CenterPoint Energy delivers you electricity, but we don’t sell it. Questions about rates and your bill should be directed to your Retail Electric Provider. However, our smart meters can help you better monitor your consumption of electricity. With an in-home energy display, which will be available with a variety of options in a range of prices, or the Smart Meter Texas website, you’ll no longer have to wait for your monthly electric bill to find out how much electricity you are using, which can take the surprise out of your bill and prompt you to conserve energy.

Many factors can contribute to increased consumption of electricity and higher bills:

• Temperature extremes (summer heat or winter cold) generally result in greater usage and higher bills. People with electric heat, such as many apartment dwellers, may use more electricity to stay warm during cold winters.
• In summer, air conditioning can account for two-thirds or more of electricity usage.
• Holiday lighting and other seasonal usage (e.g. pool pumps) can create spikes in usage.
• Vacation periods, with more people at home during the day, can be times of high usage.
• Electronics, such as computers, LCD and plasma TVs, and gaming systems comprise an increasing percentage of home electricity consumption.
• A higher electric rate could result in a higher bill even if you reduce consumption. Rates can be either fixed at a given price every month or variable, in which case they can fluctuate significantly. Check with your Retail Electric Provider about their rate plans or visit www.powertochoose.org to compare the rate plans of different providers.

If you are concerned about your electric bill, check your bill or call your Retail Electric Provider, which may provide information or services such as the following:

• The number of days in the billing cycle, which can vary from 28 to 35 days month to month; more billing days generally result in higher bills.
• A comparison (e.g. bar chart) of usage over a 13-month period.
• A comparison of the average daily temperature for the month in question with the preceding month and/or the same month of the preceding year (higher summer temperatures and lower winter temperatures can result in higher bills).
• Energy audits and analysis tools, energy efficiency programs and tips, energy assistance and/or payment plan options.

Our smart meters can help you better monitor your consumption of electricity.  With an in-home display or at www.smartmetertexas.com, you’ll no longer have to wait for your monthly electric bill to find out how much electricity you are using, which can take the surprise out or your bill and prompt you to conserve energy.

Click here for energy-saving tips and programs.