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Homes guide

The 1,000 kWh trap

The big price on a plan is a price for one exact month. Probably not yours.

Short answerPlans show their price at 1,000 kWh. Your home uses more in summer and less in spring, so your real price is different most months.

Your months vs the average Bars for each month rise high in summer and drop in spring and winter. A dashed line marks the single average month plans are priced at. Most months are far above or below it. JFMAMJJASOND Average
A Texas home's year: high summers, light springs. The dashed line is the one month plans are priced at.

Why 1,000?

Texas fact labels show the price at 500, 1,000 and 2,000 kWh. The 1,000 one usually gets the spotlight.

Some plans are built to look sharp right at that number.

What your year looks like

Summer AC pushes usage way up. Spring and fall drop it way down.

A plan that looks good at 1,000 can cost more in July and in April.

Check it yourself

  • Find your last 12 months of usage. It's on your bill or your provider's account page.
  • Match each month to the closest price on the label.
  • Add up the year. That's the real comparison.

Static's takeNobody lives at exactly 1,000 kWh.

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