Texas-New Mexico Power (TNMP) is a transmission and distribution utility (TDU), also known as a “poles and wires” company. As a local utility company, TNMP delivers electricity to homeowners and businesses in its service area. However, the utility doesn’t sell that power directly to customers. Instead, retail electricity providers (REP) provide that service within TNMP’s utility territory.
Texans can choose their electricity providers because the state has a deregulated energy market. However, your location determines which TDU operates in your service area. If you live in a TNMP-operated area, you can switch electricity providers but cannot switch TDUs unless you move to an address that has a different utility company.
Texas-New Mexico Power is one of the smallest utility companies in Texas, with around 270,000 residential and business customers. While it doesn’t offer the cheapest Texas electricity rates, TNMP still offers competitive energy costs compared to other utility service areas.
Texas-New Mexico Power Service Area
As shown in the map below, TNMP doesn’t have a contiguous service area. Rather, TNMP operates in several pockets across three regions of Texas:
- Gulf Coast: Two southern portions of the Greater Houston metropolitan area, where CenterPoint Energy is the largest provider
- North Texas: Multiple communities and small towns around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, where Oncor is the primary provider
- West Texas: One continuous area that covers Pecos and some surrounding towns
Some ZIP codes south of Houston are CenterPoint and TNMP areas, but the companies have no overlap. In other words, you cannot pick between the TDUs even if both utilities are in your ZIP code.
Similarly, Oncor and TNMP service some of the same ZIP codes around Dallas-Fort Worth. However, the same no-compete principle applies. Because the companies do not overlap coverage areas, you can’t choose which utility company manages the grid in your area.
Other cities in the TNMP service area include Fort Stockton, Lewisville and Texas City.
What Is the Difference Between Texas-New Mexico Power and My Electricity Provider?
Texas-New Mexico Power and your electricity provider have different roles due to deregulation. TNMP is exclusively a transmission and distribution utility, which certain websites and official documents call a transmission and distribution service provider (TDSP).
As a local utility company, TNMP delivers power to your home, but it doesn’t market or sell that energy. In deregulated areas of Texas, that job falls to the electricity companies.
Assume you choose TriEagle Energy as your provider while your neighbor chooses Green Mountain Energy. In this case, both of you receive electricity from different providers, but the same TDU delivers electricity to both properties. So, TNMP works alongside many electricity companies to supply energy to homes and businesses.
How To Shop for a Retail Electricity Provider in Texas-New Mexico Power's Territory
Choosing an electricity company in the Texas-New Mexico Power service area is all about your energy needs and your monthly budget. We rate and review providers across several key categories, including cost, bill predictability, plan features and customer satisfaction.
We recommend reviewing energy companies based on how they rate against your needs. Our top providers in the TNMP service area are Reliant Energy, Green Mountain Energy and TriEagle Energy.
When shopping for an energy provider, start by determining your home’s typical monthly usage. Then, compare provider energy plans using the electricity facts label (EFL).
Average Electricity Rate in Texas-New Mexico Power Area
Below, you can find our top-recommended plans.
Provider | Plan Name | Est. Monthly Cost | Rate (¢/kWh) | % Renewable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Frontier Utilities | Frontier Saver Plus 12 Plan | $124 | 12.4 | 30% |
Gexa Energy | Gexa Eco Saver Plus 12 Plan | $124 | 12.4 | 100% |
Rhythm Energy | PowerShift Payback 12 | $157 | 15.7 | 100% |
Frontier Utilities | Frontier Budget Saver 12 | $178 | 17.8 | 30% |
Rhythm Energy | PowerShift EV 12 | $172 | 17.2 | 100% |
Frontier Utilities | Platinum 12+ | $195 | 19.5 | 100% |
Gexa Energy | Gexa Light Saver 12 | $186 | 18.6 | 100% |
TXU Energy | Simple Rate 12 | $194 | 19.4 | 100% |
Payless Power | 12 Month - Prepaid | $212 | 21.2 | 26% |
Frontier Utilities | Frontier Saver Premier 12 | $219 | 21.9 | 30% |
Kilowatt-hour prices depend on your monthly consumption and the contract terms of your electricity plan. In the TNMP territory, you can achieve rates below 12 cents per kWh if you take advantage of bill credits or short-term discounts. However, if you have a plan with unfavorable terms for your home, your rate can exceed 26 cents per kWh.
