Switch Holds at Green Mountain Energy

Thank you for choosing Green Mountain Energy as your retail electric provider. A retail electric provider may place a switch hold on an electric service account in certain circumstances, including when a customer enters into a deferred payment plan. A switch hold will prevent someone from switching to a new retail electric provider. When moving into a new address, it is possible to have a switch hold from the previous occupant that prevents a new account from being established. If you are a new occupant and NOT associated with the previous occupant, we will need additional documentation to submit to the market in order to establish service.

  1. Not a new occupant: If you are the person, or are associated to the person switching electric providers, you will need to contact your current electric provider for assistance in removing the switch hold. Once the switch hold is lifted from the current electric provider, please contact us to schedule your request for service.

  2. New occupant: Fill out the New Occupant Confirmation form and choose one of the supporting documents listed below. Please note that your request for service will remain on hold until we receive both valid forms and approval is obtained from the market.

    1. Signed lease – Include the pages that provide the occupant's name(s), dates, and service address, along with the signature page that has the tenant(s) and landlord signatures.

    2. Closing documents – The closing document should include the address, and both buyer and seller signatures. Additionally, the closing document should be dated within the last 60 days.

    3. Utility bill – Gas, electric, water, cable, or internet bill from a different residence, issued in your name, and dated within the last 60 days.

    4. Certificate of occupancy – This certificate is issued by the city or the county and serves as proof that the property is fit for occupancy.
       
  3. Landlord or apartment communities without a Continuous Service Agreement: A Continuous Service Agreement (CSA) is an existing agreement in place between the property owner and the electricity service provider that allows continuous electric service at the residential property without interruption.

    Affidavit of Landlord
    New Occupant Confirmation form

  4. Apartment communities with a Continuous Service Agreement: If you have an active CSA, submit the Continuous Service Agreement form.

To ensure a quick response, please submit your information via email, as mail deliveries will take longer to receive. 

Email
SwitchHoldGMERES@greenmountain.com (pdf, .jpg or .doc formats only)

Fax
1-855-632-7029

Mail
Green Mountain Energy
Attn: New Resident Confirmation
P.O. Box 328
Houston, Texas 77001-0328

Switch hold FAQs

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If the meter tampering occurred before you became the customer of record at this address, you may be billed for any electricity usage that was previously unbilled.

 

If the meter tampering began after you became the customer of record at this location and your current Retail Electric Provider (REP) was providing your electric service at that time, you may also be billed meter repair and restoration charges.

 

However, if you feel you are not responsible for these meter tampering fees and wish to dispute them, you can submit a dispute to your Transmission and Distribution Service Provider (TDSP).  Please contact that company directly.

Your local Transmission and Distribution Service Provider (TDSP) has determined that the meter at your premise has been tampered with and/or that theft of service has occurred. As a result, a switch hold has been placed on the meter.

 

A switch to a new Retail Electric Provider (REP) cannot be completed for a premise with a switch hold. In other words, you cannot switch your service to a different REP until the switch hold has been removed. This is the result of Public Utility Commission rules implemented on July 1, 2010, to deal with the problem of meter tampering and theft of electric service in Texas.

If you have questions or wish to dispute the assessment of meter tampering or theft of electric service and imposition of a switch hold, you must contact your Transmission and Distribution Service Provider (TDSP) at:
 

Oncor 888-313-6862
Centerpoint 800-332-7143
TNMP 888-866-7456
TCC/TNC (AEP) 877-373-4858


If you want to dispute a switch-hold imposed by your current or previous Retail Electric Provider (REP) in connection with a deferred payment plan, please contact that REP.

 

Please read above for details depending on whether you are a new resident or the current electric customer of record for the customer.

If these fees were assessed on a Green Mountain Energy® electricity invoice, you have until the due date on your invoice to pay the fees.  If the charges are not paid by the invoice due date, they will be considered past due, and the normal collections process will apply.

 

If these fees were assessed by another Retail Electric Provider (REP) you will need to contact them directly regarding the fees.

Green Mountain will accept the following types of payments for switch hold removals:
 

  • Cash – You can pay at any pay station. For a list of pay stations, please click here.
  • Money orders or Certified funds
  • Checks – Please note that the switch hold will remain in place for 14 days after we receive your check to ensure that funds are available.

If you owe fees to another Retail Electric Provider (REP), you will need to contact them directly for payment options.

Our customers have avoided

 

pounds of CO2

That’s like planting

 

new trees.

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