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Help paying your electric bill

Updated October 29, 2026 · Compare two plans at your usage

Texas rules give households specific protections when a bill is hard to pay. Ask your provider first; the rules below are what it must offer.

Due dates and late fees

A bill is due at least 16 days after it's issued (16 TAC §25.480, bill payment).
A late fee is one-time and no more than 5% of the late amount (16 TAC §25.480, bill payment).
Providers must offer level (average) billing to customers who aren't behind, trued up at least once a year (16 TAC §25.480, bill payment).

Deferred payment plans

A provider must offer a deferred payment plan for bills due during an extreme-weather emergency, and in other cases including summer bills (July–September) for customers who say they can't pay, with some exclusions. The plan can ask no more than 50% down, spreads the rest over at least five billing cycles unless you agree to fewer, and has no finance charge (16 TAC §25.480, bill payment).

No disconnection in extreme weather

A provider can't disconnect you for nonpayment during an extreme-weather emergency in your county (16 TAC §25.483, disconnection; Tex. Util. Code §39.101). That means either of these:

Cold: the previous day's high didn't go above 32°F, and the forecast stays at or below freezing for the next 24 hours.
Heat: the National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for your county that day or on either of the two days before.

A disconnection date must be at least 10 days after the notice, and not on a weekend or holiday (16 TAC §25.483, disconnection).

Medical protections

Critical care: someone in the home depends on an electric medical device to sustain life. The designation lasts two years (16 TAC §25.497, critical care).
Chronic condition: someone has a serious condition needing powered equipment or electric heating or cooling. It lasts 90 days, or up to a year for a lifelong condition (16 TAC §25.497, critical care).
A doctor sends the PUCT form to the delivery utility. The designation doesn't remove the duty to pay or guarantee uninterrupted power, but it adds notice and time before any disconnection (16 TAC §25.497, critical care; 16 TAC §25.483, disconnection).

Assistance programs

CEAP: the federally funded Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program, run by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs through local agencies (TDHCA: Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program). If an agency pledges payment by the due date, the provider can't disconnect and must allow at least 45 days for the payment (16 TAC §25.483, disconnection).
Provider programs: every provider must run a bill-payment assistance program and explain your options when you say you can't pay (16 TAC §25.480, bill payment).
LITE-UP Texas, the old low-income discount, ended in 2016 (Utility Dive: LITE-UP ends, 2016).

Charges you didn't authorize

If you're switched without permission, you're returned to your old provider and refunded so you pay no more than you would have (16 TAC §25.495, complaints). An unauthorized charge must be removed within 45 days of billing, and you can't be disconnected over it (16 TAC §25.481, unauthorized charges).

How to complain

Contact the provider first. If that doesn't resolve it, contact the PUCT's Consumer Protection Division at 1-888-782-8477, by online complaint form, or at consumer@puc.texas.gov (PUCT consumer overview, PDF). Providers must respond to a complaint the PUCT forwards within 15 days (16 TAC §25.495, complaints).

More on your electric bill

Updated October 29, 2026. General information, not legal or financial advice. Rules are quoted from the Public Utility Commission of Texas rules as published; your plan's own Electricity Facts Label and Terms of Service govern your contract.