CenterPoint Energy Data Access Guide
CenterPoint Energy is a multi-state investor-owned utility that delivers electricity over the wires to greater Houston (a regulated TDU inside the deregulated ERCOT retail market) and distributes natural gas across six states. In Houston, customers buy energy from a competitive Retail Electric Provider while CenterPoint handles delivery; data access in the regulated gas territories runs through My Account, the Energy Data Portal, and consent forms.
How to Get Your CenterPoint Energy Data: All Access Methods
| Method | 1st Party | 3rd Party | Customer Types | Data Types | Latency | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| My Account Portal | ✓ | — | All (electric & gas) | Billing, monthly usage | Monthly | PDF, web |
| Energy Data Portal (gas) | ✓ | ✓ | Commercial / multifamily gas | Whole-building monthly therms + cost | Monthly | Web, CSV, ESPM feed |
| Smart Meter Texas (electric) | ✓ | ✓ | Houston electric (ERCOT) | 15-minute interval kWh | Next-day | Web, CSV/XML |
| CRIP / UHIT (electric) | — | ✓ | REPs / aggregators (Texas) | Usage history incl. interval | Next-day | API / EDI |
| Consent Form (CNP1366, gas) | ✓ | ✓ | All gas (Minnesota) | Billing, usage, programs | 5-15 business days | PDF / spreadsheet |
Billing Data Access
CenterPoint provides billing and usage data through the My Account portal (all customers) and a dedicated Energy Data Portal for commercial/multifamily whole-building gas benchmarking. In Texas, the electric bill is split between the customer's competitive REP (energy) and CenterPoint's TDU delivery charges; usage data for REPs flows through CenterPoint's competitive-retailer systems (CRIP/UHIT). Formal third-party gas data sharing uses the Minnesota consent form (CNP1366).
What Data Is on Your CenterPoint Energy Bill
- Current and historical billing statements (PDF)
- Monthly consumption (kWh for electric delivery; therms for gas)
- Whole-building aggregated gas usage (Energy Data Portal)
- Payment history and account status
- Estimated annual cost reports
How to Download CenterPoint Energy Bills (Business & Commercial)
- 01For monthly billing, register a commercial account in My Account
- 02For whole-building gas benchmarking, register separately at the Energy Data Portal (account number without dash, matching address)
- 03Create a property profile and link all accounts
- 04Export data to CSV or auto-feed ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager
How to Download CenterPoint Energy Bills (Residential)
- 01Register at https://myaccount.centerpointenergy.com with account number and phone on file
- 02Verify identity via email confirmation
- 03View and download bills under the Billing section
- 04Optionally enable paperless billing and alerts
Third-Party Access to CenterPoint Energy Billing Data
Energy Data Portal (Third-Party Authorization)
- 01Obtain written customer authorization
- 02Register as a third-party provider at the Energy Data Portal
- 03Request access to the customer's account(s)
- 04After customer verification (5-10 business days), download whole-building data in CSV
Minnesota Consent Form (CNP1366)
- 01Download the Consent to Disclose Utility Customer Data form (CNP1366)
- 02Customer completes and signs, specifying data types and third parties
- 03Submit by mail, fax, or email to CenterPoint
- 04Request the data after 5-10 business day processing
Texas REP Systems (CRIP / UHIT)
- 01Competitive Retail Electric Providers enroll with CenterPoint Houston Electric
- 02Access premise and usage history via the CRIP portal
- 03Retrieve 15-minute interval usage via the UHIT API where available
Want to understand the charges on your bill?
See the CenterPoint Energy Rate Schedules & Tariff Guide →Interval Data & Smart Meters
Interval data availability differs sharply by service. In the Houston electric (ERCOT) territory, CenterPoint's smart meters record 15-minute interval data, which is available to the customer and their chosen REP via Smart Meter Texas and to REPs via the UHIT API. In the Minnesota and other gas territories, CenterPoint is deploying ultrasonic AMI gas meters that today support automated monthly reads, but 15-minute/sub-hourly interval gas data is NOT yet available to customers.
How to Download CenterPoint Energy Interval Data via Green Button
- 01For Houston electric, use Smart Meter Texas (smartmetertexas.com) to view and download 15-minute interval data and authorize third parties
- 02For gas, Green Button/ESPI is not implemented; use the Energy Data Portal for monthly CSV data
- 03REPs can pull electric interval data programmatically via the UHIT API
Interval data is essential for rate comparison and TOU analysis.
See which CenterPoint Energy rate schedule is best for your usage pattern →Third-Party API Access
CenterPoint exposes programmatic access only in specific contexts. In Texas, the Usage History Inquiry Tool (UHIT) provides API-based access to historical and 15-minute interval usage for competitive retailers and aggregators, alongside the CRIP portal. For gas, there is no general developer API; the Energy Data Portal offers an automated OAuth integration to ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager (ESPM) for monthly whole-building data, and CSV export.
