Weslaco, Texas electricity: AEP Texas Central wires, 1 split ZIP code to check
Two questions decide electricity in Weslaco: 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 15,166 active residential meters with a Weslaco address, all on AEP Texas Central's wires (October 5, 2026). 1 of Weslaco's ZIP codes is split, so most addresses can shop, but yours needs a check.
Who delivers electricity in Weslaco?
Outages: AEP Texas Central at aeptexas.com/outages.
AEP Texas Central delivery charges and area
Can every address in Weslaco choose an electricity provider?
1,139 of 15,152 Weslaco-addressed competitive homes (8%) are in split ZIP codes (78599), where a neighbor may have a different utility.
1 more utility (co-op, city-owned or non-ERCOT; EIA 2024) also serves parts of Hidalgo County; no retail choice there unless the utility opted in.
Moving to Weslaco
Local numbers for setting up a home in Weslaco, each checked on the official source. More contacts, and a printable list, are on Weslaco helpful move-in information.
- Water and utility billing: utility billing (start, transfer or stop water service), 956-968-3181.
- Natural gas: Texas Gas Service: customer service, 800-700-2443.
- Public schools: Weslaco ISD.
- Driver license: Texas DPS Driver License Office: Weslaco, 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 Weslaco 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 Weslaco
Typical weather near Weslaco, from the nearest NOAA station with a complete 1991-2020 record: Weslaco, about 2 miles from the city center (station elevation 75 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 97°F; January has the coolest average low, 50°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 677 for the month, and heating-degree days (below 65°F) peak in January at 187. 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 | 50 | 1.0 | 53 | 187 |
| Feb | 75 | 54 | 1.0 | 91 | 107 |
| Mar | 81 | 60 | 1.5 | 206 | 39 |
| Apr | 86 | 65 | 1.5 | 328 | 7 |
| May | 90 | 72 | 2.6 | 493 | 0 |
| Jun | 95 | 76 | 2.8 | 601 | 0 |
| Jul | 96 | 77 | 2.2 | 654 | 0 |
| Aug | 97 | 76 | 1.9 | 677 | 0 |
| Sep | 92 | 73 | 5.6 | 522 | 0 |
| Oct | 87 | 66 | 2.8 | 366 | 7 |
| Nov | 80 | 58 | 1.6 | 185 | 61 |
| Dec | 72 | 52 | 1.3 | 74 | 173 |
Historical weather records for Hidalgo County
The Texas Railroad Commission's county table lists a record low of 10°F (1962) and a record high of 113°F (1998), and a regional estimate of 12 consecutive hours as a typical longest freezing or frozen-precipitation period for Hidalgo County. These are historical county extremes, not Weslaco'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 Weslaco, and not an estimate for your home. EIA source.
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USC00419588; Texas Railroad Commission, Historical Weather Data by County (2022).
What is different about electricity in Weslaco?
- The Census Bureau's July 1, 2025 estimate for Weslaco is 44,203 people, up 10.0% on the 2020 estimates base of 40,192. The largest one-year change was +1,266 people, from July 2021 to July 2022. (Census)
- AEP Texas Central share: 1.9% of its 810,296 competitive residential meters carry a Weslaco address. (ERCOT)
- ERCOT's daily files for Oct. 7-18, 2026 show 18 brand-new residential meters across Weslaco's main ZIP codes (17 of them in 78596) and 58 meters going from vacant to active. (ERCOT)
- De-energized homes, usually empty or between tenants, number 2,029 in Weslaco's main ZIP codes, 11.7% of all 17,394 residential meters there. (ERCOT)
- ZIP 78596 holds 14,013 of the 15,152 competitive homes with a Weslaco address (92%); across the whole ZIP there are 1.12 competitive meters per Census household. (ERCOT, Census)
- By competitive homes on its postal city, Weslaco is number 4 of the 22 cities and towns touching Hidalgo County, just behind Edinburg (28,882). (ERCOT)
- In ZIP 78599, which holds 1,139 Weslaco-addressed homes, ERCOT counts only 0.12 competitive meters per Census household. EIA's 2024 data lists Magic Valley Electric Cooperative in the counties ERCOT and the Census link to that ZIP; their customers are not on the competitive market unless the utility opted in. (ERCOT, Census, EIA-861)
- 36.0% of households in 78596 rent (ACS 2020-2024), the most among Weslaco's main ZIP codes, so a lot of Weslaco electricity accounts open and close with each lease. (Census)
- Median household income across Weslaco's main ZIP codes runs from $58,349 in 78599 to $58,411 in 78596 (ACS 2020-2024); 27.4% of 78596 households and 21.9% of 78599 households report $250+ monthly electric bills. (Census)
- By land area, 64% of Weslaco lies in ZIP 78596 and 36% in 78599 (Census 2020 ZCTA-to-place file); 2 ZIP codes cover at least 5% of the city each. (Census)
Weslaco electricity by the numbers
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Population (July 1, 2025 estimate) | 44,203 |
| Population (2020 estimates base) | 40,192 |
| Occupied households (ACS 2020-2024) | 14,218 |
| Active residential meters with a Weslaco address | 15,166 |
| Active business meters with a Weslaco address | 2,835 |
| Residential meters per Census household | 1.07 |
| Delivery utilities (homes) | AEP Texas Central 15,166 |
| Counties | Hidalgo |
| ZIP codes touching Weslaco | 2 |
| Split ZIP codes (flagged below) | 1 |
How we built these numbers. Download: Weslaco ZIP table (CSV).
