Texans have the power to choose rooftop solar systems. Photovoltaic (PV) panels are showing up on more Texas residential rooftops than ever before. According to the U.S. Solar Market Insight report issued by GSM Research/SEIA, Texas added 75 MW of PV solar generating capacity in 2013. While the bulk of this added capacity was associated […]
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Texas natural gas price is a key driver of the U.S. economy due to its use as a direct fuel, fuel for electric power generation, and manufacturing feedstock. Earlier this year, the U.S. Energy Information Administration released its Annual Energy Outlook 2014 with analysis and projections to 2040 on all aspects of the energy sector. […]
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The role of electric demand is important in understanding Texas commercial electricity bills. Electric demand is the rate at which electricity is used. It is measured in kilowatts (kW) or kilovolt amperes (kVA). A common analogy is that electric demand (kW or kVA) is like a speedometer while electric energy (kWh) is comparable to an […]
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Texas Smart Meters Overview – Traditional electric meters in Texas only had the ability to measure cumulative kilowatt-hours consumed. Meter readers collected usage data approximately every 30 days. No information was gathered about when the energy was used, only how much was used since the last meter reading. Interval Electricity Data To collect data on […]
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Texas Residential Electricity Delivery Rates Your monthly electric bill has two major components. The first is the energy charge assessed by your retail electric provider. This charge is assessed in accordance with the rate and terms set forth in the plan documents provided by the energy provider. Delivery Charges The second component is the Transmission […]
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When consumers shop for electricity rates, they often encounter plans that claim to be “green” or represent that they contain some percentage of renewable energy. A common question: how does a selected plan flow from renewable generation resources (wind farms, solar arrays, etc.) to customers. What makes Texas electricity green? The short answer is that […]
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Business owners are accustomed to receiving quantity discounts on just about anything they buy to run their businesses. Whether purchasing consumables or items for resale, the more you buy the lower price. One of the biggest surprises when it comes to shopping for electricity for your business is that quantity is not the primary price […]
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When state legislators began struggling with the concept of Texas utility deregulation, one of their primary concerns was how to release customers into a new competitive landscape. And how to do it without falling victim to potentially confusing terms and conditions from competitive energy providers. While this may sound somewhat paternalistic, legislators and regulators wanted […]
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One of the benchmarks of a successful free market is the range of choice provided to customers. Choice can be viewed both in terms of the number of firms active in the market as well as the variety of products those firms offer to consumers. In the first decade of retail electric deregulation in Texas, […]
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Commercial air travel and retail energy are two deregulated industries that have travelled very different paths. Consolidation of commercial airlines has greatly reduced the number of carriers serving various markets. Services once considered basic and complimentary have evolved into costly pay-per-service upgrades. Texas electricity deregulation and the retail energy market, however, is evolving quite differently. […]
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