A North Houston woman is sounding the alarm after receiving a shocking gas bill that’s more than double what she typically pays. Yvette Harvey, a longtime CenterPoint customer, reached out to our KPRC 2 HelpDesk, desperate for a solution to her inflated charges.
NOTE: CenterPoint got in touch with us regarding the customer’s bill. They said they would be reaching out to her separately resolve any issues with her bill
The Issue: Unexplained Charges
Harvey says her usual gas bill averages between $100 and $130, but her February statement was a different story. The bill included an unexpected $262 charge labeled as a “gas cost adjustment,” a fee she had never encountered before.
“I usually pay around $50 for gas usage,” Harvey explained. “But this month, almost the entire bill is just their fees and charges. I can’t afford this.”
The charge in question was an additional fee tacked on top of her regular usage, leaving her with an unexpectedly high bill that’s far beyond her budget.
A Growing Concern for Houston Residents
Harvey isn’t alone in her frustration. As temperatures drop and winter weather continues, many Houstonians fear that these types of inflated charges will become more common. And unfortunately, the situation could get worse in the years to come.
CenterPoint Energy has recently submitted a systemwide resiliency plan to the Texas Utility Commission. If approved, this plan would aim to strengthen the electricity system’s resilience during severe weather events. However, the plan also outlines rate increases for customers, with monthly bills projected to go up by $2 in 2026, another $2 or so in 2027, and an approximate $3.33 increase by the end of 2028.
While many customers agree that a more resilient system is necessary, they are concerned about the rising costs that would accompany these improvements.
Customers Are Feeling the Pressure
“It’s only $2 at first, but those small increases add up over time.” Harvey said.
Neighbors and friends of Harvey’s are reporting similar add-ons to their bills, leaving many questioning how much more they’ll be expected to pay for a working system.
“It’s happening to a lot of people,” one resident said. “If you’re hitting so many people with the same fees, how much profit does CenterPoint want to make before we say enough is enough?”
What’s Next?
Before these increases take effect, CenterPoint’s resiliency plan must be approved by the Texas Utility Commission. Only then, will customers start to see these projected price hikes reflected in their bills.
While more dependable service during extreme weather sounds beneficial, many customers are already feeling the strain of higher-than-expected charges, and it remains to be seen if the community will accept these increases as necessary or continue to push back against the rising costs.
