Side by side (TX, EIA-861)
| Metric | Southwestern Electric Power Co | South Plains Electric Coop Inc |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 average price, ¢/kWh | 12.03 | 10.35 |
| 2023 average price, ¢/kWh | 11.92 | 11.58 |
| Annual cost at 10,800 kWh, $/yr | $1,299 | $1,118 |
| Residential customers (2024) | 156,271 | 56,173 |
| Ownership | Investor-owned | Co-op |
| Counties served in TX | 25 | 18 |
Average price = residential revenue ÷ sales (bundled service): the all-in price customers actually paid, including supply, delivery and riders. Profiles: Southwestern Electric Power Co · South Plains Electric Coop Inc · Texas overview.
Where the territories meet
Both utilities file EIA-861 service territory in: Childress · Hall counties (TX, 2024).
Adjoining or overlapping territory in a county does not mean households there can pick between the two — service maps are parcel-level and fixed. The county overlap mainly matters when choosing where to live or comparing town-level costs.
Can you actually choose between them?
No — not for delivery. Distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; Southwestern Electric Power Co and South Plains Electric Coop Inc do not compete for the same meters. Texas does have retail supply choice: customers of either utility may buy the supply portion from a licensed third-party supplier, or stay on the utility's default supply rate. An offer only saves money if it beats your utility's price to compare (printed on the bill); compare offers at powertochoose.org. The price gap above mainly matters when choosing where to live, comparing towns, or benchmarking your bill.
Questions people ask
- Is Southwestern Electric Power Co cheaper than South Plains Electric Coop Inc?
- No — in 2024 Southwestern Electric Power Co customers averaged 12.03 cents/kWh versus 10.35 for South Plains Electric Coop Inc (EIA-861). South Plains Electric Coop Inc was cheaper by 1.68 cents, about $181 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I switch from Southwestern Electric Power Co to South Plains Electric Coop Inc?
- No — distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; you cannot pick between the two wires companies. Texas does allow supply choice: either utility's customers can shop the supply portion at powertochoose.org if an offer beats the utility's price to compare.
- Why is Southwestern Electric Power Co more expensive than South Plains Electric Coop Inc?
- EIA-861 averages reflect everything customers actually paid — supply costs, delivery rates, riders, and surcharges across each territory. Differences in generation mix, grid investment, storm costs, and customer density between Southwestern Electric Power and South Plains Electric Coop territory all feed the 1.68-cent gap.