Behind on Your CenterPoint Energy Bill in Texas? Here's Where to Start
If your CenterPoint Energy bill has become difficult to pay or past due, the starting point depends on whether you're a natural gas customer, an electric delivery customer in the Houston area, or both — because CenterPoint's programs, which are explained below, are different for each. In much of greater Houston, CenterPoint is the company that delivers electricity; you buy the electricity itself from a separate retail provider of your choosing. That structure of how Texas works determines which programs apply to your situation.
Call Before Disconnection — and Know the Difference Between a Notice and a Threat
If you're behind and worried about shutoff, calling CenterPoint's payment assistance line before disconnection is always the best starting point. Payment arrangements and extensions of up to 30 days are available for customers experiencing a short-term hardship. Once service is cut, you face reconnection fees and potentially a deposit requirement that compound an already difficult situation.
Gas Affordability Program
The Gas Affordability Program (GAP) is CenterPoint's most substantial direct assistance offering for natural gas customers, but there are rules to apply, you must first receive a grant through CEAP — Texas's version of the federal LIHEAP program — before you can apply for GAP. It's not its own program.
If you've received a CEAP grant, GAP then provides two types of relief. Because eligibility flows from an active CEAP grant, starting the CEAP application — described on the Texas CEAP and Weatherization page — us how to start to apply for GAP.
- An Installment Credit can be applied against any past-due natural gas charges on your account, and if the credit doesn't cover the full balance, CenterPoint can pair it with a payment plan for the remainder — your past-due balance diminishes over time as long as you keep paying current charges on schedule.
- A separate monthly GAP Affordability Credit helps with ongoing natural gas bills, calculated so that your out-of-pocket gas cost doesn't exceed roughly 4% of your annual household income. GAP is administered in partnership with the Energy CENTS Coalition.
Average Monthly Billing
For customers whose problem is seasonal changes in their bill rather than a financial hardship, Average Monthly Billing spreads your projected annual natural gas costs into equal monthly payments, removing the spikes that can make a single winter bill unaffordable. It doesn't reduce the total you owe, but it makes budgeting more predictable. Enrollment is available through centerpointenergy.com or by phone.
Lend a Helping Hand
Lend a Helping Hand is a charitable fund supported by CenterPoint customer and community donations, distributed through nonprofit partners — including the United Way, Salvation Army, and American Red Cross — to help lower-income households in Texas pay their natural gas bills. It's focused on helping families with children, seniors, and people with disabilities who are struggling to stay current. Since funds are limited and distributed by the partner organizations, contacting your local community action agency in Texas or one of those nonprofits directly is the most best way to finding out whether Lend a Helping Hand assistance is available in your area.
Agencies in Action — Houston Electric Territory
For customers in CenterPoint's Houston Electric delivery territory who qualify by income, the Agencies in Action program provides free energy audits and, where eligible, free weatherization upgrades to single-family homes. The program is administered through local community agencies and nonprofit organizations rather than directly by CenterPoint.
Qualifying households may receive air infiltration sealing, insulation improvements, and HVAC-related measures. To qualify, your home must be in reasonable structural condition, and income eligibility is generally tied to participation in public assistance programs or income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Contact information for participating agencies is available through centerpointenergy.com.
CEAP and Weatherization
Texas's federally funded energy assistance and weatherization programs are covered in detail on the Texas CEAP and Weatherization overview, including how to apply, what documentation you'll need, and program timing.
A Note on Utility Impersonators
In the Houston area, the utility scam to watch for isn't always a phone call — CenterPoint has documented cases of people arriving at homes and businesses claiming to be company representatives, sometimes demanding immediate payment to avoid shutoff, and in some cases asking for entry under the pretext of inspecting meters or equipment. CenterPoint staff carry company ID and arrive in marked vehicles; if someone shows up unannounced asking for money or access and can't produce verifiable credentials, don't let them in. Call CenterPoint directly using the number on your bill — not any number the visitor provides — to verify whether anyone was dispatched to your address.
This page provides general educational information about assistance programs available to CenterPoint Energy customers in Texas. It is not legal or financial advice. Program details, eligibility requirements, and funding availability change. Verify current information directly with CenterPoint Energy or the relevant assistance organization before acting on anything described here.
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