There are two things on the rise this month in the Lone Star State: the temperature and Texans’ electricity bills.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Texas uses more electricity than any other state.
Air conditioning accounts for 28% of electricity consumption in Texas, according to a report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That is 9% higher than the average American home.
Texans use nearly as much energy to power their AC units as the energy used to power their space heating, water heating, and refrigerators combined.
As punishingly hot temperatures rise, so do many Texans’ electricity bills as they rely on the chill of their AC to keep them comfortable.
According to Reliant Energy Company, there are energy-efficient alternatives to cranking down the AC this summer to save residents a bit of money.
“Follow the 4-by-4 rule,” Reliant says on its website. “If no one is going to be home for more than 4 hours, set the temperature 4 degrees higher while you’re gone.”
Additionally, Reliant recommends raising the thermostat 2-3 degrees between 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. and using fans to feel 4-6 degrees cooler.
“Many people have ceiling fans in their homes, which help circulate air and keep a room cool at a low cost,” Reliant says. “If you don’t have ceiling fans, you could install one in each room or use portable fans. Ceiling fans and portable fans cost less to use than air conditioning, giving you a cooler feeling without having to cool your entire home.”
If a thermostat has an “auto” mode, it is recommended that it be kept from cooling 24/7, which can pump up the electricity bill considerably.
Changing the AC filter regularly is also important to ensure the unit is running at optimal performance.
Texans can benefit from sealing any drafty windows and exterior doors to prevent the AC from working harder than it needs to.
The skyrocketing temperatures have proven dangerous for some Texans. A North Texas UPS driver recently passed out at the wheel due to the heat, crashing his van at a high rate of speed.
Texas’ power grid has come under particular stress this week amid a triple-digit heat wave, as reported by The Dallas Express.
The hot temperatures continue to push power demands to new heights, straining the state’s power infrastructure and raising concerns about potential blackouts.