how to find utility bills for an address

Energy Bill Estimator by Reliant Energy

People look for tools and tips to help them plan and budget for future utility bills. Utility cost calculators can also help customers see if they are paying more or less than the average consumer.

Why use an electricity bill estimator?

The Reliant Bill Estimator® calculates only your potential electricity bill, not other utilities like gas or water.

• We use historical information on the provided address, then calculate an estimated monthly electricity bill based on past usage, starting with a 10.9 cent per kWh price.

• Enter the amount you pay per kWh — or the per kWh rate as listed on the site where you are shopping for electricity — and recalculate your estimated monthly costs.

Estimating your electric bill with the Reliant Bill Estimator^®

Calculating your electric bill with the Reliant Bill Estimator^® can help you make an informed decision about which plan fits your budget and how much you can expect to pay depending on the size and location of your home. Remember that factors like the weather, your own preferences on HVAC use and even landscaping can affect what you will actually pay. Nonetheless, this is a great place to start.

How can I estimate my electricity bill?

Enter your address into our tool to estimate your electricity bill. We use the address's historical energy usage, multiply it by 10 cents per kWh or an average electricity price of your choice, and estimate what you may owe¹.

If you want to find a more exact estimate, find the kWh of each appliance and multiply each number by your current electricity rate. To do this, you need to follow these four steps:

Find the appliance's wattage and multiply it by the number of hours it is used
Divide the number by 1,000 to convert it from watts-hours to kilowatts-hours (kWh)
Multiply the kWh by the electricity rate on your bill
Repeat these steps to find the cost of energy for each appliance and add them together to find the cost of energy of your entire house each month

This will give you a more accurate look at your electricity cost per month, but it can be time-consuming. For an easier solution, try our bill estimator tool and alter the cost per kWh to find the price you want. If you already have an account, sign up for weekly summary emails to see your household energy usage.

Reliant Bill Estimator

Please provide us with your address or details about your home so that we can estimate your average cost and usage per month.

One more step

Average electricity bill in Texas

Your monthly electricity usage and subsequent costs will largely depend on the size of your home and the season. You'll likely see a rise in your electricity bill during warmer and colder months because of increased air conditioner and heater use to maintain comfortable home temperatures. That said, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) releases average residential electricity usage and cost information every year. Based on their data from 2015², some of the average electricity figures for homes in Texas (including regulated and deregulated markets) are as follows:

Average residential electricity usage and cost³

The average monthly residential electricity bill in Texas is $136

The average residential electricity rate in Texas is 11.56¢/kWh⁴

Residential electricity usage in Texas averages 1,176 kWh per month

Remember that bills can vary widely by season. Our Reliant energy experts estimate that a summertime electricity bill for an average Houston, Texas, home of about 2,400 square feet could be around $288, whereas a bill during a month with less extreme temperatures could be as low as $72. The weather in Texas is unpredictable, and house sizes and general energy efficiency vary greatly. Keep that in mind when trying to predict what your future bills might be.

The figures above depict overall averages in Texas. This information, along with the Reliant Bill Estimator® should be used for informational purposes only. Your exact figures will vary depending on the area you live in, the size and age of your home, the age of your appliances, weather conditions and a variety of other factors. For a more in-depth list of factors that could affect your electricity usage, see below.

Top factors affecting electricity usage

Outside temperature
Thermostat temperature
Pool or spa
Age of heating/cooling system
Age of home
Age of roof
Home insulation

Age of major appliances (refrigerator, washer or dryer)
Gas or electric stove, dryer or water heater
High-energy appliances and devices, such as freezers, TVs, computers and gaming systems
Number of people in our home

Find ways to reduce your monthly electricity bill on the season

Find ways to reduce your monthly electricity bill based on the season with our seasonal tips.

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How do electricity providers calculate electricity cost per month?

Reliant calculates the electricity cost per month by multiplying the home's energy usage (kWh/month) by the electric rate in your chosen electricity plan. If you don't know your electric rate or need a quick estimate, our bill estimator tool takes the historical energy usage at the address entered and calculates the estimated electricity cost per month, starting with 10 cents per kWh. Our tool can also estimate the electricity cost per month of the area as well as provide results based on different electricity rates. This estimate does not include additional fees associated with your electricity bill, such as TDSP, taxes, and base charges. These fees are a significant portion of your electricity bill and should be taken into consideration.

How much does electricity cost per month in Texas?

The cost of electricity per month for customers is impacted by the amount of energy consumed and the size of the home or apartment. The average electricity in a Texas apartment will cost $89/month while a house will cost $154/month. The electric cost per month can also fluctuate depending on the season and the size of your family. Our bill estimator tool uses historical energy usage information from your address multiplied by a starting price of 10.9 cents per kWh (or a price of your choice) to provide an estimated monthly cost of electricity. Take a look at the table below for more electricity cost estimations by square footage and by occupant (rounded to the nearest hundredth decimal). We used 12 cents per kWh, the average electricity price for Texas according to EIA, for the below estimations.

Square Footage	Avg. Monthly Electricity Consumption on per KWh	Avg. Electricity Cost
Fewer than 1,000	773.67	$92.84
1,000 – 1,4999	1,022.08	$122.65
1,500 – 1,999	1,208.67	$145.04
2,000 – 2,499	1,195.75	$143.49
2,5000 – 2,999	1,272	$152.64
3,000 or greater	1,453.75	$174.45

Number of Household Members	Avg. Monthly Electricity Consumption on per KWh	Avg. Electricity Cost
1 Member	819.58	$98.35
2 Members	1,103.25	$132.39
3 Members	1,189.58	$142.75
4 Members	1,394.92	$167.39
5 Memberers	1,425.92	$171.11
6 or More Members	1,519.92	$182.39

Data found from https://www.eia.gov/consumption/residential/data/2015/c&e/pdf/ce5.3a.pdf, the same source used for the other calculations

How do I find out what utility company delivers electricity to my property?

The best way to find out which utility company services your property is to look at your current electricity bill. If you can't find the information on your bill, then it is best to call your current energy provider and ask them for the utility company's information. It's important to know your utility company in the case of a power outage or other emergency in your area.
How much is the average electric bill for an apartment?

The average electric bill for Texas apartments is estimated around $89. Using data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the average energy usage for an apartment is approximately 741 kWh/month¹ and the average cost of electricity for Texas is around 12 cents per kWh². If we multiply these two numbers together, the average monthly electric bill for an apartment comes out to $89 (all numbers have been rounded to the nearest whole number). This estimated number is an average and will fluctuate depending on your energy usage, the size of your home, your electric rate and other fees.

For a Texas home, the average electricity bill is $154. Using the same data as before, the average energy usage in a single-family home is 1,280 kWh/month¹. Multiplying this number by 12 cents per kWh², the average electric bill for a Texas home is $154 (all numbers have been rounded to the nearest whole number). This number is also an estimated average and will fluctuate depending on your unique situation.

¹The data used for average energy usage for rented apartments and owned single-family homes came from the 2015 Detailed household site electricity end-use consumption report from EIA.

²The data for average cost per kWh came from the Average price of electricity to ultimate customers by end-use sector, updated in April 2019 from EIA.