Residential Rate Report

Texas Residential Electricity Rates

Texas operates the largest deregulated ERCOT electricity market in North America. While competitive retail providers offer fixed and variable plans, residential rates reflect natural gas generation pricing, rapid wind and solar expansion, and extreme summer air conditioning demand.

Residential Electricity Rate
16.99 ¢/kWh
Verified database rate for April 2026
U.S. National Comparison
9.8% below the U.S. national average
National Average: 18.83 ¢/kWh
Market Framework
Retail Choice / Deregulated Market
Retail supplier choice available for residential customers.

Estimated Monthly Household Energy Charges

Estimated monthly energy charges for standard home electricity usage baselines in Texas calculated at 16.99 ¢/kWh:

Texas residential monthly electricity cost estimates by consumption level
Monthly Usage (kWh)Household Profile BaselineEstimated Energy Charge ($/mo)
500 kWh500 kWh / month (Apartment / Small Home)$84.95 / mo
800 kWh800 kWh / month (Medium Home / Efficient Usage)$135.92 / mo
1,000 kWh1,000 kWh / month (Standard U.S. Household Baseline)$169.90 / mo
1,500 kWh1,500 kWh / month (Large Home / All-Electric / High AC)$254.85 / mo

* Estimated energy charge only. Excludes utility fixed monthly customer fees, local distribution charges, time-of-use peak demand rates, fuel surcharges, and state taxes.

24-Month Historical Rate Trend (Texas)

Official U.S. EIA residential electricity price history for Texas over recent reporting periods:

Texas monthly residential electricity rate history (cents per kWh)
Reporting MonthAverage Rate (¢/kWh)Month-over-Month Change
April 202616.99 ¢/kWh +0.60 ¢
March 202616.39 ¢/kWh +0.98 ¢
February 202615.41 ¢/kWh -0.28 ¢
January 202615.69 ¢/kWh -0.18 ¢
December 202515.87 ¢/kWh -0.17 ¢
November 202516.04 ¢/kWh -0.06 ¢
October 202516.10 ¢/kWh +0.27 ¢
September 202515.83 ¢/kWh +0.37 ¢
August 202515.46 ¢/kWh +0.10 ¢
July 202515.36 ¢/kWh +0.10 ¢
June 202515.26 ¢/kWh -0.27 ¢
May 202515.53 ¢/kWh +0.01 ¢
April 202515.52 ¢/kWh +0.24 ¢
March 202515.28 ¢/kWh +0.40 ¢
February 202514.88 ¢/kWh +0.21 ¢
January 202514.67 ¢/kWh -0.69 ¢
December 202415.36 ¢/kWh -0.32 ¢
November 202415.68 ¢/kWh +0.01 ¢
October 202415.67 ¢/kWh +0.61 ¢
September 202415.06 ¢/kWh +0.18 ¢
August 202414.88 ¢/kWh +0.18 ¢
July 202414.70 ¢/kWh +0.15 ¢
June 202414.55 ¢/kWh -0.28 ¢
May 202414.83 ¢/kWh -0.30 ¢

Key Electricity Cost Drivers in Texas

Primary market structure, generation mix, and environmental factors shaping electricity costs across Texas:

1. ERCOT Grid & Market Structure

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) manages the grid for 90% of Texas residents. High summer temperatures drive peak demand, influencing wholesale generation costs.

2. Retail Choice & Transmission Charges

In deregulated areas, households select Retail Electric Providers (REPs) for energy supply while regulated Transmission and Distribution Utilities (TDUs like CenterPoint and Oncor) assess fixed delivery fees.

3. Natural Gas & Renewable Supply Mix

Natural gas generation sets marginal energy prices, though Texas leads the nation in total wind energy production and utility-scale solar buildouts.

Why Your Individual Electric Bill May Differ

Statewide average rates compiled by the U.S. EIA reflect overall residential revenue divided by total sales. Your actual monthly electricity bill in Texas will vary based on:

  • Fixed Monthly Customer Charges: Basic meter account service fees assessed regardless of kWh consumption.
  • Delivery & Distribution Tariffs: Regulated transmission charges set by state utility commissions.
  • Time-of-Use (TOU) Pricing: Higher peak-period demand rates during hot afternoon or winter evening hours.
  • Local Taxes & Clean Energy Riders: Municipal taxes and clean energy fund surcharges.

Calculate Your Exact Texas Home Electricity Bill

Statewide average rates provide a baseline, but your actual electric bill depends on your utility tariff structure, seasonal AC usage, and household appliances. Use Energy Bill Lab tools to analyze your bill or calculate appliance operating costs.

Official Data Sources & Editorial Citations