Average Electricity Bill in Texas
As temperatures in Texas continue to soar this summer, it should come as no
surprise that record amounts of electricity are being used. These times have
been economically difficult; it is only logical to wonder what that will
translate into when Texans get their electric bills. Rates have soared in recent
years, making it perfectly reasonable to assume that rates will be through the
roof yet again.
The Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is the electric grid
operator for a large part of the state. They announced that on July 13, 2009,
Texan consumers used more electricity than they ever have before. This peak came
after the Texas Public Utility Commission asked Texans to conserve energy.
According to an article by Kate Galbraith in The New York Times, the
state is asking that Texans take a variety of measures, including (among other
things): turning off all unnecessary equipment, closing blinds to keep the heat
of the sun out of your home, turning fans off and thermostats up to 85 degrees
when you are not home, and using fans as much as possible to reduce the use of
your air conditioner. The heat is so unbearable that Texans are seemingly
ignoring these requests; you have to wonder what the economic consequences will
be.
There are a variety of factors that could affect your electricity Texas bill.
First, there is your usage. A small home with only one or two people living in
it will likely use much less electricity than a larger home with six or seven
occupants. The more people and the bigger your home, the more appliances, lights
and equipment will be used. If the people in the larger home, however, are
careful to turn off lights and appliances when they're not needed, run only full
dishwasher and laundry loads and generally attempt to keep their usage low,
while the occupants of the smaller home don't follow these common sense
strategies, the bills of both homes will turn out to be quite similar.
The season is another big factor in determining how high your electric bill
will be. Texans pay the most during the summer months, as a result of the
stifling heat. During these hot months, it's not uncommon for Texans to pay
$200-300 per month for their electricity. Of course, this depends on other
factors as well.
Some people have a budget bill plan. This means that they pay the same amount
each month, regardless of the amount of electricity they use. Generally you are
locked in to this type of plan for up to a year. The figure is reached by
looking at your usage the year before. A budget plan is great during the dog
days of summer, but might seem less favorable during the winter months, when you
may be paying a bit more than your neighbors. However, it provides the certainty
of knowing what your electricity Texas bill will be until the next adjustment
period. It's kind of similar to having a service contract. You know what you are
paying regardless of usage. It can be a source of peace of mind, especially when
you open the monthly bill knowing what it is going to say.
Another factor that can affect your electricity Texas bill is how "green"
your home is. Homes that use energy-saving appliances and light bulbs spend
significantly less than those that don't. Green homes are also much more likely
to listen to the state's plea to use as little electricity as possible during a
period of such heavy usage as most summers see. Clearly this will reduce your
electricity bill.
To keep your average electricity Texas bill down, it's important to be smart
about your electricity usage. Heeding the state's advice during these brutally
hot days of summer may seem like the last thing you want to do when you're
sweating and miserable, but it's the best thing to do ultimately. Not only will
your wallet benefit, but you'll lessen the likelihood of brownouts and blackouts
and that is good for everybody.