Understanding Utility Suppliers in Texas
- Everything You Need to Know About Your Local Transmission and Distribution Utilities (TDUs)
Utility suppliers, also known as Transmission and Distribution Utilities (TDUs), play a crucial role in delivering electricity to your home. In this guide, we’ll explore what utility suppliers do, the charges associated with their services, and their responsibilities.
What is a Utility Supplier?
Utility Suppliers, also known as Transmission and Distribution Utilities (TDUs), are responsible for delivering electricity to your home or business. They manage the physical infrastructure, including wires, cables, power lines, transformers, and more, that transmits and distributes electricity. They are also the ones you call when your power goes out.
The TDU is the same for all customers in a particular region, regardless of the Retail Electric Provider (REP) you use. You may have noticed TDU charges on your electric bill. These fees are included in your electricity bill and are passed through to the utility supplier from your provider.
Utility Supplier Charges
- There are generally two TDU charges on your bill:
- Usage Charge: This fee is based on the amount of electricity you use. It covers the infrastructure and distribution of electricity to your home. This charge, along with your REP’s Energy Charge, makes up the majority of your electric bill each month.
- Delivery Charge: This fixed monthly charge covers the maintenance and cost associated with reading and supporting the meter at each residence.
- While these fees may seem high, your TDU plays a crucial role in providing you with the electricity you need.
Responsibilities of Your Utility Supplier
- Key responsibilities of a TDU include:
- Maintenance of Power Lines: TDUs are in charge of maintaining the power lines, transformers, and other infrastructure necessary for electricity transmission and distribution.
- Restoration of Power: In case of power outages, the TDU is responsible for restoring power. This is independent of the consumer’s chosen electricity provider.
- Meter Reading: TDUs read electricity meters to determine usage, and provide that information to your electricity provider, which is then used to calculate your electricity bill.
- Infrastructure Upgrades: They are also responsible for any upgrades or expansions needed in the transmission and distribution network.
In a deregulated market, while consumers can choose their electricity provider for competitive pricing and services, the TDU remains a constant entity that ensures the physical delivery and reliability of the electricity supply. This separation of roles is intended to enhance efficiency and competition in the electricity market.
Texans can save up to
$500 per year
- by switching to a new electricity plan
- explore affordable plans in your area
Power Out? Who you going to call?
- Use our TDU Lookup tool to find the TDU that services your area.
- Who do you call when your power goes out? Believe it or not, you don’t call your provider, you call your TDU. Below is the TDU for your Zip Code.
(if there is more than one TDU shown, that means more than one TDU covers your Zip Code. Select “Report an Outage” and enter your address to see if they cover your location)
Map of Transmission and Distribution Utilities (TDU) in Texas
- This is the Electric Retail Service Area Map as provided by the Public Utility Commission of Texas
- There are now six TDUs servicing Texas’ Deregulated Market:
- • Oncor services most of North Texas
- • Centerpoint services the Houston area
- • Texas-New Mexico Power covers West Texas
- • AEP Central services Central Texas.
- • AEP South services South Texas.
- • Lubbock Power & Light is the newest TDU serving, yup, you guessed it, Lubbock.
TDU Information Table
The table below includes important information to know about the Transmission and Distribution Utility companies (TDUs) that service Texas. It includes their contact information, links to outages, links to report an outage, and their current usage and delivery fees.
If you’re not sure which TDU services your area, use our TDU Lookup tool above.
- If you found this helpful and think others could benefit from reading it, share it!