Electricity in the Rio Grande Valley: compare plans for your address
Do you live in the Rio Grande Valley and wonder how to shop for electricity? If you’re moving or have a high bill, hop to a better rate.
Last updated . Written by Power Hopper.
In short: In McAllen, Edinburg, Mission, Pharr and Harlingen, AEP Texas Central is the transmission and distribution utility (TDU) for addresses on the competitive market, and those addresses can pick a retail electricity provider. Brownsville Public Utilities Board (BPUB), Brownsville’s city-owned utility, and Magic Valley Electric Cooperative do not offer retail choice; they serve most of Brownsville and many rural Valley addresses. ERCOT lists 175,052 active residential electric meters (ESI IDs) across McAllen, Edinburg, Mission, Pharr, Harlingen and Brownsville (October 5, 2026). To compare, enter your ZIP code at powerhopper.energy/compare and confirm with your service address.
Watch: Hopper in the Rio Grande Valley
Read the transcript
Video transcript
[0:00] Do you live in the Rio Grande Valley
[0:01] and wonder how to shop for electricity?
[0:03] If you're moving to a new place
[0:04] or have a high bill,
[0:06] visit powerhopper.energy
[0:07] and hop to a better rate.
Who delivers electricity in the Rio Grande Valley?
AEP Texas Central owns the poles, wires and meters for the Valley addresses in ERCOT’s competitive market and delivers the electricity; the retail provider you choose sends the bill, and AEP Texas Central’s delivery charges appear on it.
Delivery utility website: AEP Texas · Brownsville Public Utilities Board (city-owned; no retail choice) · Magic Valley Electric Cooperative (no retail choice)
Can I choose my electricity provider in the Rio Grande Valley?
Only if your address is on AEP Texas Central’s system. Most of Brownsville is served by BPUB, a city-owned utility, and Magic Valley Electric Cooperative serves many addresses across the Valley, including areas at the edges of Edinburg, Mission, Pharr and Harlingen. Neither offers retail choice, and ZIP codes cross these lines, so check your exact service address.
Already on a plan? Check whether switching is worth it before you change.
How many homes in the Rio Grande Valley are on the competitive market?
ERCOT’s TDSP ESIID Extract (data as of October 5, 2026) lists 175,052 active residential ESI IDs across the 6 towns on this page: McAllen 50,000; Edinburg 28,882; Mission 42,908; Pharr 14,146; Harlingen 29,142; Brownsville 9,974. All are on the AEP Texas Central system. McAllen: most are in Hidalgo County (49,996). Edinburg: nearly all (28,881) are in Hidalgo County. Mission: most are in Hidalgo County (42,903). Pharr: most are in Hidalgo County (14,144). Harlingen: most are in Cameron County (29,137). Brownsville: nearly all (9,973) are in Cameron County.
One ESI ID (Electric Service Identifier) per metered home or apartment. City means the postal city on the service address, not city limits; city-owned utility and co-op addresses are not in the extract. Source: ERCOT TDSP ESIID Extract, data as of October 5, 2026.
Before you compare, check current median prices for AEP Texas Central homes.
What does Hopper say about the Rio Grande Valley?
Hopper’s message for the Valley: if you’re moving to a new place or have a high bill, compare plans and hop to a better rate.
Closing on a home? Read what to do before the keys change hands. Bill higher than you expected? Have us read your electric bill and explain it.
What are some the Rio Grande Valley ZIP codes?
Example ZIP codes for Rio Grande Valley, not a list of addresses that can shop; some cross city or utility lines. Meter counts cover the whole ZIP code.
| ZIP code | Area | Active residential meters (ERCOT) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 78501 | McAllen | 24,881 | |
| 78504 | McAllen | 16,052 | North McAllen; utility edges possible. |
| 78503 | McAllen | 8,889 | |
| 78539 | Edinburg | 13,959 | ERCOT postal cities also include San Carlos (362), Moore Field (237). |
| 78572 | Mission | 35,943 | Also includes Palmview addresses. ERCOT postal cities also include Palmview (3,713), Moore Field (1,423). |
| 78574 | Mission | 11,668 | Part likely Magic Valley Electric Cooperative; check your address. ERCOT postal cities also include Palmview (920), Moore Field (192). |
| 78550 | Harlingen | 20,941 | ERCOT postal cities also include Primera (243). |
| 78552 | Harlingen | 10,265 | Outskirts, Primera and Palm Valley; utility edges possible. ERCOT postal cities also include Primera (1,070), Palm Valley (703). |
Availability varies by service address. Enter yours to see plans.
How do I compare electricity plans in the Rio Grande Valley?
Enter a Rio Grande Valley ZIP code, then your service address. If it 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.
Where to next?
More in South Texas: Coastal Bend & Rio Grande Valley (AEP Texas Central): Electricity in Corpus Christi
Other Texas regions: Electricity in Houston
Compare plans · Moving · High bill · Should I switch? · Texas rates · Texas electricity choice · All cities
Sources
- ERCOT TDSP ESIID Extract (report 203), Oct 5, 2026
- PUCT broker directory (BR260201)
- PUCT: Choosing an Electric Plan
- Power to Choose (PUCT)
- Power to Choose FAQ
- AEP Texas
- Brownsville Public Utilities Board (city-owned; no retail choice)
- Magic Valley Electric Cooperative (no retail choice)
BJW Ventures LLC d/b/a Power Hopper | PUCT BR260201. PUCT registration is not an endorsement.
Common questions
Can every address in the Rio Grande Valley choose an electricity provider?
No. Addresses served by Brownsville Public Utilities Board or Magic Valley Electric Cooperative cannot choose a retail provider. AEP Texas Central addresses in McAllen, Edinburg, Mission, Pharr, Harlingen and elsewhere in the Valley can. Enter your ZIP code, then your address, to see what is available.
How many homes in the Rio Grande Valley have electric service on the competitive market?
ERCOT’s TDSP ESIID Extract lists 175,052 active residential electric meters (ESI IDs) across McAllen, Edinburg, Mission, Pharr, Harlingen and Brownsville (October 5, 2026), roughly one per home or apartment with a retail electricity provider.
Can Brownsville residents choose an electricity provider?
Most cannot. ERCOT’s extract lists only 9,974 active residential meters with a Brownsville address on AEP Texas Central’s system; most Brownsville homes are served by Brownsville Public Utilities Board (BPUB), a city-owned utility that does not offer retail choice. If your Brownsville-area address is on AEP Texas Central, you can shop.
Do the wires or the delivery utility change if I switch providers?
No. The delivery utility, AEP Texas Central, keeps the same wires and still delivers the electricity, and its delivery charges still appear on your bill. Switching changes the retail provider that bills you, not the wires.