Arlington Electricity Rates, Explained
Just want the cheapest plan? This guide explains how Arlington electricity rates actually work. To rank today’s live plans by your real usage, use the Arlington rate comparison tool →
Last updated: October 18, 2026 · 7 min read
Arlington is the largest city in the United States without a commuter rail connection — a fact that reflects its sprawling, car-dependent character and its diverse housing stock, from high-density apartments near the University of Texas at Arlington to large suburban homes in the southwest. That range in home size and usage means electricity plan selection matters differently depending on where in Arlington you live.
The short answer
All Arlington ZIP codes are Oncor territory — fully deregulated. Fixed-rate plans as of May 2026 advertise 9.0–13.5¢/kWh at 1,000 kWh. Actual monthly usage ranges from 700 kWh (small apartment) to 1,800 kWh (large suburban home in summer). The advertised rate tells you nothing useful about your real bill without knowing your usage. Enter your ZIP and bedroom count to see the true cost.
Oncor — Arlington's Electricity Delivery Company
Oncor Electric Delivery serves the entirety of Arlington and Tarrant County under a PUCT-regulated franchise. Oncor owns and maintains the transmission lines, distribution circuits, substations, and the smart meter at your address. When power goes out after a storm, Oncor's crews restore it — not your REP. Your REP's name is on your bill; Oncor's name appears only on the TDSP line items.
Oncor's residential delivery charges include a fixed monthly customer charge and a per-kWh distribution charge. These are set by the PUCT through a tariff filing process and cannot be negotiated or reduced by choosing a different REP. They are identical for a TXU Energy customer and a Gexa Energy customer living at the same Arlington address.
Arlington's Mixed Housing Stock — Usage Varies Widely
Arlington's housing stock is unusually diverse for a Texas city of its size. The area around UTA (76010, 76011, 76012, 76013) has high apartment density, and studio and one-bedroom units there typically use 500–800 kWh per month in summer. Southwest Arlington (76001, 76002, 76016, 76017, 76018) is predominantly larger single-family homes where summer usage reaches 1,400–1,800 kWh.
This matters for plan selection because plan ranking by cost changes substantially between 800 kWh and 1,600 kWh. A plan with a low per-kWh rate but a $9.95 monthly base charge may be more expensive than a plan with a slightly higher rate but no base charge for a small apartment user — and the opposite is true for a large home. Comparing plans at your actual usage level is not optional; it is the only way to find the genuinely lowest-cost option.
| Arlington ZIP | Area | Typical Summer Usage |
|---|---|---|
| 76010–76013 | Central / UTA / Downtown area | 500–900 kWh (apartments) |
| 76014–76015 | East Arlington | 900–1,300 kWh (mixed) |
| 76001–76002 | South Arlington | 1,100–1,500 kWh |
| 76016–76018 | Southwest Arlington | 1,300–1,800 kWh (larger homes) |
A Texas example
Priya lives in a 2-bedroom apartment near UTA (76013) and uses 720 kWh per month in summer. She compared plans by advertised rate and chose one at 9.9¢/kWh. Her neighbor Carlos has a 4-bedroom house in southwest Arlington (76017) and uses 1,650 kWh in August. He chose the same plan. Priya's summer bill: $87.50 (the plan works fine at her usage). Carlos's summer bill: $192.30 — because at 1,650 kWh, the plan's bill-credit structure that made it look cheap at 1,000 kWh no longer applied. Same plan, very different outcomes.
Finding the Right Plan for Your Arlington Home Type
For apartment residents using 500–900 kWh per month, plans with no or low monthly base charges tend to be most cost-effective, even if their per-kWh rate is slightly higher. For larger suburban homes using 1,300–1,800 kWh in summer, plans with a flat, transparent per-kWh rate and no usage-cliff bill credits are often more predictable and less expensive at peak summer usage.
The search tool on the homepage calculates the true cost for every plan at your usage level. Enter your Arlington ZIP and bedroom count and the results reflect your real estimated bill — not the 1,000 kWh benchmark every provider's marketing team optimises for. The Texas electricity plan types guide explains every plan structure in detail.
