# Cotulla, Texas electricity: AEP Texas Central wires and 1,828 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._

**Cotulla at a glance:** 1,828 Cotulla-addressed homes, all wired by AEP Texas Central (ERCOT, Oct. 5, 2026). Cotulla's 1,828 placed homes sit in unsplit ZIP codes; a lookup still confirms each address.

## Moving to Cotulla

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

- **Water and utility billing:** utility billing (start, transfer or stop water service), 830-879-2367.
- **Public schools:** Cotulla ISD.
- **Driver license:** Texas DPS Driver License Office: Pearsall, 512-424-2600.

## Facts
- Land: 2.0 sq mi; 1,783 residents and 489 households per sq mi; 3.64 people per Cotulla 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, Cotulla homes (ACS 2020-2024): electricity 79.0% (±5), utility gas 19.5%, propane 1.4%; La Salle County overall: 78.9% electric. All-electric homes feel winter rates more. (Source: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/)
- Of Cotulla homes paying a power bill, 47.2% report $250 or more a month and 14.0% under $100 (La Salle County: 43.8% at $250+); 86.8% of homes pay one at all. (Source: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/)
- Housing stock: 62.6% detached houses, 6.7% in 5+ unit buildings, 25.7% mobile homes; median year built 1982, 12.6% built 2010 or later. (Source: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/)
- ERCOT status split for 3,149 Cotulla home meters (Oct. 5, 2026): active 1,828, inactive 961, de-energized 360; idle share 41.9%. (Source: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203)
- ACS 2020-2024: 26.5% of Cotulla housing units vacant (±9). 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/)
- 1,828 home meters use the Cotulla postal name, against 983 households inside city limits (1.86 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/)
- 78014 carries every one of Cotulla's placed homes; ratio across the whole ZIP 1.58, from 1,839 home meters in all and 1,167 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: 79.0%
- Heat with utility gas: 19.5%
- Bill $250 or more: 47.2%
- Built 2010 or later: 12.6%
- Renter households: 28.5%
- Median year built: 1982

## Meters and households
- Residents, July 2025: 3,583
- Residents, 2020 base: 3,726
- Households (ACS): 983
- Active home meters: 1,828
- Inactive home meters: 961
- De-energized home meters: 360
- Active small-business meters: 602
- Active large-business meters: 1
- Home meters per household: 1.86
- ZIP codes listed: 1
- Split ZIP codes: 0
- County: La Salle

## Plan prices (Oct 19, 2026 medians)
AEP Texas Central (164 listings): 12.7¢ / 12.1¢ / 12¢ per kWh at 500 / 1,000 / 2,000 kWh, delivery 5.6898¢ + $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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78014 | 1,828 | 1,839 | 1,167 | 1.58 | none |

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

## Questions
**Can Cotulla homes choose an electric provider?** Yes, on AEP Texas Central's wires: 1,828 Cotulla homes were on the competitive market Oct. 5, 2026 (1.86 per household). Confirm your address.
**Why are some Cotulla electric bills so high in winter?** 79.0% of Cotulla homes heat with electricity (ACS 2020-2024, margin ±5) and 19.5% with utility gas; 47.2% of bill-paying homes report $250 or more a month. Electric-heat homes should compare plans at winter usage.
**Which ZIP code covers most of Cotulla?** 78014 (1,828 Cotulla homes on the competitive market). Across the full ZIP: 1.58 meters per household, 1,839 home meters in all.
**Who do I call when the power is out in Cotulla?** Outages go to AEP Texas Central (aeptexas.com/outages), the wires utility for 1,828 Cotulla competitive homes.
**Moving to Cotulla: how do I start electricity?** Check the address is on AEP Texas Central's wires, choose a plan and a start date. Cotulla had 1,321 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 (Central Division): https://www.aeptexas.com/
- AEP Texas Central 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/

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