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

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

**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.

## Moving to Weslaco

Local numbers for setting up a home in Weslaco, each checked on the official source. More contacts: https://powerhopper.energy/texas-electricity/weslaco/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.

## Who delivers electricity in Weslaco?
ERCOT counts 15,166 active residential meters with a Weslaco address, all on AEP Texas Central's wires (October 5, 2026).

## Can every address in Weslaco choose?
1,139 of 15,152 Weslaco-addressed competitive homes (8%) are in split ZIP codes (78599), where a neighbor may have a different utility.

## What is different about 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. (Source: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2025/cities/totals/sub-est2025_48.csv)
- AEP Texas Central share: 1.9% of its 810,296 competitive residential meters carry a Weslaco address. (Source: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203)
- 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. (Source: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203)
- 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. (Source: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203)
- 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. (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/)
- 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). (Source: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203)
- 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. (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/)
- 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. (Source: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/)
- 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. (Source: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/)
- 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. (Source: https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/rel2020/zcta520/)

## By the numbers
- 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

## Plan prices (median ¢/kWh at 500 / 1,000 / 2,000 kWh)
- AEP Texas Central: 12.7 / 12.1 / 12; delivery 5.6898¢/kWh + $3.24/mo

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

| ZIP | Postal cities | Land in city | Competitive homes | Households | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78596 | Weslaco 99% | 26% | 14,221 | 12,731 | 1.12 | Near-full coverage. 17 new residential meters Oct 7-18, 2026. |
| 78599 | Weslaco 100% | 23% | 1,144 | 9,605 | 0.12 | Split. Little coverage.  |

## Business electricity in Weslaco
2,835 active business meters. Power Hopper compares offers from retail electric providers and direct suppliers; for high-consumption businesses we can run a competitive bid. No savings or bidder count is promised. Businesses in Texas retail-choice areas can request a rate review online.

## Questions
**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.

## 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
- 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
- ERCOT TDSP ESIID Extract (report 203), Oct 5, 2026: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203
- ERCOT daily TDSP ESIID Extract files, Oct 7-18, 2026, via Power Hopper's Oct 18 ZIP study: 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
- 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/
- EIA-861 (2024) utility service territories by county: https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia861/
- 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, table B25003: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/
- Census 2020 ZCTA-to-place relationship file: https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/rel2020/zcta520/

BJW Ventures LLC d/b/a Power Hopper | PUCT BR260201