What's the average electric bill in Texas?
$163.72 a month in 2024, for 1,096 kWh at an average of 14.94¢ per kWh. That's the latest full year in the Energy Information Administration's bill tables, which cover more than 12.5 million Texas homes.
Bars start at zero. 2020 to 2024 are EIA's annual averages. The 2026 estimate is our math, not an EIA figure: 2024's 1,096 kWh at July 2026's average price of 15.88¢.
The bill dipped slightly from 2023 to 2024 because the average home used less power (1,146 kWh down to 1,096), even though the price per kWh rose. Prices have kept rising since, so a 2026 bill at the same use runs higher.
Why are Texas bills high when the price is low?
Because Texas homes use much more power. Compare Texas with New York: New York pays far more per kWh, yet its average bill is smaller.
Bars start at zero. Source: EIA Table 5A, 2024 average monthly bill, residential.
Long, hot summers and air conditioning drive most of the difference. So the best way to shrink a Texas bill is usually to use less at peak times, plus pick a fair plan. See Texas electricity rates for the price side.
Is my electric bill normal? The 30-second check
Type the kWh from your bill, or just the bill total, and pick the season. You'll see how you compare with the average Texas home.
The average Texas home uses 1,096 kWh a month (EIA, 2024).
"About average" means within 15% of 1,096 kWh. If you type only a bill total, we estimate kWh at the July 2026 average price of 15.88¢, so it's approximate.
What should my bill be for my usage?
Your bill is mostly your kWh times your price. Here's what each usage level costs at the July 2026 Texas average of 15.88¢ per kWh.
Bars start at zero. Real bills vary with your plan, utility and base charges.
Small apartments often use well under the average, while big homes, pools and electric heat push use far higher. More people, older AC units and thin insulation add up too.
Why is my summer bill so much higher than average?
Air conditioning. In hot climates like Texas, cooling is one of the biggest uses of home electricity, so July and August bills run far above spring and fall, even on the same plan.
Some utilities pay you to let a smart thermostat ease up on the hottest afternoons; see demand response programs. If your AC is more than 10 years old, a new one may cut your cooling use; see what a new AC costs.
Is the average bill different in Houston and Dallas?
A little. Your delivery charge depends on your utility, and it's the same no matter which electric company you pick.
Bars start at zero. Oncor from October 4 and CenterPoint from October 1, 2026; AEP Texas Central from a fact label dated September 30, 2026.
The rest of the bill depends on your plan and how much you use. In Austin and San Antonio, the city utility sets the whole price: see Austin Energy and CPS Energy. More on delivery for Oncor and CenterPoint.
My bill is way above average. What's wrong?
If it isn't a hot month, check these four things first.
- 1Your delivery charge went up
Oncor's rose on October 4, 2026, and CenterPoint's on October 1.
- 2Your plan's bill credit vanished
Some plans only stay cheap at one usage level.
- 3Your contract ended
Expired plans often roll to a pricier month-to-month rate.
- 4Something is running nonstop
An old fridge, a pool pump or a failing AC can quietly add hundreds of kWh.
Get the full breakdown, with a bill checker, in why is my electric bill so high? Behind on a bill? See help paying your electric bill.
How can I get my bill closer to average?
Work on both parts of the bill: how much you use, and what you pay per kWh.
Raise the thermostat a few degrees on summer afternoons, run fans, shade sunny windows and keep the AC filter clean. Cooling is where most Texas homes can save the most.
Divide your bill by your kWh. If you pay well above 15.88¢, compare plain 12-month fixed plans on Power to Choose and grade your rate with our rate grader.
Use a lot of power at night? A free nights plan can help if your timing fits. Compare companies’ records in our company scores. Families who qualify by income can get free repairs that cut bills through weatherization.
Average bill questions, answered
What is the average electric bill in Texas?
About $163.72 a month for 1,096 kWh, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's 2024 data, the latest full year. Prices have risen since: at July 2026's average of 15.88 cents per kWh, the same use costs about $174.
