Oncor Energy and Texas Electricty

About Oncor Energy in Texas

The Dallas Electric Company first brought electricity to Dallas in 1882. Over the years as the need for electricity grew and changed, Dallas Electric Company and twelve other Texas electric companies consolidated to form one single utility. Texas Utilities formed in 1945 and took over supplying electric power to north Texas. As years passed, the company grew and reorganized, becoming TXU Corporation in 1999. Following deregulation, TXU Corporation split into three separate entities that handled generation, retail, and transmission/distribution.

In 2007, the largest ever private-equity acquisition changed TXU Corporation into Energy Future Holdings Corporation (EFH). Its energy operations included Luminant (generation), TXU Energy (retail electricity provider), and Oncor (transmission/distribution), Unfortunately, the deal proved too big and EFH foundered. In 2018, Sempra Energy acquired a majority stake in Oncor for US $9.45 billion.

Oncor Electric Delivery Company is headquartered in Dallas, TX. It is Texas's largest Transmission/Distribution Utility (TDU), serving more than 420 Texas cities. With more than 103,000 miles of power lines delivering power to over 10 million Texans, the Oncor territory serves part or all of 120 Texas counties.

Frequently Asked Questions About Oncor Energy

Here are answers to some common questions that people have had about Oncor Energy

Featured Plans In The Oncor Energy Footprint

These are a few plans that we think you'll like. We also have a more detailed listing of all TX plans for Oncor Energy, or you can use our Oncor Energy Rate Comparison Page to find a great deal

What to do When There's an Oncor Outage

The MyOncor App

Storm damage, equipment failure, and even simple accidents can knock out the power not just to your home but to your neighborhood and your entire community. If the power goes off suddenly, the first thing a Texas electricity customer should do is to contact their local utility transmission/distribution utility (TDU). These companies are responsible for maintaining the poles, wire, and substations that deliver electricity to your home.

Customers can report an outage to Oncor by phone: 888.313.4747.

Customers can also report problems or through the Oncor StormCenter web site. Customers can not only track reported power outages that affect them but view detailed outage information from all over the Oncor service territory.

Power Outages in Dallas, Today.

Because power outages are not only inconvenient to comfort but often crucial to safety, Oncor's outage map for the Dallas-Ft. Worth metro area is very detailed, providing information on the number of people affected and an estimate on when power will be restored. However, because the map is based on data transmitted from electrical equipment where the outage originates, customers will not see outage symbols over their homes. For reasons of security and safety to homes and businesses, Oncor does not supply specific addresses affected by a power outage.

Oncor on Twitter

If you want to stay right on top of the latest power failure information, Oncor is very active on Twitter. They routinely posts outage and power restoration information as well as weather updates.

How to Report an Oncor Street Light Outage

Oncor owns, powers, and maintains more than 420,000 streetlights across Texas, responding to more than 70,000 streetlight outage reports annually. Most streetlight repairs take 5 to 10 days to complete. Because streetlights are so important to public safety, you can report streetlight problems to Oncor at https://www.oncorstreetlight.com.

Oncor In The Community

Oncor's roots in serving north Texas go as deep as the trees lining the Trinity River. Not surprisingly, Oncor has been partnering with the Arbor Day Foundation's Energy-Saving Trees Program to give away 8,000 free trees to customers. Because trees are not only good for the environment, their shade reduces the summer time cooling load on homes and also helps reduce heat-island effects in urban areas. Oncor has also made it easier for homeowners to keep their communities safe by reporting outages in their neighborhood with its MyOncor app.

The company also keeps an eye on the future by celebrating National Engineer's Week. To get more children interested in STEM careers, Oncor employees volunteer their time to engage students in learning more about STEM careers and fostering a love for education. Volunteers continue to give back through local community events, academic programs and STEM-focused, interactive tours.

Oncor's employees also participated in and sponsored the Dallas Regional “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Robotics Competition” (F.I.R.S.T.). More than 60 student teams from around the Dallas/Fort Worth area built robots and competed for education scholarships. Oncor donated $25,000 to support the Dallas regional event.

Oncor is also proud to power one of the oldest annual traditions in the state, the Texas State Fair. During 24 days of food, music, and fun, Oncor used 19,000 feet of underwire cable carrying up to 18.7 megawatts of electricity to light up the fair.

