We all rely on energy companies on a daily basis, whether we’re aware of it or not. This is true for people who live in Texas; we rely on companies to generate electricity, to transmit that electricity to our homes, and to sell it to us.
AEP Texas Central is an electric utility company whose service area covers south Texas. If you live in south Texas, there’s a good chance that you rely on AEP Texas Central for your electric service.
So let’s take the time to learn more about AEP Texas Central: what the company is, what it does, and where it operates. We’ll also answer all of your most frequently asked questions about AEP Texas Central.
What Kind of Company Is AEP Texas Central?
AEP Texas Central Company is a subsidiary of a larger company named AEP Texas. AEP Texas Central along with its sister company AEP Texas North make up AEP Texas, an electric utility company that serves much of the Lone Star State.
AEP Texas, it’s worth noting, is itself a subsidiary of a larger energy company: AEP, or American Electric Power. American Electric Power is one of the largest electricity companies in the country, serving 5.5 million customers both as a power company (generating electricity) and as an electric service provider (transmitting electricity).
AEP Texas serves 1 million customers, with AEP Texas Central itself serving more than 800,000 residential customers.
What Does AEP Texas Central Do?
There are many different types of energy companies, all of which perform specific roles in the energy chain, from the moment power is generated to the moment we turn on a light switch to illuminate a room.
AEP Texas Central is a transmission and delivery utility (TDU), which means it focuses on the delivery of electricity. It’s responsible for making sure that the electricity generated by power companies makes it safely and reliably to electric customers’ homes and businesses.
Practically speaking, this means that AEP Texas Central is responsible for maintaining the power lines that transmit this electricity, and for preventing power outages.
Where Does AEP Texas Central Operate?
AEP Texas Central is headquartered in Corpus Christi, Texas, on the state’s Gulf Coast. AEP Texas Central’s service area covers much of south Texas, including the cities of Carrizo Springs, Laredo, McAllen, San Benito, Karnes City, Victoria, and Corpus Christi.
Can AEP Texas Central Lower My Electricity Rates?
No, AEP Texas Central can’t negotiate your electricity rate or offer you different energy plans. This is because AEP Texas Central solely focuses on electricity delivery and transmission, and doesn’t actually generate or sell power directly to electric customers.
If you live in Texas and you’re interested in finding a new electricity rate or electricity plan, you’ll need to look at the different retail electricity providers (REPs) in your service area. Because the Texas electricity market is deregulated, most Texans have the power to choose their energy providers — along with their energy rates and energy plans.
Most Texans won’t ever have to deal directly with AEP Texas Central or pay AEP Texas Central a bill. The company charges retail electricity providers for the energy it transmits and delivers, and in turn these energy providers are the ones who charge customers directly.
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Who Regulates AEP Texas Central?
The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) is responsible for regulating Texas electric utilities, electricity rates, and energy plans in the state of Texas. This includes the regulation of AEP Texas Central, which is responsible for transmitting and delivering electricity across much of Texas.
Why Is AEP Texas Central Cutting Down My Tree?
AEP Texas Central uses “an aggressive tree trimming program” to help prevent falling tree branches from downing power lines and causing power outages. AEP Texas Central credits this tree trimming program for reducing power outages caused by tree limbs 80% since 2010.
If you notice branches on your property that are growing near power lines, do the safe thing and don’t try to cut them down yourself. Give AEP Texas Central a call at 866-223-8508 to have the company send contractors out to remove the limbs themselves.
Should I Call AEP Texas Central During a Power Outage?
The AEP Texas Central Company recommends that you do not call them during a power outage, even if you’re trying to inform them of the outage. During power outages, thousands of people may be trying to call AEP Texas Central all at once, making it difficult for the company to manage the influx of customers.
Instead, the best way to report a power outage is to fill out an online form.
Will AEP Texas Central Reimburse Me for a Power Outage?
AEP Texas Central says that, generally speaking, it’s not responsible for power outages that natural occurrences cause. To seek reimbursement for your home or business that was affected by a power outage, you should instead reach out to your renters’ or homeowner’s insurance.
How Can I See Where Power Outages Are Occurring in AEP Texas Central’s Service Territory?
During a storm, it can be helpful to have a visual aid to see which parts of your region are with and without power. AEP Texas Central has an outage map that shows where outages are occurring in real time.
This outage map will also provide an estimated time for when power will be restored for a given location, so if you’re currently experiencing a power outage, this is a good website to bookmark.
Can AEP Texas Central Give Me Real-Time Updates on Power Outages?
Power outages can be extremely disruptive, and it’s helpful to have up-to-the-minute information on where these outages are occurring, and when power is estimated to be restored.
AEP Texas Central can send alerts to your phone or email address about activity that affects your home or business. To sign up for these alerts, you’ll need to log in to your AEP Texas Central account and opt in.
Should I Contact AEP Texas Central About a Broken Streetlight?
If you’ve discovered a streetlight in disrepair, you can contact AEP Texas Central through an online form to make them aware of the problem. If appropriate, they’ll send out a maintenance team to repair the problem — let there be light!
What Should I Do if I Notice a Downed Power Line?
The first thing you should do if you notice a downed or damaged power line is to get yourself and anyone else in the area to a safe distance. Downed power lines are extremely dangerous, and it’s important not to go near them.
Next, call AEP Texas Central directly at 866-223-8508. Operators are standing by 24 hours a day, and will dispatch a team to help take care of the problem.
I’ve Noticed Someone Stealing Power — What Should I Do?
Sometimes, people will divert power or tamper with power meters in order to steal electricity. On top of being illegal, power theft is dangerous.
If you notice power theft, AEP Texas Central encourages you to call them directly at 866-223-8508 and report the problem. Alternatively, you can fill out an online form, which you can leave anonymous should you so choose.
When Will AEP Texas Central Install the Power Meter I Ordered?
If you’re a contractor and you ordered the installation of a new power meter from AEP Texas Central, you can visit the AEP Texas website (aeptexas.com).
From there, you can log in to your account and track the status of your power meter order.
How Can I Be Careful About Digging on My Property?
If you’re planning on digging somewhere on your property, it’s a good idea to check to make sure there aren’t any buried power lines or gas lines located underground. AEP Texas Central recommends calling 811 at least 48 hours before you start digging to make sure it’s safe.
If you’re unable to dial 811 in your service territory, you can call AEP Texas Central directly at 866-223-8508.
What Are the Best Ways to Contact AEP Texas Central?
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Like most companies, AEP Texas Central offers a variety of ways for its customers to get in touch with them.
If you want to contact them over the internet, you can visit their website at aeptexas.com. To reach AEP Texas Central by phone, you can call their customer service hotline at 877-373-4858, or report an outage at 866-223-8508.
If you’d prefer to get in touch over social media, AEP Texas Central can also be reached on Facebook or Twitter.
Now You Know Your TDU!
Most of us don’t know the ins and outs of our energy system. So long as our power works when we need it, we don’t think much about the companies that help generate and deliver this power to our homes and businesses.
But we’ve taken the time to get to know a transmission and delivery utility (TDU), and we now know a lot more about who AEP Texas Central is, what the company does, and where in Texas it operates.
We’ve also answered all of the most frequently asked questions about AEP Central Texas, including what to do if you’re planning a dig, who to call if you notice a flickering streetlight, and how to stay safe if you come across a downed power line.
If you’re interested in learning more about topics like this one, the Energy Savings blog has a variety of interesting and informative topics in its archive that are worth checking out.
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