In Texas, the company you pay is not the company that delivers your electricity. Your Retail Electric Provider (REP) sells you the plan, sets your rate, and manages your account. Your Transmission and Distribution Utility (TDU) owns the poles, wires, and meter, and fixes them when they fail. You choose your REP. Your TDU is set by your address.
Pogo Energy is a REP. Here is how the two roles split up, who to call when something goes wrong, and how to tell an outage from a prepaid balance that has run out.
Key Takeaways
- Power companies generate electricity from various sources, including coal, natural gas, and renewable sources.
- Your TDU (Transmission and Distribution Utility) owns the poles, wires, and meter that deliver your power. Pogo is your Retail Electric Provider, which sells you the plan. When the power goes out, you call your TDU.
- They use high-voltage transmission lines to transport electricity long distances to substations.
- Substations lower the voltage before sending electricity through distribution lines to homes.
- Power companies monitor electricity flow using advanced software to ensure safe and efficient distribution.
- Customers connect to the electricity grid through service panels, which regulate power to their appliances.
In this guide:
- REP vs TDU at a glance
- What a REP does
- What a TDU does, and who yours is
- Who to call, and when
- Prepaid outage vs disconnection
- TDU outage numbers
- Do delivery charges change when you switch REPs?
- How electricity gets from the power plant to your home
- FAQ
REP vs TDU at a glance
| REP (Retail Electric Provider) | TDU (Transmission and Distribution Utility) | |
|---|---|---|
| Examples | Pogo Energy | Oncor, CenterPoint Energy, AEP Texas, TNMP |
| What it does | Sells your plan, sets your rate, manages your account | Owns and maintains the poles, wires, substations and meter |
| Can you choose it? | Yes, in deregulated areas | No. It is set by your address |
| Call it for an outage | No | Yes |
| Call it for a billing, plan or balance question | Yes | No |
| Delivery charges | Collects your payment, including regulated TDU delivery charges | Sets regulated delivery charges. They are the same for every customer in the area, whichever REP you pick |
| Prepaid: the grid is down | Cannot repair the grid | Sends crews and restores service |
| Prepaid: your balance reaches $0 | Your account is out of funds. Add funds to restore service | Does not track your prepaid balance |
What a Rep does
A retail electric provider is the company you shop for in the deregulated parts of Texas. It buys electricity, builds plans, sets the rate you see, and handles sign-up, payments and customer service.
Think of ordering something online. Your REP is the store you bought it from. Your TDU is the delivery company that owns the trucks and the roads. The electricity is the package.
Pogo is a prepaid REP. That means no monthly bill, no long-term contract, no deposit, and no credit check. You add funds to your account, and Pogo sends daily text or email alerts about your balance and usage so you can stay within budget. You can recharge with Apple Pay, Google Pay, a credit or debit card, or at cash payment locations.
What a TDU does & who yours is
TDU stands for Transmission and Distribution Utility. Your TDU owns and maintains the transmission lines, substations, distribution poles and wires, and the meter on the side of your home. It moves electricity through every step of the grid, no matter which REP sells you the plan.
You do not shop for your TDU. It comes with your address. In the areas Pogo serves, the TDUs are:
- Oncor, covering Dallas-Fort Worth and much of North and West Texas
- CenterPoint Energy, covering Houston and surrounding areas
- AEP Texas, covering South Texas, Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande Valley, plus Abilene and West Texas
- Texas-New Mexico Power (TNMP), covering Lewisville, parts of North Texas and smaller communities across the state
Neighboring addresses can have different TDUs. Check the delivery utility named on your bill or account to be sure.
Who to call, and when to call them
| What is happening | Who to call |
|---|---|
| Your power is out and your neighbors’ lights are out too | Your TDU |
| You see a downed power line or pole | Your TDU. Stay at least 35 feet away and call 911 for emergencies |
| Your lights are off and your prepaid balance is $0 | Add funds to your Pogo account |
| You have a question about your plan, rate or balance | Pogo |
| You want to switch plans or providers | Pogo or the REP you are moving to |
A simple rule: if the problem is “my lights are off because of the grid,” start with your TDU. If the problem is “something is wrong with my account or balance,” start with your REP.
Prepaid outage vs disconnection: How to tell the difference
On a prepaid plan, lights can go off for two very different reasons. The fix is different for each.
| Grid outage | Zero balance | |
|---|---|---|
| What happened | A storm, downed line, failed transformer or other grid problem | Your prepaid balance ran out |
| Who fixes it | Your TDU | You, by adding funds to your account |
| What you will notice | Neighbors are often out too, and your TDU’s outage map may show your area | Neighbors have power, and your Pogo balance shows $0 |
| What to do | Report it to your TDU and check its outage map | Recharge your Pogo account |
What to do when the lights go out on a prepaid plan:
- Check your Pogo balance in your account or your latest balance alert.
- If the balance is above $0, look outside. If neighbors are also dark, report the outage to your TDU using the numbers below.
