When it comes to home budgeting, your electricity bill takes a big portion of your paycheck each month. Here are simple tasks that can lower your electricity bill while maintaining your home comfort.
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Texas Electricity Trends for 2022
Texas electricity rates in 2022 continue to show the greatest value with long terms plans. The other big trend? More green energy electricity plans as Texas moves generation to renewable energy.
(In a hurry? Jump right to our recommendations on the best residential Texas electricity plan for 2022.)
How to Use an Energy Broker for Commercial Electricity
A commercial energy broker can help your business save money on energy costs, manage contract renewals, and find the best energy solution. They can also advise you on various energy plans and contract terms, saving you a significant amount of time.
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What the Best Thermostat Setting When on Vacation?
The plans have been made. The bags are packed. You deserve a vacation. But what are the best thermostat settings for vacation to keep your electricity bill low? In other words, when you’re in vacation mode, is there a vacation mode for your house?
Key Takeaways
The best approach for vacation thermostat settings is 10 degrees higher (summer) or lower (winter) than you normally set it when away from home. This lowers the amount of time your HVAC system is running while you are away.
- Summer vacation thermostat setting 80-85°
- Winter vacation thermostat setting: 50-60°
- If you have pets at home, consider their comfort as well when choosing a vacation thermostat setting.
- Never turn your thermostat completely off when on vacation, to avoid mold and mildew or freezing pipes.
If you’re planning your trip now, consider our tips for adjusting the thermostat settings to reduce energy, create a comfortable environment for your pets and lessen household damage risks.
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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.
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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.
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How Much Does it Cost to Charge an EV at Home?
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.
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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.
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Liberty Power Bankruptcy – What Now?
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.