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If you live in Dallas-Fort Worth or much of North Texas, you’ve probably seen Oncor on your electricity bill and thought, “Wait, I didn’t sign up with them.” You’re right, you didn’t. Oncor isn’t your provider. It’s the company that delivers your power.
Key takeaways
- Oncor is a TDU (Transmission and Distribution Utility), not a retail electricity provider.
- It maintains the lines and meters, restores outages and charges regulated delivery fees.
- You can’t switch away from Oncor, but you can choose any provider that serves Oncor territory.
- Call Oncor for outages and downed lines. Call your provider for billing and plan questions.
What Oncor actually does
Your retail electricity provider sells you power and sends the bill. Oncor is the utility that gets that power to your door. Think of your provider as the store and Oncor as the delivery truck.
Oncor:
- Maintains and repairs power lines, poles and transformers
- Reads your electric meter and shares usage with your provider
- Handles outages and storm restoration
- Charges TDU delivery fees that appear on your bill
Where does Oncor deliver power?
Oncor is the largest utility in Texas. Its territory includes:
- Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Plano, Frisco and McKinney
- Waco, Tyler, Killeen and many surrounding communities
- Midland and Odessa and other parts of West Texas
If you’re shopping for a plan in Dallas, our guide to the best electric company in Dallas walks through what to look for.
Why am I paying Oncor if I didn’t choose them?
Because in Texas, utility companies are assigned by location. You choose your provider, but whoever owns the wires on your street is your utility. Oncor’s delivery charges are regulated by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and are the same no matter which provider you pick.
Can I switch from Oncor?
No. This isn’t cable. You can’t swap Oncor for CenterPoint or anyone else. But you can shop dozens of providers serving Oncor territory, and that’s where the savings are.
Oncor at a glance
| Category | What it means |
|---|---|
| Role | Utility company (TDU) for North and West Texas |
| Region | Dallas-Fort Worth and much of North, Central and West Texas |
| Can you switch? | No, it’s set by your address |
| What they do | Maintain lines, fix outages, read meters |
| Why you pay them | Regulated delivery charges on your bill |
When to call Oncor vs. your provider
Call Oncor for a power outage, a downed line or a meter problem.
Call your provider (or us) for billing questions, plan changes or contract renewals.
Helpful official resources: Oncor · Public Utility Commission of Texas
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Frequently asked questions
Is Oncor an electricity provider?
No. Oncor is a transmission and distribution utility. It delivers power and maintains the grid, but it doesn’t sell electricity plans to homes.
How do I report an outage to Oncor?
Use Oncor’s website, app or outage phone line. Your retail provider can’t restore power. Only Oncor can.
Does Oncor set my electricity rate?
Oncor sets (with PUCT approval) the delivery part of your bill. Your provider sets the energy part, which is the part you can shop for.
Very good read. Easy to understand an otherwise impossible industry.