A hundred plans, one wires charge
CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric's average residential electricity price has risen from 11.56 cents per kWh in 2015 to 15.47 cents in 2025, an increase of about 34 percent, or roughly 3.0 percent per year. The chart shows CenterPoint's average residential price by year. Hover any point for the exact figure.
Houston buyback fine print that costs people money
Current residential rates
CenterPoint residential rates are shown below, from the utility's published tariffs and the public Utility Rate Database. Rates vary by plan, season, and usage and change over time.
| Plan | Energy charge | Fixed / basic |
|---|---|---|
| Houston market average residential rate (all REP plans, all-in) | ~15.13 cents/kWh (June 2026 average across available plans) | Varies by plan; includes CenterPoint TDU delivery |
| Competitive 12-month fixed plan (e.g., Champion/Base Energy 12) | ~12.8 cents/kWh all-in (cheapest fixed, June 30 2026) | Energy charge set by REP; TDU delivery embedded |
| CenterPoint TDU delivery charge (regulated, same for every Houston REP) | 5.1461 cents/kWh | $4.90/month ($2.11 customer + $2.79 metering), effective June 1 2026 |
Houston is deregulated, so the rate a customer actually pays is set by their chosen retail electric provider (REP) and stacks the REP energy charge on top of CenterPoint's PUCT-regulated delivery charge. As of late June 2026 the Houston/CenterPoint market shows roughly 6.6 to 23.58 cents/kWh across available plans, averaging about 15.13 cents/kWh (about 14.92 cents/kWh across 113 fixed-rate plans), with the cheapest 12-month fixed plans near 12.8 cents/kWh all-in. CenterPoint's regulated residential delivery component is $4.90/month plus 5.1461 cents/kWh effective June 1 2026 (the PUCT cut the volumetric rate about 16.7% on March 1 2026). Delivery charges are identical for every provider in CenterPoint territory.
Buyback is opt in, not automatic
Texas has no state-mandated net metering. Because the Houston market is deregulated, CenterPoint (the wires-only utility) does not credit exported solar; instead each competitive retail electric provider (REP) decides whether to offer a "solar buyback" plan and at what rate. Most 2026 buyback plans are no longer 1-to-1: they credit exported kWh at a fixed rate (for example, Green Mountain's Pollution Free Solar Buyback around 8.5 cents/kWh in CenterPoint territory) or at a real-time wholesale rate, which is usually below the retail rate you pay for imported power. Credits typically roll over month to month to offset future bills rather than being paid out as cash, and excess credits are commonly forfeited at year-end. To get paid for surplus solar, a homeowner must specifically enroll in a REP that offers a buyback plan; the value of exported solar depends entirely on that plan's terms, not on a uniform utility policy.
What rising CenterPoint rates could cost you
CenterPoint rates have risen about 3.0% per year. Enter your bill to see what that pace of increase could compound to over time, and what you have likely already absorbed. This is an estimate, not a guarantee.
Estimate only. Projects your current bill forward at CenterPoint's historical average rate increase (3.0% per year, from EIA data); it assumes your usage stays the same except for any add-ons you select. Actual rates depend on your usage, rate plan, and the utility's future filings, and are not guaranteed. This is general information, not financial advice.
Where the value survives in Houston
CenterPoint bills a regulated delivery charge, $4.90 a month plus 5.1461 cents per kWh effective June 2026 after the state cut the volumetric rate about 17 percent in March, and that charge is identical whichever of the hundred plus retail plans you choose. Everything solar related lives in the plan choice.
Houston plans in mid 2026 span roughly 6.6 to 23.6 cents all in, averaging about 15.1, and most buyback offerings credit exports below the retail rate with year end forfeiture as the common catch. The durable value of panels here is self-consumption; the export side needs annual re-shopping and an eye on the forfeiture clause.
CenterPoint service area
CenterPoint serves Greater Houston, Texas, roughly 5,000 square miles across Harris County plus Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Liberty, Montgomery, Waller, and Wharton counties (ERCOT grid, PUCT-regulated)..
To confirm whether a specific address is served by CenterPoint, check your electricity bill. A ZIP lookup tool is coming to this site.
Full data and sources
Per-utility prices are computed from EIA Form 861 (bundled residential revenue divided by sales), which reconciles to the EIA's published figures. These are public-domain U.S. government data.
| Year | CenterPoint (c/kWh) |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 11.56 |
| 2016 | 10.99 |
| 2017 | 11.01 |
| 2018 | 11.2 |
| 2019 | 11.76 |
| 2020 | 11.71 |
| 2021 | 12.11 |
| 2022 | 13.76 |
| 2023 | 14.46 |
| 2024 | 14.94 |
| 2025 | 15.47 |
Sources: EIA Electric Power Annual, Table 2.10 (Avg price by state, 2024 & 2023) · EIA Electric Power Annual, Table 2.10 archive (2022 & 2021) · EIA Electric Power Annual, Table 2.4 (Avg price by sector 2014-2024) · EIA Form 861 Table 4, 2024 Average Retail Price by State (Texas residential 14.936) · EIA Average Price by State by Provider (residential, 2015-2020) · EIA Texas Electricity Profile · CenterPoint TDU delivery charges & Houston rates (2026) · PUCT CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric Rate Report (03/01/2026) · Houston/CenterPoint plan rates, June 2026 · Texas net metering / solar buyback guide (2026) · Texas solar buyback plans & rates (CenterPoint territory, 2026)
FAQ
Does CenterPoint offer net metering in Houston?
No. CenterPoint is the wires only utility in a deregulated market and does not credit exported solar. Buyback exists only through retail electric providers that choose to offer it, at rates they set.
What do Houston solar buyback plans pay?
Most 2026 plans credit exports at a fixed rate, for example around 8.5 cents on Green Mountain's buyback plan in CenterPoint territory, or at a real time wholesale rate. Both are usually below the retail price you pay for imports.
Can I lose my accumulated solar credits?
Yes. On most Houston buyback plans credits offset future bills but are commonly forfeited at year end rather than paid out. Check the credit expiration terms before choosing a plan.
What is the CenterPoint delivery charge?
A regulated pass through on every retail plan: $4.90 per month plus 5.1461 cents per kWh effective June 1, 2026. The volumetric rate was cut about 16.7 percent in March 2026, and it is the same no matter which provider you pick.