# Rio Hondo, Texas electricity: AEP Texas Central wires, 1 split ZIP code to check

_Updated October 19, 2026. Data: ERCOT Oct 5, 2026; Census ACS 2020-2024; Power to Choose Oct 19, 2026, 7:59 AM CT._

**Rio Hondo at a glance:** 1,165 Rio Hondo-addressed homes, all wired by AEP Texas Central (ERCOT, Oct. 5, 2026). 1 split ZIP code (78583) holds 1,162 of Rio Hondo's 1,162 placed homes (100%); those addresses need a lookup.

## Moving to Rio Hondo

Local numbers for setting up a home in Rio Hondo, each checked on the official source. More contacts: https://powerhopper.energy/texas-electricity/rio-hondo/move-in-information

- **City hall (ask about water service):** City of Rio Hondo: City Hall (main line), 956-748-2102.
- **Natural gas:** Texas Gas Service: customer service, 800-700-2443.
- **Public schools:** Rio Hondo ISD.
- **Driver license:** Texas DPS Driver License Office: Harlingen, 512-424-2600.

## Facts
- Land: 1.7 sq mi (water 0.1); 1,381 residents and 440 households per sq mi; 3.13 people per Rio Hondo household. (Source: https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2025/cities/totals/sub-est2025_48.csv, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/)
- Heating fuel, Rio Hondo homes (ACS 2020-2024): electricity 95.7% (±5), utility gas 3.6%; Cameron County overall: 89.9% electric. All-electric homes feel winter rates more. (Source: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/)
- Of Rio Hondo homes paying a power bill, 17.1% report $250 or more a month and 8.5% under $100 (Cameron County: 30.9% at $250+); 88.7% of homes pay one at all. (Source: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/)
- Housing stock: 64.5% detached houses, 18.4% in 5+ unit buildings, 14.4% mobile homes; median year built 1986, 6.5% built 2010 or later. (Source: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/)
- Rio Hondo-addressed home meters on Oct. 5, 2026: 1,165 active, 292 inactive, 210 de-energized, so 30.1% were not in use (ERCOT). (Source: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203)
- 1,165 home meters use the Rio Hondo postal name, against 744 households inside city limits (1.57 per household): the mailing area runs well past the boundary. (Source: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/)
- 78583 carries every one of Rio Hondo's placed homes; ratio across the whole ZIP 0.66, from 1,296 home meters in all and 1,952 households. (Source: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/)
- Weakest Rio Hondo ZIP: 78583, 0.66 competitive meters per household, 1,162 Rio Hondo-addressed. EIA (2024) lists 1 co-op in its counties; co-op members stay with the co-op unless it opted in to competition. (Source: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/, https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia861/)

## Homes: heating fuel, bills, housing (ACS 2020-2024, the city (Census boundary))
- Heat with electricity: 95.7%
- Heat with utility gas: 3.6%
- Bill $250 or more: 17.1%
- Built 2010 or later: 6.5%
- Renter households: 41.8%
- Median year built: 1986

## Meters and households
- Residents, July 2025: 2,332
- Residents, 2020 base: 2,036
- Households (ACS): 744
- Active home meters: 1,165
- Inactive home meters: 292
- De-energized home meters: 210
- Active small-business meters: 177
- Active large-business meters: 0
- Home meters per household: 1.57
- ZIP codes listed: 2
- Split ZIP codes: 1
- County: Cameron

## Plan prices (Oct 19, 2026 medians)
AEP Texas Central (164 listings): 12.7¢ / 12.1¢ / 12¢ per kWh at 500 / 1,000 / 2,000 kWh, delivery 5.6898¢ + $3.24/mo included.