Texas-New Mexico TDU Delivery Charges
TNMP applies the following delivery charges to all electricity plans in its service area regardless of electricity company, contract terms or energy prices:
- Base Charge: $7.85 per month, regardless of energy usage
- Delivery Charge: 6.2927 cents per kWh
If you use 1,000 kWh during a monthly billing period, you pay the base charge of $7.85 plus $62.93 in delivery fees, leading to a total charge of $70.78.
TNMP charges the same fees in all its service pockets. No matter where you live in the TNMP service area — or which electricity company you select — you’ll find these TNMP delivery fees on your monthly energy bill.
TNMP charges higher delivery fees than most competitors, including Oncor, CenterPoint Energy, AEP Texas Central and AEP Texas North. However, Lubbock Power & Light charges higher fees than TNMP.
Texas-New Mexico Power History
Founded in 1935 as Community Public Service, Texas-New Mexico Power is an electric utility company that historically served rural areas in both Texas and New Mexico. Unlike most electric utilities, which developed contiguous service areas, Community Public Service focused on serving remote communities with limited access to the power grid. Its business model resulted in a fragmented service area that persists today.
In 1981, Community Public Service changed its name to Texas-New Mexico Power after expanding to more than 100 towns in both states. TNMP sold its New Mexico operations in 1997, choosing to focus exclusively on its Texas markets. TNMP elected not to change its name even though it no longer operates in New Mexico.
For years, even with its fragmented territory, TNMP was a vertically integrated utility that controlled all stages of the power supply: generation, transmission, distribution and retail sales to customers. However, when Texas deregulated the state’s electricity markets in 2002, TNMP sold its power plants to focus exclusively on transmission and distribution.
Service Information
As a transmission and distribution utility, TNMP reviews and approves electricity service requests within its territory. TNMP also installs and operates smart power meters for homes and businesses.
If you need to work on your electrical equipment, TNMP can disconnect your service temporarily to make the process safer. You must also contact TNMP if you plan to increase your electricity consumption by installing equipment that will require upgrading your service connection.
TNMP Energy Efficiency Programs
TNMP offers energy efficiency incentives for its residential and commercial customers through several programs. The table below summarizes the TNMP residential efficiency programs.
| Program Name | Description |
| New Construction | TNMP offers financial incentives for constructing high-performance and ENERGY STAR-certified homes in its service territory. The program offers direct incentives to homebuilders. It also provides technical and commercial training. On the other hand, home buyers benefit from typical energy savings of around 20% and increased comfort. |
| Existing Homes | TNMP offers incentives for energy-efficient upgrades in existing homes through participating contractors, covering measures such as insulation and HVAC equipment upgrades. The program has predetermined incentive rates for each type of measure, but custom measures are also eligible for incentives. |
| Low Income | TNMP offers a low-income weatherization program, similar to the Existing Homes program. However, while the Existing Homes program covers energy upgrades partially, the Low Income program fully covers their cost — up to a maximum incentive of $8,500 per home. |
You can read about the commercial incentive programs on the TNMP Efficiency website.
TNMP Power Grants Program
The Power Grants Program offers incentives of up to $10,000 for community support projects within its service territories. The program supports many types of projects but has four priority areas:
- Animal services
- Basic human needs
- Community vitality
- Education
The TNMP Power Grants Program had a budget of $155,000 for 2024.
TNMP Outages and Other Services
If you lose power or find a downed line, contact Texas-New Mexico Power, not your electricity company. TNMP maintains and controls the local power grid, which includes repairing downed lines and restoring power during an outage.
- Customer service phone number: Call 888-866-7456
- Website: https://www.tnmp.com/
If there’s an outage in your area, you can check the status of power restoration on the TNMP power outage map.
