Looking for the best electricity rates in Houston and the surrounding area? You’re not alone.
With so many Houston electricity plans, electric rates and providers, it’s hard to know which one to choose.
That’s where we come in. ElectricityPlans gives you the tools and information to pick the right electricity provider for your home.
Before we get into the details, it’s important to know what is a good rate for electricity in Houston? Then compare to current electric rates in Houston, updated on a daily basis.
The average electricity rate in Houston is 17.99¢ per kWh based on rates as of 09/07/2024. That's based on a typical home in Houston using 1300 kWh. The average monthly electricity bill in Houston is $233.87.
Current Electric Rates in Houston
| Plan Name | Term | Rate/kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Rhythm Energy Simply Select 6 | 6 | 12.7 ¢ |
| Chariot Energy Free Nights 12 | 12 | 13.1 ¢ |
| TriEagle Energy Savvy Value 36 | 36 | 13.5 ¢ |
| Chariot Energy Free Nights 36 | 36 | 13.6 ¢ |
| 4Change Energy Power Maxx Saver 12 | 12 | 13.8 ¢ |
| Frontier Saver Premier 12 | 12 | 13.8 ¢ |
| Gexa Eco Saver Premier 12 | 12 | 13.8 ¢ |
| Champion Energy Services Champ Saver 12 | 12 | 13.9 ¢ |
| TriEagle Energy Savvy Value 12 | 12 | 13.9 ¢ |
| Rhythm Energy PowerShift EV 12 | 12 | 13.9 ¢ |
| Champion Energy Services Champ Silver 24 | 24 | 14.0 ¢ |
| Rhythm Energy PowerShift 12 | 12 | 14.0 ¢ |
| Champion Energy Services Champ Saver 24 | 24 | 14.1 ¢ |
| OhmConnect Energy TexasConnect 12 | 12 | 14.1 ¢ |
| OhmConnect Energy TexasConnect 36 | 36 | 14.2 ¢ |
| Champion Energy Services Free Weekends 24 | 24 | 14.2 ¢ |
| Rhythm Energy Simply Select 14 | 14 | 14.2 ¢ |
| OhmConnect Energy TexasConnect 24 | 24 | 14.3 ¢ |
| OhmConnect Energy Half Price Nights 12 | 12 | 14.4 ¢ |
| OhmConnect Energy GreenConnect 12 | 12 | 14.4 ¢ |
Shop Electricity Rates & Plans in Houston
Houston Electricity Shopping
- How to Find the Best Electric Rates in Houston
- Top Electricity Companies in Houston
- Best Houston Electricity Provider
- Moving to Houston – Start Electricity Service in New Home
- Switch Electricity Providers in Houston
- FAQs About Houston Electricity Shopping
- Power Outage in Houston
- Business Electricity in Houston – Commercial Electricity Rates
How to Find the Best Electric Rates in Houston
Houston electricity rates can be confusing. You’ll find a great rate, only to find out that it’s not what you thought.
That’s because the advertised rates at 1000 or 2000 kWh may be hiding some fine print. That’s the price if you use exactly 1000 kWh, but if you use more or less than that, you pay a different price. Usually higher than you expected.
That’s why we created ElectricityPlans – to help Houston residents find the best electricity rate for their home. And we have a full guide on how to shop for an electricity plan in Texas.
Energy rates in Houston vary by term, type of plan. Use these tools to find the best power rates in Houston:
- You can shop based on your usage, so you know exactly what you will pay per kWh, and the estimated monthly bill. Our Electricity Bill Calculator feature does all the math for you!
- Read one-line summaries of the fine print on each plan. We highlight key items for you.
- You can shop by type of plan. So if you want a tiered rate or bill credit plan, you can find those. But if you want a basic fixed rate plan, you can narrow down your search.
Top Electricity Companies in Houston
There are a lot of different light companies in Houston that you can choose from.
Electric companies in Houston take two forms: the utility company and the retail electricity provider.
Houston Electric Utility Company: Centerpoint
The utility company for Houston is Centerpoint Energy. They deliver power to your home, respond in case of a power emergency and read your meter.
However, you need to choose a retail electricity provider as your electricity supplier. That gives you options for price, electricity plans and service.
List of Houston Energy Providers
Whether you’re searching for a list of light companies in Houston, energy companies in Houston, or electric companies in Houston?
We’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of top electricity companies in Houston that you’ll find on our site.
You can compare electricity rates and energy providers for areas around Houston too, like Sugar Land, Cypress, Katy, Richmond, Tomball and Spring.
Best Houston Electricity Provider
The truth is, there is no one best electricity provider in Houston.
The best electricity plan for you is the one with the best price based on your electricity usage. You’ll also want to consider the type of plan, contract term and of course, shop based on your monthly usage.
But based on our 20+ years of experience with Houston energy companies, we certainly have our opinion on the best electricity providers in the Centerpoint utility area. (Plus we’re based in Cypress TX, just up the road, so we know this area.)
Here is our list of best electricity companies by type of electricity plan:
- Best electricity company for fixed rate electricity plans. OhmConnect Energy has some of the cheapest no gimmicks electricity rates in Houston.
- Best electricity company with satisfaction guarantee Rhythm Energy gives a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. Don’t like them? Leave within 30 days with no early termination penalty.
- Best free nights electricity. Flagship Power has the cheapest free nights electricity plans.
- Best prepaid electricity company. Payless Power is the best no-deposit lights company because they offer a fixed rate plan in addition to month to month rates.
- Best apartment electricity company. Reliant has some of the best electricity plans for apartments.
Shop Cheap Electricity Rates in Houston
Moving to Houston – Start Electricity Service in New Home
If you’re moving to Houston, you need to start electricity service in your new home.
