Explore the Houston Electricity Rates Available Through Gexa Energy
Why Choose Gexa Energy in Houston
Gexa Energy is an original Texas retail electricity provider (REP), proudly serving over 1.8 million Texas households since 20011. With over 25 years of experience, we offer:
clear, easy-to-understand plans
competitive pricing, and
a variety of options designed to fit your energy needs.
With helpful tools, usage insights, and features like autopay and paperless billing, managing your energy is simple. Plus, our dedicated customer support team is here to help, so you can feel confident in your electricity plan choice. If you decide the plan you enrolled in isn’t the right fit, our happiness guarantee program2 allows new customers to switch to another eligible Gexa Energy plan within the first 60 days of their contract.
Electricity Rates and Usage in Houston
Because Houston is part of Texas’ deregulated energy market, residents can choose their retail electricity provider, which means you can compare plans and select one that fits your home and energy needs. Your all-in electricity charges will depend on factors like how much electricity you use, your home size and efficiency, TDU delivery charges, and the structure of your plan.
Ready to explore your options? See electricity plans available in your area and find one that fits your home.
Electricity Plans in Houston, TX
Gexa Energy offers a variety of electricity plans in Houston designed to fit different household needs and preferences, including:
Fixed-Rate Electricity Plans
Fixed-rate plans provide stable energy charges3 throughout your contract term, helping make monthly energy costs more predictable. This type of plan is a common choice for homeowners who want consistency and the ability to plan ahead without worrying about market fluctuations.
Usage or Bill Credit Electricity Plans
Usage credit plans offer a bill credit when your monthly electricity usage meets or exceeds a specified threshold, for example, 1,000 kWh. These plans can work well for households with consistent energy usage, but it’s important to understand that credits only apply when the required usage level is reached.
Free Electricity Plans4
Free electricity plans are a type of time-of-use plan, structured around specific time periods when energy charges are reduced, such as weekends. These plans can benefit households that shift more of their usage to the designated times. Be sure to check your Electricity Facts Label (EFL), as rates are often higher during non-free periods. You still might be responsible for paying other fees during free periods.
Smart Thermostat and Incentive Plans5
Some Gexa Energy plans include smart thermostats and energy optimization features that help you better manage comfort and energy usage. With tools available through the Gexa Energy mobile app and Gexa MyAccount, you can monitor usage, adjust settings, and stay informed about your home’s energy patterns.
Solar Electricity Plans6
For homes with solar panels, Gexa Energy offers solar buyback plans that provide bill credits for the eligible excess electricity your system sends back to the grid. This means the energy your panels produce can help offset the energy you use from your retail electricity provider, making these plans a practical option for homeowners looking to get more value from their solar investment.
EV Charging Plans7
EV charging plans from Gexa Energy are designed for electric vehicle owners who primarily charge at home overnight. These plans provide an energy charge credit when you charge your car during overnight hours, helping you align your charging habits with off-peak times while managing your overall energy usage more efficiently. Keep in mind that you may still be responsible for any Transmission and Distribution Utility (TDU) charges during free periods.
Variable-Price Plans
Variable-price plans offer flexibility with no long-term commitment, but energy charges can change from month to month based on market conditions. Because of this, these plans are often better suited for short-term needs or for customers who prefer flexibility over long-term stability.
Flat Rate Plans
Flat rate plans have a consistent monthly energy charge when your usage stays within a set limit. If your usage goes over that limit, additional energy charges apply to the extra kilowatt-hours used. This type of plan can be a good fit for smaller homes or households with predictable usage, since staying within the included usage level helps keep your monthly energy costs more consistent.
Understanding Electricity in Houston
Before comparing plans, it helps to understand how electricity service works in Houston and what you’re actually paying for each month. Your electricity charges are defined by the electricity you use, the plan you choose, and the cost to deliver that electricity to your home.
Who Supplies and Delivers Electricity?
In Houston, you can choose your retail electricity provider (REP), which is the company that sells you an electricity plan and manages your account. Your REP handles billing, payment processing, customer support, and the structure of your plan.
Electricity delivery is handled by your Transmission and Distribution Utility (TDU), which in Houston is CenterPoint Energy. The TDU is responsible for maintaining power lines, restoring service during outages, and ensuring electricity is delivered safely to your home.
TDU delivery charges are included as part of your overall electricity charges, but they are set separately and passed through to you without markup. You’ll typically see these delivery charges listed as a separate line item on your bill, even though your REP manages the total billing experience.
What Affects Electricity Rates in Houston?
The main factors that influence Houston electricity rates are:
- Energy usage: Air conditioning is one of the biggest drivers of electricity use in Houston, especially during long, hot summers. Daily habits like thermostat settings, appliance use, and time spent at home can all impact your overall usage.
- Home size and insulation: Larger homes typically use more electricity, and homes with older insulation or air leaks may require more energy to stay comfortable.
- Seasonal changes: Summer often brings higher usage due to cooling needs. In winter, your costs may increase if your home uses electric heating.
- Plan structure: Fixed-rate plans offer more consistent energy charges over time, while variable-price plans can change month to month. Some plans also include features like free electricity periods that can influence how and when you use energy.
- TDU delivery charges: A portion of your monthly electricity bill comes from delivery costs set by CenterPoint Energy. These charges are regulated, passed through without markup, and apply no matter which REP or plan you choose.
