The State of Texas has given residents the “Power to Choose” their electricity provider (http://www.powertochoose.org/_content/_about/index.asp). In order to promote competition and reasonable costs, the State of Texas has allowed residents to decide who they want as their electricity provider since 2002. The deregulation and increased competition has driven down costs of electricity in the area. Residents of the Rio South Texas can now choose between over 30 different retail electricity providers.
In Rio South Texas, all major cities have their own water treatment and waste water treatment plants. Rates vary by entity based on residential or commercial use and the amount of gallons consumed. The availability of various providers in the region serves to keep costs low and promote excellence in service. View the Texas Commission on Enviromental Quality's Water Utility Database at http://www10.tceq.state.tx.us/iwud/#lookup.