We all lead busy lives, so if you don’t think much about the energy company that delivers your electricity when you turn on a light switch, you’re not alone.
That said, your electric utility company is important to your home life or business, especially if you live in Texas, where you have the power to choose your electric service provider.
And just as important as your Texas retail electric provider (REP) is the company that makes sure that the power you pay for every month is delivered reliably. There are a number of these electric service companies in Texas, but the biggest is called Oncor.
So let’s take the time to learn a bit more about Texas’ Oncor Electric Delivery, and figure out what exactly Oncor does, where Oncor operates, and answer some of the most frequently asked questions about Oncor in Texas.
What Is Oncor in Texas?
Texas’ Oncor Electric Delivery Company is the largest transmission and electricity distribution company in the Lone Star State.
If that doesn’t make immediate sense, think of it like this: Many different companies are responsible for the power that you rely on in your home or business.
Some companies generate electricity by operating power plants, while others are responsible for transmitting and distributing that generated electricity to customers. Finally, in the state of Texas, retail electric providers are responsible for actually selling this power to customers.
Texas’ Oncor acts as a facilitator in this process. Oncor in Texas isn’t responsible for generating power or for selling it directly to customers, but instead makes sure that electricity makes it from where it is generated to where it is used, connecting supply and demand.
To do this, Oncor is responsible for building and maintaining a network of power lines. Oncor is also responsible for responding to power outages caused by disruptions to this distribution network and system of power lines.
If you live in an Oncor service area (more on that soon), you may on occasion see Oncor technicians responding to power outages or downed power lines.
Who Is Oncor Owned By?
Oncor is a subsidiary of Sempra, a San Diego-based energy company that includes Texas’ Oncor, San Diego Gas & Electric, and the Southern California Gas Company.
Sempra is a publicly traded company, abbreviated SRE on the New York Stock Exchange. It purchased a majority stake in Texas’ Oncor Electric Delivery Company in 2018 for more than $9 billion.
Enter your ZIP Code and compare electricity rates
Is Oncor the Same Company as TXU?
At one point, Oncor and TXU were both part of the same energy holding company. Energy Future Holdings Corporation (EFH) was formed in 2007, and included a retail electric provider (TXU Energy), an electricity generation company (Luminant), and a distribution and transmission utility (Oncor).
For a time, TXU and Oncor were both part of the same larger energy group, but Energy Future Holdings faced financial difficulties and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2014, before eventually selling Oncor to Sempra in 2018.
If that sounds complicated, well, it is! To summarize, Oncor and TXU are not the same company, though at one point they were both owned by the same company. Today they are entirely separate energy entities.
Is Oncor the Only Electric Delivery Company in Texas?
Oncor Electric Delivery is the largest transmission and distribution company in Texas, but it isn’t the only one. There are a variety of different transmission companies operating in the Lone Star State, all with different service areas.
Does Oncor Serve All of Texas?
No, Oncor doesn’t serve all of Texas. Texas’s Oncor Electric Delivery Company service area encompasses more than 140,000 miles of power lines across 98 Texas counties.
Regionally, Oncor’s Texas service areas cover the north central region of Texas and western Texas. Notable Texas cities served by Oncor include Odessa, Midland, Waco, Dallas, and Fort Worth.
How Can I Pay My Oncor Bill?
You don’t pay Oncor directly for the transmission and distribution services it provides. Instead, Oncor bills your local retail electric provider, which in turn charges you in the form of your monthly electric bill.
As long as you stay current on your monthly power bill from your retail electric provider, you won’t have any issues with Oncor billing.
How Do I Contact Oncor?
There are a variety of ways to get in touch with Oncor. Their toll-free number, (888) 313-6862, is available during the week, although you can report outages at any time by calling (888) 313-4747.
You can also contact Oncor by email at [email protected].
How Do I Talk to a Real Person at Oncor?
To talk to a real person at Oncor in Texas, you can dial their toll-free number, (888) 313-6862, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central Time. To reach a real person, you’ll have to navigate an automated menu over the phone.
