Electricity Blog: News, Trends, & Information

Texas Ancillary Services – What Are They? And Why Should You Care?

If you’re a business owner in Texas, you need to know that Ancillary Services could be passed through on your bill, depending on your contract language.

Ancillary Services are processes that help the ERCOT grid maintain a stable, efficient and safe operation. These processes and tools let ERCOT control voltage, frequency, flow and system recovery if there’s an emergency event. And new ancillary services charges in Texas could show up as line items in your business electricity bill.

Developing a Sustainability Strategy for Your Small Business

A sustainability strategy for your small business can help you attract new employees and new clients, as well as contribute to a greener environment. And becoming a green business can have a big impact on your bottom line. Here’s how to develop a sustainability strategy for your business.

How Much Does it Cost to Charge an EV at Home?

Last Updated December 12, 2024

Electric vehicles, or EVs, are an increasingly popular choice for vehicle purchases. But before you buy an electric car, you may want to look at how much it will cost to charge. After all, how much will an EV add to your electricity bill? Here’s how to calculate the costs of charging your EV at home.

How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home? Use your car’s battery storage kWh and multiply that by your price per kWh. That’s a good estimate of how much it costs every time you fully charge your EV. For example, a 40 kWh battery, charged with power that costs 11.4¢ per kWh (the Texas average rate), will cost $4.56 to fully charge. That’s 40 * $0.114.

Should I Install a Whole Home Generator?

Thinking about installing a whole house generator for your home on the Texas Gulf Coast? Good call. The Gulf Coast is prone to hurricanes, flooding and power outages.

A whole home generator can be a good value if it brings you peace of mind and convenience during power outages and emergencies. They can automatically activate when the power goes out, so you barely notice a power outage. But they can be expensive, costing $8,000-12,000 to install.

Here’s what you need to know about installing a whole house generator in Houston or elsewhere in Texas.

>Before purchasing a whole house generator, take a look at this article on portable generators for your home.

Columbus Ohio Renewable Energy and Carbon Neutral Programs

Columbus Ohio has the goal of 100% renewable energy by 2022 and carbon neutral by 2050. That’s a goal not only for the city facilities, but also for all residents and small business owners. Here’s our review of the Columbus Community Choice Aggregation Program for electricity, which is one step toward that goal. Plus we review your options to go green when you opt-out of aggregation. And, how you can go carbon neutral with your natural gas.

Liberty Power Bankruptcy – What Now?

Last Updated November 8, 2021

If Liberty Power supplies your residential or commercial power, you may need to shop for a new electricity contract soon.

Liberty Power declared bankruptcy on April 21, 2021. While some Liberty Power customers were acquired by NRG, many others are being returned to their utility or to the Provider of Last Resort as of the most recent court decisions in November 2021.

What you need to do depends on what type of customer you are (residential or commercial) and what state you are in. Here’s what you need to know if you’re a Liberty Power customer, and what to do next.

What are the Best Thermostat Settings for Summer?

Last Updated June 3, 2026

What’s the best air conditioner temperature setting in the summer? You want to keep your home cool, but also want to keep control of your electricity bills.

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Keeping in mind both energy efficiency and comfort, the the best thermostat settings for summer are 76° when you are home, 80° when you are away and 72° at night. Then use ceiling fans in the rooms you are in to feel up to 4° cooler.

Here’s more on why these thermostat settings are the best.

Texas Electricity Companies with a Satisfaction Guarantee

Last Updated June 3, 2026

How can Texas residents compare electricity plans without getting locked into a bad contract? First, read the fine print on the plan. The more complex it is, the less likely you’re getting a good deal. Second, look for an electricity plan with a satisfaction guarantee. A guarantee lets you switch away or switch to a new plan with no early termination penalty.

That’s why we like these electricity companies with a satisfaction guarantee. With electricity prices higher than they’ve ever been, a satisfaction guarantee gives you a chance to shop around.

SUMMARY: These Texas electricity companies offer guarantees are from 30-90 days and let you switch to a new plan if you don’t like your initial plan choice (or if prices go down) with no early termination fee. Some providers will give you the option of switching away with no early termination fee. As always, read the fine print of any offer.

How to Compare Plans to find the Best Electricity Rates in Texas

Looking for the best electricity rates in Texas? Use our guide to find the best power prices for you, what to look for in an electricity plan and step by step process to compare electricity plans.

What’s Going On With Texas Electricity? February 2021

Last Updated October 14, 2022

What’s going on with Texas (ERCOT) electricity? And more importantly, why don’t I have lights?

Below we walk through what’s going on with Texas electricity during this brutal cold snap. We also have some ideas on why rolling blackouts have turned to 36+ hours without power in some areas.

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