Jumpstart Your Business with a Custom Energy Plan

Good business is all about helping customers get what they need, be it a product or a service, and getting it to them for a price they can afford. We know that having a huge overhead for operational costs can trickle down and impact consumers of said products and services, so we like to help your business keep those operational costs as low as possible. Affordable electricity is the product of retail energy providers, and our service is finding it for you.

One of the ways we do this is through custom generated, user specified energy plans. There is no cookie cutter mold for your business, and neither should there be for your energy plan. Every business will use differing amounts of electricity, even ones in the same category. It’s plain to see how an office would differ in energy use compared to a manufacturer, and likewise, an office with a larger staff will use more energy than one with a smaller staff. Because of this, we take a look at your energy usage history to determine how much electricity your business requires throughout the year. We see how this usage is affected by season and

weather, and use all of this data to determine a fair rate that will accommodate your electricity needs.

As the consumer, you can specify how long you are looking to lock in a rate for. We find plans that vary in length between 6 months and 60 months, so you can get a low rate for your business electricity for up to five years! No matter how much the energy market changes, or even if your energy usage increases over that time, your rate remains the same. At the end of your contract term, we’ll help you custom tailor another energy plan based on your usage history and find you a provider that will give you the energy you need for a rate you want.

In addition to the rates and contract length, there are other parts to consider for your custom built energy plan. We also offer the option to find plans that utilize green energy. If your business strategy involves aligning with environmental well-being principles, utilizing green energy is a great way to support the growing renewable industry. We can find plans for you that are totally green, partially green, or plans that use nonrenewable sources of energy as well.

To get started with a custom built energy plan for your business, you can fill out a contact form on our website, a Letter of Authorization that allows us to check usage history, and send us a copy of your current electricity bill. With this information, we can begin reaching out to retail energy providers in your service area and collect plan details from them. Once we find a couple plans that satisfy your business’ energy needs, we’ll present them to you and you can get started with signing up for cheap, reliable electricity that will take your business to the next level. Electricity is crucial for just about every business, and cheap electricity makes it easier to manage your business. Focus on growing your venture by letting us handle the searching for you.

Bring The Energy Companies to You

Hunting for electricity providers can be a very long, very dull process. Between thinking about all of the different providers available, searching the web for reviews, looking at a dozen websites for a half a dozen plans each, and giving up in exasperation and settling for the one with the lowest advertised rate, there are a lot of moments where you’ll question your own sanity

Choice is a good thing, but sometimes, too many options leave us feeling uncomfortable, so we go with what we’re familiar with or what looks best at first glance. In the electricity world, this often means we will continue with an incumbent provider that is charging more than competitors, or we go with a competitor who advertises a low rate, only coming to find out with the first bill that’s not the rate you’re paying because you didn’t use just the right amount of electricity.

There are a lot of retail energy providers (REPs) in Texas offering several plans each. Not every company serves the same area and not every city even gives you the option to choose. The good news is, we here at Shop Texas Electricity like to bring the energy companies right to you, so all that searching is a lot easier.

To get started, all you have to do is enter your zip code. Then, we find all of the energy companies that serve that zip code and all the plans available for you. We present them to you in an easy to read, sortable list that gives you access to all the plan highlights as well as a hyperlink to the plan’s electricity facts label (EFL), which mainly serves as the plan’s “fine print.”

The highlights of each plan lay out details like contract length, average rate, and special offers like renewable energy or rebates. These at-a-glance highlights give you a pretty good idea of what the plan entails and how viable an option it would be for you. When you find a plan that looks pretty good based on the highlights, click on the EFL link to see what it entails in full. Some plans may have a very low average rate, but you have to use a certain amount of electricity to get that rate. Any more or less than the range specified, and your rate could jump a lot! The EFL will also break down how the average rate is calculated, taking into account monthly fees like the base charge and meter reading fees, the energy charge (REP’s price per kilowatt hour), and the transmission charge (utility’s price per kilowatt hour to send you electricity).

The contract length specifies how long you are locked into a plan and rate. Variable and prepaid plans do not have a contract and can be changed at any time. Fixed rate plans lock in your rate for a specified amount of time, during which the rate will not change. If you choose to get out of a fixed rate plan before your term ends, you could be subject to a penalty for early termination.

