CenterPoint Energy is a gas company and electricity provider with 150 years of collective experience in the energy market. It serves over seven million homes and businesses in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, Indiana and Minnesota.
In Texas, CenterPoint Energy delivers electricity and natural gas in Houston and the surrounding areas. As a transmission and distribution utility (TDU), CenterPoint manages the local power grid and ensures reliable electricity service, maintaining the power lines, meters and equipment needed to deliver power to your home. Meanwhile, your retail electricity provider (REP) sells energy plans and manages billing.
Learn more about CenterPoint Energy and top electricity plans in Houston and nearby neighborhoods.
CenterPoint TDU Delivery Charges
When you choose an energy plan, your bill will include the energy rate charged by your electric company and delivery charges from CenterPoint Energy. These charges pay for maintaining the power lines, meters and equipment used to deliver electricity to your home or business. Think of them as shipping fees for a product you order online.
When enrolled in a fixed-rate plan, your energy charge stays fixed during your contract. However, CenterPoint’s delivery charges can change based on maintenance and upgrades. These fees may affect your total electricity costs each month. You can check your bill for a breakdown or contact CenterPoint Energy to get the current rates. However, utility delivery charges typically only change twice a year: once in the spring and once in the fall. These changes require approval from the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT).
CenterPoint Energy charges a flat fee per billing cycle and a fee per kWh of monthly energy usage.
| TDU | Monthly fee | Price per kWh |
| Centerpoint Energy | $4.39 | 5.35 cents |
Rates and fees are accurate as of December 2024.
Which Cities Does CenterPoint Operate In?
CenterPoint provides electric delivery in the Houston metropolitan area in six divisions.
Here are cities and towns by division in CenterPoint’s service area.
- Beaumont: Bridge City, Cleveland, Dayton, Livingston, Rose City, Orange, Shepherd
- East Texas: Avinger, Fruitvale, Henderson, Hawkins, Kilgore, Leary, Marshall, Tyler, Warren City
- South Texas: Beeville, El Campo, Falls City, Kennedy, Kyle, La Grange, Laredo, Marion, San Diego
- Houston: Deer Park, Houston, Montgomery, Pasadena, South Houston, Willis
- Texas Coast: Angleton, Danbury, Freeport, Katy, League City, Pearland, Sugar Land, Texas City, Weston Lakes
- Texarkana: Nash, Redwater, Texarkana, Wake Village
Top energy plans and rates in CenterPoint
The best energy plan for you matches your electric usage and fits your budget. We typically suggest 12-month fixed-rate plans with straightforward prices that offer predictable bills without bill credits or times of use. With these plans, you can secure your rate and enjoy steady monthly costs with no hidden fees or surprises.
In CenterPoint's service area, you can choose from top providers such as Rhythm Energy, TriEagle Energy and TXU Energy. The following table compares our recommended plans.
Provider | Plan Name | Est. Monthly Bill | Rate (¢/kWh) | % Renewable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Rhythm Energy | Simply Select 12 | $157 | 15.7 | 100% |
Frontier Utilities | Frontier Budget Saver 12 | $157 | 15.7 | 30% |
Tri-Eagle Energy | Simple Savings 12 | $152 | 15.2 | 9% |
4Change Energy | One Rate 12 | $161 | 16.1 | 9% |
Veteran Energy | Secure 12 | $159 | 15.9 | 7% |
Gexa Energy | Gexa Light Saver 12 | $165 | 16.5 | 100% |
Reliant Energy | Reliant Power On 24 Plan | $145 | 14.5 | 20% |
Payless Power | 12 Month - Prepaid | $184 | 18.4 | 26% |
TXU Energy | Simple Rate 12 | $182 | 18.2 | 9% |
Our scores, BBB ratings and the PUCT complaint scorecard ratings are out of 5 stars. Ratings are current as of December 2024.
Energy Plans for Low-Income CenterPoint Customers
While your REP sells electricity plans, CenterPoint offers assistance programs to help you pay for your bills. CenterPoint recommends contacting them for assistance right away instead of waiting for a disconnection or shut-off notice. Here are some payment assistance programs CenterPoint offers for low-income households or those needing help paying for electricity.
- Payment extension: You can request a one-time due date extension if you need more time to pay your bill. Enrollment in this program helps you avoid potential late fees and remain in good financial standing. This extension isn’t permanent, so your due date will return to the original date for future bills.
- Payment arrangement: You can pay your bill in smaller payments over time with this program. There’s no cost to enroll, but you must make on-time payments to stay enrolled. Missing your payment breaks the arrangement, and you must pay the full balance to prevent disconnection.
- Weatherization assistance program: This program offers a free energy audit for income-eligible, single-family homes in CenterPoint’s service area. You may qualify for energy-efficient home upgrades like air sealing, air conditioning system tune-ups, insulation and LED lighting. To qualify, your home must be over 16 years old, and you must meet the low-income guidelines or receive public assistance benefits.
Best Energy Providers in The CenterPoint Service Area
Many top energy companies offer electricity plans in CenterPoint’s service area. We rated dozens of energy companies in Texas based on plan variety, bill predictability, customer satisfaction and pricing. Use the following table to compare the top ten Texas electricity providers by our review methodology, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) scorecard and Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings. Our three top-rated companies include Reliant Energy, Green Mountain Energy and TriEagle Energy.
Retail Energy Provider | Our Rating | PUCT Complaint Score | BBB Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
Reliant Energy | 4.7 | 5 | NR |
Green Mountain Energy | 4.7 | 4 | A+ |
TriEagle Energy | 4.7 | 4 | A+ |
Rhythm Energy | 4.5 | 2 | NR |
Pulse Power | 4.5 | 3 | NR |
Frontier Utilities | 4.4 | 3 | NR |
TXU Energy | 4.3 | 5 | A+ |
Champion Energy | 4.3 | 5 | A+ |
Direct Energy | 4.3 | 4 | F |
Cirro Energy | 4.2 | 2 | A+ |
Difference Between CenterPoint and Your Electricity Provider
Since Houston has a deregulated energy market, you work with a utility company and a REP. In the Greater Houston area, CenterPoint Energy manages and maintains the electric infrastructure, such as power lines and electricity meters. Your electricity company buys power from generators in wholesale auctions managed by the PUCT and then sells that power to you. CenterPoint delivers said power to your home while your REP handles billing and customer service for your plan.
While you have the power to choose your REP and electricity plan, your address determines your TDU. As a utility company, CenterPoint is overseen in part by both the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and the PUC.
CenterPoint Outages and Other Services
If you lose power or find a downed line, contact CenterPoint Energy, not your REP. Because CenterPoint manages the electricity infrastructure, it’s responsible for repairing power outages and delivering power to your home.
On weekdays, you can contact CenterPoint’s customer service from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can also report outages by calling or sending an email. CenterPoint offers an online outage center where you can track outages, sign up for text updates and find electric safety tips.
- Customer service phone number: Call 713-207-2222
- Email: Log into your account to send a message
- Website: https://www.centerpointenergy.com
Hurricane Beryl is the most recent incident of a serious power outage in the CenterPoint area.
Natural Gas
CenterPoint also provides natural gas services for Houstonians. This includes maintaining gas lines and repairing gas leaks.
