Record-high electricity bills? Why extreme heat isn't the only culprit

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- If your most recent electricity bill was much higher than usual, you're not alone.

Bills are higher than ever in our area, even for those of us who are already under contract with energy providers.

"In the summer, it does get to maybe a little over $200. Ours has been $430," Jim Gossett said. "I keep saying, 'How are we going to live with these bills?'"

The problem is what's called a delivery or pass-through charge.

You'll find it on your bill.

"It's a non by-passable charge. There's nothing you can do to get out of it," explained David Kinchen, the chief operating officer of Energy Ogre, a company that helps people shop for electricity plans.

RELATED: Equipment costs, sweltering heat among several reasons why consumers are seeing high electric bills

Experts said the reason why consumers are seeing high electric prices is due to the increased average consumption.

CenterPoint Energy, which owns the electrical lines and wires used to deliver electricity in the Houston area, raised fees on Sept.1, citing infrastructure issues and higher-than-usual demand.

The state's public utility commission approved the increases.

All we can do now is wait for cooler weather.

"I'm expecting my October bill for September usage to be quite a bit less," Kinchen said. "I would expect it cut in half by the time I get to November. Relief is on the horizon from weather and from seasonality."

For more on this story, follow Pooja Lodhia on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram.

SEE ALSO: Data shows 26% of Houstonians struggle to pay at least one power bill during the year

New numbers show how many Houstonians are struggling to keep the lights on, and for those who are, there are millions of dollars in assistance that's available.