What do electricity plans cost in Weslaco 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) |
Weslaco 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 | Weslaco homes | Land in Weslaco | Postal cities | Competitive homes (ERCOT) | Households (Census) | Ratio | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78596 | 14,013 | 26% | Weslaco 99% | 14,221 | 12,731 | 1.12 | Near-full coverage. 17 new residential meters Oct 7-18, 2026. |
| 78599 | 1,139 | 23% | Weslaco 100% | 1,144 | 9,605 | 0.12 | Split. Little coverage. |
Split ZIP codes for Weslaco: 78599.
Homes, renters and electric bills in Weslaco’s ZIP codes
$250+ monthly electric bills peak in 78596 (27.4% of households).
| ZIP | Weslaco homes | Median income | Renters | 5+ units | $250+ bills | Built 2020+ | New meters | Vacant to active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78596 | 14,013 | $58,411 | 36.0% | 7.9% | 27.4% | 2.5% | 17 | 51 |
| 78599 | 1,139 | $58,349 | 31.2% | 9.6% | 21.9% | 3.6% | 1 | 7 |
ACS 2020-2024 by ZCTA; meters: ERCOT daily files, Oct 7-18, 2026.
How do towns near Weslaco compare?
| Town (2,000+ people) | Miles | Competitive homes | Per household | Utility | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donna | 3 mi | 8,373 | 1.70 | AEP Texas Central | Most addresses can choose |
| Mercedes | 5 mi | 7,559 | 1.45 | AEP Texas Central | Most addresses can choose |
| Progreso | 5 mi | 1,767 | 1.52 | AEP Texas Central | Most addresses can choose |
| Alamo | 8 mi | 8,166 | 1.35 | AEP Texas Central | Most addresses can choose |
| Edcouch | 9 mi | 1,297 | 1.21 | AEP Texas Central | Most addresses can choose |
| Elsa | 9 mi | 4,756 | 2.40 | AEP Texas Central | Most addresses can choose |
Business electricity in Weslaco
Weslaco business meters: 2,835 (5.3 homes per business meter); large non-residential meters in Weslaco’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 Weslaco?
ZIP first, then your address; read each plan’s Electricity Facts Label before choosing.
Common questions about electricity in Weslaco
Can Weslaco residents pick their own electric company?
Most Weslaco homes can. ERCOT's October 5, 2026 extract has 15,166 Weslaco-addressed homes on AEP Texas Central's competitive system, compared with 14,218 households in the Census survey. Split ZIP codes for Weslaco: 78599; on those, check the exact address.
What is the biggest Weslaco ZIP code for electricity customers?
78596, with 14,221 competitive homes in ERCOT's data (14,013 addressed to Weslaco) against roughly 12,731 Census households, a 1.12 ratio. Coverage is thinnest in 78599, at 0.12.
Which part of Weslaco has the highest electric bills?
Bills vary across Weslaco. 27.4% of households in 78596 told the Census survey (ACS 2020-2024) they pay $250 or more a month for electricity, compared with 21.9% in 78599. Bigger, older or all-electric homes push that share up, so compare plans at your own usage.
How do I start electric service at a new Weslaco address?
Confirm the address is on AEP Texas Central's wires, then pick a plan and a start date. In 78599, 8.9% of residents moved in the past year (ACS); 51 78596 meters went vacant-to-active Oct. 7-18, 2026.
Where do I report a Weslaco power outage?
Call AEP Texas Central (aeptexas.com/outages), the wires utility for Weslaco's 15,166 competitive homes; a retail provider can't fix lines.
Where to next?
Up: AEP Texas Central area · Hidalgo County
Nearest town pages: Donna · Mercedes · Alamo · San Juan · Pharr · Edinburg · Hidalgo · McAllen
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.