CenterPoint Electricity Companies and Rates

About CenterPoint Energy

CenterPoint Energy is the transmission and distribution utility (TDU) responsible for delivering power to homes and businesses in the Greater Houston area. It maintains over 29,000 miles of overhead distribution poles and wires, 26,000 underground distribution lines and 3,900 transmission lines.

While CenterPoint doesn’t supply energy plans, it plays a key role in your electricity service to maintain infrastructure, respond to outages and update the grid technology. Learn more about what your TDU does and how it affects your electricity bill.

Retail Electricity Providers vs. CenterPoint Energy

In Houston and other deregulated areas in Texas, your energy service comes from a retail electricity provider (REP) and a TDU. You choose your REP based on the plan type and rate you prefer, but your utility is assigned by location. 

REPs such as Reliant Energy, TriEagle Energy and TXU Energy compete to offer you the best prices and customer service. You can choose which energy plan benefits your usage habits and budget. Providers offer a variety of options such as fixed rates, variable rates, and green energy plans. Once you enroll, your REP handles billing, customer support, and account management.

CenterPoint is the TDU in Houston and the surrounding areas. It’s responsible for maintaining power lines, restoring outages and managing the smart meter at your home. CenterPoint reads your meter and passes the information to your REP, who calculates your total bill.

Knowing the difference can help you know who to contact depending on your needs. Contact your light company if you have questions about your energy plan or bill. Call CenterPoint during a power outage or if you find a downed line.

Electricity Rates in CenterPoint Service Areas

Energy prices in Texas vary by utility service area. However, a provider will generally charge the same rate for a given plan throughout an entire utility service area, meaning you can move to a different Houston ZIP code but pay the same price per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for the same energy plan. However, moving outside of Houston may have different rates and plan options.

Here are the electricity rates in Houston from a variety of top energy providers.

Rates in the table above are updated daily. Rates may have changed since this morning’s update. Enter your ZIP code at the top of this page for the most accurate electricity prices.

CenterPoint Energy Transmission and Distribution Rates

You’ll notice TDU delivery charges included on your monthly energy bill. These fees are passed to you to cover the cost of electric delivery and grid maintenance. Think of it like shopping for shoes from an online retailer. You’ll pay for the shoes, but you’ll also have a shipping fee to cover the delivery charge.

CenterPoint charges a flat monthly fee and a rate per kWh of energy you use.

Here’s the CenterPoint Energy residential delivery fee as of June 2025:

• Monthly base charge: $4.90 per billing cycle
• TDU delivery fee: 4.2392 cents per kWh

You can usually find the exact fees listed on your plan’s electricity facts label (EFL), although not all providers break down the utility’s exact fees. This document details your plan terms, costs, and other details that impact your bill. Reading and understanding the EFL may help you avoid unexpected charges.

How To Calculate CenterPoint Energy Charges

Your TDU delivery charges might vary each month depending on your energy usage. However, you can estimate the fees by multiplying your kWh usage by CenterPoint’s rate and adding the monthly fee.

Here’s what your delivery charge may look like if you use 1,000 kWh in a month:

• (kWh energy usage x charge per kWh) + TDU monthly fee = Total delivery charge
• (1000 kWh x .0424) + 4.90 = $47.30

You can insert your typical energy usage in the place of the 1,000 kWh to get a more accurate estimate for your home.

CenterPoint Charges vs. Other Utility Companies

Delivery fees vary by utility company in Texas. CenterPoint Energy’s monthly fee is comparable to other providers, but it charges the cheapest rate per kWh. Because of this, Houstonians and other folks living in the CenterPoint service area generally enjoy cheaper energy prices per kWh than in many other areas of Texas.

Compare CenterPoint Energy fees with other TDUs in the table below.

How To Contact CenterPoint Energy

CenterPoint is the one to call when you experience a power outage or need to report a downed power line. Any questions or concerns about your energy plan or bill should be directed to your REP. CenterPoint’s customer service is available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, except holidays. You can access your account online 24/7.

Here’s how to reach out to CenterPoint:

• Customer service and outage reports: 713-207-2222
• Email: Submit an online form

What To Do When There’s a CenterPoint Outage

Unfortunately, due to its location near the Gulf, the CenterPoint service area often faces extreme weather, from tropical storms and hurricanes to the occasional freak winter storm. This can lead to brownouts and blackouts across the Greater Houston area.

You can verify you’re experiencing a power outage by checking CenterPoint’s online outage tracker or calling 713-207-2222 to report it. The utility may ask for your service address, phone number and any details you might have about the outage. You can use the online tracker for an estimated restoration time and location.

CenterPoint warns you not to touch or go near downed wires or power lines. The utility recommends staying at least 35 feet away and contacting CenterPoint immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions