Gainesville, Texas electricity: Oncor wires, 2 split ZIP codes to check
Two questions decide electricity in Gainesville: whose wires reach your street, and what plans on Oncor's system cost right now. This page answers both from ERCOT, Census and PUCT data.
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 7,445 active residential meters with a Gainesville address, all on Oncor's wires (October 5, 2026). 2 of Gainesville's ZIP codes are split, so most addresses can shop, but yours needs a check.
Who delivers electricity in Gainesville?
Outages: Oncor at oncor.com/outages.
Oncor delivery charges and area
Can every address in Gainesville choose an electricity provider?
7,415 of 7,415 Gainesville-addressed competitive homes (100%) are in split ZIP codes (76240, 76241), where a neighbor may have a different utility.
4 more utilities (co-op, city-owned or non-ERCOT; EIA 2024) also serve parts of Cooke County; no retail choice there unless the utility opted in.
Moving to Gainesville
Local numbers for setting up a home in Gainesville, each checked on the official source. More contacts, and a printable list, are on Gainesville helpful move-in information.
- City hall (ask about water service): City of Gainesville: City Hall (main line), 940-668-4500.
- Natural gas: Atmos Energy: customer service, 888-286-6700.
- Public schools: Gainesville ISD, Lindsay ISD.
- Driver license: Texas DPS Driver License Office: Gainesville, 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 Gainesville 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 Gainesville
Typical weather near Gainesville, from the nearest NOAA station with a complete 1991-2020 record: Gainesville 5 ENE, about 5 miles from the city center (station elevation 870 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 94°F; January has the coolest average low, 32°F. Average daily highs reach 90°F or more in July to August. Average lows are at or below freezing in January.
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 567 for the month, and heating-degree days (below 65°F) peak in January at 709. 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 | 53 | 32 | 2.2 | 0 | 709 |
| Feb | 58 | 35 | 2.6 | 3 | 520 |
| Mar | 66 | 43 | 3.7 | 15 | 351 |
| Apr | 74 | 51 | 3.9 | 56 | 142 |
| May | 80 | 60 | 5.6 | 189 | 33 |
| Jun | 89 | 69 | 4.6 | 408 | 1 |
| Jul | 94 | 73 | 2.9 | 563 | 0 |
| Aug | 94 | 72 | 2.8 | 567 | 0 |
| Sep | 87 | 65 | 3.9 | 335 | 9 |
| Oct | 76 | 54 | 4.4 | 109 | 111 |
| Nov | 64 | 43 | 3.0 | 13 | 370 |
| Dec | 55 | 34 | 3.1 | 1 | 641 |
Historical weather records for Cooke County
The Texas Railroad Commission's county table lists a record low of -12°F (1899) and a record high of 114°F (1936), and a regional estimate of 30 consecutive hours as a typical longest freezing or frozen-precipitation period for Cooke County. These are historical county extremes, not Gainesville'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 Gainesville, and not an estimate for your home. EIA source.
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USC00413420; Texas Railroad Commission, Historical Weather Data by County (2022).
What is different about electricity in Gainesville?
- Population: 17,368 (2020 base) to 18,528 (July 2025), +6.7%, per Census Vintage 2025 estimates. The largest one-year change was +292 people, from July 2020 to July 2021. (Census)
- Oncor share: 0.2% of its 3,564,530 competitive residential meters carry a Gainesville address. (ERCOT)
- From Oct. 7 to Oct. 18, 2026, 22 residential meters in Gainesville's main ZIP codes went from vacant to active in ERCOT's daily files, which usually means a move-in. (ERCOT)
- Gainesville's main ZIP codes: 7,415 active and 455 de-energized residential meters (5.8% de-energized, usually empty or between tenants). (ERCOT)
- Nearly all Gainesville-addressed competitive homes (7,415) are in one ZIP code, 76240. ZIP-wide, ERCOT counts 7,415 competitive meters for 11,365 Census households, a 0.65 ratio. (ERCOT, Census)
- By competitive homes on its postal city, Gainesville is number 1 of the 5 cities and towns touching Cooke County, ahead of Pilot Point (2,596). (ERCOT)
- In ZIP 76240, which holds 7,415 Gainesville-addressed homes, ERCOT counts only 0.65 competitive meters per Census household. EIA's 2024 data lists Cooke County Electric Cooperative Assn, Denton County Electric Cooperative, and Fannin County Electric Cooperative among others in the counties ERCOT and the Census link to that ZIP; their customers are not on the competitive market unless the utility opted in. (ERCOT, Census, EIA-861)
- 32.6% of households in 76240 rent (ACS 2020-2024), the most among Gainesville's main ZIP codes, so a lot of Gainesville electricity accounts open and close with each lease. (Census)
- In 76240, the ZIP holding most Gainesville homes, the ACS 2020-2024 survey finds a median household income of $71,502, 32.6% renters and 31.2% of households with $250+ monthly electric bills. (Census)
- Of Gainesville's six nearest towns, Pilot Point has the most competitive homes (2,596, 20 mi away) and Whitesboro the fewest per household (0.01). (ERCOT, Census)
Gainesville electricity by the numbers
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Population (July 1, 2025 estimate) | 18,528 |
| Population (2020 estimates base) | 17,368 |
| Occupied households (ACS 2020-2024) | 6,994 |
| Active residential meters with a Gainesville address | 7,445 |
| Active business meters with a Gainesville address | 1,915 |
| Residential meters per Census household | 1.06 |
| Delivery utilities (homes) | Oncor 7,445 |
| Counties | Cooke |
| ZIP codes touching Gainesville | 2 |
| Split ZIP codes (flagged below) | 2 |
How we built these numbers. Download: Gainesville ZIP table (CSV).
