CenterPoint Submits Proposal to Promote Energy Efficiency, Raise Natural Gas Rates – Houston Public Media

CenterPoint Energy has submitted an application to the Texas Railroad Commission for a new program to incentivize reduced natural gas use by promoting updated equipment and charging a new fee to natural gas customers.

Earlier this week, some CenterPoint customers received a message from the company that it had submitted an Energy Conservation Program (ECP) portfolio and requested approval of an ECP tariff to support the program. The notice said the ECP rate would be used to cover the cost of providing energy saving programs to customers.

In a statement to Houston Public Media, a CenterPoint representative said the proposal includes nine programs to reduce natural gas use in their homes and businesses. CenterPoint said the proposal is expected to save Texas customers $4.3 million in annual net benefits.

The budget for this new program would be about $12.5 million and CenterPoint said the funds would be raised through a volumetric tariff for natural gas customers. This tariff would cost an additional $0.016 per 100 cubic feet of natural gas.

According to the American Gas Association, the average American household uses 196 cubic feet of natural gas every day. Taking this national average consumption rate into account, an average home would cost about $11.50 more per year under CenterPoint's proposed rate. However, natural gas consumption varies across the county and CenterPoint said housing costs in Houston would increase by an estimated $0.50 per month, or about $6.00 per year.

CenterPoint said the new program will include four main parts:

• Direct financial incentives or rebates for installing more energy efficient appliances
• Technical support and direct installation activities for commercial facilities
• Weatherization and home preservation kits
• Educational information to increase customer awareness of energy conservation and cost savings

If approved, the cost increase would begin Jan. 1, 2025, according to CenterPoint.

Editor's Note: This article was updated on October 28 to include the estimated regional rate increase provided by CenterPoint.