If you’re looking to save on your electricity bill, the first step is knowing what uses the most electricity in a home. Understand your usage and you’ll know how to make energy saving (and money saving) changes.
About Kelly Bedrich
Calculating How Many Watts a Refrigerator Uses
Ask any household, and they’ll tell you that a refrigerator is the center of their kitchen. It’s also one of the appliances driving your electricity bill according to the EIA, accounting for 6-7% of your household power usage. How much electricity does your refrigerator use, and just how much is it costing you? Let’s find out.
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Microgrids for Commercial Customers – Reliable Backup Power
Has your business been impacted by Texas power outages? Whether it’s caused by a grid malfunction, brown out or hurricane, owners and administrators of large commercial businesses are tired of being anxious about their power supply. What if you could have a reliable source of power, independent of the grid? That’s what a microgrid is all about.
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Portable Generator for Hurricane Power Outages
The hurricane season is just beginning. And Houston got hit by Category 1 Hurricane Beryl which took out 85% of the electricity customers in that city. Maybe it’s time for a portable generator for hurricane outages.
Here’s a quick look at our shopping process for a portable generator for a 1500 square foot 3 bedroom/2 bath ranch style home in Near Northwest Houston. Hopefully this will help you pick the right generator for your home as well.
Always work with a licensed and insured electrician and plumber when installing your portable generator. Also check local regulations in your area regarding permitting requirements.
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CenterPoint Energy Outage Map: When Will Power Be Restored in Houston?
When the lights are out in the Houston area, the most important question is, when will power be back on?
In this article, you’ll find the link for CenterPoint Energy’s outage map and information on how to use it, plus all the contact information you need to report a power outage in the area.
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Understanding ERCOT Conservation Alerts
If you live in Texas, you’re familiar with energy conservation alerts. In 2023, ERCOT (Electricity Reliability Council of Texas) issued 13 requests for energy conservation. And 2024 is expected to have hotter than average temperatures, so the risk of energy conservation alerts is high! Use this guide to understand ERCOT’s energy conservation and energy emergency alerts.
Managing Your Commercial Electricity Contract
When you signed your commercial electricity contract, it included a list of meters and service addresses covered by the contract. It also included benchmark usage information (typically your historical usage) and clauses about penalties for material changes in usage.
All that comes into play when things change. Whether it’s an additional location, moving to a new location, adding new equipment or selling your business, material changes can have an impact on your electricity contract. This article will help you understand what to look for.
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How Does Weather Affect Texas Electricity Rates?
Extreme weather in Texas has a significant impact on electricity prices in the state, since heating and cooling drives electricity usage.
Weather can significantly impact Texas electricity rates due to supply and demand. Warm weather drives high electricity usage for cooling homes and businesses. Cold weather extremes cause power usage to soar with demand for heat. And yet electricity supply has its limitations. Your best bet for electricity shopping is to avoid the seasonal extremes.
In this article we review how weather impacts both supply and demand, how weather impacts electricity prices and why fixed rate plans are your best protection against weather risks.
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Texas Electric Rates – Market Trends and Price Forecast 2025
Texas electricity rate trends for 2025 show prices similar to 2024. Here’s our Texas electricity rates trend forecast, key factors driving electricity prices and what types of electricity plans will be popular this year.
Key Takeaways:
- Texas electricity prices for 2025 will continue at levels seen in 2024. Residential electricity rates will average 14-18¢ per kWh including delivery costs.
- Longer term contract terms (24 to 36 months) will be the cheapest electricity options.
- Pricing continues to show seasonality, with the best contract pricing available in spring and fall.
Jump right to the cheapest electricity plans in Texas or read on for our trends and price forecast.
Whether you live in Houston, Dallas or another area, the question is always, “Will electricity prices in Texas go down anytime soon?” Don’t bet on it.
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Is a Heat Pump HVAC System Right for Your Home?
When it comes to heating and cooling you home, you have options available. Instead of a traditional central air conditioning/furnace system, some homeowners are considering Air Source Heat Pump HVAC instead.
Heat pumps can be worth it because they can save money and improve efficiency, with an average savings of around $600 annually vs. a traditional HVAC system.
In this article, we review the basics and the pro/cons of an heat pump HVAC system.
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