CenterPoint Energy's delivery charge rose to 6.53 cents per kilowatt-hour effective Oct. 1, pushing the monthly delivery bill for a high-use Spring household past $135.

The Public Utility Commission of Texas lists the current residential rate at 6.5333 cents per kilowatt-hour. A household using 2,000 kilowatt-hours per month now pays about $135.57 in delivery charges alone, according to the PUCT rate table. A 1,000-kilowatt-hour household pays $70.23. Those totals include a $2.11 monthly customer charge and a $2.79 metering charge.

The rate stood at 4.05 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2020, a KPRC ENOUGH investigation reported Sept. 17. That is a roughly 61% increase in six years.

The delivery charge applies to every CenterPoint customer in the Houston region regardless of which retail electricity provider they use. Fixed-rate electricity contracts cover only the power itself, not delivery.

Customers cannot choose a different delivery utility.

Why the increases keep coming

A 2023 change in Texas law allowed transmission and distribution utilities to seek rate adjustments more frequently, KPRC reported Oct. 7. Each request still requires PUCT approval. But the faster pace means less time for consumers, cities and other groups to review the numbers before rates change.

CenterPoint said in a September statement to KPRC that the fees cover infrastructure costs and that the company earns a regulated return on those investments, set by the PUCT. The company said it does not profit on day-to-day operating and maintenance costs.

Customers see the impact

Houston-area resident Sean Gambini told KPRC that 41% of his September bill, $322.28 out of $795.61, went to CenterPoint's delivery charge. Dan Phillips, another area customer, told the station in September, "Our electric bill has almost doubled."

KPRC reported that none of the PUCT's four commissioners or Chairman Thomas Gleeson responded to interview requests about the increases. The PUCT is made up of five members, all appointed by the governor.

What Spring residents can do

Customers can file complaints with the PUCT by phone at 1-888-782-8477, online at complaint.puc.texas.gov, or by email at [email protected]. Residents can also contact their state representative or senator through the Texas Legislature's search tool at wrm.capitol.texas.gov.