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The deregulated Texas energy market offers a variety of choices, but many consumers don’t know where to start.
The best first step? Calculate your typical energy usage. Understanding your consumption is a powerful way to gain deeper insights into your usage patterns and match with affordable plans.
Every device in your home that uses electricity is measured in watts. The wattage is usually listed on the device, which you can multiply by the number of hours you use it each day.
Wattage x hours used = Daily watt-hours (Wh)
Texas electricity bills are calculated in kilowatt-hours (kWh), so you’ll need to convert your usage from watts to kilowatts. Divide by 1,000 to find this number.
Wh / 1000 = kWh
Once you know a device’s daily kWh usage, you can calculate its monthly usage. Multiply the daily kWh usage by the number of days you use that device in a month.
Daily kWh usage x number of days = Monthly electricity usage in kWh
By following these steps, you can determine your home’s monthly energy usage, with an itemized list for each device. An itemized list helps identify which devices are eating up the biggest chunk of your energy bill. Use this list to decide where to cut back and save energy.
If you want to avoid the math, there are a couple of shortcuts you could take to find your average energy usage.
Your monthly power bill lists how many kWh of electricity you use each month. Although it’s not broken down by device, it provides a comprehensive overview. Since your electricity usage may vary from month to month, review bills from a few different seasons to get an annual average.
An even easier way to uncover your electricity usage is to use a home energy monitor. These devices track how much power your home uses 24/7 and provide detailed insights, such as which appliances consume the most and how to improve efficiency. Many versions offer mobile apps, providing easy access to data at your fingertips.
Smart meters are another tool to learn about your home’s electricity habits. Most Texas homes are equipped with smart meters that track your electricity usage and send the data to your utility company. As a Texas resident, you can access your smart meter data on the state’s free portal, Smart Meter Texas.
Pro tip: invest in a smart thermostat to save on heating and cooling costs. This tool automatically adjusts your home’s temperature for maximum efficiency and comfort.
Since the amount of electricity you consume directly impacts your power bill, lowering your consumption can lessen your costs. That’s why calculating your energy usage is a powerful way to take control of your utility bill — it can uncover which appliances are costing you the most and where to scale back.
According to recent data from our marketplace, electricity usage and costs increase with the size of your home. This is largely attributed to the fact that larger homes require more electricity to heat, cool, and light. Here’s a breakdown of how home square footage translates to energy costs, based on our average Texas electricity rate of 16.91 cents per kWh
Home size in square feet (sq. ft.) |
Average kWh usage |
Est. monthly energy bill |
|---|---|---|
| 800 sq. ft. | 873 kWh | $148 |
| 800-1,500 sq. ft | 1,046 kWh | $177 |
| 1,500-2,500 sq. ft. | 1,177 kWh | $199 |
| 2,500-4,000 sq. ft. | 1,503 kWh | $254 |
| 4,000+ sq. ft. | 2,029 kWh | $343 |
Read our full report on the average electricity usage according to home size.
Keep in mind that these are annual averages spanning multiple seasons. Texas electricity usage fluctuates significantly, especially in the summer months when residents power on their AC to combat the heat. It’s not unusual to experience an uptick in usage during Texas summers.
In a deregulated energy market like Texas, knowledge gives you a leg up. Once you know your typical electricity usage, you’ll be able to:
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