What Is the Average Electric Bill in Texas in 2024?

Electricity bills might come as a shock when you move to Texas. Despite its average rate standing amongst the lowest in the country at 14.47 cents per kWh, the average electric bill in Texas is around $170.45 per month, which is more than the national average or $147.52. The number may alter for you, but you can expect a shock whenever an e-bill is received in your email.

Jackery Solar Generator, with its portable design and high battery capacity, finds its place in both your home and off-the-grid travel. Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro and Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus are the popular ones to power your appliances and cut down the electricity bills.

Texas Potential Power Emergency 

On May 15, 2024, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) issued an online notice indicating that Texas's grid might reach emergency conditions from Friday (May 17) at 7:00 PM to Saturday (May 18) at 9:00 PM. Texas is facing a potential power emergency and has issued such a warning for the fourth time in 2024. 

The grid operator reportedly issued a similar warning in the first week of May 2024, when the electricity demand was higher. Witnessing the high demand for electricity because of higher temperatures, ERCOT also issued an AAN (Advance Action Notice). According to the AAN, ERCOT might delay or withdraw approved resource outages and will seek up to 3377MW from Outage Adjustment Evaluation (OAE). 

In April 2024, Bloomberg revealed that Texas has reportedly reached the highest electricity prices of around $168.70 per megawatt-hour in the past five years. The chief executive of energy analytics services provider Amperon, Sean Kelly said to Reuters, "Rising heat, which hikes up demand for cooling systems, coupled with computing-intensive businesses like data centers and bitcoin mining, are expected to propel prices in the summer months." 

What Is The Average Electric Bill in Texas?

As per the data received in the month of June 2024, the average monthly electric bill in Texas was  $170.45. That’s obtained by multiplying the average electricity consumption of 1178 kWh and the average rate per kWh of 14.47 cents.

Please note that average electricity bills vary throughout the year with a change in outdoor temperature. For example, bills are higher in hot and humid weather during July and August as people turn on the air conditioners to keep themselves comfortable. Things are pole opposite during winter.  

The average price per kWh has changed over the years, mainly due to changing weather patterns, politics, and the adoption of renewable energy. Here’s the table for the average prices per kWh (in cents) in Texas since 2019.  

Source: EIA

Average Electricity Bills in Texas by Square Foot

Ever wonder why your house's electric bills aren’t the same as others? Many people have the same query, particularly those who are moving. Aside from the REM and location, the size of your house can increase or decrease your bills.

Average Electricity Bill by House Sizes

As per the report generated by the US Energy Information Administration in December 2023, the average electricity bill people paid was $149, which is around $30 and 20% less than in Texas.

Why Are Texas Electric Bills So High?   

If you have recently relocated to Texas and are taken aback by the high electric bills, it’s time you revise the power usage or consider switching to another provider. But there’s more to it, and below are the reasons:

Energy Prices

Energy prices are the sole contributor to your electric bill, and aside from the price of an energy source (natural gas, coal), many other things add up. For example, costs to build, operate, and maintain a power plant, transfer & distribution charges, and any additional providers apply.

Type Of Plan

The plan you opt for also determines how much electric bill you pay every month. Each plan has its benefits and limitations, which vary from one provider to another. The typical ones are fixed-rate plans, variable-rate plans, renewable energy plans, and others.

Amongst these, fixed-rate and renewable energy plans are more expensive, but they deliver peace of mind considering the rising electricity prices. A variable plan, although great for winter, isn’t recommended for summer.

Location

Aside from the energy prices and plans, location plays a pivotal role in manipulating your electric bill. Other than changing temperature in Texas, the average price per kWh is higher than in many areas in the US.

Consumer Usage

Although this isn’t specific for Texans, the amount of electricity you consume determines your electric bill. The plans are generally sold in three tiers: 500 kWh/month, 1000 kWh/month, and 2000 kWh/month. The number of members and average electricity you consume correlate to the tier you opt for and, in turn, the amount you pay.    

What Factors Affect The Average Electric Bill in Texas?

Texas has bigger than average houses, which, as you already know, can rack up your electricity bills. But that’s not it. Rapid changing weather conditions affect how much electricity Texans consume every year.

1. Weather Conditions

Whether sweltering summers or freezing winters, rapidly changing temperatures require Texans to cool or heat their homes and stay comfortable. More energy is needed to power an air conditioner or a heater, which translates into soaring electric bills.

For example, during summers, residents in Texas generally average electricity consumption at 1500 kWh compared to 700 kWh in mild winters. That’s how much extra power Texans need to combat heat.

2.  Fuel Prices

Aside from changing weather conditions, fuel prices play a pivotal role in determining the average electric bill. For example, if there’s a surge in fuel prices due to global or political tensions or supply chain issues, it ultimately racks up the average rate you pay per kWh.

3. Regulations

Government policies and regulations also determine the electricity or energy prices in Texas. That typically generates a positive outcome, but the complex and aging power plants in the state have made things worse.

In 2021, when the state was plunged into darkness for a few days with damage to the equipments at a natural gas plant, it took a lot out of the producers to recover them. Government then renewed emphasis on improving the infrastructure to serve the growing state, and users ended up paying a few cents more per kWh.    

4. Home Size

Beyond weather conditions and fuel prices, home size is a typical factor behind an increased electric bill. The more rooms there are in your house or the greater the square foot, the more energy it takes to power up the equipment (air conditioner, lights, and others), which in turn adds to your electricity bill.   