Compare Oncor Utility Rates

TDU and City

Base Customer Charge

Per kWh Rate

Oncor (Dallas/Ft Worth)

$3.42

$0.038447 cents per kWh

Centerpoint (Houston)

$5.47

$0.024928 cents per kWh

AEP (Abilene)

$8.18

$0.024837 cents per kWh

TNMP (Fort Stockton)

$7.85

$0.025670 cents per kWh

Oncor Transmission/Distribution Rates

Electricity customers in Texas pay separate charges for their electricity supply and the electricity's transmission and distribution. Transmission and distribution charges on your bill cover the cost of maintaining the poles and wires of the local grid to get your electricity to your home or business. Basically, TDSP or TDU charges are really transmission and distribution charges from your local utility.

On your bill, TDSP or TDU charges reflect two main charges:

  • A fixed-rate customer charge. This charge is made up of the cost of maintaining an account with Oncor and a metering charge measuring your usage.
  • Transmission/distribution charges per kWh used during the month.

But while TDSP or TDU charges are usually somewhat explained on the monthly bill, many customers are often confused because providers "TDSP" and "TDU" sometimes use these terms interchangeably.

What do TDSP and TDU Mean?

TDSPs include:

  • Bulk transmission companies (high tension lines that move hundreds of megawatts across the state)
  • Rural Electric Cooperatives (RECs)
  • Municipal-Owned Utilities (MOUs)
  • Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs) that operate a Transmission and Distribution Utility (TDU) in Texas.

The problem is that when deregulation started, "TDSP" and "TDU" were bandied about interchangeably by regulators, legislators, and providers to mean the same thing; local distribution charges. But there is actually a difference.

"TDSP" or "Transmission/Distribution Service Provider" is mainly used by ERCOT. ERCOT runs the electricity markets plus takes care of the day to day BULK transmission/distribution operations on the Texas grid (those tall HIGH VOLTAGE, high tension power lines.) ERCOT works with transmission/distribution service providers (the companies that own and operate these big power lines) to send megawatts of electricity where it needs to go at the right time. According to ERCOT, "TDSPs own/operate, for compensation, the equipment/facilities to transmit and/or distribute electricity in Texas."

"TDU" or "Transmission/Distribution Utility" is mainly used by the PUC of Texas. The PUCT regulates and approves transmission rates set by the different utilities such as MOUs and IOUs that deliver electricity locally to homes and businesses. According to PUCT, a TDU is the local utility company (which includes the monopoly IOU companies) that handles the local transmission and distribution to local customers within its service territory. In short, TDUs handle the local distribution to home and business users, track usage, and bill everyone equally to help maintain the equipment.

TDUs include: :

  • Oncor
  • Centerpoint
  • AEP (North and Central)
  • TNMP
  • Sharyland Utilities

One way to think of this whole transmission/distribution process is that once the electricity arrives from the TDSP (bulk supply) at the local city/town switching station it then becomes the TDU's job to deliver the electricity to homes and businesses at the PUC approved tariff amount.

Of course, this seemingly clear distinction is clouded by the fact that all the major TDU companies that distribute power on local grids are also TDSPs. This is because these companies are all involved in planning, building, and operating the major transmission lines reaching across the state. So, it's not surprising that twenty years ago, TDSPs and TDUs became interchangeable terms among folks who weren't being terribly picky about making a big distinction between the two roles. Even though "TDU" is a PUCT term, in a number of PUCT reports about local transmission/distribution companies dating before 2006, oddly enough it's "TDSP" that is used and there's no mention at all of "TDU".

However, beginning around 2006, the PUCT began using "Transmission and Distribution Utility" or "TDU" in its orders and rulings. In one PUCT rule-making case in 2006, TDU is used 679 times throughout the report but TDSP is used only once.

Which is right?" TDSP or TDU? Both. Texas electricity customers still see local distribution or deliver charges on their bills listed as TDSP or TDU charges and there's nothing wrong with it.

But technically speaking because these are PUCT-approved delivery tariff charges from the Transmission/Distribution Utility (TDU) and not bulk transmission from ERCOT's Transmission/Distribution Service Provider (TDSP), it's more accurate to call these "TDU distribution charges".

