Bay City, Texas electricity: AEP Texas Central wires, 1 split ZIP code to check
Bay City sits on AEP Texas Central's wires, with a few split ZIP codes. Below: ZIP by ZIP, who can shop, and what plans cost this month.
Last updated . Written by Power Hopper. Reviewed by Brent Ward, founder, on 2026-10-19. Data as of October 5, 2026 (meters) and October 19, 2026 (plan prices).
In short: ERCOT counts 8,549 active residential meters with a Bay City address, all on AEP Texas Central's wires (October 5, 2026). 1 of Bay City's ZIP codes is split, so most addresses can shop, but yours needs a check.
Who delivers electricity in Bay City?
Outages: AEP Texas Central at aeptexas.com/outages.
AEP Texas Central delivery charges and area
Can every address in Bay City choose an electricity provider?
8,548 of 8,548 Bay City-addressed competitive homes (100%) are in split ZIP codes (77414), where a neighbor may have a different utility.
2 more utilities (co-op, city-owned or non-ERCOT; EIA 2024) also serve parts of Matagorda County; no retail choice there unless the utility opted in.
Moving to Bay City
Local numbers for setting up a home in Bay City, each checked on the official source. More contacts, and a printable list, are on Bay City helpful move-in information.
- Water and utility billing: utility billing (start, transfer or stop water service), 979-245-2322.
- Public schools: Bay City ISD.
- Driver license: Texas DPS Driver License Office: Bay City, 512-424-2600.
You enter your address on the next screen, and we confirm there whether you can choose an electricity provider at that address.
Have a High Light Bill or Electric Bill?
If your electricity bill in Bay City came in higher than you expected, upload or enter it and see whether another plan could lower your electricity costs, or whether staying where you are makes more sense.
Weather and electricity in Bay City
Typical weather near Bay City, from the nearest NOAA station with a complete 1991-2020 record: Bay City Wtr Wks, about 1 mile from the city center (station elevation 52 ft). These are normals for that station, not readings at your address. August is the warmest month on average, with a normal daily high of 91°F; January has the coolest average low, 43°F. Average daily highs reach 90°F or more in July to August. No month averages a daily low at or below freezing.
For electricity, the normals point to two seasons that can lift a household's usage: cooling-degree days (a measure of how far each day's mean temperature sits above 65°F) peak in August at 530 for the month, and heating-degree days (below 65°F) peak in January at 383. How much that matters to a bill depends on the home, its insulation, its heating fuel and the household, so use your own usage history, not a regional average, when you compare plans.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precipitation (in) | Cooling degree-days | Heating degree-days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 63 | 43 | 3.8 | 10 | 383 |
| Feb | 67 | 47 | 2.5 | 18 | 246 |
| Mar | 72 | 53 | 3.0 | 58 | 134 |
| Apr | 78 | 59 | 3.2 | 138 | 41 |
| May | 84 | 66 | 4.4 | 308 | 4 |
| Jun | 89 | 72 | 5.7 | 454 | 0 |
| Jul | 91 | 73 | 4.5 | 518 | 0 |
| Aug | 91 | 73 | 4.3 | 530 | 0 |
| Sep | 88 | 69 | 5.8 | 401 | 0 |
| Oct | 81 | 60 | 4.2 | 213 | 31 |
| Nov | 72 | 51 | 4.0 | 65 | 161 |
| Dec | 65 | 45 | 3.6 | 21 | 325 |
Historical weather records for Matagorda County
The Texas Railroad Commission's county table lists a record low of 7°F (1989) and a record high of 109°F (2000), and a regional estimate of 18 consecutive hours as a typical longest freezing or frozen-precipitation period for Matagorda County. These are historical county extremes, not Bay City's monthly averages and not a forecast; the normals above describe ordinary months.
Reference only: the U.S. Energy Information Administration's 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey puts the average Texas household at about 13,440 kWh a year (about 1,120 kWh a month if spread evenly). That is a statewide average for 2020, not Bay City, and not an estimate for your home. EIA source.
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USC00410569; Texas Railroad Commission, Historical Weather Data by County (2022).
What is different about electricity in Bay City?
- Bay City counted about 17,488 residents in the Census Bureau's 2025 estimate, against 18,064 in the 2020 base, a change of -3.2%. The largest one-year change was -422 people, from July 2021 to July 2022. (Census)
- AEP Texas Central share: 1.1% of its 810,296 competitive residential meters carry a Bay City address. (ERCOT)
- From Oct. 7 to Oct. 18, 2026, 20 residential meters in Bay City's main ZIP codes went from vacant to active in ERCOT's daily files, which usually means a move-in. (ERCOT)
- Bay City's main ZIP codes: 8,567 active and 987 de-energized residential meters (10.3% de-energized, usually empty or between tenants). (ERCOT)
- Nearly all Bay City-addressed competitive homes (8,548) are in one ZIP code, 77414. ZIP-wide, ERCOT counts 8,567 competitive meters for 10,351 Census households, a 0.83 ratio. (ERCOT, Census)
- 41.6% of households in 77414 rent (ACS 2020-2024), the most among Bay City's main ZIP codes, so a lot of Bay City electricity accounts open and close with each lease. (Census)
- In 77414, the ZIP holding most Bay City homes, the ACS 2020-2024 survey finds a median household income of $59,128, 41.6% renters and 26.5% of households with $250+ monthly electric bills. (Census)
- Of Bay City's six nearest towns, Wharton has the most competitive homes (6,513, 25 mi away) and El Campo the fewest per household (1.02). (ERCOT, Census)
Bay City electricity by the numbers
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Population (July 1, 2025 estimate) | 17,488 |
| Population (2020 estimates base) | 18,064 |
| Occupied households (ACS 2020-2024) | 7,342 |
| Active residential meters with a Bay City address | 8,549 |
| Active business meters with a Bay City address | 1,897 |
| Residential meters per Census household | 1.16 |
| Delivery utilities (homes) | AEP Texas Central 8,549 |
| Counties | Matagorda |
| ZIP codes touching Bay City | 1 |
| Split ZIP codes (flagged below) | 1 |
How we built these numbers. Download: Bay City ZIP table (CSV).
