Can Delaying Houston School Start Cut Your Electric Bills?

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 Texas grid is just beginning to hit its peak demand. This is when homes, businesses, and manufacturing facilities crank up their air conditioning. So, while keeping classrooms cool does use power, it doesn’t happen during the most critical times for the grid.

What About the Grid?

The idea of delaying Houston school start came from concerns about Texas' power grid. Since Winter Storm Uri in 2021, Texans have worried about grid failures. But experts agree that starting school later would do little to reduce the demand. That's because power usage peaks in the late afternoon and early evening as people head home from work and school. So, schools are already mostly empty for the day as demand ramps up.

Summer heat can cause building joints to expand and create openings that lets AC-cooled air to escape, adding to Texas energy costs.

In fact, even when school is out, the buildings still need to be cooled to prevent damage to equipment. You can’t let a school’s temperature climb above 80 degrees for long without risking maintenance problems. This can include heat expansion problems in buildings as well as damage to electronics, computers, and refrigerators. So, the cost of cooling these buildings would still be a factor, even if students aren’t there. 

Better Ways to Save

Instead of relying on a later school start to reduce electricity costs, Houston schools and homeowners could focus on energy efficiency. For example, equipping schools with rooftop solar panels and batteries would allow them to make and store their own power. These systems could also participate in demand response programs and sell power back to the grid during peak times.

For homeowners, switching to an energy plan that offers time-of-use rates or green energy options can help cut power bills. By adjusting energy use during peak times, you can save more than delaying a school year ever could. Check for today’s plans at the best prices at https://www.texaselectricityratings.com/electricity-rates.