As you receive your latest electric bill, you may notice it’s higher than usual. It’s not just the summer weather that may have caused the higher bill. This increase is due to a CenterPoint rate hike that took effect on September 1st. KPRC 2 Investigator Amy Davis explains what this means for you.
Why did my electric bill go up?
Each year on September 1st, transmission and distribution utilities, including CenterPoint and Texas-New Mexico Power, adjust their rates. This is a regular increase as we transition into fall and winter, seasons when electricity usage typically decreases.
We told you about this when it was happening but now you may be getting your bill and wonder about the change.
This year’s rate adjustment raised CenterPoint’s transmission and distribution charge from 3.87 cents to 5.35 cents per kilowatt-hour—an increase of 1.48 cents per kilowatt-hour.
- If you use 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity, this will add an extra $14.80 to your bill compared to last month.
- For 3,000 kilowatt-hours, you’ll see an increase of about $44.50 on your bill.
You’ll find this fee on your bill under the TDU charges, which stand for Transmission and Distribution Utility fees.
What about Hurricane Beryl?
Many of you have asked if this rate increase is related to the costs associated with recent storms like Hurricane Beryl or the May derecho. The answer is no. This rate increase is unrelated to storm damage recovery costs.
However, CenterPoint has indicated that it will seek to recoup storm-related expenses in the future. After Hurricane Beryl, the company requested a rate increase of $1.25 per customer per month, which has been deferred for now.
What’s next and how you can get involved
CenterPoint’s request to recoup costs related to storm response is pending. The Public Utility Commission (PUC) will be holding a meeting in Houston on Saturday, October 5th, at 9:00 a.m. The meeting will take place at the Harris County Department of Education Ronald Reagan Building.
This is your chance to voice your concerns about CenterPoint’s response to Hurricane Beryl and share your experiences.
KPRC 2 will be covering the meeting live, so stay tuned for updates.
Ask Amy: Why are we stuck with CenterPoint Energy? Why can’t we choose another company?
Do you have a question for Amy Davis? Email AskAmy@kprc.com.