CenterPoint Energy Houston Electricity Setup for New Residents (2026)

Houston electricity confuses newcomers on day one: CenterPoint Energy appears on every bill, but you cannot shop for “CenterPoint rates” like a phone plan. CenterPoint owns the delivery system — poles, meters, outage crews — while you contract with a Retail Electric Provider (REP) for the power itself. Two companies, one bill.

Delivery vs supply — who does what

Role	Company type	What you do
Wires & meter	CenterPoint Energy (TDU)	Nothing separate — TDU fees roll into REP bill
Energy supply	REP you choose	Sign up on Power to Choose
Outage repair	CenterPoint	Report at centerpointenergy.com or 713-207-2222

Most Harris County apartments, Katy, Sugar Land, Pearland, and surrounding suburbs sit in CenterPoint’s footprint. El Paso and San Antonio work differently — do not assume Houston rules apply statewide.

Sign up before the movers arrive

1. Get the ESIID — 17- or 22-digit meter ID — from landlord, prior tenant, or Power to Choose address lookup
2. Compare fixed-rate plans — summer AC makes variable rates painful for budgeters
3. Read the Electricity Facts Label — base charges and minimum usage fees matter in small apartments
4. Schedule service start the day before lease start when possible
5. Confirm the prior tenant canceled — overlapping accounts are uncommon, but disconnected meters still need a new signup in your name

Deposits depend on REP credit checks — typically $0–$300 range for new customers. Soft credit inquiries are standard.

Prepaid REPs exist for thin credit files — you fund the account upfront without a deposit, but rates may run higher and disconnect happens fast if the balance hits zero mid-August.

People often ask: “My lease includes electricity.” Some Houston mid-rises master-meter and bill you back — read the lease before you sign a second REP contract and pay twice.

Door-to-door salespeople still knock in Galleria and Midtown complexes offering “exclusive rates.” Compare every pitch against Power to Choose kWh totals — the EFL beats a clipboard special every time.

What CenterPoint charges on your REP bill

TDU (Transmission and Distribution Utility) pass-through fees cover CenterPoint’s wire maintenance, meter reading, and storm restoration costs. You cannot avoid them by switching REPs — every plan in the territory includes the same TDU components, adjusted by regulators.

Your kWh energy charge is where shopping saves money. A plan that looks cheap at 9¢/kWh may lose to 11¢/kWh with no monthly base fee if you use 800 kWh in a studio.

Apartment-specific Houston quirks

High-rise units sometimes share master meters — your lease lists a flat electric fee instead of an ESIID. Garage-level units flood before upper floors lose power; keep renter’s insurance current even if you never shop flood coverage.

Moving within Houston? Transfer service through your REP with a stop date at the old address and start date at the new one. CenterPoint does not automatically follow you — each ESIID needs its own signup. Early termination fees on 12-month plans apply if you leave the metro before the contract ends.

Worth knowing: winter freeze events (2021 still lingers in local memory) can spike both usage and wholesale rates on variable plans. Fixed-rate contracts insulate you from day-to-day market swings, not from physically higher kWh when the heat runs constantly.

Hurricanes, floods, and billing — brief reality check

CenterPoint crews restore grid power after storms; they do not pump water out of your parking garage. Flood damage to your belongings sits outside standard renters insurance — see Houston flood insurance for renters if you are near bayous or in a garage-level unit.

After major outages:

• Outage maps update on CenterPoint’s site — your REP customer service cannot expedite line repairs
• Estimated restoration times shift as crews assess downed lines — patience beats calling every hour
• Billing continues for fixed-rate plans based on usage when meters spin again — no automatic bill forgiveness unless your REP announces a program

A brief power outage does not erase your August kWh — summer bills still reflect heat you fought before the storm.

DPS residency and Houston timing

Your REP electric bill in your name at your Houston service address counts as Texas DPS residency proof. Pair with your lease for license transfer.

Book Houston DPS after accounts are active — clerks want recent documents, not a screenshot of a pending signup confirmation.

Houston utility links

• CenterPoint Energy — Report an Outage
• Public Utility Commission of Texas — Power to Choose
• Texas DPS — Identification Requirements