If you’re a senior in Texas, the electricity market has a few things going for you—and several things working against you.
On the plus side: Texas electricity for seniors includes specific protections like critical care designations that add disconnection safeguards and assistance programs that help pay your bills. Some companies offer plans designed for fixed-income households with low, predictable pricing.
On the minus side: electricity scams run on trust and urgency. Door-to-door sales reps, phishing calls, and “too good to be true” offers all work the same way, and the deregulated market’s complexity creates the confusion they need. Electric companies and TDUs publish standing warnings about them because they keep working.
Here’s what you need to know about both sides.
Electricity Discounts and Assistance for Seniors
Most seniors don’t know these programs exist, and qualifying households leave real money on the table.
Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP)
Texas’s main electricity bill help program is CEAP. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) runs it with federal LIHEAP money, and local subrecipients—community action agencies, nonprofits, and local governments that together cover all 254 counties—take the applications and pay the benefits. Eligibility is household income at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines.
2026 income limits (150% of the federal poverty guidelines, effective January 2026):
- Single person: $23,940
- Two-person household: $32,460
- Three-person household: $40,980
How to apply: TDHCA lists 877-399-8939 for utility bill payment help and points Texans to 211 (211texas.org, run by Texas Health and Human Services) to find organizations nearby. Applications are taken year-round while funds last, and households with a member 60 or older, a person with a disability, or young children get priority.
The payment goes to your electric company on your behalf, up to the program’s benefit limits.
One warning: LITE-UP Texas, the old state discount program, ended on August 31, 2016, when its funding ran out. Anyone offering to enroll you in it today is not legitimate.
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
LIHEAP is the federal program that funds CEAP. In Texas you don’t apply for “LIHEAP” separately; CEAP is how the money reaches you.
What the LIHEAP-funded programs provide:
- Direct bill payments to your electric company (CEAP utility assistance)
- Crisis help when you have a disconnect notice or are already disconnected during extreme weather, a disaster, or a life-threatening situation
- In some cases, an advance payment to the electric company in place of a deposit
- Heating and cooling system repair or replacement
- Free weatherization through TDHCA’s separate Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), which has its own, higher income limit
Who qualifies:
- Household income at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines for CEAP
- Priority given to households with elderly members (60+), disabled members, or young children
- Applications are taken year-round, not in a fall enrollment window
How to apply: Call 877-399-8939 or contact the CEAP subrecipient for your county. Funds are limited and run short in some years, so apply early.
Utility Company Programs
Some Texas electric companies offer their own senior or hardship programs:
Gexa Energy: Many Gexa plans lean on usage-based bill credits that only pay off at 1,000 kWh or more, so check the 500 kWh price on the EFL before assuming a low advertised rate applies to you.
4Change Energy: Donates a portion of its profits to charity. Its cheapest plans are built around bill credits that require 1,000 kWh a month, which most single-person households won’t hit, so compare the 500 kWh price.
Veteran Energy: Donates a portion of its profits to veteran causes. If you’re a senior veteran, that mission may appeal, but its rates run mid-tier, so compare before you commit.
Compare options in our Gexa vs Veteran Energy and 4Change vs Flagship comparisons.
Critical Care and Medical Protections
If anyone in your household depends on powered medical equipment, these designations get you advance notice of planned outages and extra time before a disconnection, but they do not guarantee your power stays on.
Critical Care Residential Customer Designation
If you or someone in your household depends on electrically powered medical equipment to sustain life—dialysis machines, ventilators, oxygen concentrators—you can register as a Critical Care Residential Customer with your TDU.
What it provides:
- Notice from your TDU before planned interruptions of service
- 21 days’ written notice to you and your emergency contact before a disconnection for nonpayment, plus a TDU phone call or visit before the power is cut
- A 63-day hold on disconnection if your doctor confirms that losing power would make someone in the home seriously ill and you enter a deferred payment plan
- You are NOT exempt from disconnection for nonpayment (a common misconception), and the designation does not guarantee uninterrupted power (16 TAC §25.497(c)(4))
How to register: Ask your electric company for the PUCT application form. Your physician completes it and sends it to your TDU (Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas, or TNMP); the TDU won’t approve a form that doesn’t come from the physician. Critical Care status lasts two years, and the TDU mails a renewal notice 45 days before it expires.
Chronic Condition Residential Customer
A step below Critical Care, this designation is for customers with a serious medical condition that needs an electric-powered device, or electric heating or cooling, to keep from getting worse.
What it provides:
- 21 days’ written notice to you and your emergency contact before disconnection for nonpayment
- Eligibility for a deferred payment plan or a level payment plan on bills that come due in July, August, or September, and on January or February bills that follow an extreme weather emergency in your county
- Notice from your TDU before planned interruptions of service
- The designation lasts one year for a lifelong condition, otherwise 90 days, and then must be renewed
How to register: Same PUCT form, completed and submitted by your physician to your TDU.
