Time to read: 4 minutes
With fall here and winter on the horizon, Texans are hoping to have some relief from the high heat from the previous summer. With (hopefully) chilly weather coming over the course of the next few months, what kind of energy bills are Texans going to be looking at? The cost of heating is a common concern for Texas residents, especially after winter storm Uri caused rolling blackouts and other problems in 2021.
There are several reasons that energy bills have been increasing over the past several months, but will the winter be any different? In today’s post, we will be exploring what the colder months ahead may bring and how IES Texas Solar can help.
How will my electric bills be affected this winter?
Currently, Texas is the largest consumer of natural gas in the United States. This means that Texans are particularly vulnerable to price changes when it comes to natural gas, especially because of the extreme temperatures that the seasons bring its residents. With prices increasing, Texans will have to pay more to heat their homes in the colder months to come. According to NEADA (National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association), the cost to heat the average home in the coming winter may be more than $1200 on average.
It’s unfortunate, but several things will likely be happening this winter that affect the price of electricity. Energy companies (like the Texas based Atmos Energy) are informing their customers that their electric bills will be higher in the coming winter. Other areas of the U.S. are also in for a pricey winter, with the National Grid predicting that Massachusetts will see as much as a 64% increase in electric bills. The reason for this, as we’ve written before, is because of the increased cost of natural gas. In the case of Atmos Energy, they are increasing their prices for electricity because unless they do so, they claim that they can’t make a profit.
The increased price of natural gas is largely due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Sanctions have been imposed on Russia by the west. In response to these sanctions, Russia has cut down the amount of supplies that it provides to other nations in the form of natural gas. This results in a drop in the supply of natural gas while demand for it remains high. Inventories of natural gas in the U.S. have also declined this year, further increasing prices. This affects many places in the west that rely on natural gas for electricity, and Texas is no exception.
Fork, knife, or spoon; only the persimmon seeds know how cold it could be
Many Texas residents view the cooler months as a welcome relief from the blistering temperatures that the summer brings. Texans are able to spend more time outside doing things that they enjoy and are able to crack open a window to enjoy cooler breezes and the smells of fall. But when winter finally comes in, it may be harsher than it has in the previous years. The Farmers almanac predicts that this winter will be colder, with below average temperatures that should warm up slightly next February.
Coupled with the increased price of natural gas due to international conflict, these colder temperatures could end up causing Texans to see further increases in their electricity bills. The good news, however, is that going solar can give Texans the edge they need in order to take control of their electric energy bills.
How can IES Texas Solar help?
Even if temperatures hit record lows, IES Texas Solar can help you keep your electric costs low and your comfort level high. When you install your Solar Powered System with backup batteries, you are able to power your home or business even when the sun isn’t out. This means that you can power your home during the day with solar panels while storing energy in your backup batteries, and then switch to those same batteries at night or during a storm. The result? You don’t have to use expensive electricity that is provided by your utility company, which drives your electric bill down.
In the event of another winter storm, Generac® generators can keep your home and business running, and, when paired with backup batteries, you can stay warm no matter what nature throws your way. With several avenues to ownership available and the newly increased tax incentives thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act (which increased the federal tax credit from 26% to 30% tax), switching to solar is more affordable for Texans than ever! To top things off, you can even qualify for rebates offered by your utility provider to earn even more back on your investment (such as the CPS Energy solar rebates for San Antonio residents)!
Let IES Texas Solar stop your electric bills cold this winter!
If you are considering switching to solar for your home or business, reach out to us by going to our website, iestxsolar.com, or by giving us a call at (855) 447-6527.
Sources:
https://neada.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/winter 2022-23PR.pdf
https://www.wcvb.com/article/hurricane-forecasting-drone-technolgy-video- data/41367355
