How to Dispute a Wrong or Surprisingly High Electricity Bill in Texas
Last updated: October 18, 2026 · 6 min read
A power bill that looks wrong — or lands far higher than you expected — is stressful, but Texas gives you an orderly way to challenge it. The trick is to separate two situations first: a bill that is genuinely wrong because of a billing or meter error, and a bill that is simply high because you used more electricity.
The short answer
If you believe your bill is wrong, start with your Retail Electric Provider (REP) — the company whose name is on the bill. Most errors are fixed there. If they will not resolve it, file a free informal complaint with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT). While a charge is under a good-faith dispute, your provider generally cannot disconnect you over the disputed amount — but you must keep paying the part you do not dispute.
First, Is the Bill Wrong — or Just High?
Getting this right first saves everyone a lot of time. A bill is wrong when the numbers do not reflect reality: the meter was misread, an estimated reading was way off, the charges were totaled incorrectly, or a fee shows up that should not be there.
A bill is high but correct when your usage genuinely climbed. Summer air conditioning can push a home from around 1,000 kilowatt-hours a month to well over 2,000; a cold snap, a new EV, or holiday guests does the same. That is real electricity you used — a usage question, not a billing error. If that sounds like your situation, our guide on why your Texas bill runs high in winter walks through the causes and what actually lowers it.
Check Your Meter Data Yourself
Before you pick up the phone, look at the evidence. Nearly every Texas home has a smart meter, and your interval usage is available free through Smart Meter Texas — by day or even by 15-minute interval. Compare that data to the reading printed on your bill. If the two line up and your usage simply rose, you have a high-but-correct bill. If the bill shows far more than the meter recorded — or a reading that was clearly estimated rather than measured — you have a real dispute, with the numbers to back it up.
Step 1 — Call Your Retail Electric Provider First
Your first stop is always your REP. The large majority of billing errors are sorted out right here, so give your provider a chance before you go to the state. Ask them to explain every charge line by line — the energy charge, the delivery charges, and any fees — until each one makes sense.
It also helps to check your effective rate — your total bill divided by the kilowatt-hours you used — to see whether the price per unit matches your plan. If you suspect the meter itself, request a re-read or a formal meter test. A meter test may carry a fee up front, but that fee is generally waived or refunded if the meter turns out to be reading inaccurately.
Step 2 — File an Informal Complaint with the PUCT
If your provider will not fix a genuine error, you can escalate to the Public Utility Commission of Texas, the state agency that regulates retail electricity. Filing an informal complaint is free — online through the PUCT consumer-help site, or by phone or mail.
The PUCT forwards your complaint to your provider, which is generally required to respond within about 21 days. It reviews that response and helps push toward a resolution, and most disputes never get further than this stage. Worth knowing too: the Office of Public Utility Counsel (OPUC) is a separate state office that represents residential and small-business consumers in Texas utility matters.
Keep paying the part you don't dispute
While a charge is under a good-faith dispute, your provider generally cannot disconnect you over that disputed amount — but the protection stops there. If you stop paying the rest of the bill too, you can still be cut off for the undisputed balance. Pay what you clearly owe, dispute the rest, and if you are already close to a shut-off, see our guide on stopping an electricity disconnection.
Step 3 — The Formal Complaint (Rarely Needed)
If an informal complaint still does not settle things, a formal complaint exists as a last resort. This is a more serious, court-like proceeding, and it is rare for an ordinary household to need it — most disputes are resolved well before this point. For most people, Steps 1 and 2 are the whole story.
Keep Good Records From Day One
Whatever stage you are at, documentation is what wins a dispute. From your first call, write down the date, who you spoke with, and what they promised. Keep your account number and your ESIID — the unique ID for your service address — handy. Save screenshots of your Smart Meter Texas usage and a photo of the meter if you can read it. A tidy paper trail turns a he-said-she-said argument into a clear, factual case.
Make sure the rate behind the bill is fair
A billing error is a good nudge to check what you are actually paying. Once your dispute is settled, compare every plan in your ZIP at your real usage in under a minute.
Compare Plans Free →Common Questions
How do I know if my bill is wrong or just higher than usual?
Look at your usage in kilowatt-hours, not just the dollar total. If it climbed for a real reason — summer AC, a cold snap, a new EV, houseguests — the bill is probably correct, and that is a usage question, not a dispute. It is wrong only when the meter reading, the math, or the charges do not match what you actually used. Comparing your Smart Meter Texas data to the reading on the bill tells the two apart.
Can my provider shut off my power while I am disputing the bill?
Generally not over the portion you are disputing in good faith — Texas rules protect the amount genuinely in question. But that protection does not cover the rest of your bill. If you stop paying everything, you can still be disconnected for the undisputed balance, so pay what you clearly owe and challenge only the disputed part.
Does a meter test cost money in Texas?
It can carry a fee up front, but that fee is generally waived or refunded if the test shows the meter was reading inaccurately. If the meter turns out to be accurate, you may owe the fee, so ask your provider for the exact cost and terms first — and start with a simple re-read, which is usually free.
How long does the PUCT take to handle a complaint?
After you file an informal complaint, the PUCT forwards it to your provider, which is generally required to respond within about 21 days. Most disputes are settled at this informal stage; a formal complaint, closer to a court proceeding, is rare for households and much slower.