large homes have bigger electricity bills

Electricity Plans for Large Homes

  • Written By: Shannon Bedrich
  • Edited By: Rebecca Bridges

  • Bigger home, bigger electricity bill. If your home is 3000 square feet or larger, your electricity usage is typically over 2000 kWh a month. The best electricity plans for large homes with high usage are basic fixed rate plans or bill credit plans that target specific usage levels.

    Best Electricity Plan for High Usage Homes

    Our top recommendation for high usage homes is a basic fixed rate electricity plan. You’ll pay the same fixed energy rate per kWh for the term of your agreement. The only reason your effective rate will vary slightly with usage is because of any monthly base charges from the provider or the delivery/utility company.

    Here are the best fixed rate electricity plans for high usage homes. This list excludes bill credit plans.

    Shop Fixed Rate Plans for Large Homes

    Pro Tip: The electricity rates for bill credit plans look cheaper than the fixed rate options. But you have to look at the effective rate based on what you actually use. Use our Bill Calculator Tool to see what you actually pay. Just enter your zip code, then enter your actual monthly usage.

    Bill Credit Plans for Large Homes with High Usage

    Many electricity suppliers offer bill credit plans targeted at homes using over 2000 kWh a month. These plans apply a bill credit at exactly 1000 or 2000 kWh, making the advertised rate appear lower. But what actually matters is what you pay, which is the effective rate. The effective rate incorporates the bill credit at your specific level of usage

    For example, if you earn a bill credit of $150 at 2000 kWh, that’s a credit of 7 cents per kWh factored into the advertised rate ($150 divided by 2000). But using 3000 kWh, that’s a credit of just 5 cents per kWh factored into the average. Your effective rate will increase as you use more power.

    That’s why the key to a bill credit plan is to (1) look at the Plan Details section to see the actual energy rate and (2) use the Bill Calculator Tool to see what you’ll really pay. Just enter your monthly usage to see your actual effective rate and your estimated bills at each level of usage.

    Pro Tip: The rates shown below are the effective rate for exactly 2000 kWh. You need to review the Plan Details and use the Bill Calculator Tool to see what you’ll actually pay. Enter your zip code to get started.

    Shop Bill Credit Electricity Plans in Your Area

    How Much Electricity Does a Large Home Use?

    We know from realtor websites that an average Texas home is 2,031 square feet. And we also know from the Energy Information Administration data that the average home in Texas uses 13,152 kWh a year. Doing the math that’s 6.48 kWh per square foot for a home in Texas.

    You can use that to estimate electricity usage for a large home in Texas.

    Square FootageAverage Monthly kWh UsageAverage Annual kWh Usage
    22501,21414,570
    25001,34916,189
    27501,48417,808
    30001,61919,427
    32501,75421,046
    35001,88922,665
    37502,02424,284
    40002,15925,903
    42502,29327,521
    45002,42829,140
    47502,56330,759
    50002,70032,400
    6000 3,24038,880
    70003,78045,360
    80004,32051,840
    90004,86058,320
    100005,40064,800

    Remember that there are a lot of factors at play here: the energy efficiency of the home, electricity usage habits, number of occupants, whether there’s a pool or not.

    Your best approach is to compare your usage with your neighbors or review information on average electricity usage. If you’re buying a new home, you can request past usage information from the seller. Or, your builder may have estimates from other construction projects.

    Photo Credit: ©Xacto from Getty Images Signature via Canva.com

    About Shannon Bedrich

    Shannon Bedrich, co-founded ElectricityPlans in 2016 after shopping for electricity rates using a confusing state-sponsored website. A CPA and our CFO, Shannon is the one that deciphers the fine print on each electricity plan. Outside of work, Shannon enjoys spending time with family, rooting for the Aggies, and exploring all that Houston has to offer.

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