What Happens When Your Lights Get Cut Off in Texas

Texas law (PUCT §25.29) requires at least 10 days’ notice before your lights get cut off, and bans disconnections on weekends, holidays, and extreme heat days. Your lights are off. Or they’re about to be. Either way, you need to know what’s actually happening and what you can do about it right now.

Knowing those rules gives you leverage. Here’s how it works.

What Happens Before the Lights Go Off

Light companies in Texas can’t just flip a switch without warning. The law requires a process:

1. Your bill goes past due — Most companies give you 16 days from the bill date to pay.
2. You get a disconnection notice — This has to come at least 10 days before they cut you off. It must be a separate mailing or notice, not just a line on your regular bill.
3. They attempt to contact you — The company must try to reach you (phone, email, or door notice) before disconnecting.
4. Disconnection happens — If you haven’t paid or set up a payment arrangement, they cut service.

Important: Texas law says light companies cannot disconnect you on weekends, holidays, or days when the temperature is forecasted to hit 105 degrees or above. If you’re in a heat emergency, that’s a protection you should know about. Check our Texas electricity rights guide for the full list of protections.

What Happens After Disconnection

Once your lights are off, a few things happen in sequence:

Day 1-2: Your light company reports the disconnection. You still owe the full balance plus any reconnection fees (usually $25-$50).

Day 10+: If you don’t reconnect or pay, the company may drop you as a customer entirely. This starts the clock on a potential switch hold.

Switch hold: If you owe money to a light company and they report it, ERCOT (the Texas grid operator) can place a “switch hold” on your meter. That means no other company can turn your lights on until the debt is cleared. This is the worst-case scenario. Read more in our switch hold guide. If the debt is older, check out what happens to old utility debt — you may have more options than you think.

Your Rights When Facing Disconnection

Texas gives you more protections than most people realize:

• Payment plans are required. Under PUCT §25.28, if you’re a residential customer and you ask, your light company must offer you a deferred payment plan on your first request within a 12-month period.
• Medical emergencies delay disconnection. If someone in your household has a serious medical condition, you can get a delay by having a doctor or medical professional contact your light company. Learn how to get a medical certificate to protect your lights.
• Extreme weather protections. No disconnections when temperatures are forecast to hit dangerous levels. See our full guide on extreme weather disconnection protections.
• Weekends and holidays are off-limits. They can’t cut you off on days when you can’t reach anyone to fix it.

The Fastest Way to Get Your Lights Back On

Here’s your decision tree:

If you can pay the balance:

Call your light company. Pay the past-due amount plus the reconnection fee. By law, they must reconnect you within 2 business days for non-payment disconnections. Many do it same-day.

If you can’t pay the full balance:

Ask for a deferred payment plan. Your light company is required to offer one. This lets you spread the balance over multiple bills while keeping your lights on.

If your old company dropped you (or you have a switch hold):

This is where it gets complicated. You’ll need to either:

• Pay off the old balance to clear the switch hold, or
• Go prepaid. Prepaid light companies often work differently with switch holds because they don’t use the same billing system. Some prepaid options can get your lights on the same day.

Check if you have a switch hold using our deposit checker tool, then look at prepaid options if you need lights today.

If you’re moving and need new service:

You’re starting fresh at a new address. Enter your ZIP code on our homepage to compare no-deposit options. If your credit isn’t great, prepaid plans get you connected without any credit check.

What NOT to Do

• Don’t ignore the disconnection notice. The situation only gets worse. A switch hold is much harder to deal with than a past-due bill.
• Don’t tamper with the meter. This is illegal in Texas and can result in criminal charges, plus a much larger bill.
• Don’t assume you’re stuck. Even with a switch hold, you have options. Prepaid plans exist specifically for situations like this.

The Bottom Line

Getting your lights cut off feels like the end of the road, but it’s not. Texas has rules that protect you, and there are real options to get reconnected — sometimes the same day.

The worst thing you can do is nothing. The best thing you can do is act now: check your rights, explore your options, and get your lights back on. Start by checking what’s available at your address.

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Related reading:

• How to Get Your Lights On After an Eviction in Texas
• ERCOT Switch Hold: Everything You Need to Know
• Got a Disconnect Notice? How Long Before They Actually Cut You Off

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This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. For official rules, visit the Public Utility Commission of Texas. NoDepositLights.com is powered by Compare Power (PUCT License BR190020).