Is my electric bill normal?
Compare your kWh with the Texas average of 1,096 kWh a month, and remember the season. A high August bill is often normal, while the same bill in April is worth a closer look. Our benchmark tool above gives you a quick answer.
Why is my Texas bill higher than other states if prices are low?
Because Texas homes use more power. In 2024, the average Texas home used 1,096 kWh a month, while the average New York home used 571. New York paid 24.43 cents per kWh but had a smaller average bill than Texas at 14.94 cents.
Is the average electric bill different in Houston and Dallas?
Slightly. The delivery charge differs by utility: about $72.73 a month at 1,000 kWh for Oncor in Dallas–Fort Worth and $70.23 for CenterPoint in Houston, as of October 2026. The rest depends on your plan and how much you use.
What's a normal electric bill for an apartment in Texas?
It depends on size, AC use and whether heat and hot water are electric. At the July 2026 average of 15.88 cents per kWh, 500 kWh costs about $79 and 700 kWh about $111. Summer months run higher.
Why does my bill jump so much in the summer?
Air conditioning. In the Texas heat, cooling is one of the biggest uses of home electricity, so July and August bills can run far above spring ones with no plan change. The cause is extra kWh, not always a higher price.
How much electricity does a typical Texas home use?
About 1,096 kWh a month on average in 2024, per EIA, down from 1,146 kWh in 2023. Use swings with the seasons, and more people, a bigger home, electric heat or a pool pump all push it up.
Is a $300 electric bill normal in Texas?
In summer it can be, for a larger home. At the 15.88-cent average, $300 is about 1,900 kWh. In spring or fall, $300 would be high and worth checking: your plan, an expired contract or your delivery charge.
Why did the average Texas bill go down from 2023 to 2024?
Because the average home used less power, 1,096 kWh a month in 2024 versus 1,146 in 2023, even though the price rose from 14.46 to 14.94 cents per kWh. Prices have kept climbing in 2026.
How can I lower a higher-than-average bill?
Cut peak summer cooling with a higher thermostat, fans and shade, and check your price per kWh. If you pay well above 15.88 cents, compare plain 12-month fixed plans at your real usage. You can't shop the delivery charge, so focus on the rest.
Sources and updates
Sources (6)
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Sales, Revenue, and Average Price, Table 5A (2024): Texas average of 1,096 kWh, 14.94¢ per kWh and $163.72 a month across 12,547,863 customers; Pennsylvania, New York and Illinois figures; and earlier years (2023: 1,146 kWh, 14.46¢, $165.82; 2020: $132.59).
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: Texas average residential price of 15.88¢ per kWh, July 2026.
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Use of energy explained: energy use in homes: air conditioning as a major use of home electricity in hot climates.
- Public Utility Commission of Texas, Docket 59249, Oncor temporary tariff (Item 105): Oncor delivery of $72.73 at 1,000 kWh from October 4, 2026.
- Reliant Energy, Electricity Facts Label, Secure Advantage 12, Houston: CenterPoint delivery of $4.90 a month plus 6.5333¢ per kWh from October 1, 2026.
- Direct Energy, Electricity Facts Label, Auto Pay Texas 12, AEP Texas Central (dated September 30, 2026): AEP Texas Central delivery of $3.24 a month plus 5.6898¢ per kWh.
Changelog · last updated October 5, 2026 · 1 update
- October 5, 2026: Guide published: the average Texas electric bill from EIA data, why Texas bills run high on a low price, bills by usage and by area, and a bill benchmark.
How to cite this page: The Day Company, "What's the average electric bill in Texas, and is mine normal?", updated October 4, 2026, https://theday.company/tx/average-electric-bill.
Average bills are the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s annual figures; the 2026 estimate is The Day Company’s math using EIA’s July 2026 average price, not an EIA figure. Your bill depends on your plan, utility and usage. The Day Company is not affiliated with any utility or electric company named here.