Ask Oncor Why TDU Charges So High?

As many Oncor customers know, TDU charges alone can add 1/3 or more to your monthly bill because they depend on how much electricity you use to power your home. For example, the Oncor rate is 4.1867 cents per kWh. If you use 1000 kWh per month, you'll be charged $41.87 to have that 1000 kWh delivered to your home. Add in Oncor's customer charge of $3.42 and your total monthly delivery charge roughly comes to $45.29!

And that doesn't even include the electricity you actually used!

While these charges aren't welcome expenses, remember that Oncor is required by the State of Texas to reliably operate and maintain a transmission and delivery network that's over 103,000 miles of power lines. This same network delivers power to some 420 cities and towns. Keeping their part of the ERCOT electric grid running smoothly to supply nearly 10 million people with reliable energy in all kinds of Texas weather is an intensive and expensive job.

Before Oncor can change its rates, it must file a request with the Public Utility Commision of Texas. The PUC updates rates (also called "tariffs") twice a year. Oncor and other TDUs can file rate change requests whenever they want but all such changes must be first reviewed and approved by the commission before they can go into effect.

Electricity Rates in the Oncor Service Area, Dallas

How do I get the Cheapest Oncor Energy Rate?

We've created a step by step guide to help you get the cheapest electricity rate. Plus we've built tools to help analyse your Oncor Energy rate. Or you can use our Oncor Energy Bill Calculator tool.

