The list, ranked by what you keep
Annual savings are estimates for a typical Texas home. Your mileage varies — but the order almost never does.
Be on the right plan
Nothing else on this list comes close. The wrong plan — an expired contract, a variable rate, or a bill-credit trap — costs the average Texas home hundreds a year. Fixing it is a 5-minute check, not a lifestyle change. Start here.
Set the thermostat to 78°F in summer
In Texas, air conditioning is often half your bill. Every degree cooler than 78°F adds roughly 6–8% to cooling cost. Bump it up a few degrees when you're out and let a smart thermostat handle the schedule.
Turn your water heater down to 120°F
Water heating is the second-biggest energy user in most homes. Factory settings are often 140°F — hotter than you need and a scald risk. Drop it to 120°F once and forget it.
Change your AC filter every month in summer
A clogged filter makes your AC work harder for the same cooling. A $10 filter and two minutes a month keeps your biggest energy user running efficiently through a Texas summer.
Switch to LED bulbs
LEDs use about 80% less power than old incandescents and last for years. It's a one-time swap with a small but permanent payoff — worth doing, just not the headline.
Run big appliances off-peak
Only helps if you're on a time-of-use plan — then running the dryer and dishwasher at night can pay off. On a standard fixed plan, timing doesn't change your rate, so don't lose sleep over it.
Tips we won't insult you with
Plenty of savings lists pad the count with advice that saves almost nothing. Here's what we'd skip — so you can spend your effort where it counts.
- Unplugging phone chargers — real savings are pennies a year.
- Turning off the AC entirely when you leave — it works harder to recool and can cost more.
- "Energy-saving" gadgets sold online that promise to cut your bill 50% — they don't.
Start with tip #1
The biggest lever is your plan. Pull it in about 5 minutes.
Check your plan (tip #1)
See the TRUE cost of every plan at your real usage. We'll tell you honestly if you should switch — or stay put.
Compare PlansBill higher than it should be?
If a tip isn't the issue, a rate problem probably is. Diagnose it in a couple minutes.
High Bill GuideStraight answers on saving
What's the single biggest way to lower my electric bill?
Being on the right plan, by a wide margin. Behavior tips shave 5–15% off usage; the wrong rate can add 20–40% to your cost regardless of how careful you are. Check your plan first — everything else is a rounding error next to it.
Do those energy-saving devices from ads actually work?
No. Plug-in "power savers" that claim to cut your bill by 30–50% don't do anything measurable — several have been flagged by regulators. Save your money and check your plan instead.
I already do all this. Am I still overpaying?
Maybe, maybe not — and we'll tell you the truth either way. Careful usage on the wrong rate still overpays. Run a TRUE Cost check; if your current plan is already the best one, we'll say so and you can get back to your day.
The fastest savings tip is one click away
Skip the small stuff for a second. Enter your ZIP, see the TRUE cost of every plan, and knock out the biggest line on your bill first.