The biggest benefit to using our site is that you can see plans for several providers all in one place. By sorting the list, you can search by rate, term length, provider, and plan name. This lets you choose how you want to prioritize your search. When searching by rate, all of the cheapest average rate plans will show up first, regardless of provider. Sorting by term length lists the plans out according to their contract term, be it one month, three, twelve, or more. Searching by provider makes it easier to seek plans based on providers you know or have heard of. Bringing the providers to you means a lot less searching for the best plan.

How to find the Best Business Electricity Rates in Texas

Would you like to know how to get the most out of your business electricity plan? The business electricity rates in Texas fluctuate on a daily basis due to many factors, including market demand, supply availability, and other factors. To get the best business electricity rates, one has to compare the different plans available to them. This can mean having to scour the internet, contacting multiple companies, providing usage history to several potential retail energy providers, and waiting to hear back from everyone.

            We don’t like to do it that way here at Shop Texas Electricity. We want you to let us worry about tracking down all the possible REPs, contacting them, providing necessary info, and finding you the best rates available. In addition to the market conditions affecting your Texas business electricity rates, each REP may have different rates, even for plans similar to other REPs. Just like your business, they all have differing levels of overhead expenses, staff sizes, and quotas.

            By connecting through Shop Texas, we help you narrow the search based on the energy needs of your business. Every plan we present you is custom tailored to your specific business. There are no cookie-cutter molds of electricity plans, because every business will have different energy requirements. An office will not need the same amount of electricity required by a manufacturing plant, for example.

            We present your business’ electricity needs and energy usage history to different REPs in your service area. They analyze the data, taking into account what they expect your business will need for electricity over the course of a contract period, then provide us with a quote on a business electricity rate. Once we receive quotes from all possible providers, we present you with the one that best matches your needs and is the most affordable.

            All electricity is the same, no matter who sells it to you, so there’s no worry about energy reliability if you get service from a new company or one you aren’t familiar with. It all comes down to energy needs, affordability, and customer service. We’ll help you narrow the search for all three while you sit back and manage the important stuff like your business’ future.

Deregulation Gives Consumers the Power to Choose

At the turn of the millennium, 1999, more than just the calendar was about to change in a big way. This was the year that a new form of energy sector structuring began to take shape in Texas. This was the year that deregulation of the electric utilities was devised to give consumers the power to choose their energy provider.

            Up until 2001, utility companies had the final say on the price of electricity. They set the rates for all residential and commercial electricity, giving consumers very little choice in how much they pay for their energy. On January 1, 2002, Senate Bill 7 took effect and deregulated the energy market in the state of Texas. This took the power to set the rates away from utilities and allowed a fluctuating free market to take precedence. This provided customers with the power to choose who they purchased electricity from.

            The bill has opened up the floodgates of electricity with dozens of providers operating all over the state, and each one offers several plan options. No longer do customers have a measly 2 or three options to choose from, but rather hundreds. Long term, short term, variable, fixed, renewable, nonrenewable; all of these options became available to customers with deregulation.

            The power to choose an energy provider means customers can find the plan that best suits their needs, whether it’s contract length, cost, or energy source. Previously, there was only the sources that the utility pulled from, and they set the contract lengths based on their own terms. Consumers didn’t have the opportunity to take advantage of money saving renewals when prices were lower due to less demand or an overabundance of energy. Now, prices fluctuate daily, and consumers can change plans and providers when their contract expires or, if they’re on a variable plan, at any time they like.

            With hundreds of plans to choose from between dozens of providers, and no penalties to switch plans or providers, the power to choose your own electricity plan really seems like the way to go. It’s almost a wonder why we didn’t start doing this sooner.

Saving Money with Electricity for your Small Business

Saving money on electricity can help improve profits for your small business. There are some easy steps to take to help reduce the amount of electricity you use, and some others to reduce what you pay for electricity. We’ll give you a few tips to help keep your business on top of its game.

 Unused Rooms

            A major energy waste is lighting rooms that aren’t in use. There are plenty of rooms in a business that often go without much use throughout the day. They might include storerooms, restrooms, and conference rooms. All of these places should have their lights off when unoccupied. To improve efficiency and reduce chances of accidentally leaving lights on, you can use occupancy switches to turn lights off automatically when no one is present in the room for a set amount of time.