Deferred Payment Plans
This is not a year-round right, and that catches people out. The state regulator (PUCT) requires your electric company to offer a payment plan on request for bills that come due in July, August, or September, and on January or February bills when the prior month brought an extreme weather emergency to your county (16 TAC §25.480(j)). You qualify if you are a Critical Care or Chronic Condition customer, or if you tell the company you can’t pay—unless you’ve been disconnected in the past 12 months, bounced more than two payments, or are a new customer without payment history. A deferred plan asks no more than half the balance up front and spreads the rest over at least five billing cycles. Separately, a deferred plan is mandatory on request for any bill that comes due during an extreme weather emergency.
Outside those windows, a company may offer a plan but doesn’t have to. There is also no senior-specific notice rule: the emergency contact you list on a Critical Care or Chronic Condition application is the only third party the rules require to be notified before disconnection.
Choosing the Right Plan as a Senior
The wrong plan can cost a senior on a fixed income real money every month. The right one is boring, predictable, and cheap.
What Matters Most on a Fixed Income
Predictability: Fixed-rate plans are almost always better for seniors on fixed incomes. Your rate stays the same for the contract term, making budgeting straightforward. Avoid variable-rate plans, where the price can change every billing cycle and state rules require no advance notice of the change.
No gimmicks: Plans with bill credits, minimum usage fees, or tiered rates create unpredictable bills. Look for simple flat-rate plans with low or no base charges. See our guide on hidden fees in Texas electricity plans for what to watch out for.
Low-usage friendliness: Many seniors use less electricity than the average household, especially those in smaller homes or apartments. Plans with minimum usage penalties or high base charges disproportionately hurt low-usage customers. Check our best companies for low usage for options.
How to Evaluate Plans
- Check the Electricity Facts Label at 500 kWh: If you live alone or have a small home, the 500 kWh tier is your most relevant reference
- Look for $0 or low base charges: High base charges ($10+/month) punish low-usage households
- Avoid bill credit plans: They require hitting precise usage thresholds you might miss
- Choose 12-month fixed contracts: Predictable rates without excessive commitment
- Set a reminder 45 days before contract expiration: If you do nothing at expiration, you roll onto a month-to-month product with no cancellation fee whose price can change every billing cycle. See our guide on what happens when your contract expires
Getting Help Comparing Plans
If comparing plans online feels overwhelming, free help exists:
- Call 211: Texas’s social services hotline can connect you with utility assistance counselors
- Local Area Agency on Aging: Every Texas region has one. They help seniors navigate utility options
- Your current company’s phone support: Call and ask for their best available rate for your usage level. They’d rather keep you at a slightly lower rate than lose you to a competitor
Or ask a trusted family member to compare plans on ComparePower for you.
Scams Targeting Texas Seniors
Electric companies and TDUs publish standing warnings about imposter scams because the scams keep working. The tactics below lean on trust and urgency. Here are the most common ones and how to spot them.
The Door-to-Door Switch
How it works: A sales rep knocks on your door, claims to be from “the electric company” (implying the company you already buy from, or the TDU), and asks to see your electricity bill. They’ll say they’re “verifying you’re on the right rate” or “applying a new discount.” In reality, they’re collecting your account information to switch you to their company without your informed consent.
Red flags:
- They claim to be from “the electric company” without naming a specific company
- They ask to see your bill
- They’re rushed and don’t want you to take time to think
- They ask you to sign something immediately
What to do: Never show your bill to an unsolicited visitor. Ask for their name, company, and PUCT certificate number—state rules make door-to-door reps wear a badge carrying all three, plus a photo and a toll-free number you can call to check them out. Tell them you’ll research the offer and call them back. Legitimate sales reps will leave a card and respect your time.
The “Your Power Will Be Shut Off” Call
How it works: Someone calls claiming your electricity will be disconnected in 30 minutes unless you pay immediately—usually with a prepaid debit card, gift card, or wire transfer.
Reality: Your electric company will never demand immediate payment by phone, especially via gift cards. Legitimate disconnection notices come by mail or hand delivery (or by email if you agreed to that) with at least 10 days’ notice.
What to do: Hang up. If you’re worried about your account status, call the number on your actual electricity bill—not the number the caller provides.
The Fake Discount Program
How it works: A caller claims to represent a government program that will cut your electricity bill in half. They need your account number, Social Security number, and bank information to “enroll” you.
Reality: Real programs like CEAP run through local subrecipient agencies you reach through TDHCA or 211, not through cold calls. LITE-UP Texas ended in 2016; anyone offering it is lying. Nobody legitimate asks for your bank information on an unsolicited call.
What to do: Hang up and call 211, or TDHCA at 877-399-8939, to learn about real assistance programs.
The Slamming Switch
How it works: You receive a notice saying your electric company has been changed—but you never authorized it. Someone used your account information (possibly gathered from a door-to-door visit or phone call) to switch you.
What to do: Call your original company immediately and explain you did not authorize the switch. File a complaint with the PUCT. The unauthorized switch will be reversed at no cost to you.
