Posts

Energy Tax Credit Deadlines Coming! Install These Upgrades NOW!

Image
Will You Install Upgrades In Time? End of year tax credit deadlines for home energy upgrades are only a few months off. Learn how you can qualify to cut your taxes and future energy bills. If you are a Texas homeowner, now is the time to think about home energy upgrades. Tax credit deadlines for upgrades like heating and cooling systems, solar panels, insulation, windows, doors, and water heaters are coming soon. Most of these credits expire on December 31, 2025. Making upgrades now can also help you save on Texas power costs year-round. What to Know Before Tax Credit Deadlines To qualify, most home upgrades must be installed and “placed in service” by the end of this year. If you haven't started time is a-wasting! So, here is what you must know about major home updates, what work they take, and how much they might cost in Texas. Heating and Cooling Systems : Replacing an older air conditioner means installing new equipment and even updating ducts or wiring. Replacing an ...

As Solar Cycle 25 Reaches Peak, ERCOT Adds 3.8 GW of Solar Power

Image
How Will Solar Cycle 25 Impact Texas? While Texas installed more 3.8 GW of solar power this year, its grid could be hit flares and disruptions as this solar cycle reaches its peak. Learn how space weather affects your Texas electricity. Texas has seen a big boost in solar this year. ERCOT added 3.8 gigawatts of new solar capacity . That extra power helps meet daytime demand and makes the grid cleaner. For homeowners, it also gives more choices when doing an energy comparison for a new plan. But there is a catch. The sun that drives these gains is entering a busy phase known as Solar Cycle 25. That makes space weather more active, which can affect satellites and the power grid here on Earth. What Is Solar Cycle 25? Solar Cycle 25 began around 2019. Scientists now expect it to peak in 2025 or 2026. During a peak, the sun produces more sunspots, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These bursts can send charged particles toward Earth. When storms arrive, they can produce colo...

Houston Heat Could Hang On Longer; How to Stay Cool Cheaper

Image
How Can Houstonians Stay Cool Cheaper? Fall in Texas is running hot this year so use our tips to help you stay cool and pay cheaper electric bills. Summer may be fading, but in Houston, hot days can stretch well into the October forecast . That means your AC will still be working, even as you hope for a break on your bills. Luckily, there are several ways to stay cool cheaper without sacrificing comfort. These strategies work not just for Houstonians but for Texans across the state who want to keep their homes comfortable, cut down on Texas electricity costs, and avoid sticker shock when the bill arrives.  Tips to Stay Cool Cheaper This Fall You don’t have to crank up the AC to beat the lingering heat. Try these easy tips to stay cool cheaper while keeping your Texas power bill under control: Pre-cool your home in the evening. Take advantage of cooler nighttime lows by running your AC in the early morning or late evening. This builds a cushion of cool air so your system ru...

Best Lubbock Electricity Plan Savings

Image
Who Has The Best Lubbock Electricity Plan? Compare the best Lubbock electricity plans in the running to help save you the most. Learn how they work and what hurdles to watch for. The race for who has the best Lubbock electricity plan is a tight one. With so many cheap plans, it’s hard to go wrong with any of them. However, there are a few things to watch. Right now, the most important thing for you to understand are bill credits. Once you decide a bill credit plan is right for your situation, you can make an energy comparison to select your favorite plan.  Cheap Lubbock Energy Plans Basically, to begin your search for the best Lubbock electricity plan, start with the five cheapest plans below. As can be seen, they have average bills within a few dollars of each other. So, your choice may come down to bill credits and early termination fees. For this reason, those items are listed below with each plan.   Plan Term Rate Avg. Bill Bill Credit ETF APG&E SimpleSav...

Texas Crypto Mine Registry Sparks Dispute

Image
Should the PUC Release The Texas Crypto Mine Registry? Learn why the Texas PUC is suing the Attorney General over the state's crypto mine registry data. Should Texas consumers know how much power crypto mines use or does it put the grid at risk? The Texas Public Utility Commission (PUC) and the state Attorney General’s Office (AG) are clashing over whether the state’s crypto mine registry should be made public. The Texas crypto mine registry, created in 2023, tracks cryptocurrency mining sites that use large amounts of power. This fight matters to consumers too, especially for those with the power to choose among retail power plans. The PUC argues the list should remain hidden. The agency says releasing it could expose security risks or reveal confidential data. Therefore, it believes that giving out details about where large scale crypto mining happens could make the grid more vulnerable. The AG sees it differently. In a recent legal opinion, the AG said some of the data t...

Repurposed EV Batteries Stabilizing The Texas Grid

Image
How Can Used EV Batteries Help Texas? Old EV batteries actually have about 80% capacity left in them. Learn how repurposing them in Texas could lower your electric rates. Across Texas, large-scale energy storage is growing fast, and repurposed EV batteries are playing a key role. Batteries that once powered cars now support the grid as storage systems. B2U Storage Solutions is installing hundreds of used electric vehicle battery packs near San Antonio. The project charges its 24 MWh system when it’s cheap and releases power during peak demand. This novel concept helps keep energy online and supports having the cheapest electricity plans for Texans.  Plus, by using these kinds of batteries, Texas avoids the high cost and ecological impact of new ones. Why EV Batteries Matter to Texas Homes Storing power helps expand the use of green energy like solar and wind. When solar output peaks in the afternoon, the batteries absorb the excess power. Later, during hot summer eve...

Back to School Energy Saving Tips

Image
Going Back to School? Saving Energy is Easy! If your family's routine is about to shift when the school year starts, so will your energy useage. Learn ways to trim your late summer electric bills and save! When the school year kicks off, your family’s daily routine can change fast. So can your energy use! Those quiet summer mornings quickly turn into hectic evenings packed with homework and activities. So, now’s a great time to adjust how and when your household uses electricity. These back-to-school energy saving tips can help you make smarter choices about your Texas power use. School Energy Saving Starts with Smarter Schedules The best school energy saving strategy is to time your energy use to when your house is actually busy. During school hours, your home is mostly empty. That’s a great opportunity to reduce heating and cooling costs. Installing a smart thermostat allows you to automatically adjust your home’s climate when no one is there. Some models eve...