5. Personal Habits

Finally, remember that personal habits are also an excruciating factor in determining how much you end up paying in electric bills. Even personal habits like keeping the lights on even when they are not needed or running air conditioners throughout the day during sweltering summers add up to the cost.  

How to Reduce Your Electric Bill in Texas?

Rising electric bills are enough to get on anyone’s nerves, and if you’re in the same lane, don’t worry. There are many ways with which you can potentially slash a chunk from your bills, which are as follows:

Reduce Energy Consumption

For this step, your primary task would be to tweak your personal habits, like turning the lights off when there’s natural light or when you leave a room. This also applies to other appliances like fans and televisions.

Your air conditioners consume loads of energy to keep your dwelling cool during summer.  Try to keep the temperature to 78℉ (25℃) and utilize portable or ceiling fans. You can keep it even higher when you leave the house for several hours. Or you can simply upgrade to a smart thermostat to minimize your power consumption.

Switch Energy Providers

Aside from changing the ways you consume electricity, you can switch to a reputable energy provider that offers lower rates per kWh. You can ask your neighbors how much they're paying for the plans and make a switch if any seems better.

It’s recommended to opt for a simple fixed-rate plan and avoid ones with gimmicks like free weekends, free nights, or bill credits. These plans appear thrifty,  but you often pay more.

Go Solar and Save

Switching to solar energy eliminates or reduces your average electric bill in Texas. Based on the amount and intensity of sunlight in the state, an average customer needs a 9.0 kW solar panel system to offset their dependence on natural fuels by 100%. Over the years, the savings can rake up to around $23,600 in 10 years and $52,600 in 20 years on bills.

Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro is one of the most efficient solar energy sources that can reduce high electricity bills by lowering your dependence on the utility grid. The power it holds can charge up to 99% of your appliances (home or outdoor) when you live off the grid or there’s a power outage.

Use Smart Power Strips

Many appliances continue to consume power (5-10%) even when they are turned off. Installing a smart strip on them automatically shuts the power supply when the appliances are not in use.

Jackery Solar Generators Explained

Jackery is an industry-leading manufacturer for those looking for portable power stations, solar generators, and solar panels. They are best known for their iconic design, recharge times, and high-capacity power output. Its portable power stations are rechargeable with AC adapters, car chargers, and Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels.

So, how are these so efficient? The precision-driven monocrystalline silicon solar cells of the Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels absorb the sun’s rays and convert them into electricity. It then moves to Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations, where the in-built pure sine wave inverter converts the DC electricity to AC and charges the available appliances.

During the day, they store excess energy from the sun’s rays and minimize your reliance on natural power for hours. Every time you’re using a Jackery Solar Generator, you’re consuming less kWh of power from the grid, which ultimately contributes towards reducing the electricity bill.     

Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro

Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro encases a 3024Wh capacity lithium-ion battery to handle most appliances (small or big) during a power outage. The power it holds can power up to 99% of home appliances when there’s no power or you’re boating or RVing.  

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus

The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus encases a bit different LiFePO4 battery with a capacity of 2042.8Wh and can power most home and outdoor appliances.  What’s best about it is you can use an additional Jackery Battery Pack 2000 Plus to expand its capacity from 2kWh to 24kWh.

How to Estimate Electric Bill in Texas?

Before you start estimating your electric bill, the first question you should answer is: what is the average electric bill in Texas? It would be $170.45, based on EIA. It should give you a brief idea, but as mentioned earlier, bills vary from location to location and house to house.  

Let’s consider Martha’s family as an example.

A family of four, including Martha, is looking to relocate to a 2400 Sq Ft house in East Texas and is concerned about their rising electric bills. First, they must determine the average electricity rate & average energy use in Texas.

Now, use the following formula:

(average consumption x average rate)/average square feet = price per square feet

Putting the values, (1094 x 0.1458)/2031=  0.078 price per square feet

Now, use the obtained value to estimate Martha’s monthly electric bill: 0.078 x 2400=  $188

Average Electric Bill in Texas FAQs

What size of solar generator do I need for my house in Texas?

A typical home in Texas probably needs a 2000 Wh solar generator, considering the average electricity consumption of 1094 kWh. Determining the actual size, however, depends on the appliances you use and how long you use them.

Let’s say you have a 200 W Freezer, a 1000W Window AC, and a 250 W Dishwasher, and you run them simultaneously using Solar Generator 2000 Plus.

Working Time = Capacity in Wh × 0.85 / Operating wattage of the appliances = 2042.8 Wh × 0.85/ 1450 W = 1.2 H

How much is an electric bill for a 2000 sq ft house in Texas?

The average electricity price in Texas is 14.47 ȼ per kWh, with an average usage of 1157 kWh per month. Based on the EIA report, the average electricity rate for a 2000 Sq Ft house is $167.41 per month.

What is the average electric bill for a 2-bedroom apartment in Texas?

In Texas, the average electric bill of a two-bedroom house is $83.63, with an average monthly electricity usage of 578 kWh.

What is the average electric bill for a 3000-square-foot house in Texas?

The average electric bill for a 3000-square-foot house in Texas is $251.05, and the average monthly electricity usage is 1735 kWh.

What uses the most electricity in a home?

Heating and cooling appliances, such as air conditioners, heaters, geysers, and others, contribute to around 45-50% of electricity consumption in a typical household.

Final Thoughts

Irrespective of the reasons, soaring electricity prices demand awareness from users about the average electricity bill in Texas to help reduce the bills. Jackery, with its efficient range of solar generators, can reduce your electricity bills and help build a green planet. Whether you choose the expandable Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus or the non-expandable Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro, be sure to keep your appliances on, whether at home or outdoors.