Portland, Texas electricity: AEP Texas Central wires and 8,544 competitive homes
Portland sits on AEP Texas Central's wires. Below: ZIP by ZIP, who can shop, and what plans cost this month.
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 8,544 active residential meters with a Portland address, all on AEP Texas Central's wires (October 5, 2026). Nearly every Portland address in our data is on AEP Texas Central's wires and can pick a retail provider.
Who delivers electricity in Portland?
Outages: AEP Texas Central at aeptexas.com/outages.
AEP Texas Central delivery charges and area
Can every address in Portland choose an electricity provider?
None of the ZIP codes holding Portland's 8,544 competitive homes is flagged split, so most Portland streets can shop.
1 more utility (co-op, city-owned or non-ERCOT; EIA 2024) also serves parts of San Patricio County · Nueces County; no retail choice there unless the utility opted in.
Moving to Portland
Local numbers for setting up a home in Portland, each checked on the official source. More contacts, and a printable list, are on Portland helpful move-in information.
- City hall (ask about water service): City of Portland: City Hall (main line), 361-777-4500.
- Natural gas: CenterPoint Energy: gas leak emergency (24/7), 888-876-5786.
- Public schools: Gregory-Portland ISD, Corpus Christi ISD, Taft ISD.
- Driver license: Texas DPS Driver License Office: Aransas Pass, 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 Portland 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 Portland
Typical weather near Portland, from the nearest NOAA station with a complete 1991-2020 record: Corpus Christi Nws, about 13 miles from the city center (station elevation 44 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 93°F; January has the coolest average low, 47°F. Average daily highs reach 90°F or more in June 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 611 for the month, and heating-degree days (below 65°F) peak in January at 301. 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 | 66 | 47 | 1.4 | 27 | 301 |
| Feb | 70 | 51 | 1.4 | 51 | 178 |
| Mar | 75 | 58 | 2.3 | 118 | 86 |
| Apr | 81 | 63 | 2.0 | 224 | 16 |
| May | 86 | 71 | 3.3 | 408 | 1 |
| Jun | 90 | 75 | 3.5 | 528 | 0 |
| Jul | 92 | 76 | 2.5 | 595 | 0 |
| Aug | 93 | 77 | 2.8 | 611 | 0 |
| Sep | 89 | 73 | 5.4 | 476 | 0 |
| Oct | 84 | 66 | 2.7 | 311 | 11 |
| Nov | 75 | 56 | 2.0 | 117 | 104 |
| Dec | 68 | 49 | 1.9 | 44 | 247 |
Historical weather records for San Patricio County
The Texas Railroad Commission's county table lists a record low of 10°F (1989) and a record high of 111°F (2000), and a regional estimate of 18 consecutive hours as a typical longest freezing or frozen-precipitation period for San Patricio County. These are historical county extremes, not Portland'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 Portland, and not an estimate for your home. EIA source.
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USC00412011; Texas Railroad Commission, Historical Weather Data by County (2022).
What is different about electricity in Portland?
- Population: 20,441 (2020 base) to 20,833 (July 2025), +1.9%, per Census Vintage 2025 estimates. The largest one-year change was +248 people, from July 2023 to July 2024. (Census)
- AEP Texas Central share: 1.1% of its 810,296 competitive residential meters carry a Portland address. (ERCOT)
- From Oct. 7 to Oct. 18, 2026, 40 residential meters in Portland's main ZIP codes went from vacant to active in ERCOT's daily files, which usually means a move-in. (ERCOT)
- De-energized homes, usually empty or between tenants, number 309 in Portland's main ZIP codes, 3.5% of all 8,805 residential meters there. (ERCOT)
- Portland's biggest ZIP code for electricity customers is 78374, with 8,470 of the 8,544 competitive homes that carry a Portland address and a ZIP-wide ratio of 1.13 meters per household. (ERCOT, Census)
- By competitive homes on its postal city, Portland is number 2 of the 13 cities and towns touching San Patricio County, just behind Corpus Christi (137,188). (ERCOT)
- 37.3% of households in 78374 rent (ACS 2020-2024), the most among Portland's main ZIP codes, so a lot of Portland electricity accounts open and close with each lease. (Census)
- In 78374, the ZIP holding most Portland homes, the ACS 2020-2024 survey finds a median household income of $83,504, 37.3% renters and 38.5% of households with $250+ monthly electric bills. (Census)
- Portland's land splits across 3 main ZIP codes, led by 78374 (74%) and 78390 (21%), per the Census 2020 ZCTA-to-place relationship file. (Census)
- Of Portland's six nearest towns, Corpus Christi has the most competitive homes (137,188, 13 mi away) and Corpus Christi the fewest per household (1.16). (ERCOT, Census)
Portland electricity by the numbers
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Population (July 1, 2025 estimate) | 20,833 |
| Population (2020 estimates base) | 20,441 |
| Occupied households (ACS 2020-2024) | 7,554 |
| Active residential meters with a Portland address | 8,544 |
| Active business meters with a Portland address | 1,085 |
| Residential meters per Census household | 1.13 |
| Delivery utilities (homes) | AEP Texas Central 8,544 |
| Counties | San Patricio, Nueces |
| ZIP codes touching Portland | 3 |
| Split ZIP codes (flagged below) | 0 |
How we built these numbers. Download: Portland ZIP table (CSV).
