The Texas Legislature and the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) authorized utilities to assess Retail Electric Providers (REPs) a surcharge to recover the cost of smart meters. The surcharge, which was to have been spread over a 12-year period, is $3.24 per month for each residential consumer for the first 24 months, beginning in February 2009; thereafter, the surcharge will be reduced to $3.05 per month. The receipt of a federal Smart Grid Grant could reduce the duration of this surcharge.

You can save more than $3 per month now by using energy efficiently. In fact, one compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulb can save you $30* or more over the life of the bulb.  Click here for energy efficiency tips.

The total cost of phase 1 of CenterPoint Energy's Intelligent Grid deployment, to be completed in 2013, that will serve half a million people generally inside the 610 Loop is $100 million: $50 million will come from the federal grant.

*Source: Energy Star.