Oncor Energy Rates

Company & Plan Term Rate
Energy Texas - Moving Made Easy 1 7.6¢
4Change Energy - Maxx Saver Select 12 12 8.8¢
4Change Energy - Maxx Saver Select 24 24 8.8¢
Frontier Utilities - Frontier Saver Plus 12 12 8.8¢
Gexa Energy - Gexa Eco Saver Plus 12 12 8.8¢
Gexa Energy - Gexa Eco Saver Plus 24 24 8.8¢
Frontier Utilities - Frontier Saver Plus 24 24 8.8¢
Energy Texas - Come & Take It 12 12 10.5¢
Chariot Energy - GridEdge 36 36 10.8¢
Veteran Energy - Valor 36 36 10.9¢
Chariot Energy - GridEdge 18 18 10.9¢
Chariot Energy - GridEdge 24 24 10.9¢
Chariot Energy - GridEdge 12 12 11.0¢
Energy Texas - Bigger Than Texas 24 24 11.3¢
Energy Texas - 36 Inflation Fix 36 11.4¢
TXU Energy - Clear Deal 12 12 11.6¢
Discount Power - Wise Buy 24 24 11.8¢
Energy Texas - The Gruene 18 18 11.9¢
TriEagle Energy - Sure Value 36 36 11.9¢
TriEagle Energy - Sure Value 24 24 11.9¢
TriEagle Energy - Sure Value 12 12 11.9¢
Veteran Energy - Valor 12 12 11.9¢
Green Mountain Energy - Pollution Free e-Plus 24 24 12.0¢
GoodCharlie Energy - GoodEnergy 24 24 12.1¢
GoodCharlie Energy - GoodEnergy 12 12 12.1¢
Champion Energy Services - Champ Saver-12 12 12.2¢
Rhythm - Simply Select 12 12 12.3¢
GoodCharlie Energy - GoodEnergy 36 36 12.3¢
Direct Energy - Live Brighter Lite 12 12 12.3¢
Rhythm - Simply Select 24 24 12.3¢
Champion Energy Services - Champ Saver-24 24 12.4¢
GoodCharlie Energy - GoodGreen 12 12 12.4¢
GoodCharlie Energy - GoodGreen 24 24 12.4¢
Reliant - Conservation 12 plan 12 12.5¢
Reliant - Reliant Conservation 24 plan 24 12.5¢
Champion Energy Services - Free Weekends-24 24 12.5¢
Veteran Energy - Valor 24 24 12.5¢
Rhythm - Simply Select 16 16 12.5¢
Reliant - Reliant Basic Power 24 plan 24 12.6¢
GoodCharlie Energy - GoodGreen 36 36 12.6¢
Reliant - Reliant Basic Power 12 plan 12 12.8¢
Champion Energy Services - Green Energy-24 24 12.8¢
Constellation - 36 Month Usage Bill Credit 36 12.9¢
TXU Energy - Clear Deal 24 24 12.9¢
Constellation - 12 Month Flat Tier Product 12 12.9¢
Constellation - 12 Month Usage Bill Credit 12 12.9¢
GoodCharlie Energy - GoodEnergy 48 48 12.9¢
Rhythm - Simply Select 36 36 13.1¢
TriEagle Energy - Eagle 36 36 13.2¢
TriEagle Energy - Eagle 12 12 13.2¢
Reliant - Reliant Flextra Credits 12 plan 12 13.2¢
Constellation - 18 Month Usage Bill Credit + PowerPlug 18 13.5¢
4Change Energy - One Rate 24 24 13.5¢
TXU Energy - Solar Value 12 12 13.5¢
Chariot Energy - Solarize 36 36 13.7¢
TriEagle Energy - Savvy Value 36 36 13.7¢
TriEagle Energy - Savvy Value 24 24 13.7¢
TriEagle Energy - Savvy Value 12 12 13.7¢
Chariot Energy - Solarize 18 18 13.8¢
Chariot Energy - Solarize 15 15 13.8¢
Chariot Energy - Solarize 24 24 13.8¢
Frontier Utilities - Smart Budget 24 24 13.8¢
Frontier Utilities - Smart Budget 36 36 13.9¢
Constellation - 36 Month A/C Protect Premier for 2 Units 36 13.9¢
Veteran Energy - Smart Thermostat 24 24 13.9¢
Veteran Energy - Secure 24 24 13.9¢
4Change Energy - One Rate 12 12 13.9¢
Chariot Energy - Solarize 12 12 13.9¢
Constellation - 12Mo Usage Bill Credit + A/C Protection for 2 Units and HVAC Monitoring 12 13.9¢
Constellation - 12Mo Usage Bill Credit + A/C Protection for 1 Unit and HVAC Monitoring 12 13.9¢
Energy Texas - Energy Texas Monthly 1 14.0¢
Frontier Utilities - Smart Budget 12 12 14.0¢
TriEagle Energy - Green Eagle 36 36 14.2¢
TriEagle Energy - Green Eagle 12 12 14.2¢
Veteran Energy - Secure Green 24 24 14.5¢
Constellation - 12 Month GREEN (No Min Usage Fee) 12 14.5¢
Rhythm - Two Months Free 24 24 14.6¢
Veteran Energy - Secure 12 12 14.9¢
Gexa Energy - Gexa EV 24 24 14.9¢
TXU Energy - Savers Discount 12 12 16.0¢
TXU Energy - Simple Rate 12 12 16.2¢
Gexa Energy - Gexa Saver Freedom 36 36 16.4¢
TXU Energy - Season Pass 12 12 16.9¢
Frontier Utilities - Frontier Saver Value 12 12 17.1¢
TXU Energy - Flex Forward 1 17.2¢
Gexa Energy - Gexa Eco Saver Lite 12 12 17.2¢
TXU Energy - Free Nights & Solar Days 12 12 17.5¢
TXU Energy - Savers Discount 24 24 17.6¢
Payless Power - Premier 12 12 17.8¢
Payless Power - Simple 6 6 17.9¢
TXU Energy - Solar Saver 12 12 18.3¢
Gexa Energy - Gexa Eco Saver Advantage 12 12 18.7¢
Frontier Utilities - Frontier Saver Max 24 24 19.3¢
Gexa Energy - Gexa Eco Saver Premium 24 24 19.4¢
Frontier Utilities - Frontier Saver Max 12 12 19.8¢
Gexa Energy - Gexa Eco Saver Premium 12 12 19.8¢

Oncor Electricity prices as of 05-30-2023. Compare Oncor Electricity Rates.

Search for The Best Oncor Energy Rates


How To Reduce Oncor Electricity Delivery Charges

All residential electricity customers in the Oncor service area pay the same distribution charge rates no matter where who their retail electric provider is.

If you've heard that you can reduce your monthly Oncor delivery charges, you need to pay attention to this important fact:

Residential electricity customers generally do not use the same volume of electricity as businesses. Consequently, they don't need to worry about demand charges, demand ratchets, or time of use charges. However, business and commercial customers as well as places of worship do.

