myTrueCost.com offers free electric price comparisons in Texas

HOUSTON, Aug. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- CenterPoint Energy Services, Inc. (CES), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP), has launched myTrueCost.com, an electric plan shopping website that allows millions of Texas electric consumers to compare plans from multiple providers and switch plans all in one place.

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The free, user-friendly site uses a home's past electricity usage to help consumers find the right electric plan for the way they use electricity.

"Even after 10 years of competition, 40 percent of Houstonians don't take full advantage of competitive electric rates," said Eric Sullivan, division senior vice president for CES. "Comparing retail electric providers takes time and gets confusing, but myTrueCost.com can help consumers avoid the hassle." 

Since 2002, when most of the Texas electric market was restructured, Retail Electric Providers (REPs) have competed for customers by offering a variety of different pricing options and other incentives. CenterPoint Energy is not affiliated with any retail provider and offers free, unbiased analysis of various plans on the website.

myTrueCost.com: 

• Estimates the true monthly cost of electric plans – including fees and charges.
• Allows consumers to go beyond price and compare REPs based on customer ratings, green-energy content, deposit requirements and contract terms.
• Can use basic information about a consumer's residence to receive cost estimates based on an average-use profile if consumers are not interested in using their home's usage data.
• Is designed to work with smart meters, which are now installed at substantially all Houston-area homes. With consumer permission, the site can access usage data and calculate the cost of various plans. 

"Smart meters allow consumers to switch electric providers without the lengthy waiting period," said Sullivan. "myTrueCost.com gives them a quick and easy way to take advantage of this benefit with plan comparisons based on an individual home's actual electricity usage."

Houston-area electric consumers do not have to buy products/services from CES in order to continue receiving quality services from CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC, a regulated electric transmission and distribution service provider.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission & distribution, natural gas distribution, competitive natural gas sales and services, interstate pipelines, and field services operations. The company serves more than five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas. Assets total more than $22 billion. With over 8,800 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 135 years. For more information, visit the company's website at CenterPointEnergy.com.

For more information contact: Laura Cating Phone 713.207.8134 Pager 713.619.5143

SOURCE CenterPoint Energy, Inc.