Can you choose your electricity company in your Texas city?

By the BillAnswers team · · How we check facts

You can choose if you live in the ERCOT grid area and are not served by a city-owned utility or an electric co-op, per the PUCT. That covers most of Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Corpus Christi, Laredo, McAllen, Midland, Odessa and Lubbock. San Antonio, College Station, New Braunfels and homes served by Austin Energy cannot choose.

The rule

The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) says retail electric choice applies to customers in the ERCOT region who are not served by an electric cooperative or a city-owned (municipal) utility. Power to Choose, the PUCT's plan site, puts it plainly: not all Texans can choose; it depends on where you live.

Where you can choose, a wires company (Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas, TNMP, or Lubbock Power & Light) delivers the power and you pick the retail provider that bills you. Where you cannot, one utility does both.

City by city

CityWires or utility companyCan you choose?
HoustonCenterPointYes, where CenterPoint is your delivery company
PasadenaCenterPointYes, where CenterPoint is your delivery company
DallasOncorYes, where Oncor is your delivery company
Fort WorthOncorYes, where Oncor is your delivery company
ArlingtonOncorYes, where Oncor is your delivery company
PlanoOncorYes, where Oncor is your delivery company
IrvingOncorYes, where Oncor is your delivery company
FriscoOncorYes, where Oncor is your delivery company
McKinneyOncorYes, where Oncor is your delivery company
Grand PrairieOncorYes, where Oncor is your delivery company
MesquiteOncorYes, where Oncor is your delivery company
KilleenOncorYes, where Oncor is your delivery company
WacoOncorYes, where Oncor is your delivery company
MidlandOncorYes, where Oncor is your delivery company
OdessaOncorYes, where Oncor is your delivery company
Corpus ChristiAEP TexasYes, where AEP Texas is your delivery company
LaredoAEP TexasYes, where AEP Texas is your delivery company
McAllenAEP TexasYes, where AEP Texas is your delivery company
LubbockLubbock Power & LightYes, where Lubbock Power & Light is your delivery company
San AntonioCPS Energy (community-owned)No
College StationCollege Station Utilities (city-owned)No
New BraunfelsNew Braunfels Utilities (community-owned)No
AustinAustin Energy (City of Austin); Oncor also lists Austin among cities it servesDepends on your address
GarlandGarland Power & Light (city-owned); Oncor also lists Garland among cities it servesDepends on your address
GeorgetownGeorgetown Utility Systems (City of Georgetown); Oncor also lists Georgetown among cities it servesDepends on your address

"Yes" means the wires company lists the city in its official service list. "Depends on your address" means a city utility serves the city and Oncor also lists it; neither source says which streets each serves. Some edges of a city can still be served by a co-op or a city utility, so check your exact address.

Check your address

  1. Enter your ZIP code on Power to Choose, the PUCT's site. If plans appear, you can choose.
  2. Or call Power to Choose toll free: 1-866-797-4839.
  3. Already living there? Your bill names your delivery company.

If you can choose

Common questions

Can I choose my electricity provider in San Antonio?

No. CPS Energy, a community-owned utility, serves San Antonio and parts of seven nearby counties, and the PUCT says choice does not apply to customers served by a city-owned utility.

Can I choose my electricity provider in Austin?

Many Austin homes cannot: Austin Energy is a not-for-profit enterprise of the City of Austin. Oncor also lists Austin among the cities it serves, so some addresses may be able to choose. Check your address on Power to Choose.

How do I check my exact address?

Enter your ZIP code on Power to Choose, the PUCT's plan site, or call its toll-free line, 1-866-797-4839. If plans appear for your area, you can choose.

Sources

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