Resources
Power-bill know-how, minus the jargon
Short guides to help you understand your bill and avoid costly surprises.
Guide
Reading your bill
Everything Watt Guard needs is printed on your bill — usually on page 1 or 2.
ESI ID
A 17–22 digit number that identifies your service address. Often starts with 1008901 (Oncor) or 10443720 (CenterPoint).
Meter number
The number on the meter box your utility reads. Usually in the service details section.
PUCT certificate #
Your provider's license number with the Public Utility Commission, often in the footer.
Energy charge
Your provider's ¢/kWh rate, sometimes split into tiers.
Delivery charges
Your utility's fixed monthly fee plus a per-kWh charge, passed through by the provider.
Contract end date
Printed on many bills — or check your Terms of Service and Your Rights as a Customer documents.
Avoid surprises
Contract rollover
When a fixed-rate term ends and you don't pick a new plan, providers move you to a month-to-month rate that can be much higher.
- 1Your provider must send an expiration notice at least 14 days before the end date (most send it 30+ days out).
- 2In the final 14 days you can switch without an early termination fee.
- 3Save your end date in Watt Guard and we count down and alert you in time.
- 4Compare using your effective rate — then lock in before the rollover.
Easy
How switching works
Switching providers doesn't change your wires, meter or outage service.
- 1Pick a plan and read its Electricity Facts Label (EFL).
- 2Enroll with your ESI ID — there's no service interruption.
- 3You have a 3-business-day right to cancel after enrolling.
- 4The switch usually completes on your next meter read, or sooner with a requested date.
Solar & storage
Solar & batteries
With solar, how a plan credits exported power matters as much as the rate you pay.
Net metering style
Exports offset purchases 1:1 — rare and valuable.
Real-time / wholesale buyback
Credits vary with the market; can be high in summer peaks, low midday.
Fixed buyback
A set credit per exported kWh, often below your purchase rate.
Batteries
Store midday solar for evening use or exports when credits are higher.
Plain English
Glossary
Common terms you'll see on plans and bills.
ERCOT
The grid operator for most of Texas.
PUCT
Public Utility Commission of Texas — the state regulator.
REP
Retail Electric Provider — the company that bills you.
TDSP
Your utility that delivers power and handles outages.
EFL
Electricity Facts Label — the standard price sheet every plan must publish.
kWh
Kilowatt-hour: running a 1,000-watt device for one hour.