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Showing posts from August, 2022

Are Texas Bitcoin Mines Really Raising Electric Rates?

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Will Texas Bitcoin Mines Hurt Power Customers? Stripped down cheap computers packed onto racks in warehouses are what powers Texas Bitcoin mines. The problem is that's a lot of electric demand and it might drive up your Texas electricity bills. Texas is known as one of the most business-friendly states in the US. So, when China kicked out cryptocurrency miners in May 2021, they all flocked to Texas. Crypto miners use thousands of stripped down home computers running 24/7 usually in one room. So, they use massive amounts of energy. So many crypto miners operate in Texas that within a few years they will use almost as much power as Houston. Bitcoin is the best known of all cryptocurrencies. Texas Bitcoin mines that draw massive power amounts daily is concerning since ERCOT had trouble meeting demand this summer. However, ERCOT is working with crypto miners to better meet peak demand in the future.  Sweet Deal For Texas Bitcoin Mines Crypto mines run 24 hours per day using rooms of

Comparing Plans: How the Power to Choose Fails Customers, Pt 2

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Can You Compare Plan on Power to Choose? You should be able to compare electricity plans head to head with all the information you need. But not at the Power to Choose. Find out why Texas Electricity Ratings is the better choice! Sometimes the sizzle is better than the steak. And that's definitely the case when comparing plans on most electricity shopping sites. That's because right after you enter your zip code on Power to Choose site, the biggest text on the screen reads, “Shop. Compare. Choose.” Well, that’s easier said than done with the details they give you. The information shown for each plan includes the bare minimum, far less than what you see on Texas Electricity Ratings . Of course, their basic information is very nicely organized on their page. However, it doesn't go deep enough to help you make a good decision for switching electric plans . The Power to Choose site avoids details that really help customers. In Part 1 of this series, we discussed their murky

Backed By Batteries, Texas Beats Heat

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Will Utility Scale Texas Batteries Help The Grid? Renewable energy in Texas is doing more to keep air conditioners spinning this summer thanks to utility scale batteries. Learn how they could reshape the grid and effect your electric bills. Even by Texas standards, this summer has been a scorcher. Texas electricity rates are burning through budgets, too. Newscasters can’t seem to get enough of saying how we’re smashing heat records. They almost revel in comparing heat waves from previous years. But with utility scale batteries, Texas can beat the heat.  Texas Batteries To The Rescue Storage capacity has long limited the effectiveness of green energy sources. Solar power and wind power are great while they make power. But what about cloudy days at solar farms? And what about still days around wind turbines? Can we store green energy for later use?  Utility scale batteries are the key to unlocking the power of green energy. And their technology is improving. Texas battery projects hav

Offshore Wind Farms In The Gulf Of Mexico

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Could Offshore Wind Farms Power Texas Electricity Needs? Texas uses LOTS of electricity. But Offshore wind farms in the Gulf of Mexico could generate a LOT of power for Texas homes. Find out how Texas-sized this big project could be! Opening your front door in Texas compares to opening an oven door. Hot air smacks you in the face with some considerable power. Once you’re fully outside, a gentle breeze just pushes the hot air around at best. But that wind could be exactly what powers Texas electricity . And offshore wind farms could be the future of Texas electricity.  Texas is already the largest producer of wind power. When most Texans think about wind farms, they picture turbines on the planes of West Texas. However, wind farms also dot the Texas coastline. That's because offshore, the winds are steadier and more powerful than in West Texas. On average, offshore winds maintain a steady force greater than 7 meters per second at the height of turbines sticking up from the water’s s

Is Your Hot Attic Killing Your AC?

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Will Your Hot Attic Burn Up Your AC? Texas home builders have put HVAC systems for decades. But high summer heat can reduce their efficiency and cost you more. Find out why and what you can do to save money! Sometimes home designs make you stand back and scratch your head. For years, Texas home builders followed the annoying building practice of putting all the air handling equipment in the attic. Up there, your bulky HVAC equipment is out of sight and out of mind. But during hot summers , your attic can reach 145°F or more. Yet somehow, you expect it to cool your home while operating in a sweltering environment. So let's look at how your hot attic maybe killing your AC and driving up your Texas electric bill . Efficiency and Your Hot Attic Ductwork Even if your home’s HVAC is in a closet, you may still have ductwork running through your hot attic. That’s bad, too. The problem is once your system cools the air, it passes through your attic ductwork. So your system has to run longe