Galveston, Texas electricity: CenterPoint wires and 36,198 competitive homes
Galveston Island is CenterPoint territory with a lot of second homes, which shows up plainly in the meter 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: Every Galveston-addressed home in ERCOT's competitive data is on CenterPoint's wires (36,198 active residential meters, October 5, 2026). Addresses on CenterPoint's wires can choose a retail provider, and in Galveston that is nearly everyone our data can see. Your delivery utility handles the wires and outages; the retail provider you choose sets your price and sends the bill.
Who delivers electricity in Galveston?
Every Galveston-addressed home in ERCOT's competitive data is on CenterPoint's wires (36,198 active residential meters, October 5, 2026). The delivery utility (TDU) owns the poles and wires, reads the meter and restores power; in an outage, contact CenterPoint at centerpointenergy.com/outage, not your retail provider.
CenterPoint delivery charges and area
Can every address in Galveston choose an electricity provider?
Addresses on CenterPoint's wires can choose a retail provider, and in Galveston that is nearly everyone our data can see.
EIA’s 2024 utility data also lists these utilities in Galveston County: utilities outside ERCOT: Entergy Texas. EIA reports them by county, not by street, so some may not reach Galveston itself; addresses they serve do not have retail choice unless the utility opted in.
Meter counts use the postal city on the service address, which is not the same as city limits. Source: ERCOT TDSP ESIID Extract (October 5, 2026); EIA-861 (2024).
Moving to Galveston
Local numbers for setting up a home in Galveston, each checked on the official source. More contacts, and a printable list, are on Galveston helpful move-in information.
- Water and utility billing: utility billing (start, transfer or stop water service), 409-797-3550.
- Natural gas: Texas Gas Service: customer service, 800-700-2443.
- Public schools: Galveston ISD.
- Driver license: Texas DPS Driver License Office: Galveston, 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 Galveston 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 Galveston
Typical weather near Galveston, from the nearest NOAA station with a complete 1991-2020 record: Galveston Scholes Field, about 9 miles from the city center (station elevation 5 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 92°F; January has the coolest average low, 49°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 648 for the month, and heating-degree days (below 65°F) peak in January at 290. 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 | 49 | 4.3 | 13 | 290 |
| Feb | 66 | 52 | 2.1 | 24 | 182 |
| Mar | 72 | 58 | 3.0 | 84 | 78 |
| Apr | 78 | 65 | 2.1 | 207 | 12 |
| May | 84 | 72 | 3.0 | 409 | 0 |
| Jun | 90 | 78 | 4.2 | 564 | 0 |
| Jul | 91 | 80 | 3.4 | 636 | 0 |
| Aug | 92 | 80 | 4.7 | 648 | 0 |
| Sep | 89 | 76 | 6.7 | 522 | 0 |
| Oct | 82 | 69 | 5.2 | 328 | 8 |
| Nov | 72 | 59 | 4.3 | 105 | 89 |
| Dec | 66 | 52 | 4.2 | 31 | 230 |
Historical weather records for Galveston County
The Texas Railroad Commission's county table lists a record low of 7°F (1899) and a record high of 106°F (2000), and a regional estimate of 18 consecutive hours as a typical longest freezing or frozen-precipitation period for Galveston County. These are historical county extremes, not Galveston'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 Galveston, and not an estimate for your home. EIA source.
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00012923; Texas Railroad Commission, Historical Weather Data by County (2022).
What is different about electricity in Galveston?
- ZIP 77554 (the west end) lists 11,768 competitive residential meters for about 5,135 Census-counted occupied households; the Census excludes vacation homes and seasonal rentals, which still have meters. Source: ERCOT TDSP ESIID Extract (report 203), Oct 5, 2026.
- Hurricane Beryl in July 2024 left more than 2.6 million Texas customers without power, mostly on CenterPoint's system. Source: Texas Tribune, July 25, 2024: CenterPoint and Hurricane Beryl.
Galveston electricity by the numbers
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population (July 1, 2025 estimate) | 53,636 | Census Vintage 2025 city and town population estimates |
| Population (2020 estimates base) | 53,691 | Census Vintage 2025 city and town population estimates |
| Occupied households (ACS 2020-2024) | 25,198 | Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates |
| Active residential meters with a Galveston address | 36,198 | ERCOT TDSP ESIID Extract |
| Active business meters with a Galveston address | 4,647 | ERCOT TDSP ESIID Extract |
| Residential meters per Census household | 1.44 | ERCOT TDSP ESIID Extract |
| Delivery utilities (homes) | CenterPoint 36,198 | ERCOT TDSP ESIID Extract |
| Counties | Galveston | Census 2020 ZCTA-to-place and ZCTA-to-county relationship files |
| ZIP codes touching Galveston | 4 | Census 2020 ZCTA-to-place and ZCTA-to-county relationship files |
| Split ZIP codes (flagged below) | 0 | ERCOT TDSP ESIID Extract |
One ESI ID (meter) per home or apartment with service. A ratio above 1 usually means vacant, seasonal, new or unincorporated homes using the Galveston mailing address; below 1 means some homes are served outside the competitive market. How we built these numbers. Download: Galveston ZIP table (CSV).
What do electricity plans cost in Galveston right now?
Fixed-rate residential medians from Power to Choose, Oct 19, 2026, 7:59 AM CT (CenterPoint: 173 listings). Prices include delivery. A median is not a quote.
| Delivery utility | 500 kWh | 1,000 kWh | 2,000 kWh | Delivery charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CenterPoint | 14¢ | 13.2¢ | 13¢ | 6.5333¢/kWh + $4.90/mo (effective October 1, 2026; tariff) |
Source: Power to Choose export, Oct 19, 2026, 7:59 AM CT; method in Texas rates.