## ZIP codes
**Not every address in these ZIP codes has retail choice; check your exact address.**

| ZIP | Homes with this address | All ZIP homes | Households | Ratio | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78583 | 1,162 | 1,296 | 1,952 | 0.66 | split |
| 78550 | 0 | 20,941 | 19,733 | 1.06 | none |

## Businesses
177 business meters. Business rate reviews: /business.

## Questions
**Do I get to pick my electric company in Rio Hondo?** Yes, on AEP Texas Central's wires: 1,165 Rio Hondo homes were on the competitive market Oct. 5, 2026 (1.57 per household). Split: 78583. Confirm your address.
**Why are some Rio Hondo electric bills so high in winter?** 95.7% of Rio Hondo homes heat with electricity (ACS 2020-2024, margin ±5) and 3.6% with utility gas; 17.1% of bill-paying homes report $250 or more a month. Electric-heat homes should compare plans at winter usage.
**What ZIP code do most Rio Hondo electricity customers have?** 78583: 1,162 Rio Hondo-addressed competitive homes; ratio 0.66 across the ZIP (1,296 home meters in all, 1,952 households).
**Who do I call when the power is out in Rio Hondo?** Outages go to AEP Texas Central (aeptexas.com/outages), the wires utility for 1,165 Rio Hondo competitive homes.
**How do I set up power at a new Rio Hondo home?** Check the address is on AEP Texas Central's wires, choose a plan and a start date. Rio Hondo had 502 idle home meters (inactive or de-energized) on Oct. 5, 2026, so many move-ins reconnect an existing meter.
**My Rio Hondo home has a Harlingen address. Does that matter?** Not for choice. Harlingen is the postal name on 99% of the 20,941-meter 78550 ZIP; the utility depends on the service address, not the postal name.

## Sources
- ERCOT TDSP ESIID Extract (report 203): full extract as of Oct 5, 2026; daily files Oct 7-18, 2026: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203
- ERCOT TDSP ESIID Extract (report 203), Oct 5, 2026: meters by status and premise type, by postal city: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203
- Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, tables B25040, B25132, B25024, B25034, B25035, B25018, B19013, B25003, B25002, B25004 (90% margins of error): https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/
- Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25003 households, B01003 population): https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/
- Census Vintage 2025 city and town population estimates: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2025/cities/totals/sub-est2025_48.csv
- Census 2020 ZCTA-to-place and ZCTA-to-county relationship files: https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/rel2020/zcta520/
- EIA-861 (2024) utility service territories by county: https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia861/
- PUCT Power to Choose residential offer export, Oct 19, 2026, 7:59 AM CT: https://www.powertochoose.org/en-us/Plan/ExportToCsv
- PUCT: Choosing an Electric Plan: https://www.puc.texas.gov/consumer-help/electricity/electric-plan/
- PUCT broker directory (BR260201): https://www.puc.texas.gov/industry/electric/directories/brk/alpha_brk/
- AEP Texas (Central Division): https://www.aeptexas.com/
- AEP Texas Central delivery tariff (effective September 29, 2026): https://www.aeptexas.com/lib/docs/ratesandtariffs/Texas/AEP_TEXAS_TARIFF_Eff_Sept_29_2026v1.pdf
- Census Bureau Vintage 2025 city and town population estimates: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2025/cities/totals/sub-est2025_48.csv
- Census Bureau 2025 Gazetteer Files, Texas places (land and water area): https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html
- Census Bureau Vintage 2025 city and town population estimates: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2025/cities/totals/sub-est2025_48.csv
- Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B25003: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/
- Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, tables B25040, B25132, B25024, B25034, B25035, B25018, B19013, B25003, B25002, B25004 (90% margins of error): https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/
- Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, tables B25040, B25132, B25024, B25034, B25035, B25018, B19013, B25003, B25002, B25004 (90% margins of error): https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/
- Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, tables B25040, B25132, B25024, B25034, B25035, B25018, B19013, B25003, B25002, B25004 (90% margins of error): https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/
- ERCOT TDSP ESIID Extract (report 203), Oct 5, 2026: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203
- ERCOT TDSP ESIID Extract (report 203), Oct 5, 2026: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203
- Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B25003: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/
- ERCOT TDSP ESIID Extract (report 203), Oct 5, 2026: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203
- ERCOT TDSP ESIID Extract (report 203), Oct 5, 2026: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203
- Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B25003: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/
- ERCOT TDSP ESIID Extract (report 203), Oct 5, 2026: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203
- Census Bureau Vintage 2025 city and town population estimates: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2025/cities/totals/sub-est2025_48.csv
- ERCOT TDSP ESIID Extract (report 203), Oct 5, 2026: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203
- Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B25003: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/
- EIA-861 (2024) utility service territories by county: https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia861/

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