The math
Two Arlington plans. Plan A: 10.2¢/kWh flat, $0 base charge. Plan B: 9.7¢/kWh, $9.95 base charge. At 700 kWh (small apartment): Plan A costs $71.40, Plan B costs $77.85 — Plan A is cheaper. At 1,500 kWh (large home in summer): Plan A costs $153.00, Plan B costs $155.45 — Plan A is still marginally cheaper but the gap has closed. At 1,800 kWh, Plan B pulls ahead. Which plan is "better" depends entirely on usage level — the advertised rate tells you nothing about which wins at your actual consumption.
Watch out
Arlington landlords sometimes bundle electricity into rent for apartments without individual meters. In those cases, your electricity cost is invisible and you cannot shop for a better plan. Before assuming you can switch providers, confirm that your apartment has an individual meter and that the account can be set up in your name. If not, your option is to negotiate with the landlord or wait until you move.
Smart move
If you are moving to Arlington from another Texas city, you can start a new electricity account before your move date. Most REPs allow you to set a future start date 1–30 days out. This avoids landing on a default service rate from the outgoing tenant's provider, which can be 30–60% higher than a competitive fixed plan.
Key Takeaways
All Arlington ZIP codes are Oncor territory — TDU charges are fixed regardless of your REP. The city's diverse housing stock means that the right plan for an apartment near UTA is often different from the right plan for a large home in southwest Arlington. Compare plans at your actual usage level; the 1,000 kWh advertised rate is especially misleading in a city with such varied household sizes.
Find the cheapest Arlington plan for your home
Enter your ZIP and bedroom count — true interpolated costs, not the 1,000 kWh benchmark.
Compare Arlington Plans →Frequently Asked Questions
What are electricity rates like in Arlington, Texas?
As of May 2026, fixed-rate plans in Arlington (Oncor territory) advertise 9.0–13.5 cents per kWh at the 1,000 kWh EFL benchmark. Arlington homes range from compact apartments near UTA to large suburban houses in the southwest, so actual usage varies widely. Search by your ZIP code for a true-cost calculation at your actual usage level.
Who delivers electricity in Arlington, Texas?
Oncor Electric Delivery is the TDU for Arlington and all of Tarrant County. Oncor owns the poles, wires, and meters throughout the city. You cannot choose your TDU; it is determined by your address. You can choose any licensed retail electric provider (REP) for your supply plan.
How many electricity plans are available in Arlington?
Arlington typically has 60–100 active plans from 20+ retail electric providers, including TXU Energy, Reliant, Direct Energy, Gexa, Frontier Utilities, 4Change Energy, and many others. Plan inventory changes constantly — always check current availability using your ZIP code on Power to Choose or this site.
Is electricity cheaper in Arlington than Dallas or Fort Worth?
Arlington, Dallas, and Fort Worth are all Oncor territory. TDU delivery charges are identical across all three cities. Most major REPs file the same plans across the entire DFW metro. In practice, there is little difference in plan pricing between Arlington and its neighboring cities, except for occasional ZIP-specific promotions.
What ZIP codes does Arlington electricity cover?
Arlington's primary residential ZIP codes include 76001, 76002, 76006, 76010, 76011, 76012, 76013, 76014, 76015, 76016, 76017, and 76018. All are within Oncor's deregulated ERCOT service area. Always search by your exact ZIP for the most accurate plan inventory.
Can I switch electricity providers if I am renting in Arlington?
In most cases, yes — if the electricity account is in your name. Renters whose landlord controls the electricity account (common in some apartments) may not have direct access to the REP market. Check your lease. If the utility is in your name, you can switch freely at any time.
Your Next Move
Enter your Arlington ZIP in the search tool for a live list of plans ranked by true cost at your usage. The Fort Worth electricity rates guide covers the neighboring Oncor market. For a full breakdown of what Oncor charges regardless of your provider, see the Texas TDU Delivery Charges guide. The True Cost Calculator lets you model any plan's annual cost at whatever monthly usage figures you enter.
Small apartment (~600 kWh) · Large home (~2,000 kWh) · All Arlington plans