AEP Texas provides regulated delivery service in south and west Texas no matter which retail electric provider a customer chooses.
AEP TexasAbout Us
AEP Texas says to apply for interconnection before you install solar or connect it to the grid, and the retail provider handles billing.
AEP TexasSolar
AEP Texas requires review and approval before solar or storage operates in parallel with its grid, and it issues an interconnection agreement after technical review.
AEP TexasInstalling Generating Equipment
AEP Texas says a home can be the only one without power if a breaker trips, a limb hits the line, or a fuse on that home's transformer opens.
AEP TexasOutages FAQ
After a storm, AEP Texas says it first restores the largest groups of customers and hospitals, emergency responders, and public utilities such as water and sewage.
AEP TexasOutages FAQ
AEP Texas says customer service representatives do not have a precise restoration time because crews still have to see the damage on a circuit.
AEP TexasOutages FAQ
If someone at home depends on life support, AEP Texas says to call 911 in an emergency and to arrange a backup place before a long outage.
AEP TexasOutages FAQ
In the City of Houston, solar panel work needs a permit, plan review may be required depending on the scope of work, and an inspection is required.
City of HoustonSolar Panel Permit
Where customers choose their provider, a homeowner with on-site renewable generation sells surplus electricity to the retail provider that serves the home, at a value they agree on.
Texas Legislative CouncilUtilities Code Section 39.916
That agreed value may be a credit on the bill that can carry over to later billing periods until the credit is used.
Texas Legislative CouncilUtilities Code Section 39.916
The utility must make metering available that measures electricity flowing in and out, and the owner pays any extra meter cost unless the meter is free.
Texas Legislative CouncilUtilities Code Section 39.916
An electric utility or retail provider may contract to credit a homeowner for surplus electricity from on-site renewable generation.
Texas Legislative CouncilUtilities Code Section 39.916
In a Texas area with retail electric competition, you sell extra power from on-site generation to the company you buy electricity from, and that company does not have to buy it.
Public Utility Commission of TexasSelling Excess Renewable Power
Other companies may let the customer choose the offer used to buy electricity and the offer used to sell extra power separately.
Public Utility Commission of TexasSelling Excess Renewable Power
A retail electric customer who installs on-site renewable generation must sign an interconnection agreement with the local transmission and distribution utility.
Public Utility Commission of TexasSelling Excess Renewable Power
Where there is no retail choice, ask your electric utility, co-op or city utility about selling extra on-site power.
Public Utility Commission of TexasSelling Excess Renewable Power
Some companies that buy extra on-site power may require the customer to also take a specific retail offer.
Public Utility Commission of TexasSelling Excess Renewable Power
Much of Texas has retail electric choice, but not all of it. Electric cooperatives and city utilities offer choice only if they opt in.
Texas Legislative CouncilUtilities Code Chapter 39
An electric cooperative's board of directors decides when or if the cooperative will offer customer choice.
Texas Legislative CouncilUtilities Code Chapter 41
There is no statewide net metering rule in the Department of Energy homeowner guide, which says qualification depends on your state and your electric utility.
U.S. Department of EnergyHomeowner's Guide to Solar
ERCOT settles the competitive wholesale bulk-power market and administers retail switching in competitive choice areas.
ERCOTAbout ERCOT
The governing body of a city-owned electric utility decides when or if that utility will offer customer choice.
Texas Legislative CouncilUtilities Code Chapter 40
There is no statewide net metering mandate in Texas, which is how Upshur Rural Electric Cooperative describes the state.
Upshur Rural Electric CooperativeUpshur Rural Electric Cooperative solar page
In deregulated areas you choose a retail electric provider, and the wires company still delivers power, reads the meter, and maintains the poles and wires.
Public Utility Commission of TexasPower to Choose FAQs
Not every Texan can choose an electric provider, because some places are served by a city utility, a cooperative, or an investor-owned utility where choice is not available.
Public Utility Commission of TexasPower to Choose FAQs
Some retail plans charge a fee if you use less than a minimum amount of electricity, and the plan's electricity facts label is where that fee is shown.
Public Utility Commission of TexasPower to Choose FAQs
Power to Choose says there is no switching fee unless you request a special meter reading outside your regular meter reading.
Public Utility Commission of TexasPower to Choose FAQs
Breaking your current electric contract can still bring a penalty, so Power to Choose says to read that plan's terms of service.
Public Utility Commission of TexasPower to Choose FAQs
Power to Choose is the official electric-choice website of the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
Public Utility Commission of TexasPower to Choose
Power to Choose is available for every electric provider to list offers at no charge.
Public Utility Commission of TexasPower to Choose
Before choosing a retail electric plan, read its Electricity Facts Label for the contract terms, pricing, fees, and renewable-energy share.
Public Utility Commission of TexasGlossary
The commission requires an Electricity Facts Label for every retail plan so customers can compare offers the same way.
Public Utility Commission of TexasGlossary
Check the plan's Electricity Facts Label to see whether a usage fee applies and what the minimum usage is.
Public Utility Commission of TexasPower to Choose FAQs
CenterPoint Energy, Oncor, TNMP, and AEP Texas are investor-owned utilities that operate the poles and wires, and the PUCT sets their delivery rates.
Public Utility Commission of TexasGuide to the Electric Rate Case Process for Investor-owned Utilities inside ERCOT
Those delivery utilities charge delivery rates to the retail electric provider, and the charges are passed through on the customer's bill.
Public Utility Commission of TexasGuide to the Electric Rate Case Process for Investor-owned Utilities inside ERCOT
In the competitive market, a utility's activities were separated into a power generation company, a retail electric provider, and a transmission and distribution utility.
Texas Legislative CouncilUtilities Code Chapter 39