Shannon Bedrich, Rebecca Bridges, Author at ElectricityPlans

What are Market Securitization Charges?

Market securitization charges are a new line item on Texas electricity bills. They’re a direct outcome of Winter Storm Uri, paying for some of the extraordinary costs of that storm.

The Texas legislature passed House Bill (HB) 4492 in 2021 in response to the storm’s financial impact on the ERCOT power region. The legislation allows Texas REPs to add the charge to their bills for the next 30 years

You can’t avoid paying these fees, which are from a regulatory change. But you might as well understand them, since you’ll be paying them for the next 3 decades.

Texas Electricity Trends for 2023

Texas electricity trends for 2023 show lower prices than 2022 and more options for short and long term electricity contracts. Other trends in Texas electricity include green energy plans going mainstream, more consumers choosing to add solar panels to their homes, and opportunities to get rewarded for cutting your usage.

This is also the year that market restructuring will occur, as Texas looks to ensure grid reliability. Those changes will drive up future electricity prices beyond 2023.

We’ll review all that and more below. If you’re in a hurry and just want to find your best electricity plan? Jump right to our recommendations to find the best electricity rates.

ElectricityPlans Named to the 18th Annual Aggie 100, Honored as Fastest-Growing Company

What an amazing honor to serve our customers.

Because of you, on November 4th, 2022, ElectricityPlans.com was among the top 100 companies from around the world selected for the 18^th annual Aggie 100^TM which honors the fastest growing companies owned by former students of Texas A&M University.

Electric Vehicle Fleets: A Guide for Business Owners

If you have a fleet of vehicles for your business, you may be considering going EV for your next purchase. With good reason. There are now more choices for passenger and light-duty fleet vehicles. Here’s a basic guide to fleet electrification 101.

Summary: A business EV fleet may be for you if you have a cargo fleet that drives less than 120 miles a day or sedans/SUVs that drive 200-400 miles daily. Talk to your accountant about depreciation and any purchase incentives.

How to Lower Your Electricity Bill this Winter

It’s the Texas double whammy for electricity bills. We often think that only our summer electricity bills are high. But your winter electricity bill can also be expensive depending on our winter weather.

Winter energy savings tips focus on insulation, keeping your “building envelope” secured against the elements, and setting your thermostat at the proper level.

Will Electricity Prices Fall this Fall in Texas?

We get questions like this all the time from customers, friends and neighbors. Will electricity prices fall this fall?

Normally we would say, of course! Electricity prices always drop in the fall in Texas. And this year is no exception, based on what we’re seeing with pricing. Prices are dropping… just not as far as we all hoped.

This article was written in Summer 2022. See our Texas Electricity Rate Trends 2023 article for the latest electricity price forecast for 2023.

Tax Credits for EV, Solar & Electrification – The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

For homeowners, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 includes over $8 billion for home energy efficiency and home electrification projects. You can receive tax credits for new technology including home solar panels, battery storage, or electric vehicles. And you can get tax credits and incentives for replacing your clothes dryer, water heater and cooktop, or for swapping out your HVAC for a heat pump HVAC.

Top 5 Texas Business Electricity Mistakes

Shopping for business electricity in Texas can be a challenge. But you can avoid common mistakes businesses make in energy procurement by knowing what to look for.

Most mistakes are simple oversights. Don’t treat electricity procurement like it’s just another purchasing decision. These can be complex contracts and it’s important to avoid these errors.

Electricity Bill Payment Scam – How to Avoid Getting Tricked

The electricity bill payment scam is on the rise in in Texas. Scammers will call you pretending to be from your light company and demand payment. They’ll threaten to turn your electricity off if you don’t pay right away.

To avoid an electricity bill payment scam, look for things that are out of the ordinary. If your electric company has never called you before to demand payment, and specified that you can only pay with a GreenDot card from Walgreens? It’s likely a scam.

Here’s how to tell an electricity bill payment scam from a real disconnection notice from your electricity company. And how to avoid getting ripped off.

Cheapest Texas Electricity Rates and Plans (December 2024)

Last Updated December 2, 2024

Finding the cheapest electricity rates in Texas doesn’t have to be a chore or require tons of research. Every month, we update our recommendation for the top three cheapest electricity companies in Texas, and our cheapest electricity rates for fixed rate plans. Here’s the December 2024 update.

Seasonality is in full effect, and prices are at affordable levels. We expect prices to remain low through December. Rates will rise in January or February if we have any extended cold snap.

Rebecca Bridges

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