How to Choose the Right Electricity Plan in Houston
Choosing an electricity plan doesn’t have to be complicated. The key is to match the plan structure to how your home actually uses energy, so you can find an option that fits your daily routine and long-term needs.
Start With Your Home and Usage
Start by thinking about how your household uses electricity on a typical day. Homes in Houston can vary widely, from smaller spaces with lower usage to larger homes with higher cooling demands. Consider factors like:
Home size: Smaller homes or apartments often use less electricity than larger single-family homes.
Cooling and heating: Air conditioning plays a major role in Houston energy usage, especially during the summer. Heating costs can vary depending on whether your home uses electricity or natural gas.
Number of occupants: More people in the home usually means more energy use from lighting, appliances, and electronics.
High-energy features: Pools, electric vehicles, and large appliances can increase your overall usage and may influence which plan structure works best.
Compare Plan Features, Not Just Price
While pricing is important, it’s just one part of the decision. Looking at the full structure of a plan can give you a better sense of how it will perform over time. Pay attention to:
Your actual usage: The advertised electricity rate often only applies to a specific usage level. Look at the plan details to find the average rate for your typical monthly kWh usage.
Contract length: Fixed-rate plans offer longer-term stability, while shorter-term or variable-price plans provide more flexibility.
Flexibility: Consider how long you plan to stay in your home and whether you may need to switch plans before your contract ends.
Credits and features: Some plans include usage credits, Free Electricity periods, or tools like Smart Thermostats that can influence your overall energy charges.
Before enrolling, review the Electricity Facts Label (EFL), which outlines how energy charges are calculated, along with any fees and key terms.
What Impacts Your Monthly Electricity Bill
Your monthly bill can change over time based on a combination of usage, seasonal conditions, and your plan structure. It’s not just about the plan you choose, but how it interacts with your day-to-day energy habits.
Usage fluctuations: Your energy charges will vary based on how much electricity you use each month. Changes in routines, appliance use, or time spent at home can all affect your total usage.
Seasonal demand changes: In Houston, hot summers often lead to higher energy usage due to air conditioning, while winter usage may vary depending on whether your home uses electric heating or natural gas.
Plan structure and incentives: Features like fixed-rate plans, variable-price plans, usage credits, or Free Electricity periods can all influence how your energy charges are calculated. Understanding how these elements work together can help you better manage your overall costs.
FAQs About Electricity in Houston
Report power outages to Houston’s Transmission and Distribution Utility (TDU), CenterPoint Energy. You can do so by calling 800-332-7143 or using their online outage reporting system.
Electricity in Houston is delivered by the Transmission and Distribution Utility (TDU), which is CenterPoint Energy. The TDU is responsible for maintaining power lines, delivering electricity to your home, and restoring service during outages, while your retail electricity provider manages your plan, billing, and customer support.
1. Cumulative number of unique households served by Gexa Energy 2001-2026.
2. If you're not happy with your new Gexa Energy residential plan, just contact us within 60 days of your service activation date. You have the freedom to choose any eligible plan we offer, without incurring penalties. It's that easy. Applies one time only for new Gexa Energy residential customers. Your contract term will restart with your second plan. Offer subject to change or withdrawal prior to customer acceptance.
3. The Energy Charge charged by Gexa Energy on fixed price plans is fixed and will not change during the initial term of your plan. The Energy Charge associated with variable price and month-to-month products may be higher or lower each month. For fixed and variable plans, the total price of your electricity may be adjusted to reflect changes in TDU charges, third-party fees, or changes in law or regulation that result in the imposition of new or modified fees or costs on Gexa Energy. See Electricity Facts Label and Terms of Service.
4. Free electricity usage from 12:00 AM Friday to 12:00 AM Monday. Monthly and other billed charges apply normally. The price can change only to reflect actual price changes that are allowed by the Public Utility Commission due to changes in law or regulatory charges. See Electricity Facts Label for details. Eligibility requirements, terms and conditions apply.
5. Energy savings are calculated by comparing operation time for a nationwide sample of Sensi users with temperature adjustments averaging 4° in comparison to users with no adjustments. Savings vary based on equipment type/condition, insulation, climate & temperature adjustment size/frequency. Allow 4 to 8 weeks for delivery and installation of your Sensi® Touch Wi-Fi smart thermostats.
6. To be eligible to receive Excess Energy Credits, you must have a qualifying solar energy installation, TDU Interconnection Agreement, and bidirectional meter provisioned by your TDU. Monthly bill credits are paid at the Excess Energy Credit rate specified in the Electricity Facts Label (EFL), are non-transferable and cannot be redeemed or exchanged for cash. Please review the EFL and Product-Specific Terms section of Terms of Service for details.
7. Reduced energy charges apply Monday through Sunday from 11:00 PM to 4:59 AM. Gexa SavEV electricity plan’s 100% nighttime EV charging discount is currently available for compatible Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Jaguar, Kia, Lexus, Nissan, Porsche, Rivian, Tesla, Toyota, and Volkswagen electric vehicles when paired to the Gexa365 platform. This list is subject to change. No affiliation with or endorsement of Gexa by electric vehicle manufacturers is implied. Gexa has no responsibility or liability for third-party services or equipment and reserves the right to modify or cancel EV charging discounts at any time. Energy charges are discounted 100% during paired nighttime EV charging hours at your home service address. TDU delivery charges apply normally to all hours and usage. Not redeemable for cash. See Electricity Facts Label, terms of service, and FAQs for additional details.