# Ballinger, Texas electricity: AEP Texas North wires and 1,939 competitive homes

_Updated October 19, 2026. Data: ERCOT Oct 5, 2026; Census ACS 2020-2024; Power to Choose Oct 19, 2026, 7:59 AM CT._

**Ballinger at a glance:** 1,939 Ballinger-addressed homes, all wired by AEP Texas North (ERCOT, Oct. 5, 2026). Ballinger's 1,939 placed homes sit in unsplit ZIP codes; a lookup still confirms each address.

## Moving to Ballinger

Local numbers for setting up a home in Ballinger, each checked on the official source. More contacts: https://powerhopper.energy/texas-electricity/ballinger/move-in-information

- **Water and utility billing:** utility billing (start, transfer or stop water service), 325-365-3511.
- **Trash pickup:** Trash and recycling service (number on the city trash page), 325-365-5135.
- **Natural gas:** Atmos Energy: customer service, 888-286-6700.
- **Public schools:** Ballinger ISD.
- **Driver license:** Texas DPS Driver License Office: Ballinger, 512-424-2600.

## Facts
- Land: 3.5 sq mi; 1,002 residents and 417 households per sq mi; 2.40 people per Ballinger household. (Source: https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2025/cities/totals/sub-est2025_48.csv, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/)
- Heating fuel, Ballinger homes (ACS 2020-2024): electricity 24.3% (±7), utility gas 74.0%; Runnels County overall: 41.1% electric. (Source: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/)
- Of Ballinger homes paying a power bill, 19.3% report $250 or more a month and 16.8% under $100 (Runnels County: 29.5% at $250+). (Source: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/)
- Housing stock: 90.4% detached houses; median year built 1956, 0.8% built 2010 or later. (Source: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/)
- Ballinger-addressed home meters on Oct. 5, 2026: 1,939 active, 359 inactive, 419 de-energized, so 28.6% were not in use (ERCOT). (Source: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203)
- ACS 2020-2024: 18.3% of Ballinger housing units vacant (±7). Vacant homes keep meters that are not counted as households. (Source: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/)
- 1,939 home meters use the Ballinger postal name, against 1,455 households inside city limits (1.33 per household): the mailing area runs well past the boundary. (Source: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/)
- 76821 carries every one of Ballinger's placed homes; ratio across the whole ZIP 1.07, from 1,939 home meters in all and 1,816 households. (Source: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/)

## Homes: heating fuel, bills, housing (ACS 2020-2024, the city (Census boundary))
- Heat with electricity: 24.3%
- Heat with utility gas: 74.0%
- Bill $250 or more: 19.3%
- Built 2010 or later: 0.8%
- Renter households: 23.9%
- Median year built: 1956

## Meters and households
- Residents, July 2025: 3,499
- Residents, 2020 base: 3,627
- Households (ACS): 1,455
- Active home meters: 1,939
- Inactive home meters: 359
- De-energized home meters: 419
- Active small-business meters: 620
- Active large-business meters: 0
- Home meters per household: 1.33
- ZIP codes listed: 1
- Split ZIP codes: 0
- County: Runnels

## Plan prices (Oct 19, 2026 medians)
AEP Texas North (160 listings): 13.7¢ / 13¢ / 12.8¢ per kWh at 500 / 1,000 / 2,000 kWh, delivery 5.5751¢ + $3.24/mo included.

