Setting Up Utilities in Center, Texas
Center is outside Texas's deregulated electricity market — the state's Power to Choose site returns no competitive plans for ZIP 75935. Most of the city is served by AEP-SWEPCO at regulated rates, while portions of town and most of rural Shelby County are on Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative, so the first step is confirming which one covers your address.
The rest runs through familiar names: CenterPoint Energy provides natural gas, the City of Center handles water, sewer, and solid waste on one account, and Etex reports the widest internet coverage in town (84% of homes on the FCC broadband map).
Electricity
Single regulated providerElectricity in Center is provided by AEP-SWEPCO, with portions of the city and most of rural Shelby County served by Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative. Neither offers plan shopping — Power to Choose returns no plans for ZIP 75935.
Provider: AEP Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO)
Natural Gas
CenterPoint Energy (Entex)
CenterPoint Energy is the natural gas provider for Center, named by the local economic development profile and the Railroad Commission's list of gas utilities by city.
Water & Sewer
City of Center Water & Wastewater
The City of Center provides water and wastewater service inside the city; rural Shelby County addresses are typically on a water supply corporation.
Trash & Recycling
City of Center Solid Waste
Solid waste collection is a City of Center service, set up alongside your city water account.
Internet
Widest coverage: Etex
Etex reports service to 84% of homes inside Center city limits, the widest reported coverage of any provider other than the satellite companies and the 5G home-internet carriers. Fiber is reported at 84% of homes. Full provider comparison on our Center internet page.
Check your address (FCC map) →Electricity: One Regulated Provider, No Shopping
Center sits in Deep East Texas, outside the ERCOT grid that powers the state's deregulated market — Power to Choose returns no plans for ZIP 75935. Inside the city you'll almost certainly be an AEP-SWEPCO customer at regulated rates, but parts of town and most of the surrounding county belong to Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative, the San Augustine-based co-op serving eight counties.
Either way there's no plan shopping: you open an account with whichever utility serves the address, and that's also who you call about outages. Worth confirming before move-in day, since the two have separate offices and deposit processes.
Gas, Water, and Trash
Natural gas in Center comes from CenterPoint Energy. Water, sewer, and solid waste collection are all City of Center services on a single account, so one stop at City Hall covers the household basics. Rural Shelby County addresses usually swap city water for a water supply corporation and arrange trash separately.
Internet
Providers report home internet service inside Center city limits over fiber at 84% of homes, cable at 72% of homes, DSL over copper phone lines at 71% of homes, and licensed fixed wireless at 51% of homes, out of 3,363 homes and apartments, according to FCC National Broadband Map data as of December 31, 2025.
At least 84% of homes have a reported wired or fixed-wireless option of 100/20 Mbps or faster, and at least 84% have a reported gigabit (1,000/100 Mbps) option.
Etex reports service to 84% of homes inside Center city limits, the widest reported coverage of any provider other than the satellite companies and the 5G home-internet carriers. Fiber is reported at 84% of homes.
Availability is address-specific: check your exact address on the FCC National Broadband Map before signing up.
FAQ: Utilities in Center
No. Center is outside Texas's deregulated market — Power to Choose returns no plans for ZIP 75935. AEP-SWEPCO serves most of the city at regulated rates, with Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative covering portions of town and most of rural Shelby County.
AEP-SWEPCO is the primary electric provider in Center, but parts of the city and most of the surrounding county are served by Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative — confirm which utility covers your specific address before setting up service.
CenterPoint Energy provides natural gas. The City of Center handles water, wastewater, and solid waste collection on one city account.
Apart from satellite and 5G home-internet carriers, Etex reports the widest coverage: 84% of homes inside Center city limits in FCC data as of December 31, 2025. Other providers reporting at least 10% coverage: AT&T, Optimum, T-Mobile Home Internet, and Verizon Home Internet. Availability varies by address, so check the FCC National Broadband Map.
Sources & Verification
East Texas guides
Region-wide guides that put Center in context — where to go, what things cost, and how people actually live here.
Moving to East Texas: What You Need to Know
Thinking about moving to East Texas? A fact-checked guide to healthcare, schools, getting around, weather, and daily life in Tyler, Jacksonville, and the towns around them.
Read Guide →Cost of Living in East Texas
What it costs to live in East Texas, using Census figures: home values and rents in Tyler, Jacksonville and Athens compared with Texas and the big metros, plus taxes, utilities, healthcare and driving.
Read Guide →East Texas Real Estate Guide
East Texas real estate by the numbers: Census home values for Tyler, Athens and Jacksonville, drive times, property-tax basics and what buyers should check.
Read Guide →Best Day Trips from Tyler and East Texas
Drive-time guide to day trips from Tyler: state parks, small towns, museums, and lakes within about 30 minutes, an hour, and up to three hours.
Read Guide →Business Owner?
Want Your Business Featured in Center?
People are searching for businesses like yours in Center. Get listed in our city guide and local directory so they can find you.