Update Regarding Bill Amounts

In regards to many concerns over upcoming bills. You are only charged for the electricity you use. When you were out of power during the rotating outages, your meter was not turning, and you will not be charged.

You can track your daily electric use on your online member portal on the PenTex Energy website, www.pentex.com, or through the my PenTex app.

As a distribution cooperative, we purchase power through Brazos Electric, our generation, and transmission cooperative. Brazos owns and operates generation in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid and contracts for additional power above what they generate so that all Brazos cooperative loads have power. Due to the winter storm and grid crisis, additional power costs were passed on to PenTex Energy. Most of your electric bill is set and does not fluctuate monthly. There is a component of your bill that is variable, which is managed with the power cost recovery factor (PCRF). The staff and board of PenTex Energy has prudently determined to withhold much of the additional power cost from our membership at this time. You will see a slight decrease, .0065 per kWh, in the PCRF credit on your March bill. The result of this means a residential member using 1,000 kWh will see their bill increase by $6.50 this month.

Through all of this, our commitment to you remains the same. We are in this together, and we will be honest and transparent about the information we receive from Brazos and ERCOT relating to the impacts of the winter storm. We will continue to fight for the best prices for our members.

We will work with you to find the best solutions we can to help in these trying times by setting up payment arrangements, waiving late fees, and temporarily postponing disconnects. Please contact us by phone at 940-759-2211 if you need assistance.

Brazos Electric Power Cooperative Information

  • Brazos Electric Power Cooperative, the generation and transmission cooperative from whom PenTex Energy purchases electricity to provide to our members, announced on March 1st, 2021, that it filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.
    • Brazos stated they believe this action was necessary to protect its members consisting of PenTex Energy and fifteen other members, from the excessively high payment demands caused by the recent extreme cold weather event.
    • This weather event resulted in exceptionally high prices for natural gas and power.
  • As daily operations at PenTex Energy continue:
    • We are committed to doing all that we can to minimize the impact this event will have on our membership.
  • Brazos Electric and PenTex Energy are committed to delivering affordable and reliable electric service to members, as we have for many years.
  • Brazos Electric has posted a press release on their website: www.brazoselectric.com with further information pertaining to the bankruptcy filing

Winter Storm 2021 Billing Information

  • We know there are concerns about your upcoming bills. Total costs associated with the extreme weather event are not yet available to PenTex Energy. Discussions are being held at multiple levels on how to best assist in this statewide disaster. PenTex has set rates that do not fluctuate monthly, and these rates represent the largest portion of your monthly bill. There is a component of your bill that is variable. The power cost recovery factor (PCRF) is factored into our bills that are based on the power bill. Brazos Electric, on behalf of PenTex Energy, procures the energy that we distribute to our members, some with its own generation units and some with market resources. PenTex should receive the power bill from Brazos Electric later this week (expected by Friday, February 26th) which will provide further information necessary to better calculate costs going forward. Although usage likely increased for members during the many days of severely cold temperatures, we will use methods at our disposal to minimize any major impact on our members.
  • The state of Texas experienced an unprecedented winter storm event wreaking havoc on the power grid managed by ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas). The extreme cold caused historic energy load demands. Natural gas was dually impacted by both the increased demand and the weather-related failures at production sites.  Additionally, wind and solar (renewable resources) were underperforming during this weather event. Overall, all forms of electric generation were negatively impacted by the extremely cold temperatures. The combination of these circumstances required ERCOT to shed load in the form of rotating outages to stabilize the grid and prevent complete failure of the entire system.  The hardship experienced by the members of PenTex Energy was felt across the state of Texas.
    The following are some Frequently Asked Questions.
    • Will I see an increase in my bill due to a price hike?
      During the recent winter storm event, ERCOT energy prices far exceeded any costs that our provider, Brazos Electric, has ever experienced. Our plan is to do all that we can to mitigate extreme hardship and accommodate members. Until we have firm numbers, it is impossible to estimate the full impact. We will attempt to keep everyone informed as information becomes available.
    • Who is responsible for the costs of property damage and repairs?
      We understand your frustration; however, since this act of nature caused circumstances beyond the control of PenTex Energy, our liability insurance does not consider this negligence. Therefore, it will be up to each member to refer to their personal insurance policies.
    • Why is my usage up when I tried to conserve energy and didn’t have power?
      We realize that there were times that zero kilowatt-hours were used during the rotating outages. However, it takes more energy to heat your home when the temperature drops. The more difference there is between the temperature outside, and the thermostat setting inside, the harder your heating system will work and the more energy it will use, even if you don’t turn the thermostat higher.

Normal Payment and Billing Information:

Please Note: The payment gateway will be under maintenance for one hour (5:30-6:30 a.m.) on the second & last Saturday of each month.

The payment gateway is also under maintenance each night from approximately 11:30 pm to 2:30 am.

Following are six ways you can pay your monthly PenTex Energy bill:

1.) At our office in Muenster, Texas

2.) By setting up Bank Draft Authorization. Your account will be drafted approximately seven days after the bill date.

3.) By mail

4.) Using your Mastercard, Visa credit card, or E-Check online. You can also Pay Bill online with a credit card or e-check.

5.) After hours in our night deposit box in the parking lot or mail slot by the front door – DO NOT PUT CASH INTO THE DRIVE THRU NIGHT DEPOSIT BOX (deposit cash only in the mail slot by the front door). PenTex is not responsible for cash left in the night deposit box.

6.) Call our office at (940) 759-2211

Cycle Billing

At present, all Cooperative meters are read systematically throughout the month. Your billing cycle can be found at the top of the monthly statement under the “CYCLE” heading. It is in the column to the right of your name and rate. It is a three-digit number, beginning with 1, 2, 3, or 4. The first number indicates the billing cycle you are in.

Cycle 1 – Meters will be read in the first week of the month, and bills will be mailed around the 12th of each month. The bill will be past due on approximately the 28th of the month.

Cycle 2 – Meters will be read in the second week of the month, and bills will be mailed around the 18th of each month. The bill will be past due on approximately the 3rd of the next month.

Cycle 3 – Meters will be read in the third week of the month, and bills will be mailed around the 24th of each month. The bill will be past due on approximately the 9th of the next month.

Cycle 4 – Meters will be read in the fourth week of the month, and bills will be mailed around the 30th of each month. The bill will be past due on approximately the 15th of the next month.

Delinquent Payment

The date of issuance is the date your electric bill is mailed. Your bill is due upon receipt.

You have 16 days from the date of issuance to pay your electric bill. Payments received after 16 days are considered delinquent, and you will be charged a 5% late payment fee.

PenTex will send you a disconnect notice when payment isn’t received by the past due date. Once the notice is issued, you have ten days to pay your electric bill, or your service becomes at risk of disconnection. If the notice is mailed, the disconnection day cannot fall on a weekend day or holiday but will fall on the next business day after the tenth day.

Your electric service may be discontinued if you fail or refuse to pay PenTex according to your electric-service agreement, applicable rate schedule, or deferred arrangement plan.
If your electric service is disconnected for non-payment, you must pay the delinquent amount owed, plus the delinquent disconnect charge, a deposit if applicable, and a delinquent reconnection charge.

Full payments on disconnected accounts received in our business office before 3 p.m. may be reconnected the same day. Full payments received after 3 p.m. will be reconnected the following business day.