   Energy Efficient Equipment

            Upgrading older models of computer equipment, from monitors, to CPUs, to printers, you can save a fair amount of energy. Energy Star rated equipment is at least 20 to 30% more efficient than uncertified equipment in the same class, and many computers have power settings in them that allow you to adjust how power is consumed in certain states such as sleep or hibernation mode. It is, of course, better to shut computers off when they are not in use, especially when everyone has gone home for the day.

      HVAC System

            Clean or replace the filter in your heating, cooling, and ventilation ducts to improve airflow and reduce strain on the system. Using a programmable thermostat will also help you get the most out of your HVAC system and cut way back on its run time, prolonging its life and reducing energy use. Set the thermostat to only run the heat or AC while people are typically in the office and leave everything off for the hours when the business is closed and on the weekends.

       Changing Energy Plan

            You can also save money on your business energy by switching to a custom tailored energy plan through Shop Texas Electricity. We connect with several retail energy providers (REPs) and use your energy use history to find you the best deal through a custom plan with one of our listed REPs.

Spring Into Savings, Part 2

In continuing our coverage of springtime savings, we have some more tips that will help you save money as we head toward summer and the high temperatures that come with it. Many of our tips won’t cost you anything except a little bit of time, but even the ones that require an investment can save you a lot of money in the long run.

            Maintenance

            Keeping your air conditioning system in peak condition will improve its lifespan and save your energy. Have a certified AC technician perform regular maintenance on your system now before the high temps really start rolling in. Service calls generally cost more as you get into the summer, as more people are desperate to get the air conditioner fixed and feel comfortable again. Regular maintenance like adding freon or changing filters will keep your AC at peak efficiency, so you’ll be more comfortable all summer long.

            Appliance and Lighting Use

            About 85% to 90% of the energy consumed by incandescent lights is radiated as heat, and a lot of lights on in the house means more heat. Some older televisions and any cooking appliances like stoves and ovens also radiate a lot of heat while in use, so limiting how much you cook or watch TV can keep your home cooler. If possible, cook outdoors on warmer days to prevent heat buildup inside. Shut off lights that aren’t in use, and switch to more energy efficient bulbs like CFLs and LEDs to not only reduce direct energy costs, but also to reduce how much heat they radiate.

            Air Leaks

            Weatherstripping your home closes up gaps that would lead outdoors, such as gaps under doorways or cracks in window sills. With all of the hidden spots you could be losing air through, it can add up to leaving one large window open all the time, and that’s not good for keeping energy use down with the AC on. Make sure to also close the dampers on fireplaces, as these can lose as much air as a partially open window on their own.

            Switching Energy Providers

            Another way to save money on electricity is to switch your energy provider to one who offers the cheapest electricity in Texas. Searching through our website lets you many providers in your area, seeing each plan rate for rate. You can compare how much each plan costs, search for specific length contracts, and find out how much you’ll save over your current plan.

Spring into Savings, Part 1

We’re pretty well into spring now, and summer is just around the corner. Some of us are already sweating the high temps, but the raised temperature doesn’t need to raise your energy bill. Take a few steps now to prepare your home for the oncoming heat, and you’ll be living comfortably and using less energy, which helps you save on electricity.

            Windows

            If it’s cool enough at night, leave your windows open and the AC off overnight. The cool air will keep you comfortable enough that you won’t need to crank up the energy sucking air conditioner. Come morning, shut all of the windows and close blinds or curtains on south and west facing sides of your home. This will help keep some of that cool air inside and reduce how much heat is gained from sunlight during the day. You can also look into special window coverings that let in light, but block UV rays, which cause your home’s internal temperature to rise.

Spring into Savings

            Thermostats
            Properly programming or operating a thermostat is key to saving money on electricity. The trick is to keep your home’s internal temperature as close to the outdoor temperature as possible, while still remaining comfortable. Set your thermostat as high as you’re comfortable with, and program it if possible to maintain this temperature during the times that people are home and awake. Set it even higher for times when no one is home or everyone is asleep. Also, remember that setting the temp lower on the thermostat doesn’t cool your home any faster, so only set it to the level you need.

            Fans
            It may seem like a waste to run a fan while the AC is on, but if you are in a room with a fan and the AC running, you can raise the thermostat setting for that room by up to 4°F and still feel just as comfortable. Fans utilize the wind chill effect to help keep you cool, but if no one can feel the fan, the wind chill won’t have an effect. Turn off fans in rooms with no one in them.