An unexpectedly high electricity bill is frustrating, especially when you cannot tell why. In Texas, there are only three possible reasons, and each one has a different answer.
Your plan costs too much.
You are on a bill credit plan and missed the usage target, or your rate is simply higher than what the market offers today. The answer is a better plan.
Your home uses too much electricity.
Your rate is fine, but you are using more than an average home or more than you normally do, usually because of air conditioning. The answer is to lower your consumption.
Nothing is wrong.
Your rate is good and your usage is normal. This is what electricity costs in Texas, and switching plans will not change it much.
Three reasons behind a high bill
Understanding the cause helps you choose what to do next. Your plan and usage can both play a part.
01What you pay
The plan
You are on a bad electricity plan
A low advertised rate does not always mean a low bill. Bill credit plans may offer a discount only within a specific usage range, often around 1,000 kWh. Miss the qualifying range and the credit disappears, raising your real cost.
Even a straightforward True Fixed plan can be overpriced. An expired contract, a higher month-to-month rate, or a plan chosen during a rushed move can leave you paying more than current offers.
What to check
Compare the full bill at your actual kWh with True Fixed plans in your area.
You are using more electricity than a similar home
A fair rate can still produce a high bill. Summer air conditioning, an older AC, a low thermostat setting, or poor insulation can push up consumption. In winter, electric heating and backup heat strips can do the same.
Pool pumps, electric water heaters, and EV charging also add up. Compare your kWh per day with the same month last year and with a similar home for the season.
What to check
Look at your kWh, home size, heating type, and season together.
Sometimes a competitive True Fixed plan and normal household usage still add up to more than you would like. Your bill also includes delivery charges from your utility, such as Oncor or CenterPoint. Its regulated delivery tariff applies regardless of which retail provider you choose.
Hot Texas summers can make even an efficient home cost more to cool. If both checks look reasonable, focus on practical ways to use less electricity instead of repeatedly switching plans in search of unrealistic savings.
What to check
Check both your plan and your usage before deciding you are overpaying.
02 · Check your plan
Is your electricity plan expensive?
Compare the bill you’re concerned about with the estimated cost of a 12-month True Fixed plan in your area.
Find the kWh used and the electricity charges on the bill for the month you’re checking.
Enter your ZIP code below, then move the graph’s slider to match the kWh on that bill.
Compare what you paid with the estimated bill on the graph. A higher amount may mean your plan is expensive.
Find the average for your area
Enter your ZIP code to see the average for your delivery area.
Enter your ZIP code to see the bill benchmark for your area.
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Enter your ZIP code to see the bill benchmark for your area.
The charges behind the average
Average energy rate
—¢/kWh
TDU delivery rate
—¢/kWh
Provider base charge
—/ month
TDU monthly charge
—/ month
Average True Fixed bill
/ month
Usage to compare
1,500 kWh
Average True Fixed bill
0 kWh5,000 kWh
Slide or tap the chart to choose your monthly kWh and see the estimated bill.
Estimated bills by usage
Estimated bills by usage
Electricity usage
Average bill
Estimates include TDU delivery and assume a $0 provider base charge. Taxes and one-time fees are excluded.
Enter the kWh from the bill you’re checking. Choose the closest home size, your heating type, and the month that electricity was used. Compare your usage with the monthly reference below.
Choose the square footage closest to your home. These profiles cover 800–4,500 sq ft; homes of the same size can still use different amounts of electricity.
Choose what heats your home in winter: Gas for a gas furnace, or Electricity for electric heating or a heat pump. This refers to heating, not air conditioning.
Reference for October1,672 kWh
Your monthly usage1,500 kWh
Choose a month above or tap a bar to compare the kWh from your bill.
Month-by-month reference usage
Month-by-month reference usage
Usage month
Monthly usage (kWh)
January
991 kWh
February
950 kWh
March
1,053 kWh
April
1,131 kWh
May
1,385 kWh
June
1,703 kWh
July
2,100 kWh
August
2,250 kWh
September
1,887 kWh
October
1,672 kWh
November
1,196 kWh
December
1,130 kWh
Source: Clear Energy Facts simulated monthly home profiles. The 800, 2,000, 3,000, and 4,000 sq ft profiles are estimated from nearby sizes; electric heating adds an estimated winter allowance. These are references, not measured averages for your ZIP code.
Questions about high electricity bills
Why is my electricity bill so high even though I use less electricity?
Lower kWh does not always mean a lower bill. A higher energy price, fixed monthly charges, a missed usage credit, or extra fees may offset the reduction. Compare the current electricity charges and plan terms on both bills.
What should my electricity bill be at 1,500 kWh?
In Centerpoint territory, our average estimated bill for 12-month True Fixed plans at 1,500 kWh is $210.09 per month. This includes TDU charges and assumes a $0 provider base charge, before taxes and one-time fees.
Your utility and plan affect what you pay. Enter your ZIP code above and select 1,500 kWh to compare the estimate for your area.
Does True Fixed mean my monthly bill stays the same?
No. Your monthly dollar bill still depends on how much electricity you use, along with applicable fixed charges and delivery charges. A fixed energy price is different from a fixed monthly bill.
What is a normal electric bill in Texas?
Texas residential customers paid an average of $163.72 per month in 2024, with average monthly usage of 1,096 kWh, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That is a statewide annual average, not a current plan quote or a target for every home. Your home’s size, heating, cooling, and the season can put your bill above or below it. EIA: 2024 residential electricity bills.
Why is my electric bill so high in winter?
Electric heating can push your usage up during cold snaps. If your heat pump switches on auxiliary electric resistance heat, often called heat strips, it uses more electricity to produce the same amount of heat. Space heaters, drafty rooms, and a higher thermostat setting can add to the bill. Compare your winter kWh with the same period last year to see whether usage, rather than your rate, explains the increase.