Hidalgo, Texas electricity: only part of town can choose a provider
Part of Hidalgo is on the competitive market and part isn't, so the first question for any Hidalgo address is whether AEP Texas Central or another utility serves it.
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 1,994 active residential meters with a Hidalgo address, all on AEP Texas Central's wires (October 5, 2026). Only part of Hidalgo is on the competitive market; the Census counts about 3,909 households in the city. Many of the rest likely get power from an electric co-op or another utility without retail choice, so check your exact address.
Who delivers electricity in Hidalgo?
Outages: AEP Texas Central at aeptexas.com/outages.
AEP Texas Central delivery charges and area
Can every address in Hidalgo choose an electricity provider?
1,988 of 1,988 Hidalgo-addressed competitive homes (100%) are in split ZIP codes (78557), where a neighbor may have a different utility.
1 more utility (co-op, city-owned or non-ERCOT; EIA 2024) also serves parts of Hidalgo County; no retail choice there unless the utility opted in.
Moving to Hidalgo
Local numbers for setting up a home in Hidalgo, each checked on the official source. More contacts, and a printable list, are on Hidalgo helpful move-in information.
- City hall (ask about water service): City of Hidalgo: City Hall (main line), 956-843-2286.
- Natural gas: Texas Gas Service: customer service, 800-700-2443.
- Public schools: Valley View ISD, Hidalgo ISD.
- Driver license: Texas DPS Driver License Office: McAllen, 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 Hidalgo 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 Hidalgo
Typical weather near Hidalgo, from the nearest NOAA station with a complete 1991-2020 record: Mcallen Miller International Airport, about 5 miles from the city center (station elevation 100 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 100°F; January has the coolest average low, 53°F. Average daily highs reach 90°F or more in May to September. 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 752 for the month, and heating-degree days (below 65°F) peak in January at 150. 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 | 73 | 53 | 0.8 | 81 | 150 |
| Feb | 77 | 57 | 0.7 | 139 | 79 |
| Mar | 83 | 63 | 1.4 | 274 | 28 |
| Apr | 88 | 68 | 1.4 | 407 | 5 |
| May | 93 | 74 | 2.0 | 577 | 0 |
| Jun | 97 | 78 | 3.1 | 681 | 0 |
| Jul | 99 | 79 | 2.0 | 733 | 0 |
| Aug | 100 | 79 | 1.8 | 752 | 0 |
| Sep | 94 | 76 | 4.6 | 599 | 0 |
| Oct | 89 | 69 | 2.1 | 438 | 4 |
| Nov | 80 | 60 | 1.2 | 206 | 51 |
| Dec | 74 | 54 | 1.1 | 104 | 136 |
Historical weather records for Hidalgo County
The Texas Railroad Commission's county table lists a record low of 10°F (1962) and a record high of 113°F (1998), and a regional estimate of 12 consecutive hours as a typical longest freezing or frozen-precipitation period for Hidalgo County. These are historical county extremes, not Hidalgo'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 Hidalgo, and not an estimate for your home. EIA source.
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00012959; Texas Railroad Commission, Historical Weather Data by County (2022).
What is different about electricity in Hidalgo?
- In ZIP 78557, which holds 1,988 Hidalgo-addressed homes, ERCOT counts only 0.51 competitive meters per Census household. EIA's 2024 data lists Magic Valley Electric Cooperative, Medina Electric Cooperative, and Rio Grande Electric Cooperative 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)
- Population: 13,965 (2020 base) to 15,376 (July 2025), +10.1%, per Census Vintage 2025 estimates. The largest one-year change was +434 people, from July 2023 to July 2024. (Census)
- Hidalgo's postal city carries 1,994 competitive homes, fewer than the city's 3,909 Census households (ratio 0.51). Part of that gap is Hidalgo homes with a neighboring city's mailing address; part fits co-op or city-utility service. (ERCOT, Census)
- Of the 810,296 homes AEP Texas Central serves on the competitive market, 0.2% have a Hidalgo mailing address. (ERCOT)
- Hidalgo is still adding homes: 15 new residential meters in its main ZIP codes during Oct. 7-18, 2026 (most in 78557: 15), plus 6 vacant-to-active switches. (ERCOT)
- 344 of the 2,335 home meters in Hidalgo's main ZIP codes (14.7%) were de-energized on October 5, 2026, typically a vacant unit awaiting its next account. (ERCOT)
- Nearly all Hidalgo-addressed competitive homes (1,988) are in one ZIP code, 78557. ZIP-wide, ERCOT counts 1,991 competitive meters for 3,909 Census households, a 0.51 ratio. (ERCOT, Census)
- By competitive homes on its postal city, Hidalgo is number 16 of the 22 cities and towns touching Hidalgo County, just behind La Joya (2,033). (ERCOT)
- In 78557, the ZIP holding most Hidalgo homes, the ACS 2020-2024 survey finds a median household income of $59,441, 19.8% renters and 22.2% of households with $250+ monthly electric bills. (Census)
- Nearby, San Juan (8 mi) has just 0.48 competitive homes per household, while McAllen counts 50,000 on its postal city. (ERCOT, Census)
Hidalgo electricity by the numbers
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Population (July 1, 2025 estimate) | 15,376 |
| Population (2020 estimates base) | 13,965 |
| Occupied households (ACS 2020-2024) | 3,909 |
| Active residential meters with a Hidalgo address | 1,994 |
| Active business meters with a Hidalgo address | 865 |
| Residential meters per Census household | 0.51 |
| Delivery utilities (homes) | AEP Texas Central 1,994 |
| Counties | Hidalgo |
| ZIP codes touching Hidalgo | 1 |
| Split ZIP codes (flagged below) | 1 |
How we built these numbers. Download: Hidalgo ZIP table (CSV).
