Texas heat wave raises questions on cost of energy

Record high temperatures are hitting Texas, with no relief in sight until, potentially, Labor Day weekend.

Energy experts have a cautious eye on the power grid, the Texas Interconnection, which supplies power to more than 25 million Texas customers and represents 90 percent of the state's electric load.

The question some can’t help asking is how these rising temperatures will affect Texan electric bills. To answer the past, look toward the future: Just how much has the average Texas electric bill increased so far, and how does it compare to the rest of the nation?

A study by Mr. Electric, an electrical services company, analyzed ten years' worth of EIA data in order to rank states according to the average monthly cost of household electricity and the states experiencing the greatest changes over time.

Turns out, Texas and Florida had the lowest cost increases over the past decade. Of the 44 states where electricity costs increased, both remained relatively consistent with a jump of less than .5%.

Specifically, over the last decade, the average electric bill in Texas has gone up .25%, which equates to just $3.21. This is significantly less than the national increase, which was $113.29.

Nationally, annual household electricity costs have increased by over 20% in 11 states. Rhode Island and California residents have experienced a rise of over 36% in the 10-year span, the most of any state. Massachusetts, South Dakota, New Hampshire, and Maine also experienced heavy cost increases.

While Hawaii is one of six states that have experienced a decrease in their electricity bills, it still has the highest monthly bills, amounting to $145. Utah boasts the lowest electricity bills with a monthly average of $69.

We’ll see what the rest of the summer brings for Texas.