San Angelo residents among those paying the most for electricity
San Angelo, Abilene and Wichita Falls are among Texas cities where residents pay the highest costs for electricity, according to a study by Home Energy Club.
The group released its findings Monday after conducting a survey in February of more than 1,500 Texas residents.
People in Abilene and San Angelo pay 16.19 cents per kilowatt hour while Wichita Falls residents pay 15.85 cents per kWh, according to survey results from the organization labeling itself as a consumer advocacy group.
Those figures translated into an average electric bill of $226.59 for residents of San Angelo and Abilene and $221.93 for Wichita Falls residents.
Lubbock had the highest rates at $17.32 per kWh with an average residential bill of $242.29, according to Home Energy Club, the property of nonprofit trade organization National Home Service Contractors.
The survey indicated the most affordable cities are in the Houston area where Houston, Sugar Land, Spring and Baytown have average rates of 14.10 cents per kWh.
Home Club said the statewide average residential electricity rate in Texas is 16.07 cents per kWh.
'The estimated average monthly electricity bill in Texas ranges from $165 to $179, which is higher than the national average of $137,' the Home Club study said. 'Texas is on the higher end of the spectrum due to larger home sizes, intense cooling needs during hot summers, and higher consumption patterns.'
The survey found that many rural Texans have higher energy costs despite lower rates because their homes tend to be older and less energy efficient. Likewise, low-income households in urban areas may spend up to 15 percent of their income on energy.
For cities like San Angelo, Abilene and Wichita Falls, extreme weather contributes to electricity costs with very hot summers and cold winters, Home Club said. The weather causes more peak demand periods, driving up costs.
Most Texas residents can choose their electricity provider under a deregulated market designed to foster competition and lower rates.
Home Energy Club said the market also presents challenges because of the complexity of plans, hidden costs and knowledge barriers for low-income and elderly customers.
Home Energy Club contends Texas has a wide disparity in energy affordability and recommended that policymakers and utilities should expand assistance programs, simplify plans, invest in energy efficiency for older housing and develop more transparent pricing models.
'For individual Texans, the key to affordable electricity lies in understanding your usage patterns, shopping carefully for plans that match those patterns, and implementing energy efficiency measures to reduce consumption,' Home Club concluded.
More: Edible art: San Angelo favorite stretching its West Texas reach
More: San Angelo River Walk rich with 'Golden Hour' photo opportunities
This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: San Angelo residents among those paying the most for electricity
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