What do electricity plans cost in Hidalgo 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) |
Hidalgo 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 | Hidalgo homes | Land in Hidalgo | Postal cities | Competitive homes (ERCOT) | Households (Census) | Ratio | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78557 | 1,988 | 50% | Hidalgo 100% | 1,991 | 3,909 | 0.51 | Split. Partial coverage. 15 new residential meters Oct 7-18, 2026. |
Split ZIP codes for Hidalgo: 78557.
Homes, renters and electric bills in Hidalgo’s ZIP codes
$250+ monthly electric bills peak in 78557 (22.2% of households).
| ZIP | Hidalgo homes | Median income | Renters | 5+ units | $250+ bills | Built 2020+ | New meters | Vacant to active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78557 | 1,988 | $59,441 | 19.8% | 3.4% | 22.2% | 4.1% | 15 | 6 |
ACS 2020-2024 by ZCTA; meters: ERCOT daily files, Oct 7-18, 2026.
How do towns near Hidalgo compare?
| Town (2,000+ people) | Miles | Competitive homes | Per household | Utility | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharr | 5 mi | 14,146 | 0.59 | AEP Texas Central | Partly |
| McAllen | 8 mi | 50,000 | 1.02 | AEP Texas Central | Most addresses can choose |
| San Juan | 8 mi | 5,038 | 0.48 | AEP Texas Central | Partly |
| Mission | 8 mi | 42,908 | 1.49 | AEP Texas Central | Most addresses can choose |
| Alamo | 9 mi | 8,166 | 1.35 | AEP Texas Central | Most addresses can choose |
| Palmhurst | 11 mi | 688 | 0.88 | AEP Texas Central | Most addresses can choose |
Business electricity in Hidalgo
Hidalgo business meters: 865 (2.3 homes per business meter); large non-residential meters in Hidalgo’s main ZIP codes: 1 (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 Hidalgo?
ZIP first, then your address; read each plan’s Electricity Facts Label before choosing.
Common questions about electricity in Hidalgo
Is Hidalgo deregulated for electricity?
Some can: 1,994 Hidalgo-addressed homes are on the competitive market, against about 3,909 city households. Many others likely belong to an electric co-op and can't choose. Split ZIP codes for Hidalgo: 78557; on those, check the exact address.
Where do most Hidalgo electricity customers live?
ZIP 78557: 1,988 of its 1,991 competitive residential meters use a Hidalgo address, and the ZIP has about 3,909 Census households (ratio 0.51).
Can businesses in Hidalgo choose an electricity provider?
Yes, where AEP Texas Central delivers: 865 Hidalgo-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 Hidalgo. How do I set up electricity?
Start with the address check: AEP Texas Central-delivered Hidalgo homes choose among the plans offered there and set a start date. Turnover is real in 78557, where 7.2% moved in the past year (ACS); ERCOT logged 6 vacant-to-active meters in 78557 Oct. 7-18, 2026.
Who do I call in Hidalgo when the power goes out?
AEP Texas Central, at aeptexas.com/outages: it carries power to all 1,994 Hidalgo-addressed competitive homes, whatever retail provider bills them. Co-op members report outages to their co-op.
Where to next?
Up: AEP Texas Central area · Hidalgo County
Nearest town pages: Pharr · McAllen · San Juan · Mission · Alamo · Palmview · Alton · Donna
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.