A MESSAGE FROM YOUR GENERAL MANAGER/CEO

GARY RAYBON

Understanding the Factors That Impact Your Energy Bills

There are a few key factors that affect electricity prices, and while most of those are out of our hands and yours, there are a few ways you can make a meaningful impact on home energy savings.

When you receive your bill from Wharton County Electric Cooperative, you can see a summary of how much electricity you used during the billing cycle compared to throughout the year. By logging in to your account online or through our SmartHub app, you can even see when your electricity use may have spiked, such as on a particularly cold or hot day.

But you might be surprised to learn that beyond your monthly energy consumption, there are external factors that can impact the cost of electricity.

Fuel Prices

WCEC purchases electricity from South Texas Electric Cooperative at a wholesale cost, and then we deliver that power to our local communities.

That wholesale cost accounts for a significant portion of the cost of providing electricity to homes and businesses—and the price of fuel used to generate that power fluctuates based on supply and demand. While these fluctuations impact the cost of electricity, we work closely with STEC to plan ahead and help stabilize electricity prices for our members.

Extreme Weather

While we can’t control the weather, we can review weather patterns and forecasts to prepare for times of extreme cold or heat when we know the electricity demand will increase. But when temperatures fluctuate and the demand for electricity spikes, the price of power typically goes up.

Infrastructure and Equipment

To cover the costs associated with providing electricity, WCEC members pay a monthly charge. This flat fee ensures that all members in our service territory cover the costs of equipment, materials, labor, and daily operations, no matter how many kilowatts you use.

We must maintain a complex grid of power lines, substations and other essential equipment to ensure the reliable service you expect and deserve.

You Have Control

While many of these external factors are out of our control, we all have the power to manage our energy use at home. The most effective way to lower use is thermostat management.

Since heating and cooling account for a significant portion of home energy use, adjusting the thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting for heating and the highest for cooling can help you save energy and money. Remember to check your heating and cooling system annually and replace dirty filters as needed.

You can also reduce energy costs by saving energy-intensive chores for off-peak times—typically 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. Find out more on how this saves money here.

Be sure to seal air leaks around windows, doors, and other areas where gaps are possible. This will help your heating and cooling system work less and improve the overall comfort of your home.

WCEC is your local energy partner, and we’re here to help. As always, we will continue working diligently to provide you with reliable power at an affordable cost.