What to Do When You Can’t Pay Your Houston Industries Bill
Houston Industries is a natural gas company that operates under parent company Centerpoint Energy. The company currently provides service to millions of customers in the Houston metropolitan area.
How to Pay the Bill
Houston Industries provides several options so customers can pay your monthly bill. The available options include:
Pay online: Customers can pay your Houston Industries bill online by visiting http://www.centerpointenergy.com/home. The service is free and only requires you sign into your online account.
Pay by mail: Customers can mail you Houston Industries bill payment to:
Houston Industries
P.O. Box 1700
Houston, TX 77251
Pay in person: You can deliver your Houston Industries bill payment to:
Houston Industries
111 Louisiana Ave.
Houston, TX 77251
Pay by phone: Customers can contact customer service at 1-800-495-9880 and pay your bill by phone.
Automatic deduction: A convenient method to make a timely bill payment is to sign up for automatic deduction from your bank. The funds are automatically deduced from your checking or savings account on the due date.
Questions About Your Billing Statement or Account?
When you receive your monthly Houston Industries billing statement or account, do you understand the fees assessed to your account, including, late payment charges or returned check fees? In the event you need the fees explained, we suggest you visit the Houston Industries Retail Tariff page. You can also contact a customer service representative at 1-800-495-9880.
How the Penalty Fees Work
Similar to other utility companies, Houston Industries charges fees and service charges on a monthly basis as well as on a non-recurring basis. Although the customer service representative didn’t disclose all of the applicable fees, the ones they disclosed were:
- Late payment – Houston Industries charges a fee equivalent to 5% of the past due amount. The fee is added to your current balance.
- Returned check – When your financial institution returns your check, Houston Industries charges you a $10.50 fee.
I Can’t Make a Payment
At times customers may not have the ability to pay your monthly bill on time and may need assistance. If you are facing a financial crisis, we recommend you contact a customer service representative at 1-800-495-9880 and discuss the available programs and services offered by the company. When we contacted customer service, the representative provided us with the following programs:
- LIHEAP
- Payment arrangements
- Extended payment
Will They Work With Me to Pay My Bill?
Customers typically do not plan for a financial hardship or a financial crisis. When situations arise, utility companies such as Houston Industries should be there to provide assistance to the customer. Did Houston Industries help you when you needed assistance the most? We want to hear from customers just like you. Share your positive or negative experiences with us by leaving us a comment below.