Galveston 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 codes cross city limits and utility lines. The ratio compares competitive residential meters with Census households in the whole ZIP; it is an estimate, not an address check.
| ZIP | Main postal cities (homes) | ZIP land inside Galveston | Competitive homes (ERCOT) | Households (Census) | Ratio | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77550 | Galveston 13,923 | 100% | 13,923 | 11,860 | 1.17 | Most homes are on the competitive market. |
| 77554 | Galveston 11,767, Jamaica Beach 1 | 95% | 11,768 | 5,135 | 2.29 | Most homes are on the competitive market. More meters than year-round households: vacant, seasonal, new or recently built homes. |
| 77551 | Galveston 10,508 | 100% | 10,508 | 9,412 | 1.12 | Most homes are on the competitive market. |
| 77555 | — | 100% | 0 | 0 | n/a | Very few homes; ratio not meaningful. |
Split ZIP codes for Galveston: none flagged.
Sources: ERCOT TDSP ESIID Extract (Oct 5, 2026); Census ACS 2020-2024; Census ZCTA relationship files.
Homes, renters and electric bills in Galveston’s ZIP codes
Among Galveston’s main ZIP codes, 77554 has the largest share of households paying $250 or more a month for electricity (29.6%); 77550 has the most renters (60.0% of households). High-bill shares reflect home size, age and heating type as much as price, so they are a reason to check your usage, not a verdict on any provider.
| ZIP | Renter households | Moved in the past year | Electric bill $250+/month | Built 2020 or later | New meters Oct 7-18, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77550 | 60.0% | 24.2% | 22.5% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 77554 | 31.2% | 24.1% | 29.6% | 2.1% | 2 |
| 77551 | 51.8% | 21.7% | 24.0% | 0.5% | 1 |
Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year, ZCTA level: B25003 (tenure), B07003 (moved), B25132 (electricity cost, households charged for electricity), B25034 (year built); new meters from ERCOT daily ESIID files. Compiled in Power Hopper’s Oct 18, 2026 ZIP study.
How do towns near Galveston compare?
Neighboring cities and towns within about 28 miles, by distance from Galveston’s center. Status is our whole-place estimate; check your exact address.
| Town | Distance | Population | Competitive homes (postal city) | Delivery utility | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitchcock | 7 mi | 7,722 | 4,895 | CenterPoint | Most addresses can choose |
| La Marque | 13 mi | 20,324 | 8,126 | TNMP | Most addresses can choose |
| Santa Fe | 16 mi | 13,913 | 9,111 | CenterPoint | Most addresses can choose |
| Texas City | 18 mi | 59,733 | 24,149 | TNMP | Most addresses can choose |
| Dickinson | 19 mi | 21,908 | 16,662 | TNMP | Most addresses can choose |
| Alvin | 23 mi | 30,115 | 21,962 | TNMP | Most addresses can choose |
Business electricity in Galveston
ERCOT lists 4,647 active business meters with a Galveston address, about one for every 7.8 homes, and 21 meters in ERCOT’s large non-residential class across Galveston’s main ZIP codes. On CenterPoint’s wires, a business picks its retail provider the same way a home does; larger accounts can also buy from suppliers that sell directly to commercial customers.
Power Hopper compares offers from retail electric providers and direct suppliers for businesses. For high-consumption businesses, we can run a competitive bid so more than one supplier prices the same usage. 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 Galveston?
Enter a Galveston ZIP code, then your service address. If the address can shop, you’ll see plans; read each plan’s Electricity Facts Label (price at your usage, base charge, credits, term, cancellation fee) before you choose.
Common questions about electricity in Galveston
Is the City of Galveston my electric company?
No. City utility billing is separate from electricity, and EIA’s 2024 data lists no city-owned electric utility in Galveston. Island homes buy from a retail provider and get power over CenterPoint’s wires.
Who delivers electricity in Galveston?
CenterPoint. All 36,198 Galveston-addressed homes in ERCOT's October 5, 2026 data are on its wires, so you pick a retail provider.
Do I need a different plan for a Galveston beach house or short-term rental?
There is no special category, but usage at a part-time home can be low or uneven, and Galveston has many: ZIP 77554 on the west end has 11,768 competitive meters for about 5,135 year-round households. Read each plan's Electricity Facts Label at 500 kWh as well as 1,000, and check base charges and minimum-usage fees.
Is Entergy Texas in Galveston?
EIA's 2024 data lists Entergy Texas in Galveston County, but not on the island in our data: every Galveston-addressed home ERCOT lists is CenterPoint.
Who restores power in Galveston after a hurricane?
CenterPoint, not your retail provider. After Hurricane Beryl in July 2024, CenterPoint reported restoring more than 2 million customers across its system by July 15. Report outages at centerpointenergy.com/outage.
Where to next?
Up: CenterPoint area · Galveston County · Regional page
Nearest town pages: Texas City · League City · Pearland · Pasadena · Baytown · Missouri City · Sugar Land · Victoria
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)
- CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric
- CenterPoint delivery tariff (effective October 1, 2026)
- Texas Tribune, July 25, 2024: CenterPoint and Hurricane Beryl
- CenterPoint Energy: Hurricane Beryl restoration updates
BJW Ventures LLC d/b/a Power Hopper | PUCT BR260201. PUCT registration is not an endorsement.