Rio Grande City, Texas electricity: AEP Texas Central wires and 10,253 competitive homes
Two questions decide electricity in Rio Grande City: whose wires reach your street, and what plans on AEP Texas Central'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 10,253 active residential meters with a Rio Grande City address, all on AEP Texas Central's wires (October 5, 2026). Nearly every Rio Grande City address in our data is on AEP Texas Central's wires and can pick a retail provider.
Who delivers electricity in Rio Grande City?
Outages: AEP Texas Central at aeptexas.com/outages.
AEP Texas Central delivery charges and area
Can every address in Rio Grande City choose an electricity provider?
None of the ZIP codes holding Rio Grande City's 10,251 competitive homes is flagged split, so most Rio Grande City streets can shop.
2 more utilities (co-op, city-owned or non-ERCOT; EIA 2024) also serve parts of Starr County; no retail choice there unless the utility opted in.
Moving to Rio Grande City
Local numbers for setting up a home in Rio Grande City, each checked on the official source. More contacts, and a printable list, are on Rio Grande City helpful move-in information.
- Water and utility billing: utility billing (start, transfer or stop water service), 956-487-2702.
- Public schools: Rio Grande City Grulla ISD.
- Driver license: Texas DPS Driver License Office: Rio Grande City, 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 Rio Grande City 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 Rio Grande City
Typical weather near Rio Grande City, from the nearest NOAA station with a complete 1991-2020 record: Rio Grande City, about 1 mile from the city center (station elevation 172 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 99°F; January has the coolest average low, 45°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 690 for the month, and heating-degree days (below 65°F) peak in January at 254. 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 | 71 | 45 | 0.8 | 36 | 254 |
| Feb | 76 | 50 | 1.0 | 80 | 135 |
| Mar | 82 | 56 | 1.3 | 188 | 59 |
| Apr | 89 | 63 | 1.0 | 330 | 10 |
| May | 94 | 70 | 2.9 | 523 | 1 |
| Jun | 98 | 74 | 2.8 | 637 | 0 |
| Jul | 99 | 75 | 2.0 | 684 | 0 |
| Aug | 99 | 75 | 1.3 | 690 | 0 |
| Sep | 94 | 71 | 5.1 | 524 | 1 |
| Oct | 88 | 63 | 2.5 | 350 | 12 |
| Nov | 79 | 54 | 1.1 | 139 | 94 |
| Dec | 72 | 47 | 0.8 | 53 | 231 |
Historical weather records for Starr County
The Texas Railroad Commission's county table lists a record low of 7°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 Starr County. These are historical county extremes, not Rio Grande City'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 Rio Grande City, and not an estimate for your home. EIA source.
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USC00417622; Texas Railroad Commission, Historical Weather Data by County (2022).
What is different about electricity in Rio Grande City?
- Rio Grande City counted about 15,451 residents in the Census Bureau's 2025 estimate, against 15,303 in the 2020 base, a change of +1.0%. The largest one-year change was +95 people, from July 2022 to July 2023. (Census)
- The Rio Grande City mailing area is bigger than the city: ERCOT lists 10,253 competitive homes under the Rio Grande City postal city, 2.27 for each of the city's 4,525 Census households. (ERCOT, Census)
- AEP Texas Central share: 1.3% of its 810,296 competitive residential meters carry a Rio Grande City address. (ERCOT)
- New construction shows up in the meter data: 14 residential meters were added in Rio Grande City's main ZIP codes from Oct. 7 to Oct. 18, 2026, including 14 in 78582, and 39 more switched from vacant to active. (ERCOT)
- 2,124 of the 14,807 home meters in Rio Grande City's main ZIP codes (14.3%) were de-energized on October 5, 2026, typically a vacant unit awaiting its next account. (ERCOT)
- Rio Grande City's biggest ZIP code for electricity customers is 78582, with 10,164 of the 10,251 competitive homes that carry a Rio Grande City address and a ZIP-wide ratio of 0.99 meters per household. (ERCOT, Census)
- In 78582, the ZIP holding most Rio Grande City homes, the ACS 2020-2024 survey finds a median household income of $42,626, 27.7% renters and 35.8% of households with $250+ monthly electric bills. (Census)
- Of Rio Grande City's six nearest towns, Roma has the most competitive homes (4,222, 12 mi away) and Roma the fewest per household (1.28). (ERCOT, Census)
Rio Grande City electricity by the numbers
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Population (July 1, 2025 estimate) | 15,451 |
| Population (2020 estimates base) | 15,303 |
| Occupied households (ACS 2020-2024) | 4,525 |
| Active residential meters with a Rio Grande City address | 10,253 |
| Active business meters with a Rio Grande City address | 1,852 |
| Residential meters per Census household | 2.27 |
| Delivery utilities (homes) | AEP Texas Central 10,253 |
| Counties | Starr |
| ZIP codes touching Rio Grande City | 2 |
| Split ZIP codes (flagged below) | 0 |
How we built these numbers. Download: Rio Grande City ZIP table (CSV).