For a deeper look at electricity scams, read our full guide on Texas electricity scams.
Energy Efficiency Tips for Senior Households
Small changes to daily habits can trim a senior’s electricity bill without sacrificing comfort.
Temperature Management
- Set thermostat to 78°F in summer: Each degree lower adds roughly 3% to your cooling cost
- Use ceiling fans: They create a wind-chill effect that lets you feel comfortable at higher thermostat settings
- Close blinds during the day: Especially on south and west-facing windows
- Open windows at night in spring/fall: Take advantage of cooler evening air instead of running the AC
Reduce Standby Power
Electronics that remain plugged in draw power even when “off”:
- Use a power strip for TV/entertainment center and switch it off when not in use
- Unplug phone chargers when not charging
- Consider smart plugs that cut power automatically on a schedule
Standby power runs 5 to 10% of residential electricity use (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), which works out to roughly $8 to $16 a month at the Texas average bill.
Water Heater Efficiency
If you live alone, your water heater is heating more water than you need:
- Lower the temperature to 120°F (the Department of Energy puts the savings at 4-22% a year)
- Add an insulation blanket to the water heater tank ($20-40; the Department of Energy says it cuts water heating costs 7-16% and pays for itself in about a year)
- Consider a timer that heats water only during hours you use it
Weatherization
TDHCA’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) provides free weatherization for qualifying households, with priority for seniors, people with disabilities, and families with young children:
- Caulking around windows and doors
- Adding attic insulation
- Replacing old weather stripping
- Installing low-flow showerheads
The Department of Energy says weatherized households save an average of $372 a year, at no cost to you if you qualify.
Helping a Senior Family Member
If you’re reading this on behalf of a parent or grandparent, a few hours of setup now prevents expensive mistakes later.
Set Up Autopay
Missed payments lead to late fees and potential disconnection. Setting up autopay through the company’s website eliminates this risk.
Compare Plans for Them
The Texas electricity market is confusing even for people who grew up with comparison shopping online. Pull their latest bill, check their average usage, and compare plans on ComparePower.
Register as an Authorized Contact
Ask the electric company to add you as an authorized user or contact on the account so you can discuss it, make payments, and hear about disconnection notices. This is different from taking over the account—the senior remains the primary account holder.
Check for Assistance Program Eligibility
Many seniors qualify for CEAP but don’t know it exists. Call 211 together to find out.
Set Contract Expiration Reminders
Put the contract expiration date in your calendar, not just theirs. Rolling onto the month-to-month default is an easy way to end up paying more than you need to.
The Bottom Line
The Texas electricity market has real protections and programs for seniors. The challenge is knowing they exist and navigating the enrollment process.
Action items:
- Check CEAP eligibility (call 211 or 877-399-8939)
- Register as Critical Care if someone in your home depends on life-sustaining medical equipment
- Switch to a simple fixed-rate plan with no gimmicks
- Never give account information to unsolicited callers or visitors
- Set autopay and contract expiration reminders
The best plan for most seniors is the most boring one: a simple fixed-rate plan, 12 months, no bill credits, low base charge, and autopay. Predictability matters more than the absolute lowest rate when you’re on a fixed income.
For a full comparison of senior-friendly companies, check our best companies for seniors ranking. Ready to compare plans? Visit ComparePower.
Frequently Asked Questions
What electricity discounts are available for seniors in Texas?
Texas offers CEAP (bill payment help for households at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines, funded by federal LIHEAP dollars and paid out through TDHCA’s local subrecipients), free weatherization through WAP, and some company-specific hardship programs. LITE-UP Texas, the old state discount, ended in 2016. There’s no automatic “senior discount,” but households with a member 60 or older get priority in these programs. Call TDHCA at 877-399-8939, or 211, to check your eligibility.
Can my electricity be shut off if I’m a senior in Texas?
Yes, but with additional protections. Critical Care and Chronic Condition customers get 21 days’ written notice to them and their emergency contact before disconnection, though Critical Care status does not guarantee your power stays on during an outage. Payment plans are not a year-round right: your company has to offer one on request for summer bills (July through September), for January or February bills after an extreme weather emergency in your county, and for any bill that comes due during an extreme weather emergency. PUCT rules also bar disconnections for nonpayment in any county where an extreme weather emergency is in effect.
How do I protect elderly family members from electricity scams?
Never let unsolicited visitors see the electricity bill. Hang up on callers demanding immediate payment (especially via gift cards). Set up autopay to prevent missed payments. Register yourself as an authorized contact on their account. Remind them that their real electric company will never call demanding urgent payment.
What’s the best electricity plan for seniors on a fixed income?
A simple fixed-rate plan with no bill credits, no minimum usage fees, and a low base charge. This gives predictable monthly costs that work with fixed-income budgeting. Look for plans at the 500 kWh tier if you live alone or have a small home, and set a calendar reminder to shop before the contract expires so you don’t roll onto the month-to-month default, whose price can change every billing cycle.