How Do I Report an Outage to Oncor?
If you’re experiencing a power outage, you can contact your retail electric provider to file a report. Alternatively, you can reach Oncor directly to report outages.
You can do this in a couple of ways. You can go online and report a power outage on Oncor’s website here, or a streetlight outage here. Alternatively, you can reach Oncor by phone at any time of day by dialing (888) 313-4747.
If you see a downed power line, back away for your own safety and dial 911. You can also reach Oncor directly to report a downed power line at (888) 313-4747.
Can I Observe Texas Power Outages in Real Time?
Oncor provides an outage map that displays data about power outages in its Texas service area, updated every 10 minutes.
At any given time you can pull up the outage map to find out how many power outages are currently active, how many customers are affected, and when power is expected to be restored.
This outage map is a good resource to bookmark on your phone, just in case you experience a power outage in your Oncor Texas service area.
Can Oncor Give Me a Better Electricity Rate?
No, Oncor has nothing to do with the electricity plan you’ve selected or the electricity rate you pay your retail electric provider (REP) for your power.
Oncor works with state regulators like the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) to transmit and distribute electricity, and it bills your retail electric provider for this — it doesn’t bill customers directly.
If you have questions about your electric bill, your energy plan, or your electricity rate, you’ll need to get in touch with your retail electric provider for answers.
Enter your ZIP Code and compare electricity rates
Why Is Oncor Cutting Down My Trees?
Trees can pose hazards to power lines. If they come in contact with power lines, they can cause fires or power outages, and generally cause trouble for the power grid.
If you notice a tree growing close to a power line on your property, it may be worth contacting Oncor to have them come out and prune the tree. It can be dangerous to do this yourself, as power lines can pose the risk of electric shock.
If trees threaten the reliability of power lines, Oncor can come in and trim them to prevent outages and hazardous events — Oncor employs arborists and technicians specifically for this purpose.
What Should I Do If I Observe Meter Tampering?
Tampering with an electric power meter is a crime, and it can also be dangerous. Power meters should only be serviced by qualified technicians, so if you observe illegal meter tampering, it’s a good idea to report it.
You can report meter tampering in three ways:
- By Phone: (888) 313-6862
- By Mail: Oncor
Meter Tampering Investigation
1616 Woodall Rodgers Fwy., # 2M 012
Dallas, TX 75202 - By Email: [email protected]
What Are My Oncor Alerts and How Do I Get Them?
Texas’ Oncor has a program called My Oncor Alerts that gives Oncor customers live updates on power outages, service requests, and timelines for service restoration. If you’ve experienced power outages before, then you know that up-to-date knowledge of when power might be restored can be helpful.
To sign up for My Oncor Alerts, you’ll need to navigate to this website. After providing your contact information and details about your retail electric provider account, you’ll have access to My Oncor Alerts should you experience outages or service requests in the future.
Does Oncor Sell Electricity Door to Door?
No, Oncor only distributes and transmits electricity, it doesn’t sell it directly to customers. If you’re contacted in person or over the phone by a person claiming to work for Oncor and trying to sell you electricity, it’s likely that you are experiencing a scam.
You can report this to Oncor by calling them at (888) 313-6862. If you’re ever unsure if the person you’re talking to works for Oncor, you can always ask to see their badge.
Now You’re an Oncor Expert
We’ve learned what Texas’ Oncor is, and all about Oncor’s corporate history. We’ve dug into what Oncor does (Oncor is the largest transmission and distribution utility in Texas), as well as what it doesn’t do (Oncor doesn’t generate electricity or sell it directly to customers).
We’ve also answered many of the most frequently asked questions about Oncor’s Texas operations. At this point, you probably know more about Oncor than any of your friends or neighbors, so don’t be afraid to show off some of this new knowledge.
If you’re interested in becoming an armchair expert on a wide variety of other energy related topics, check out the Energy Savings blog.
Brought to you by energysavings.com
All images licensed from Adobe Stock.
Featured image