What do electricity plans cost in Gainesville right now?
Same-day medians for Oncor’s area (Oncor: 170 listings), delivery included; not a quote.
| Delivery utility | 500 kWh | 1,000 kWh | 2,000 kWh | Delivery charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oncor | 14.1¢ | 13.4¢ | 13.2¢ | 6.8673¢/kWh + $4.06/mo (effective October 4, 2026; tariff) |
Gainesville 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 | Gainesville homes | Land in Gainesville | Postal cities | Competitive homes (ERCOT) | Households (Census) | Ratio | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 76240 | 7,415 | 5% | Gainesville 100% | 7,415 | 11,365 | 0.65 | Split. Most homes, not all. Mostly outside Gainesville city limits. |
| 76241 | 0 | 100% | — | 0 | n/a | n/a | Split. Not in ERCOT's competitive data. No competitive meters in ERCOT's data: served by a city-owned utility, co-op or non-ERCOT utility. |
Split ZIP codes for Gainesville: 76240, 76241.
Homes, renters and electric bills in Gainesville’s ZIP codes
$250+ monthly electric bills peak in 76240 (31.2% of households).
| ZIP | Gainesville homes | Median income | Renters | 5+ units | $250+ bills | Built 2020+ | New meters | Vacant to active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 76240 | 7,415 | $71,502 | 32.6% | 6.3% | 31.2% | 1.8% | 1 | 22 |
ACS 2020-2024 by ZCTA; meters: ERCOT daily files, Oct 7-18, 2026.
How do towns near Gainesville compare?
| Town (2,000+ people) | Miles | Competitive homes | Per household | Utility | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitesboro | 14 mi | 17 | 0.01 | — | City-owned utility; no choice |
| Collinsville | 15 mi | 891 | 1.14 | Oncor | Most addresses can choose |
| Sanger | 18 mi | 0 | n/a | — | City-owned utility; no choice |
| Pilot Point | 20 mi | 2,596 | 1.43 | TNMP | Most addresses can choose |
| Gunter | 24 mi | 585 | 0.83 | Oncor | Most addresses can choose |
| Aubrey | 25 mi | 1,598 | 0.52 | TNMP | Partly |
Business electricity in Gainesville
Gainesville business meters: 1,915 (3.9 homes per business meter); large non-residential meters in Gainesville’s main ZIP codes: 8 (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 Gainesville?
ZIP first, then your address; read each plan’s Electricity Facts Label before choosing.
Common questions about electricity in Gainesville
Is Gainesville deregulated for electricity?
Yes, where Oncor's wires reach the house, which in Gainesville is most of the city: 7,445 homes with a Gainesville mailing address were on the competitive market on October 5, 2026, 1.06 for each Census household. Split ZIP codes for Gainesville: 76240, 76241; on those, check the exact address.
Which Gainesville ZIP code has the most homes on the competitive market?
76240, with 7,415 competitive homes in ERCOT's data (7,415 addressed to Gainesville) against roughly 11,365 Census households, a 0.65 ratio.
Can businesses in Gainesville choose an electricity provider?
Yes, where Oncor delivers: 1,915 Gainesville-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 Gainesville. How do I set up electricity?
Start with the address check: Oncor-delivered Gainesville homes choose among the plans offered there and set a start date. Turnover is real in 76240, where 11.6% moved in the past year (ACS); ERCOT logged 22 vacant-to-active meters in 76240 Oct. 7-18, 2026.
Where do I report a Gainesville power outage?
Call Oncor (oncor.com/outages), the wires utility for Gainesville's 7,445 competitive homes; a retail provider can't fix lines.
Where to next?
Up: Oncor area · Cooke County
Nearest town pages: Sherman · Prosper · Denison · Corinth · Frisco · Justin · Northlake · Anna
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)
- Oncor Electric Delivery
- Oncor delivery tariff (effective October 4, 2026)
BJW Ventures LLC d/b/a Power Hopper | PUCT BR260201. PUCT registration is not an endorsement.