## ZIP codes
**Not every address in these ZIP codes has retail choice; check your exact address.**

| ZIP | Homes with this address | All ZIP homes | Households | Ratio | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 76821 | 1,939 | 1,939 | 1,816 | 1.07 | none |

## Businesses
620 business meters. Business rate reviews: /business.

## Questions
**Is electricity deregulated in Ballinger?** Yes, on AEP Texas North's wires: 1,939 Ballinger homes were on the competitive market Oct. 5, 2026 (1.33 per household). Confirm your address.
**Why are some Ballinger electric bills so high in winter?** 24.3% of Ballinger homes heat with electricity (ACS 2020-2024, margin ±7) and 74.0% with utility gas; 19.3% of bill-paying homes report $250 or more a month. Electric-heat homes should compare plans at winter usage.
**What ZIP code do most Ballinger electricity customers have?** 76821: 1,939 Ballinger-addressed competitive homes; ratio 1.07 across the ZIP (1,939 home meters in all, 1,816 households).
**Who do I call when the power is out in Ballinger?** Outages go to AEP Texas North (aeptexas.com/outages), the wires utility for 1,939 Ballinger competitive homes.
**Moving to Ballinger: how do I start electricity?** Check the address is on AEP Texas North's wires, choose a plan and a start date. Ballinger had 778 idle home meters (inactive or de-energized) on Oct. 5, 2026, so many move-ins reconnect an existing meter.

## Sources
- ERCOT TDSP ESIID Extract (report 203): full extract as of Oct 5, 2026; daily files Oct 7-18, 2026: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203
- ERCOT TDSP ESIID Extract (report 203), Oct 5, 2026: meters by status and premise type, by postal city: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203
- Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, tables B25040, B25132, B25024, B25034, B25035, B25018, B19013, B25003, B25002, B25004 (90% margins of error): https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/
- Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25003 households, B01003 population): https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/
- Census Vintage 2025 city and town population estimates: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2025/cities/totals/sub-est2025_48.csv
- Census 2020 ZCTA-to-place and ZCTA-to-county relationship files: https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/rel2020/zcta520/
- EIA-861 (2024) utility service territories by county: https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia861/
- PUCT Power to Choose residential offer export, Oct 19, 2026, 7:59 AM CT: https://www.powertochoose.org/en-us/Plan/ExportToCsv
- PUCT: Choosing an Electric Plan: https://www.puc.texas.gov/consumer-help/electricity/electric-plan/
- PUCT broker directory (BR260201): https://www.puc.texas.gov/industry/electric/directories/brk/alpha_brk/
- AEP Texas (North Division): https://www.aeptexas.com/
- AEP Texas North delivery tariff (effective September 29, 2026): https://www.aeptexas.com/lib/docs/ratesandtariffs/Texas/AEP_TEXAS_TARIFF_Eff_Sept_29_2026v1.pdf
- Census Bureau Vintage 2025 city and town population estimates: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2025/cities/totals/sub-est2025_48.csv
- Census Bureau 2025 Gazetteer Files, Texas places (land and water area): https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html
- Census Bureau Vintage 2025 city and town population estimates: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2025/cities/totals/sub-est2025_48.csv
- Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B25003: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/
- Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, tables B25040, B25132, B25024, B25034, B25035, B25018, B19013, B25003, B25002, B25004 (90% margins of error): https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/
- Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, tables B25040, B25132, B25024, B25034, B25035, B25018, B19013, B25003, B25002, B25004 (90% margins of error): https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/
- Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, tables B25040, B25132, B25024, B25034, B25035, B25018, B19013, B25003, B25002, B25004 (90% margins of error): https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/
- ERCOT TDSP ESIID Extract (report 203), Oct 5, 2026: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203
- Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, tables B25040, B25132, B25024, B25034, B25035, B25018, B19013, B25003, B25002, B25004 (90% margins of error): https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/
- ERCOT TDSP ESIID Extract (report 203), Oct 5, 2026: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203
- Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B25003: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/
- ERCOT TDSP ESIID Extract (report 203), Oct 5, 2026: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203
- ERCOT TDSP ESIID Extract (report 203), Oct 5, 2026: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203
- Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B25003: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/
- ERCOT TDSP ESIID Extract (report 203), Oct 5, 2026: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203
- Census Bureau Vintage 2025 city and town population estimates: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2025/cities/totals/sub-est2025_48.csv

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