is always free). By choosing the correct energy plan, you can reduce your electricity rate, cut your monthly bill and avoid unexpected bill spikes caused by a mismatch of the plan with your home’s usage.
How do I know if I have a smart meter?
Learn how to use smart meter information to choose the correct energy plan at HomeEnergyClub.com. Electricity meters installed since 2009 are typically smart meters, but many people still wish to know the differences between a smart meter and a conventional meter to determine which one is installed at their home.
You can tell if you have a smart meter in three ways. First, the meter itself has a digital display on a flat-panel LCD screen, whereas conventional analog meters have dials and turning gears and are more difficult to read.
The second distinction with a smart meter is that your electricity bill may change to reflect specific insights on your electricity usage, as opposed to showing flat lines for energy usage. Thirdly, if you have a smart meter, the potential inconvenience of a meter reader coming to your house every month to read your electricity meter is eliminated.
Can I access my smart meter data?
You can access your historic smart meter data by going to Smart Meter Texas. Also, some electric companies in Texas send weekly usage reports to customers with smart meters, and with virtually any Texas electric company, you can count on seeing smart meter data on your electricity bills each month. An app for reading electricity usage data may be available to download on your phone and computer.
See the plan details of electricity plans on HomeEnergyClub.com to determine whether an electric company provides weekly usage reports. Also, use smart meter data to help you in choosing the correct energy plan on Home Energy Club, based on your home’s usage.
Are smart meters safe?
Smart meters communicate electricity usage through radio waves and are safe. There is no reason to be concerned about potential dangers. The low-level radio waves that smart meters produce are of a frequency similar to your car keys and the remote control for your television. Rigorous testing and research have concluded that smart meters produce radio waves well below safety guidelines.
If privacy is your concern, there is no need to worry about that, either. Smart meter devices do not share sensitive or personal information of any kind. The one and only function of smart meters is to capture details about your energy usage. Learn more at Home Energy Club.
How do I use a Centerpoint Energy or Oncor Electric smart meter?
Whether your energy transmission utility (TDU) is Centerpoint Energy, Oncor, AEP, TNMP or another Texas utility company, smart meters are used in the same way. Data on your energy usage is available in real-time.
Real-time visibility of your energy usage is shown on an easy-to-read monitor, enabling you to get a handle on the amount of energy you are using at any given time of day.
For in-depth information on Texas transmission and distribution utility companies (TDUs), you’ll find a link to a profile page for each one in the footer of HomeEnergyClub.com.
What are the advantages of choosing a smart meter?
There are many advantages to choosing a smart meter, including:
- With a smart meter, you can conveniently view your home’s historic energy usage patterns, which will help you in choosing the correct energy plan for your home on HomeEnergyClub.com. Choosing the correct plans will save you money and cut bill surprises.
- Smart meters monitor your energy usage in 15-minute intervals. If you are interested in cutting energy costs, you can use the “real-time” information on usage to make changes that reduce electricity consumption.
- Customers on prepayment plans have an easier time of keeping tabs on their energy usage and knowing when credit is running low and needs replenishment.
- A digital reader puts an end to monthly visits from a meter reader needing to take readings.
Learn more at Home Energy Club.
How do I calculate my bill using a smart meter?
Smart meters provide a helpful advantage in that you can more easily calculate the amount of your energy bill. Go to the outside meter and look at the display showing the total number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) for the current billing period.
Multiply that number by the amount you pay per kWh. For example, if your usage in the first half of the month has been 800 kWh and the amount you pay per kWh is 11 cents, you owe $88 for the first two weeks. With these figures, you can calculate average daily and weekly usage to determine what your total energy bill will be for the current month. This allows you to avoid the shock of an unexpectedly high electricity bill. Also, many electric companies provide weekly reports via email detailing your electricity usage. Learn more at Home Energy Club.
What is the difference between a smart meter and an old analog dial meter?
Smart meters provide a completely different experience regarding the use of and billing for electricity than old analog dial meters. With virtually real-time information provided by smart meters, you have detailed energy consumption data at your fingertips. You can access helpful energy information daily.
Old analog dial meters, on the other hand, offer no insights about when or how electricity is consumed except that you receive a monthly bill showing the total amount you owe. Learn about how to use your smart meter information to choose the best energy plan for your home at HomeEnergyClub.com.
Why are smart meters beneficial to the environment?
Anytime a household or business reduces its energy usage, demand for the generation of power is reduced, and widespread reduction in fossil-sourced energy benefits the environment. The reduction in energy consumption results in fewer pollutants and cleaner air. It is also significant that utility companies use less fuel because employers don’t need to send meter readers out to visit properties as often. Visit Home Energy Club to learn more.
