Laredo, Texas electricity: AEP Texas Central wires and 88,259 competitive homes
Laredo's 88,259 competitive homes sit on AEP Texas Central's wires; here is where choice stops, what delivery costs and how plan prices look today.
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 Laredo-addressed home in ERCOT's competitive data is on AEP Texas Central's wires (88,259 active residential meters, October 5, 2026). Addresses on AEP Texas Central's wires can choose a retail provider, and in Laredo that is nearly everyone our data can see.
Who delivers electricity in Laredo?
Outages: AEP Texas Central at aeptexas.com/outages.
AEP Texas Central delivery charges and area
Can every address in Laredo choose an electricity provider?
None of the ZIP codes holding Laredo's 88,257 competitive homes is flagged split in our data, so most streets can shop; the table below still shows each ZIP's ratio.
EIA’s 2024 data lists 2 other utilities (co-ops, city-owned or outside ERCOT) in the county around Laredo; they are named on Webb County. Their customers can’t choose unless the utility opted in.
Moving to Laredo
Local numbers for setting up a home in Laredo, each checked on the official source. More contacts, and a printable list, are on Laredo helpful move-in information.
- City hall (ask about water service): City of Laredo: City Hall (main line), 956-791-7300.
- Natural gas: CenterPoint Energy: gas leak emergency (24/7), 888-876-5786.
- Public schools: United ISD, Laredo ISD.
- Driver license: Texas DPS Driver License Office: Laredo, 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 Laredo 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 Laredo
Typical weather near Laredo, from the nearest NOAA station with a complete 1991-2020 record: Laredo 2, about 1 mile from the city center (station elevation 430 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 101°F; January has the coolest average low, 47°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 747 for the month, and heating-degree days (below 65°F) peak in January at 261. 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 | 68 | 47 | 0.8 | 32 | 261 |
| Feb | 74 | 52 | 0.7 | 77 | 139 |
| Mar | 81 | 58 | 1.3 | 197 | 56 |
| Apr | 88 | 65 | 1.3 | 357 | 8 |
| May | 94 | 72 | 2.8 | 552 | 0 |
| Jun | 99 | 76 | 1.8 | 678 | 0 |
| Jul | 100 | 77 | 1.9 | 735 | 0 |
| Aug | 101 | 77 | 1.6 | 747 | 0 |
| Sep | 94 | 73 | 3.9 | 559 | 1 |
| Oct | 87 | 66 | 1.7 | 367 | 12 |
| Nov | 77 | 56 | 1.0 | 130 | 98 |
| Dec | 69 | 48 | 1.1 | 41 | 244 |
Historical weather records for Webb County
The Texas Railroad Commission's county table lists a record low of 5°F (1899) and a record high of 116°F (1998), and a regional estimate of 12 consecutive hours as a typical longest freezing or frozen-precipitation period for Webb County. These are historical county extremes, not Laredo'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 Laredo, and not an estimate for your home. EIA source.
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USC00415060; Texas Railroad Commission, Historical Weather Data by County (2022).
What is different about electricity in Laredo?
- Census estimates put Laredo at 269,515 residents on July 1, 2025, up 5.6% from a 2020 estimates base of 255,212. Source: Census Bureau.
- ERCOT's daily files added 53 new residential meters in Laredo's main ZIP codes between Oct. 7 and Oct. 18, 2026, 13 of them in 78040. Source: ERCOT daily.
- Laredo-addressed business meters number 13,937 in ERCOT's Oct. 5 extract, one for every 6.3 homes. Source: ERCOT TDSP.
- 26% of Laredo-addressed competitive homes (22,888 of 88,257) are in ZIP 78045, where competitive meters run 1.08 per Census household. Source: ERCOT TDSP; Census ACS.
- Among the 3 cities and towns that touch Webb County, Laredo ranks 1 by competitive homes on its postal city in ERCOT's data, ahead of Rio Bravo (1,357). Source: ERCOT TDSP.