The only way for residential customers to reduce their monthly TDU charges per kWh is to reduce the amount of electricity that they use. Unfortunately, if you've signed up for a tiered rate plan that penalizes you for using less electricity, cutting your usage each month might cost you more.

The smart way to cut your monthly bill is to shop for a new Texas retail electricity provider offering plans and low rates that don't gouge you for using less energy. That's the best way to avoid paying high TDU charge!

Calculating Oncor Distribution Charges

At present, Oncor distribution charges per month consist of $0.038447 per kWh used and a $3.42 customer charge. On typical Texas electricity EFLs, these charges are factored into the total price of an electricity plan to calculate the "average" price. This is done by dividing the amount of the customer charge by the kWh usage amount and then adding that to Oncor's price per kWh used amount.

  • At the 500 kWh level, Oncor TDU charges = $0.045287 OR 4.5287 cents per kWh.
  • At the 1000 kWh usage level, Oncor TDU charges = $0.041867 OR 4.1867 cents per kWh
  • At the 2000 kWh usage level, Oncor TDU charges = $0.040157 OR 4.0157 cents per kWh
The key point to remember for flat rate plans is that at the end of the month, the higher your electricity usage the higher your total bill.

The total "average" price amount is then added to the provider's energy charge.

That said, notice that as the usage level rises, the price per kWh for these Oncor Distribution Charges decreases.

Here's what's happening: as the usage rises, the Oncor charges are being divided by bigger and bigger usage amounts. As a result, the average price per kWh decreases even though the distribution charge rate (0.038447 per kWh used and the $3.42 customer charge) doesn't change at all.

This also explains why the average price on retail providers' flat rate electricity plans appears to penalize low usage customers.

The MyOncor App

Oncor also offers customers its MyOncor App for iOS and Android devices. Oncor customers to report and track outages, manage service requests, and receive news and updates. The app also give customers access to energy efficiency tips to help manage your energy consumption and save on your electric bill and important safety information during severe weather events. To use MyOncor, you must be a customer in the Oncor Electric Delivery service territory.

News Articles About Oncor Energy

5 Energy Saving Holiday Gifts to Give Your Home

Posted on
Read what you can give your Dallas home to keep it warm for the holidays!
Slash your Dallas energy bills by weatherizing! Read what you can give your home to keep it warm for the holidays!

How Can I Make My Home Energy Efficient?

If you’re looking for cheaper electricity bills, then there are a few energy efficient presents you can give your home this holiday season. Some of these are quick, easy fixes, and others require a larger budget and a little planning. But either way, these 5 energy-saving additions will quickly lower your monthly Texas energy bills.

Do LED Lights Lower Energy Bills?

LED lights are as cheap as $2 each. These are great alternatives to traditional incandescent light bulbs, and the energy savings are real. Over time, these bulbs easily pay for themselves, saving you roughly $150 over their lifespan compared to incandescent lights.

How Can Caulking and Weather-Stripping Lower My Electricity Bills?

Caulking is an easy way to help weatherize your home. Simply search your house for gaps and drafts around doors and windows. You’ll want to scrape and clean away any cracked or loose caulk first and then apply the new caulk. Weather-stripping is another quick but effective fix. These strips can be applied to the spaces around doors and windows, creating betters seals to help lower your Oncor energy billseven further.

Smart Thermostats Can Easily Reduce My Energy Rates

Smart thermostats make it easy to precisely monitor the energy usage in your house. The thermostats store data that also allow you to track your energy use, so you can better plan for savings. And you can even adjust the temperatures from your smartphone. If you don’t already have a smart thermometer, you can switch to a smart thermometer plan in Dallasthat will give you one when you sign up.

Which Energy Efficient Appliances Should I Get for My Home?

Some of the biggest energy wasters in your house are the washing machine, water heater, and refrigerator. If you’re not ready to purchase a new, more energy efficient appliance, there are some easy tricks you can use to reduce energy use and lower your rates.
  • Lower the temperature on your water heater.Lowering the temperaturefrom the default 140°F degrees to 120°F still maintains efficiency but reduces costs.
  • Use cold water for washing. Most clothescan be washed in cold water. Running the washing machine on cold or the energy efficient cycle can help keep energy bills low.
  • Use your refrigerator effectively.Keep your fridge in a cool place with plenty of space around for air to circulate around it. Also clean the door seal regularly and inspect them for cracks or damage.