What do electricity plans cost in Bay City right now?
Same-day medians for AEP Texas Central’s area (AEP Texas Central: 164 listings), delivery included; not a quote.
| Delivery utility | 500 kWh | 1,000 kWh | 2,000 kWh | Delivery charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEP Texas Central | 12.7¢ | 12.1¢ | 12¢ | 5.6898¢/kWh + $3.24/mo (effective September 29, 2026; tariff) |
Bay City ZIP codes: how much of each is on the competitive market?
Not every address in these ZIP codes has retail choice; check your exact address.
| ZIP | Bay City homes | Land in Bay City | Postal cities | Competitive homes (ERCOT) | Households (Census) | Ratio | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77414 | 8,548 | 2% | Bay City 100% | 8,567 | 10,351 | 0.83 | Split. Most homes, not all. Mostly outside Bay City city limits. |
Split ZIP codes for Bay City: 77414.
Homes, renters and electric bills in Bay City’s ZIP codes
$250+ monthly electric bills peak in 77414 (26.5% of households).
| ZIP | Bay City homes | Median income | Renters | 5+ units | $250+ bills | Built 2020+ | New meters | Vacant to active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77414 | 8,548 | $59,128 | 41.6% | 10.1% | 26.5% | 0.8% | 0 | 20 |
ACS 2020-2024 by ZCTA; meters: ERCOT daily files, Oct 7-18, 2026.
How do towns near Bay City compare?
| Town (2,000+ people) | Miles | Competitive homes | Per household | Utility | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweeny | 16 mi | 3,134 | 2.20 | TNMP | Most addresses can choose |
| West Columbia | 22 mi | 3,594 | 2.50 | TNMP | Most addresses can choose |
| El Campo | 24 mi | 4,432 | 1.02 | AEP Texas Central | Most addresses can choose |
| Brazoria | 24 mi | 4,733 | 4.14 | TNMP | Most addresses can choose |
| Wharton | 25 mi | 6,513 | 1.91 | CenterPoint | Most addresses can choose |
| Palacios | 25 mi | 2,511 | 1.35 | AEP Texas Central | Most addresses can choose |
Business electricity in Bay City
Bay City business meters: 1,897 (4.5 homes per business meter); large non-residential meters in Bay City’s main ZIP codes: 6 (ERCOT, October 5, 2026).
We compare retail providers and direct suppliers and can bid out high-consumption accounts, but we can’t promise savings or how many suppliers will bid. Businesses in Texas retail-choice areas can request a rate review online.
How do I compare electricity plans in Bay City?
ZIP first, then your address; read each plan’s Electricity Facts Label before choosing.
Common questions about electricity in Bay City
Can Bay City residents pick their own electric company?
Most Bay City homes can. ERCOT's October 5, 2026 extract has 8,549 Bay City-addressed homes on AEP Texas Central's competitive system, compared with 7,342 households in the Census survey. Split ZIP codes for Bay City: 77414; on those, check the exact address.
What is the biggest Bay City ZIP code for electricity customers?
ZIP 77414: 8,548 of its 8,567 competitive residential meters use a Bay City address, and the ZIP has about 10,351 Census households (ratio 0.83).
Can businesses in Bay City choose an electricity provider?
Yes, where AEP Texas Central delivers: 1,897 Bay City-addressed business meters are on the competitive market in ERCOT's data, and large accounts can also buy from commercial suppliers directly.
I'm moving to Bay City. How do I set up electricity?
15.4% of 77414 residents moved within a year (ACS), and 20 77414 meters turned from vacant to active Oct. 7-18, 2026. Check that your Bay City address is on AEP Texas Central's wires, then choose a plan and start date.
Who restores power in Bay City after an outage?
AEP Texas Central, at aeptexas.com/outages: it carries power to all 8,549 Bay City-addressed competitive homes, whatever retail provider bills them.
Where to next?
Up: AEP Texas Central area · Matagorda County
Nearest town pages: Lake Jackson · Angleton · Rosenberg · Sugar Land · Missouri City · Fresno · Fulshear · Manvel
Compare plans · Moving · High bill · Texas rates · Areas without retail choice · Methodology
Sources
- ERCOT TDSP ESIID Extract (report 203): full extract as of Oct 5, 2026; daily files Oct 7-18, 2026
- Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25003 households, B01003 population)
- Census Vintage 2025 city and town population estimates
- Census 2020 ZCTA-to-place and ZCTA-to-county relationship files
- EIA-861 (2024) utility service territories by county
- PUCT Power to Choose residential offer export, Oct 19, 2026, 7:59 AM CT
- PUCT: Choosing an Electric Plan
- PUCT broker directory (BR260201)
- AEP Texas (Central Division)
- AEP Texas Central delivery tariff (effective September 29, 2026)
BJW Ventures LLC d/b/a Power Hopper | PUCT BR260201. PUCT registration is not an endorsement.