SWITCH HOLDS
Why A Switch Hold is Placed
A switch hold will be applied to an electric meter for one of the following reasons:
- If your local transmission and distribution service provider (TDSP) has determined that electric meter tampering or theft of electric service has occurred at the premise. The current electric customer of record will be notified, usually via door hanger, that a switch hold has been placed by the TDSP.
OR
- If you entered into a deferred payment plan with your retail electric provider (REP) and part of the agreement was to have a switch hold placed on the electric meter until the terms of the deferred payment plan have been satisfied. The REP is required to notify you that a switch hold will be applied before you agree to the terms of the deferred payment plan.
How To Get A Switch Hold Removed
If you are the current electric customer of record for this address:
If switch hold was placed for meter tampering, the existing customer of record will be required to pay any charges for the previously unbilled usage and any applicable meter repair and restoration charges in order to avoid disconnection of service and remove the switch hold.
If switch hold was placed for a deferred payment plan, you will be required to meet the terms of your deferred payment plan, including the payment of any amounts owed. You can call you current or previous Retail Electric Provider to get additional information on the terms of your deferred payment plan.
If you are a new resident moving in and have never lived at the premise where a switch hold exists and are not associated with the customer for which the switch hold was imposed, you will need to provide some additional information in order for us to process your request for electric service.
To complete the processing of your request for a new service move-in, you will need to send us the following documents:
- A completed and signed New Occupant Statement (download form: English or Spanish).
- A copy of any one of the following documents showing that you are a new occupant at the address and are not associated with the customer for which the switch-hold was imposed:
- Signed Lease (account holder's name must be on lease);
- Affidavit of Landlord (download form here);
- Closing documents;
- Certificate of occupancy; or
- Utility bill in your name dated within last two months from a different premise
You may send us this information by email (SwitchHoldGMERES@greenmountain.com), fax (1-855-632-7029) or mail:
- Green Mountain Energy
Attn: New Resident Confirmation
P.O. Box 328
Houston, Texas 77001-0328
Once we receive these documents, we will submit to the TDSP for confirmation that this is a legitimate move-in by a new occupant that is not associated with the preceding occupant. This information will also be made available to the current retail electric provider for the premise, who will have an opportunity to submit additional information to the TDSP to aid in their determination that this is a legitimate new move-in by an occupant not associated with the preceding occupant. This process may result in a delay in processing your move-in request of up to 1 to 2 business days from the time we receive your documentation. We apologize for the inconvenience.
For more information about switch holds and meter tampering, see our FAQs below.