Customer Service

Where are you located?
When are you open?
What is your mailing address?
What information do I need to turn on service?
I think there is an error on my bill, who can I contact?

Electric

Does BPUB serve electricity to all of Brownsville?
As a BPUB customer, does electric deregulation affect me?
Can I switch my electrical service from another utility to BPUB?
Who do I call in the event of a power outage?
How can I protect my equipment during a power outage?
Why does my electric bill fluctuate every month?
What is Power Factor?
Why improve Power Factor?
What is Infrared Testing?

Customer Service

Where are you located?
Our Customer Service Office and Payment Center are located at 1425 Robinhood Drive.

When are you open?
We are open for walk-in customers from Monday – Friday, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Our drive-thru windows are open Monday – Friday, from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

What is your mailing address?
You can send mail to the following address:
Brownsville Public Utilities Board
P.O. Box 3270
Brownsville, TX 78523-3270

I think there is an error on my bill, who can I contact?
If you are a commercial customer, you can contact the Key Accounts Department at (956) 983-6282. A member of our team will look into the problem and respond in a prompt manner. Residential customers should call the Customer Service Department at (956) 983-6121.

Electric

Does BPUB serve electricity to all of Brownsville?
Electric service boundaries are established by the Public Utilities Commission of Texas. The PUCT has certified BPUB to provide electric service to most parts of the city. However, small pockets do exist on the north side of the city where BPUB cannot legally provide electricity.

To learn if your business is within BPUB’s service territory, contact the Key Accounts Department at (956) 983-6282.

As a BPUB customer, does electric deregulation affect me?
Electric deregulation began in Texas on January 1, 2002, for all private electric utilities, known as investor-owned utilities (IOUs). Electric cooperatives and city-owned electric utilities, like BPUB, have the option to either participate or stay out of the deregulated market.

For now, the BPUB Board of Directors believes the most prudent course is to stay out while we “wait and see” how deregulation works. In fact, none of the 77 electric cooperatives or 73 city-owned electric utilities in the state are participating in deregulation, especially because once the decision is made to enter it cannot be reversed.

Can I switch my electrical service from another utility to BPUB?
Brownsville has been divided into several different electric certification areas by the Public Utility Commission of Texas. There are many areas of Brownsville that are certified for more than one utility, which gives some customers the opportunity to choose their electric provider. So, although BPUB has not opted into deregulation, competition exists. To learn if your area is open to choice, please contact a Key Account Representative at (956) 983-6282.

Who do I call in the event of a power outage?
In the event of a power outage commercial customers can contact a Key Account Representative. Key Account Reps are on-call, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They are in constant contact with our Energy Control Operators and can dispatch someone immediately.
Residential customers can contact our Energy Control Operators 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling (956) 983-6300.

How can I protect my equipment in the event of a power outage?
Once the power goes out, shut down motor operated and electronic equipment, but leave an incandescent light on to indicate when the power is back on. Carefully start equipment after the power has returned. This will help prevent damaging power supplies and other components.

Using a surge protector can also prevent the possibility of damage. If possible, unplug equipment to ensure protection.

Why does my electric bill fluctuate every month?
Month-to-month changes in your electric bill are the result of changes in your consumption and variations in fuel costs. BPUB, like all utilities, collects its fuel expenses via a fuel charge on customer’s bills. The fuel charge changes every month depending on market prices for natural gas and coal. To minimize the impact on your bottom line, BPUB manages its portfolio of energy sources to keep fuel expenses as low as possible.

What is Power Factor?
Power factor is a way of measuring the percentage of reactive power in an electrical system. Reactive power represents wasted energy – electricity that does no work. Reactive power is the result of electrical current interaction with inductive loads like motors, transformers, fluorescent lights, arc welders and induction furnaces. Electric systems with many motors exhibit low power factor and increased conductor and transformer losses. Power factor can be improved by the addition of capacitors.

Why improve Power Factor?
Improving power factor can reduce power losses and free up the capacity of the existing transmission and distribution equipment for both utilities and end-users. Raising power factor to 90 percent and above is a proven way of increasing the efficient use of electricity. End-users enjoy reduced power bills and improved voltage conditions. The utility benefits from lower line and transformer losses, released system capacity and improved power factor.

What is Infrared Testing?
Infrared testing is the process of surveying heat emitted from an object and converting it into a visible dynamic picture. The test requires the use of an infrared camera that detects hot spots in an electrical system, usually at connections such as circuit panels.

Infrared testing is used to prevent power failure, locate defective equipment and optimize process efficiency. Infrared testing helps identify unbalanced or overloaded circuits, faulty electrical connections, improper grounding, and bearing or coupling wear. For more information, contact the Key Accounts Department at (956) 983-6282.