- If the balance is $0, add funds. You can pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay, a credit or debit card, or at a cash payment location.
- Pogo sends daily balance and usage alerts by text or email, so you can top up before your balance reaches $0.
TDU outage numbers
Save the number for your TDU before you need it. During a storm, nobody wants to search for it.
| TDU | Where it typically serves | Outage phone | Outage map or tracker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oncor | Dallas-Fort Worth, North and West Texas | 888-313-4747 | Oncor outage and weather page |
| CenterPoint Energy | Houston and surrounding areas | 713-207-2222 or 800-332-7143 | CenterPoint outage tracker |
| AEP Texas | South Texas, Corpus Christi, Rio Grande Valley, Abilene and West Texas | 866-223-8508 | AEP Texas outage status |
| TNMP | Lewisville, North Texas and smaller communities across Texas | 888-866-7456 | TNMP outage page |
Do delivery charges change when you switch REPs?
No. TDU delivery charges are regulated fees for maintaining the poles, wires and meters that carry power to your home. They are the same for every customer in the same service area. Switching REPs changes your plan and your rate. It does not change your TDU, its charges, or who restores power after a storm.
How electricity gets from the power plant to your home
Your TDU runs most of this journey. Here are the steps:
- Generation. Power plants produce electricity from coal, natural gas, nuclear, hydro, wind and solar. Learn more in our guide to renewable energy and its distribution.
- High-voltage transmission. Transmission lines carry electricity long distances to substations.
- Substations. Substations lower the voltage so it can be used closer to homes.
- Distribution lines. Lines on poles or buried underground carry electricity to local transformers, which reduce the voltage again.
- Your home. Electricity enters through your meter and service panel. Fuses and circuit breakers regulate what reaches your appliances.
Throughout this process, software and monitoring equipment track the flow of electricity so the grid can respond quickly when something goes wrong. Want to lower what you spend? See our tips to reduce how much money you spend on electricity. Summer heat coming? Read how to prepare for the Texas heat.
How Power Companies Monitor the Flow of Electricity
Throughout this process, electricity is continuously monitored and controlled to ensure it is distributed safely and efficiently. Power companies use sophisticated software and equipment to manage the flow of electricity. This software also allows your power company to respond quickly to any outages or other issues that may arise.
Overall, the electric power grid is a complex system that enables the generation and distribution of electricity. With this system, we can meet the needs of homes in Texas. You do not need to worry about electricity distribution. Your power company (hopefully, that is Pogo Energy) will ensure a constant supply of electricity to your home, so your life doesn’t miss a beat.
To keep your energy usage down in order to keep the cost of electricity low, you may want to take some time to review some of our tips to reduce how much money you spend on electricity.
Frequently asked questions
Is the company I pay the same one that delivers my power in Texas?
No. In most of Texas’s deregulated areas, you pay a Retail Electric Provider (REP), which sells your plan and manages your account. A separate company, your Transmission and Distribution Utility (TDU), owns the poles, wires and meter and delivers the electricity. Pogo Energy is a REP.
Who do I call when my power goes out in Texas?
Call your TDU, such as Oncor, CenterPoint Energy, AEP Texas or TNMP. The TDU owns the lines and sends the crews that restore service. Your REP cannot repair the grid. Stay at least 35 feet away from downed power lines and call 911 for emergencies.
Can I choose my TDU?
No. Your TDU is set by your address. You can choose your REP and switch plans, but the company that maintains the poles, wires and meter at your home stays the same.
Does switching electricity providers change who restores my power after a storm?
No. Switching REPs changes your plan, your rate and your account service. It does not change your TDU, so the same utility restores power after a storm.
What is the difference between a prepaid outage and a prepaid disconnection?
An outage is a grid problem, such as a downed line or storm damage, and your TDU fixes it. A disconnection happens when your prepaid balance reaches zero, and you restore service by adding funds to your account. If your lights are off, check your balance first. If it is above zero and your neighbors are also without power, call your TDU.
How do I find my TDU?
Your TDU is based on your address. Check the delivery utility named on your bill or account, or see the list of Texas TDUs on this page. In the areas Pogo serves, the TDUs are Oncor, CenterPoint Energy, AEP Texas and Texas-New Mexico Power (TNMP). Neighboring addresses can have different TDUs, so confirm by address.
Why do TDU delivery charges apply on a prepaid plan?
TDU delivery charges are regulated fees for maintaining the poles, wires and meters that carry power to your home. They apply to every customer in the service area, whichever REP they choose, and a plan cannot avoid them. This is true on a prepaid plan too.
Can I get same-day power from Pogo?
Yes, when you sign up and add at least $60 to your account before 6 p.m. CT, Monday through Saturday. Same-day power is not available on Sundays or holidays. Your TDU still owns the meter and the lines that serve your address.
Ready for prepaid power?
Pogo offers prepaid electricity with no deposit, no credit check, no long-term contract and no monthly bill. Sign up online in under 2 minutes. Get started with Pogo.