- Renters make up 62.2% of households in 78040, the highest share among Laredo's main ZIP codes (ACS 2020-2024), so many Laredo addresses change hands, and electricity accounts, every year. Source: Census ACS.
Laredo electricity by the numbers
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Population (July 1, 2025 estimate) | 269,515 |
| Population (2020 estimates base) | 255,212 |
| Occupied households (ACS 2020-2024) | 78,082 |
| Active residential meters with a Laredo address | 88,259 |
| Active business meters with a Laredo address | 13,937 |
| Residential meters per Census household | 1.13 |
| Delivery utilities (homes) | AEP Texas Central 88,259 |
| Counties | Webb |
| ZIP codes touching Laredo | 5 |
| Split ZIP codes (flagged below) | 0 |
How we built these numbers. Download: Laredo ZIP table (CSV).
What do electricity plans cost in Laredo 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) |
Laredo 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 | Main postal cities (homes) | ZIP land inside Laredo | Competitive homes (ERCOT) | Households (Census) | Ratio | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78045 | Laredo 100% | 7% | 22,889 | 21,110 | 1.08 | Near-full coverage. Mostly outside Laredo city limits. |
| 78046 | Laredo 91%, Rio Bravo 6%, El Cenizo 3% | 11% | 22,495 | 18,900 | 1.19 | Near-full coverage. 12 new residential meters Oct 7-18, 2026. |
| 78041 | Laredo 100% | 97% | 17,935 | 15,781 | 1.14 | Near-full coverage. 12 new residential meters Oct 7-18, 2026. |
| 78043 | Laredo 100% | 7% | 13,708 | 13,607 | 1.01 | Near-full coverage. Mostly outside Laredo city limits. |
| 78040 | Laredo 100% | 100% | 13,365 | 11,518 | 1.16 | Near-full coverage. 13 new residential meters Oct 7-18, 2026. |
Split ZIP codes for Laredo: none flagged.
Homes, renters and electric bills in Laredo’s ZIP codes
Among Laredo’s main ZIP codes, 78046 has the largest share of households paying $250 or more a month for electricity (38.5%); 78040 has the most renters (62.2% of households).
How do towns near Laredo compare?
Within about 28 miles; whole-place estimates.
| Town | Population | Distance | Delivery utility | Status | Competitive homes (postal city) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Bravo | 4,523 | 14 mi | AEP Texas Central | Most addresses can choose | 1,357 |
| El Cenizo | 2,457 | 16 mi | AEP Texas Central | Most addresses can choose | 775 |
Business electricity in Laredo
ERCOT lists 13,937 active business meters with a Laredo address, about one for every 6.3 homes, and 21 meters in ERCOT’s large non-residential class across Laredo’s main ZIP codes.
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 Laredo?
ZIP first, then your address; read each plan’s Electricity Facts Label before choosing.
Common questions about electricity in Laredo
Can I choose my electricity provider in Laredo?
Yes, if AEP Texas Central delivers to your address. ERCOT lists 88,259 Laredo-addressed homes on the competitive market (October 5, 2026), about 1.13 per Census household. No ZIP code touching it is flagged split, but check your exact address.
What is the biggest Laredo ZIP code for electricity customers?
78045. ERCOT lists 22,889 competitive residential meters there, 22,888 with a Laredo address, against about 21,110 Census households in the ZIP (ratio 1.08).
Are electric bills high in Laredo?
It varies by ZIP code. In the Census survey (ACS 2020-2024), 38.5% of households in 78046 reported paying $250 or more a month for electricity, the highest share among Laredo's main ZIP codes, against 28.4% in 78040. Home size, age and heating type drive much of that, so compare plans at your own usage.
Who do I call in Laredo when the power goes out?
AEP Texas Central, which delivers to all 88,259 Laredo-addressed homes in ERCOT's competitive data, not your retail provider. aeptexas.com/outages.
Where to next?
Up: AEP Texas Central area · Webb County
Nearest town pages: Mission · Edinburg · McAllen · Corpus Christi · Harlingen · Victoria · Pflugerville · Round Rock
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.