About AEP Texas Central
AEP Texas Central is a part one of the largest electric companies in the nation. The parent company, American Electric Power, serves 5.5 million customers and covers areas in 11 states. AEP has been in business since 1906, and AEP Texas Central (formerly Central Power and Light) joined the company in 1997.
AEP Texas has over one million residential and business customers. AEP Texas Central handles the areas to the south of Austin and San Antonio in Texas, including Corpus Christi, McAllen, and Laredo.
AEP Texas Central electricity rates
Please note: All rates above are accurate as of 4/23/2025, 10:27:45 PM CDT for utility AEP Central. Rates may have changed since this date/time. For the most up to date rates in your area, please enter your zip code above.
*All pricing shown in cents per kWh
Difference between a utility company and energy provider
AEP Texas Central operates in deregulated areas, which are places where you can choose your own energy provider. The energy providers generate and sell electricity to the consumer. The main distinction between utilities and providers is that your utility is fixed and is based on where you live, but you have the power to choose your electricity provider.
Therefore, utilities like AEP Texas Central don’t sell directly to consumers but rather focus on the maintenance of the energy infrastructure, such as power lines, and the delivery of energy to end-users. It’s important to note that since utilities are the ones who do the upkeep on electric infrastructure, that is the company you would contact in case of a power outage. For instance, if you live within the AEP Texas Central service area, that is who you would contact in an outage.
Providers available in AEP Texas Central service area
You can find a wide variety of providers operating in the AEP Texas Central service area. So whether you just moved or you need to switch energy providers, you have many options, including Gexa Energy, TXU Energy, 4Change Energy, Express Energy, and Frontier Utilities.
Furthermore, when you search for energy plans, you are looking at provider plans, not AEP Texas Central rates. So, if you are looking for reviews on the best electricity providers near you, make sure you are viewing provider reviews instead of AEP Texas Central reviews.
Since there are many companies to choose from, it can help to check through the Choose Energy marketplace to find the best energy rates. Choose Energy is free to use and will help you find residential or business energy rates, provider reviews, and plan types. We can even assist with calculating your monthly bill estimate and finding green energy options like solar power. You can also filter by providers, contract terms, and type of plan, such as prepaid or no-deposit plans. If you need to reduce your energy bill today, Choose Energy is here to help.
Prices can change by location, including AEP Texas Central rates, due to factors like transmission charges, so enter your ZIP code above to see the best rates near you. Check out the energy buying guide to learn more about finding the best electricity plans in your area.
What to do if there’s an AEP Texas Central power outage
It’s important to know what to do before there’s a power outage so you’re not stuck scrambling for information in a dark house. Below we’ll help you prepare for an outage, which can happen during extreme weather.
Who to contact during a power outage
If you have a power outage in the AEP Texas Central service area, they are responsible for restoring power in your area. Remember to contact AEP Texas Central directly, not your energy provider, if a power outage occurs.
Power outage safety tips
When there is a power outage, your safety should be your first concern. Prepare for a power outage before it happens with the tips below:
- Get an emergency kit together: Make sure to have a kit that’s full of the essentials for if the power goes out, like lanterns and flashlights, batteries, chargers, first aid supplies, a can opener, and other useful items.
- Have food you can eat: Plan non-perishable meals like canned food, dry food you can eat out of the package and keeps like cereal, and gallons of water.
- Check your home appliances: Keep your refrigerator closed tightly to make sure anything in it stands a chance of not going bad.
- Prevent power outages: Have a type of backup power prepared like generators or solar batteries.
You can learn more in our power outage guide.