What’s the Best Form of Insulation for My House?

Poorly insulated homes can lose 25 percentof their heat through the roof. If you’re looking for a way to impact your energy bills, then you have options when it comes to replacing the traditional batt insulation. The cheaper option would be to add blown insulationinto the attic. These light, fluffy pieces of either fiberglass or cellulose work extremely well for trapping the air in your house. This is because the pieces can get into all the joints and crevices to create a better seal than batts. The other option is to use urethane spray insulation. Using spray insulation around the joists in the attic floor helps keep air from the inside of the house from traveling into the attic space. The one downside is that spray foam insulation is usually more expensive than blown insulation. While costs varydepending on several factors, blown in insulation is typically around $0.65 to $0.80 per square foot while closed-cell spray foam can cost between $0.70 - $1.00 per square foot.

Switch to the Best Electricity Plan in the Dallas

The easiest way to find huge savings on your electricity bills is to switch to an electricity provider with the cheapest rates. But it’s not always easy. You have the power to choosein Texas. And there are a lot of options. At www.TexasElectricityRatings.com, we’re here to help make shopping for the cheapest energy rateseasy for you. Visit our website for more information on how to compare electricity rates before switching to the best plan for your needs.

Market Rates: Oncor Energy & Dallas Electricity 5/23

Posted on Good morning, folks. I hope everyone had a pleasant weekend. We're back today with the first of our shopping guide entires for the deregulated Texas electricity market. Oncor provides the electricity service for some of the biggest cities in Texas, including Dallas electricity, Fort Worth electricity, and Waco electricity. While it's the biggest service area in Texas, fortunately it's also the least expensive in regards to the cost of electricity service, which is good news for people in that area. Below are a list of the most commonly ordered type of plans in the deregulated market for Texas electricity. It should give shoppers a good idea of what to expect in regards to pricing for that type of electricity plan and give Texans a good place to start their search. Month to Month Electricity Plans:
  • Reliant Energy - 5.1
  • StarTex Power - 5.1
  • Mega Energy - 5.2
  • Kinetic Energy - 5.9
  • Frontier Utilities - 5.9
  • Southwest Power & Light - 6.5
Month to Month Green Electricity Plans:
  • Kinetic Energy - 7.0
  • Reliant Energy - 7.1
  • Southwest Power & Light - 7.1
  • Dynowatt - 7.2
  • YEP - 7.2
  • Bounce Energy - 7.2
Long Term Fixed Rate Electricity Plans:
  • Reliant Energy - 6 Month Fixed Plan - 8.1
  • Mega Energy - 6 Month Fixed Plan - 8.1
  • Kinetic Energy - 6 Month Fixed Plan - 8.2
  • Kinetic Energy - 12 Month Fixed Plan - 8.1
  • APNA Energy - 12 Month Fixed Plan - 8.3
  • Mega Energy - 12 Month Fixed Plan - 8.3
  • Brilliant Energy - 24 Month Fixed Plan - 8.6
  • Amigo Energy - 24 Month Fixed Plan - 8.9
  • Tara Energy - 24 Month Fixed Plan - 9.1
Long Term Fixed Rate Green Electricity Plans:
  • Kinetic Energy - 6 Month Fixed Plan - 8.5
  • Mega Energy - 6 Month Fixed Plan - 8.6
  • Reliant Energy - 6 Month Fixed Plan - 8.6
  • Kinetic Energy - 12 Month Fixed Plan - 8.6
  • Tara Energy - 12 Month Fixed Plan - 8.7
  • Mega Energy - 12 Month Fixed Plan - 8.8
  • Kinetic Energy - 24 Month Fixed Plan - 9.3
  • Tara Energy - 24 Month Fixed Plan - 9.4
  • Southwest Power & Light - 24 Month Fixed Plan - 9.5
Cities covered int his shopping guide: Dallas electricity; Fort Worth electricity; Arlington electricity; Waco electricity; Irving electricity; Midland electricity; Odessa electricity; Plano electricity; Richardson electricity; Round Rock electricity; Tyler electricity;  

Zip Codes with the Cheapest Oncor Energy Rates in Texas