What do electricity plans cost in Portland 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) |
Portland 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 | Portland homes | Land in Portland | Postal cities | Competitive homes (ERCOT) | Households (Census) | Ratio | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78374 | 8,470 | 50% | Portland 100% | 8,496 | 7,502 | 1.13 | Near-full coverage. |
| 78390 | 52 | 1% | Taft 97%, Portland 3% | 2,051 | 1,871 | 1.10 | Near-full coverage. Mostly outside Portland city limits. |
| 78359 | 22 | 7% | Gregory 97%, Portland 2% | 986 | 633 | 1.56 | Near-full coverage. Mostly outside Portland city limits. |
Split ZIP codes for Portland: none flagged.
Homes, renters and electric bills in Portland’s ZIP codes
$250+ monthly electric bills peak in 78374 (38.5% of households).
| ZIP | Portland homes | Median income | Renters | 5+ units | $250+ bills | Built 2020+ | New meters | Vacant to active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78374 | 8,470 | $83,504 | 37.3% | 11.0% | 38.5% | 0.8% | 3 | 40 |
ACS 2020-2024 by ZCTA; meters: ERCOT daily files, Oct 7-18, 2026.
How do towns near Portland compare?
| Town (2,000+ people) | Miles | Competitive homes | Per household | Utility | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taft | 7 mi | 2,022 | 2.36 | AEP Texas Central | Most addresses can choose |
| Ingleside | 8 mi | 4,586 | 1.18 | AEP Texas Central | Most addresses can choose |
| Corpus Christi | 13 mi | 137,188 | 1.16 | AEP Texas Central | Most addresses can choose |
| Aransas Pass | 14 mi | 6,844 | 1.88 | AEP Texas Central | Most addresses can choose |
| Sinton | 15 mi | 2,938 | 1.54 | AEP Texas Central | Most addresses can choose |
| Port Aransas | 16 mi | 6,960 | 4.65 | AEP Texas Central | Most addresses can choose |
Business electricity in Portland
Portland business meters: 1,085 (7.9 homes per business meter); large non-residential meters in Portland’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 Portland?
ZIP first, then your address; read each plan’s Electricity Facts Label before choosing.
Common questions about electricity in Portland
Is Portland deregulated for electricity?
Yes, where AEP Texas Central's wires reach the house, which in Portland is most of the city: 8,544 homes with a Portland mailing address were on the competitive market on October 5, 2026, 1.13 for each Census household. None of Portland's ZIP codes is flagged split, though an address check is still the only sure answer.
What is the biggest Portland ZIP code for electricity customers?
78374, with 8,496 competitive homes in ERCOT's data (8,470 addressed to Portland) against roughly 7,502 Census households, a 1.13 ratio.
Can businesses in Portland choose an electricity provider?
Yes, where AEP Texas Central delivers: 1,085 Portland-addressed business meters are on the competitive market in ERCOT's data, and large accounts can also buy from commercial suppliers directly.
How do I start electric service at a new Portland address?
Start with the address check: AEP Texas Central-delivered Portland homes choose among the plans offered there and set a start date. Turnover is real in 78374, where 21.4% moved in the past year (ACS); ERCOT logged 40 vacant-to-active meters in 78374 Oct. 7-18, 2026.
Why does my Portland home have a Taft address?
Because ZIP 78390 is mostly addressed to Taft: 97% of its 2,051 competitive residential meters use that postal city, and 3% use Portland. Mailing city isn't city limits; the service address decides the utility.
Where do I report a Portland power outage?
Call AEP Texas Central (aeptexas.com/outages), the wires utility for Portland's 8,544 competitive homes; a retail provider can't fix lines.
Where to next?
Up: AEP Texas Central area · San Patricio County · Nueces County
Nearest town pages: Corpus Christi · Kingsville · Alice · Victoria · Bay City · Harlingen · Edinburg · San Benito
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.