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Showing posts from July, 2024

5 Ways to Cut Your TX Electricity Costs If You Work From Home

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How Can You Cut Your TX Electricity Costs? Working from home can be distracting enough without worring about your energy bills. Check out these 5 tips that help you cut costs on your Texas electricity. Plus, you'll even save money. Working from home offers flexibility and comfort but often leads to higher power bills, especially during the hot Texas summers. Fortunately, employing several strategies can help you cut Texas electricity usage and costs. That way you reduce your electric use without sacrificing your productivity or comfort. 1. Cut Your AC Usage Costs Air conditioning accounts for a huge portion of your electric bill . To manage this, consider pre-cooling your home during the night when power rates are often lower. After 10 pm, set your thermostat to a cooler setting and let your home chill overnight. In the morning, raise it to a higher number, such as 78°F or higher, to maintain a cool home during the day without constantly running the AC. Using ceiling fans can also

What's the Best AC Unit for Renters?

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Which AC Unit for Renters Saves More? Many Texas renters trying to save money are wondering if the a window AC unit or the newer portable type are the best deal. We've dug into the details to find out what you need to know to make the best choice.. If you rent an older home, chances are the central AC isn’t balanced. And your landlord might not want to go through the expense of having this service done. You may feel stuck, but you have options. You could lower the indoor temperature so that your warmest room is comfortable. But you don’t have to! Try portable AC units or window units. You won’t waste Texas electricity freezing in some rooms while boiling in others. But which AC unit is the best deal if you rent? Sure, these small AC units can help bring your power use back to normal usage for a home . You just need to know a few quick facts. And then, you’ll be ready to compare units and pick the best one for your situation.  Which AC Unit: Portable Vs Window Portable AC units and

Governor Wants to Double Fund for Natural Gas Power

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Does Texas Need More Natural Gas Power? With the population of Texas growing, is more natural gas power the anser? Dig into the details about doubling the TEF. In a unified front to Texans, Governor Greg Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick issued a joint statement earlier this month calling for an increase in the Texas Energy Fund. Voters approved creating the $5B fund to give low interest loans to build more natural gas power plants. Recently, ERCOT projected Texas electricity demand to double by 2030. In response, Abbott and Patrick quickly called for to double the fund to $10B as soon as possible. Undoubtedly, state lawmakers will take up the issue in the next legislative session beginning in January.  Abbott and Patrick have pushed for natural gas plants because they can turn on in a matter of minutes. In contrast, solar and wind farms rely on weather to create usable power. Texas was caught flat footed in February 2022, and officials want to make sure that never happens a

What is Demand Response and How Does it Power Virtual Power Plants?

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Will Texas See More Virtual Power Plants? Virtual power plants convert saved energy into power for the Texas grid. Find out how conserving electricity can acutally cut your monthly bills. The way we use and manage power is changing. One new idea making a big impact is demand response (DR), which helps create virtual power plants (VPPs). Several new Texas electricity providers are using this idea to improve how we use Texas power . You may live near a VPP and not even know it! And even if you did know, you might not see any outward signs.  What is Demand Response? DR is when homes and businesses use less power during times when everyone else is using a lot. This helps prevent blackouts and reduces the need for more power plants. So instead of making more electricity, utilities ask people to use less. They might send a message a few hours before a peak time asking people to cut back. Some energy providers offer this to customers in the United Kingdom already. Several are already bringing