Most areas around the country have regulated electricity. You must buy your power from the utility company. In Texas electricity is deregulated and you must shop for an electricity provider.
You can shop for an electricity provider by simply entering your zip code. Then compare electricity rates to find the best rate and contract term for your home.
You get the most accurate pricing if you know your home’s usage. Your realtor can get that information for you before closing. Or your apartment complex manager will know this.
Moving to a new home and don’t know your average usage electricity? Then, you can assume it’s around 1200 kWh a month for an average size home. That’s the average monthly electricity usage in Texas.
If you are moving within Houston and your utility is Centerpoint, you may be able to take your current contract with you when you move. This is called a transfer of service. Call your electricity provider to see if this is an option.
Switch Electricity Providers in Houston
If you live in Houston, you know the drill. You need to shop for your electricity plan when your contract expires. (Psst. We offer an electricity plan contract reminder service so you don’t forget.)
We recommend that you compare electricity rates every time your contract expires. Many electricity providers charge a higher rate for current customers. And they offer their best rates to new customers.
Follow these tips when you switch electricity providers:
- Shop based on your usage. Check your average monthly usage. Then shop based on usage instead of 500, 1000 or 2000 kWh.
- Shop ahead of time. Don’t wait until your contract expires. You can shop up to 60 days ahead of time. Just remember to pick a start date for your new provider.
- Pick your type of plan. We always recommend fixed rate plans. Basic fixed rates are a good option for most homes.
- Look for the best electricity plan. Your electricity plan is your rate, term, termination fee and type of plan. Be sure to consider all these items, not just the price per kWh.
Average Electricity Rate & Electric Bill in Houston
- Average electricity rate in Houston : 16.53¢ per kWh
- Average electricity usage per month: 1300 kWh
- Average electricity bill in Houston : $214.89
FAQs About Houston Electricity Shopping
There are 5 steps to finding the cheapest electricity rate in Houston.
(1) Enter your zip code on an electricity shopping site, like ElectricityPlans.
(2) Enter your average usage information so you can see what your bill will be under each plan.
(3) Sort the results by price: low to high so the cheapest rates are on top.
(4) Compare the average rate and total bill for the different plans. Either read all the fine print or only consider true fixed rate plans. Ignore tricky plans with bill credits and tiered rates.
(5) Select the plan that gives you the best electricity price for your home.
Ohm Connect and Chariot Energy consistently have some of the cheapest electricity rates in Houston. Electricity prices change frequently, so check current rates based on your zip code and usage. And refer to our article on cheapest electricity companies, updated monthly.
Typically, the cheapest electricity prices are during spring, winter and fall, with prices going higher in the summer. Whatever time of year your contract expires, look for the lowest electricity rate you can find. Sign up for electricity plan expiration reminders so you don’t forget.
The average monthly usage of electricity in Houston is 15,600 kWh a year or 1,300 kWh a month. Your electricity usage will vary based on the size and age of your home, the number of people in the home, and how you use electricity.
Homes on the Gulf Coast use more electricity because of the level of humidity in our area during the summer. With higher and more humid temperatures, your air conditioning works overtime to cool your home. The average electricity usage in Houston is 1,300 kWh a month. Dallas electricity usage is 937 kWh a month.
Power Outage in Houston
Houston power outages are typically caused by a weather event, aging infrastructure equipment or traffic accidents.
But whatever the cause, what you really want to know is when will the power be back on?
- Check the Centerpoint outages map to see power outages down to the street level. The Centerpoint Outage Tracker Map is updated in real time.
- This Texas Power Outage Tracker from the Houston Chronicle has been, at times, more accurate than CenterPoint, due to its’ use of third-party data.
- Visit the Centerpoint Electric Outage Center to sign up for their Power Alert Service. You’ll get text messages letting you know the ETA on power restoration.
- Report an Houston power outage online using your phone number or meter number.
- Report a Houston power outage by phone at 800-332-7143
Business Electricity in Houston – Commercial Electricity Rates
You can compare electricity rates for your business too. Shop to find the best commercial electricity rates.
Shop business electricity rates online if you are a small business that spends less than $2,500 per month. Or call us at 844-214-5559 Monday-Friday for a custom business electricity quote, same day electricity move-in or future start date commercial electricity rates.
Below are commercial electricity rates per kWh in the Houston (Centerpoint electricity) area.
Business Electricity Rates per kWh in Houston
| Plan Name | Term | Rate/kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Reliant Business Power Plus 36 Months | 36 | 9.10 ¢ |
| APG&E APG&E 6 Months | 6 | 5.96 ¢ |
| ENGIE 6 Months | 6 | 6.18 ¢ |
| APG&E APG&E 18 Months | 18 | 6.74 ¢ |
| APG&E APG&E 12 Months | 12 | 6.77 ¢ |
| ENGIE 12 Months | 12 | 6.93 ¢ |
| ENGIE 18 Months | 18 | 6.93 ¢ |
| APG&E APG&E 24 Months | 24 | 6.94 ¢ |
| APG&E APG&E 36 Months | 36 | 7.06 ¢ |
| APG&E APG&E 48 Months | 48 | 7.12 ¢ |
| ENGIE 24 Months | 24 | 7.13 ¢ |
| APG&E APG&E 60 Months | 60 | 7.13 ¢ |
| ENGIE 60 Months | 60 | 7.15 ¢ |
| ENGIE 36 Months | 36 | 7.18 ¢ |
| ENGIE 48 Months | 48 | 7.19 ¢ |
| Reliant Business Power Plus 12 Months | 12 | 8.90 ¢ |
| Reliant Business Power Plus 24 Months | 24 | 9.00 ¢ |
