Texas Electricity Ratings

Will Power Hungry Texas Have Enough Juice? As more power hungry industries move to Texas, we look at what electricity customers may face in the near term. In Texas, energy use is rising fast as two big industries — oil and gas production and data centers — fight for electricity. And both make their homes in the Permian Basin which has long been a focal point for Texas energy. As the state’s power grid handles record use, the future of electricity prices seems unclear. Thankfully, some big projects should get funding soon to add dispatchable power to the power hungry Texas grid.  Power Hungry Texas: Oil and Gas Needs More The Texas oil industry is using more electricity than ever. As oil and gas firms move their drilling rigs and other equipment from fuel to electric power, the need for electricity in the Permian Basin is growing quickly. To meet this need, the Texas Energy Fund (TEF) could help build up to four new gas-powered plants in the area. This fund offers grants and low intere

Will the Texas Energy Fund Work? Seriously? The Texas Energy Fund was set up to boost power to the electric grid. But then a company lied on its application to cash in. Now, angry lawmakers are taking a closer look into the PUCT's vetting processes. The Texas Energy Fund (TEF) was supposed to be a safe bet for boosting the state's power grid. But recent events have raised serious doubts about how secure it really is. Some now worry the fund might be as risky as handing over the keys to a 16-year-old for a long, costly joyride. Propping up new Texas power projects must be in good hands. But the TEF is off to a rocky start.  The Texas Energy Fund Comes Under Fire The TEF offers grants and low-interest loans to add dispatchable power to the Texas grid. The logic is that Texas will have more power making capacity in the future. Plus, these power plants can get the juice flowing in a jiffy. But not all projects can receive a loan or grant. Solar, wind, and battery projects don’t qu

Will You Forgive After CenterPoint Says Sorry? CenterPoint says sorry but will their customers forgive the utility? Learn what the utility plans to improve. Could affect your Houston power bills? CenterPoint Energy is in damage control mode after its poor response to Hurricane Beryl. The company’s fleet of mobile generators went mostly unused, leaving 2.3 million Houston customers without power. Clearly, Texas power users are upset and rightly so. In response, CenterPoint says it's sorry and promises to make things right. What Happened During Beryl? Hurricane damage is nothing new to this part of the state. But, in July 2024, Hurricane Beryl caused major damage to Houston’s power grid. The outages lasted days for some customers. Most thought the grid was prepared for Beryl. But it wasn’t. And everyday people suffered.  Despite leasing $800 million worth of mobile generators , CenterPoint failed to deploy them during the storm. This left many without power. Afterwards, people wo

Would Houston Delaying the School Start Date Matter? Find out if delaying Houston's school start date would help cut your electric bills. Or are there other alternatives that help you save more? As CenterPoint customers know well, Houston summers are scorching. With school starting in August each year, many wonder if delaying Houston school start could help cut electricity prices . While it sounds like a great idea, the reality is a bit more complex.  Would a Late School Start Really Lower Costs? At first glance, delaying the school year until after Labor Day might seem like a win. Cooling thousands of classrooms during Houston's hottest months is expensive. So, if schools stayed closed through August, districts could save on electricity, right? Experts say the impact on the power grid might not be as big as you'd think. Schools, while large, don’t account for a significant part of Houston’s overall electricity use. By the time kids are dismissed, around 3 or 4 p.m., the