# West Columbia, Texas electricity: TNMP 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._

**West Columbia at a glance:** 3,594 West Columbia-addressed homes in ERCOT's Oct. 5 extract: 3,523 on TNMP; 71 on CenterPoint. 1 split ZIP code (77486) holds 3,594 of West Columbia's 3,594 placed homes (100%); those addresses need a lookup.

## Moving to West Columbia

Local numbers for setting up a home in West Columbia, each checked on the official source. More contacts: https://powerhopper.energy/texas-electricity/west-columbia/move-in-information

- **City hall (ask about water service):** City of West Columbia: City Hall (main line), 979-345-3123.
- **Natural gas:** CenterPoint Energy: gas customer service (Houston area), 713-659-2111.
- **Public schools:** Columbia-Brazoria ISD.
- **Driver license:** Texas DPS Driver License Office: Angleton Driver License Office, 512-424-2600.

## Facts
- Land: 2.6 sq mi; 1,394 residents and 551 households per sq mi; 2.53 people per West Columbia 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, West Columbia homes (ACS 2020-2024): electricity 71.3% (±11), utility gas 28.7%; Brazoria County overall: 48.3% 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 West Columbia homes paying a power bill, 37.7% report $250 or more a month and 13.8% under $100 (Brazoria County: 36.8% at $250+). (Source: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/)
- Housing stock: 73.3% detached houses, 5.7% in 5+ unit buildings, 3.2% mobile homes; median year built 1975, 16.2% built 2010 or later. (Source: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/)
- ERCOT status split for 4,080 West Columbia home meters (Oct. 5, 2026): active 3,594, inactive 267, de-energized 219; idle share 11.9%. (Source: https://www.ercot.com/misapp/GetReports.do?reportTypeId=203)
- 3,594 home meters use the West Columbia postal name, against 1,436 households inside city limits (2.5 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/)
- 77486 carries every one of West Columbia's placed homes; ratio across the whole ZIP 1.32, from 3,619 home meters in all and 2,748 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/)

## Homes: heating fuel, bills, housing (ACS 2020-2024, the city (Census boundary))
- Heat with electricity: 71.3%
- Heat with utility gas: 28.7%
- Bill $250 or more: 37.7%
- Built 2010 or later: 16.2%
- Renter households: 39.3%
- Median year built: 1975

## Meters and households
- Residents, July 2025: 3,636
- Residents, 2020 base: 3,634
- Households (ACS): 1,436
- Active home meters: 3,594
- Inactive home meters: 267
- De-energized home meters: 219
- Active small-business meters: 697
- Active large-business meters: 1
- Home meters per household: 2.5
- ZIP codes listed: 1
- Split ZIP codes: 1
- County: Brazoria

## Plan prices (Oct 19, 2026 medians)
TNMP (166 listings): 16.1¢ / 15.1¢ / 14.7¢ per kWh at 500 / 1,000 / 2,000 kWh, delivery 7.771¢ + $7.56/mo included. CenterPoint (173 listings): 14¢ / 13.2¢ / 13¢ per kWh at 500 / 1,000 / 2,000 kWh, delivery 6.5333¢ + $4.90/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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77486 | 3,594 | 3,619 | 2,748 | 1.32 | split, 2 wires firms |

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

## Questions
**Do I get to pick my electric company in West Columbia?** Yes, on TNMP's wires: 3,594 West Columbia homes were on the competitive market Oct. 5, 2026 (2.5 per household). Split: 77486. Confirm your address.
**Do West Columbia homes heat with electricity?** 71.3% of West Columbia homes heat with electricity (ACS 2020-2024, margin ±11) and 28.7% with utility gas; 37.7% of bill-paying homes report $250 or more a month. Electric-heat homes should compare plans at winter usage.
**Which ZIP code covers most of West Columbia?** 77486: 3,594 West Columbia-addressed competitive homes; ratio 1.32 across the ZIP (3,619 home meters in all, 2,748 households).
**Who handles West Columbia power outages?** Call the wires utility for your street (not the company that bills you): TNMP (3,523 homes); CenterPoint (71 homes).
**How do I set up power at a new West Columbia home?** Check the address is on TNMP's wires, choose a plan and a start date. West Columbia had 486 idle home meters (inactive or de-energized) on Oct. 5, 2026, so many move-ins reconnect an existing meter.

## 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/
- Texas-New Mexico Power (TNMP): https://tnmp.com/
- CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric: https://www.centerpointenergy.com/
- TNMP delivery tariff (effective September 13, 2026): https://tnmp.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/TNMP%20Retail%20Tariff%20%2858964%29.pdf
- CenterPoint delivery tariff (effective October 1, 2026): https://ftp.puc.texas.gov/public/puct-info/industry/electric/rates/tdr/tdu/CenterPoint_Rate_Report.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

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