Galveston is one of the many cities in Texas that is located in a deregulated service area. This means Texans residing in Galveston can shop for a lower energy rate and choose their own Retail Energy Provider (REP). Whether your primary residence is in Galveston or you own a rental property, locking in a competitive rate can translate to big savings.

Galveston is a coastal city located just 50 miles from Houston. With a population of 50,000, the city is a popular tourist destination for many Texans looking to escape to the Gulf Coast.

Utility Companies in Galveston

Two utility companies operate in the city of Galveston. CenterPoint and Texas-New Mexico Power are the two utility companies that control the power lines that deliver the electricity to the point of service. If you’re new to Galveston, the first step before shopping for electricity rates is to figure out which utility service area you fall under. A Retail Energy Provider (REP) will deny your request if you sign up for a competitive offer under the wrong service area!

CenterPoint Energy

Galveston residence residing under CenterPoint’s service area can shop for a competitive energy supplier while maintaining the same level of service from CenterPoint. The utility company is responsible for maintaining the lines and wires to safely deliver the power to your residence and will continue to bill the customer for the delivery charges. The delivery charge is a regulated charge and the customer will not be able to shop around for this portion of the electric bill.

If you fall under CenterPoint’s service area and experience a power outage or any disruption of service, CenterPoint will be the company to contact to report the issue.

Texas-New Mexico Power Utility Company

Texas-New Mexico Power (TNMP) is the other utility company that operates in Galveston as well as other parts of Texas. Galveston residence under the TNMP service area can shop for a competitive energy supplier but will always have TNMP as their utility company. TNMP is responsible for maintaining the lines and wires for their service area and is the company to contact should the customer experience any power outage or disruption of service.

Renewable Energy in Galveston

Texas is by far the highest electricity generation producer in the nation. Renewable energy makes up one-fifth of the net electricity generated in Texas. Wind-power accounts for the majority of energy generated from renewable energy sources. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Texas had a wind capacity of 28,800 megawatts by the end of 2019, which represents three-tenths of the U.S. total.

Galveston residents looking to reduce their carbon footprint can select from Retail Energy Providers (REPs) that offer Green Energy plans. These plans will guarantee that the amount of electricity the customer is estimated to use during the term of the contract will be generated from renewable energy sources and uploaded to the power grid. The energy supplier may do this directly or purchase renewable energy credits from third-party suppliers to meet this requirement.

The majority of Retail Energy Providers (REPs) that offer Green Energy plans do not generate the electricity themselves. The majority of renewable energy sources that are uploaded to the power grid come from wind and solar farms. One of the largest wind farms in Texas is the Roscoe Wind Farm in Roscoe, Texas. With over 600 wind turbines, this wind farm has a generation capacity of 781 megawatts.

Texas electricity net generation

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