What do electricity plans cost in Rio Grande City 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) |
Rio Grande City 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 | Rio Grande City homes | Land in Rio Grande City | Postal cities | Competitive homes (ERCOT) | Households (Census) | Ratio | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78582 | 10,164 | 2% | Rio Grande City 80%, Escobares 10%, La Rosita 4% | 12,683 | 12,795 | 0.99 | Near-full coverage. 14 new residential meters Oct 7-18, 2026. Mostly outside Rio Grande City city limits. |
| 78548 | 87 | 0% | La Grulla 97%, Rio Grande City 3% | 3,060 | 410 | 7.46 | Near-full coverage. Mostly outside Rio Grande City city limits. |
Split ZIP codes for Rio Grande City: none flagged.
Homes, renters and electric bills in Rio Grande City’s ZIP codes
$250+ monthly electric bills peak in 78582 (35.8% of households).
| ZIP | Rio Grande City homes | Median income | Renters | 5+ units | $250+ bills | Built 2020+ | New meters | Vacant to active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78582 | 10,164 | $42,626 | 27.7% | 2.9% | 35.8% | 1.4% | 14 | 39 |
ACS 2020-2024 by ZCTA; meters: ERCOT daily files, Oct 7-18, 2026.
How do towns near Rio Grande City compare?
| Town (2,000+ people) | Miles | Competitive homes | Per household | Utility | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escobares | 9 mi | 1,261 | 1.70 | AEP Texas Central | Most addresses can choose |
| Roma | 12 mi | 4,222 | 1.28 | AEP Texas Central | Most addresses can choose |
| Sullivan City | 18 mi | 2,274 | 1.96 | AEP Texas Central | Most addresses can choose |
| La Joya | 23 mi | 2,033 | 1.39 | AEP Texas Central | Most addresses can choose |
| Penitas | 25 mi | 4,058 | 2.24 | AEP Texas Central | Most addresses can choose |
Business electricity in Rio Grande City
Rio Grande City business meters: 1,852 (5.5 homes per business meter); large non-residential meters in Rio Grande City’s main ZIP codes: 5 (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 Rio Grande City?
ZIP first, then your address; read each plan’s Electricity Facts Label before choosing.
Common questions about electricity in Rio Grande City
Does Rio Grande City have electricity choice?
Yes, where AEP Texas Central's wires reach the house, which in Rio Grande City is most of the city: 10,253 homes with a Rio Grande City mailing address were on the competitive market on October 5, 2026, 2.27 for each Census household. None of Rio Grande City's ZIP codes is flagged split, though an address check is still the only sure answer.
Which Rio Grande City ZIP code has the most homes on the competitive market?
78582, with 12,683 competitive homes in ERCOT's data (10,164 addressed to Rio Grande City) against roughly 12,795 Census households, a 0.99 ratio.
How many businesses in Rio Grande City are on the competitive electricity market?
Yes, where AEP Texas Central delivers: 1,852 Rio Grande City-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 Rio Grande City. How do I set up electricity?
9.0% of 78582 residents moved within a year (ACS), and 39 78582 meters turned from vacant to active Oct. 7-18, 2026. Check that your Rio Grande City address is on AEP Texas Central's wires, then choose a plan and start date.
Why are there more electric meters than households in Rio Grande City?
10,253 Rio Grande City-addressed meters against 4,525 city households is 2.27 per household: the Rio Grande City postal area extends past city limits, and new homes get meters before the Census counts them. It doesn't mean every nearby address can choose.
Who restores power in Rio Grande City after an outage?
Call AEP Texas Central (aeptexas.com/outages), the wires utility for Rio Grande City's 10,253 competitive homes; a retail provider can't fix lines.
Where to next?
Up: AEP Texas Central area · Starr County
Nearest town pages: Palmview · Alton · Mission · McAllen · Hidalgo · Edinburg · Pharr · San Juan
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.