Available CenterPoint Energy API Endpoints
| Function | Endpoint | Method | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Usage History Inquiry (electric, Texas) | UHIT (Usage History Inquiry Tool) API | GET | Usage history incl. 15-min interval |
How to Register as a CenterPoint Energy API Vendor
- 01Texas: REP/aggregator obtains ERCOT certification and CenterPoint trading-partner setup, then uses CRIP/UHIT
- 02Gas: register on the Energy Data Portal, gain customer authorization, and export CSV or connect ESPM via OAuth
EDI (Electronic Data Interchange)
Supported CenterPoint Energy EDI Transaction Sets
| Code | Name | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 814 | Enrollment / Switch | Customer enrollment, switch, and move-in/out requests between REPs and the TDU. |
| 867 | Usage | Meter usage data (including interval) delivered from the TDU to the REP. |
| 810 | Invoice | TDU delivery-charge invoice to the REP. |
How to Enroll in CenterPoint Energy EDI
- 01EDI applies in CenterPoint's deregulated electric (Texas/ERCOT) and other competitive markets, NOT in regulated gas territories like Minnesota
- 02Competitive retailers obtain ERCOT certification and a trading-partner agreement
- 03Complete EDI testing with CenterPoint
- 04Exchange market transactions (enrollment, billing, usage) via EDI
Rate Schedules & Tariff Analysis
CenterPoint's most economically significant C&I lever is the Houston electric TDU delivery charge, which is regulated and demand-driven for accounts over 10 kW: a monthly customer charge, a small per-kWh charge, and a substantial per-kW demand charge (~$10.10/kW as of March 2026). Because these are pass-through, customers manage them through demand reduction rather than supplier shopping. Energy commodity cost is managed separately by choosing a competitive REP. In gas territories, rates are regulated and not shoppable, so cost control centers on efficiency and consumption.
CenterPoint Energy Rate Schedule List
| Schedule | Applicability |
|---|---|
| Houston Electric TDU Delivery (Commercial) | Demand-based pass-through delivery charges for >10 kW commercial accounts. |
| Houston Electric TDU Delivery (Small/Residential) | Customer charge + per-kWh delivery for low-demand accounts. |
| Minnesota Gas Distribution (C&I) | Regulated monthly + per-therm delivery; state-set. |
CenterPoint Energy Rate Features & TOU Details
- TDU delivery charges reset twice yearly (March 1 / September 1)
- Demand-based delivery charge (~$10.10/kW) for accounts >10 kW
- Pass-through with no REP markup
- 4CP summer peak demand drives annual demand cost
- Separate REP energy charge is the shoppable component (Houston only)
- Gas rates regulated and state-set (no commodity choice)
For a deeper analysis including cost optimization strategies and historical rate trends:
Read the full CenterPoint Energy Rate Optimization Guide →Other Data Access Programs
ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager Integration
The Energy Data Portal can automatically push monthly whole-building gas usage to ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager for benchmarking and ordinance compliance.
- 01Set up an Energy Data Portal property profile
- 02Create the matching property in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager
- 03Authorize the OAuth connection in the portal
- 04Data transfers monthly automatically
Minnesota Open Data Access Standards (ODAS)
Under MPUC ODAS, qualified local governments, nonprofits, and researchers can request aggregated/anonymized gas usage data without individual customer consent.
- 01Confirm eligibility (government, nonprofit, research, efficiency program)
- 02Submit a formal request describing the beneficial public purpose and aggregation level
- 03CenterPoint reviews and provides aggregated data (typically 20-30 business days)
Limitations & Considerations
- ⚠No utility-hosted Green Button for gas; interval gas data is not yet available in Minnesota or other gas states.
- ⚠Electric interval data lives in Smart Meter Texas (ERCOT-wide), not a CenterPoint-branded portal.
- ⚠No general public developer API for gas; programmatic access is limited to Texas REP systems (CRIP/UHIT) and ESPM for gas benchmarking.
- ⚠Gas third-party access (consent form) is manual with 5-15 business day turnaround.
- ⚠My Account does not provide CSV export or interval data; CSV is limited to the Energy Data Portal (gas monthly).
CenterPoint Energy Data Access FAQ
Is CenterPoint my electricity provider in Houston, or do I pick a supplier?▾
In the Houston (ERCOT) market you choose a competitive Retail Electric Provider (REP) for the energy commodity, while CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric is the wires-only Transmission & Distribution Utility (TDU) that physically delivers the power and reads the meter. Your bill includes CenterPoint's regulated TDU delivery charges (passed through with no markup) plus your REP's energy charge. Compare REPs at the state's Power to Choose site.
How does a C&I customer get 15-minute interval electric data for a Houston facility?▾
Use Smart Meter Texas (smartmetertexas.com), the ERCOT-wide data portal, to view and download 15-minute interval data and to authorize third parties or your REP. Competitive retailers and aggregators can also retrieve interval usage programmatically through CenterPoint's UHIT API. This is distinct from the gas data tools.
Can we get interval data for our natural gas accounts?▾
Not yet. CenterPoint's gas territories (including Minnesota) currently provide only monthly therms via My Account, with whole-building monthly usage available through the Energy Data Portal. Sub-hourly/interval gas data is not exposed pending further AMI and portal development.
What's the fastest way to authorize a consultant to receive our CenterPoint gas data?▾
For ongoing access, have the consultant register on the Energy Data Portal and request access to your accounts (you confirm, ~5-10 business days). For one-time needs (audits, transactions), use the Minnesota Consent to Disclose form (CNP1366), which both parties sign and submit by mail, fax, or email.
Does EDI apply to our CenterPoint accounts?▾
EDI (814/867/810) applies only in CenterPoint's deregulated electric markets such as Texas/ERCOT, where REPs exchange enrollment, usage, and billing transactions with the TDU. In regulated gas territories like Minnesota there is no competitive supplier market, so EDI is not used for gas customers.
How do TDU delivery charges affect our Houston electric bill?▾
CenterPoint's TDU delivery charges are regulated by the PUCT and reset every March 1 and September 1. For commercial accounts over 10 kW they include a monthly customer charge, a per-kWh charge, and a per-kW demand charge, all passed through by your REP. Managing your 4CP summer peak demand is the primary lever to lower the demand portion.
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