Why Should You Switch?

Hundreds of dollars, that's why. With electricity costs continually on the rise, saving money is what it's all about. The typical family spends about $1,900-$3,000+ annually on home electricity costs. A secure fixed electric rate will immediately reduce your costs by $190-$600+ a year.

As we all know, Texas has tremendous climate swings year round. And that's where 50 percent of your home's electric costs come in: heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC).

After you switch, save more with these
energy-saving tips:

It's the little things that mean the most. Just a few changes around the house can mean considerable long-term savings.

Hire a certified HVAC technician to properly maintain or upgrade your HVAC equipment.

Energy efficient HVAC systems might cost more, but they will more than pay for themselves over their lifetime. Air conditioners actually run better if they operate for longer periods, rather than turning on and off. A certified HVAC technician can properly size your unit to fit your home's needs. Buying a bigger unit won't necessarily mean greater savings on your energy bills. In fact, a unit that is too big for your space will operate less efficiently and cost more to run.

Set your thermostat as low as possible in the winter and as high as comfortably possible in the summer.

Most people don't realize that a greater indoor/outdoor temperature difference will directly affect energy costs. When you leave your home for an extended period, use a programmable thermostat, which can automatically adjust the temperature when you're away.

Adjust your ceiling fans.

In the winter, reverse ceiling fan motors so that the blades push air up toward the ceiling. That's where hot air normally rises. The fan will drive the warm air back down around the edges of the room, which produces more even heating. Better heat circulation also will help eliminate sweating windows in the wintertime because of glass condensation.