Bill jumped

Why did my electric bill jump this month?

Most of the time, a bill jumps because you used more power, often in a hot or cold month. If your kWh stayed about the same, look for a missed bill credit, an expired contract or a delivery-charge increase.

Published 13 October 2026

Did you use more power?

Start here: compare the kWh on this bill with the one before, not just the dollar amount.

Line up five things on both bills. Look at the kWh, the number of days, the price per kWh, the delivery charge and any credit.

Smart Meter Texas shows your usage day by day, so you can see exactly when it went up.

In 2024, the average Texas home's bill went from about $118 in April to about $234 in August. The price per kWh barely moved, so the extra kWh did it.

A billing period can also run a few days longer than the one before, and more days means more kWh. Here is why summer bills climb.

Same kWh, bigger bill? Check for a missed credit

Some plans give you a bill credit only in months you use a set amount, often 1,000 kWh.

Use 999 kWh and the credit pays nothing, so a cooler month can cost more than a hot one.

Your plan's bill credits are listed on its Electricity Facts Label, the plan's official price sheet.

Did your contract end?

A fixed-price plan has an end date, and your provider must send you at least 3 notices before it arrives.

If you do nothing, you move to a month-to-month plan. Its price can change with every bill, but you can leave any time with no fee.

You will find the end date on an old bill or notice. Here is what to do next.

Did your delivery charge go up?

Your local utility owns the poles and wires that bring power to your home. That is CenterPoint in Houston and Oncor in Dallas.

You pay its delivery charge on every bill. Even a fixed-price plan can change when that charge changes.

Oncor's new delivery rates began on June 1, 2026, which Oncor says adds about 3% to a typical bill.

Is it a catch-up bill or a mistake?

Sometimes a provider finds it undercharged you in the past. It can bill you for that, but only within 180 days.

Think a bill is wrong? Ask your provider to look into it. It must investigate and tell you what it found.

Still not fixed? You can file a complaint with the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

You can also ask your utility to test your meter. The test is free about once every 4 years.

Want a second look? Upload your latest bill, and we estimate whether a switch would likely cost you less.

1. Compare the kWh first

   More kWh means a bigger bill, whatever your plan.

2. Look for a missed credit

   Check whether your usage fell just short of a bill credit.

3. Find your end date

   An expired contract can mean a new price.

Articles are general information for Texas electricity shoppers. Every cost Power Rate Check shows is an estimate, and the Electricity Facts Label is the provider's official price document — read it before you sign.