Who delivers electricity in CenterPoint's service area, and how is that different from my supplier?
CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (CenterPoint) is the Transmission and Distribution Utility (TDU) that owns the poles, wires, and meter for ZIP 77521. The TDU delivers power, reads the meter, and restores outages — no matter which provider the customer picks. The Retail Electric Provider (REP) is the company that actually sells the kilowatt-hours. REPs set the rate per kWh, run billing, and file the plan's Electricity Facts Label with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT). Roughly 100 PUCT-licensed REPs compete for customers on the CenterPoint grid, which is why rates on this page differ even though the wires are the same. When a Texan switches, CenterPoint keeps delivering and reading the meter; only the company on the bill changes.