Have Questions? CONTACT US HERE

Wizard Energy
CONTACT

Tag: High Electric Rates

  • Crypto Struggles as Prices of Electricity Rise & Imaginary Money Falls



    Crypto prices are crumbling but bitcoin continues to stay around $20K. It is just astounding that the price for a line item on a digital spreadsheet made of 1s and 0s of code is still that high. Even so, many “miners” (where are the pickaxes, sledge hammers and hard hats?) are crumbling as spiking electricity prices and lower hash prices (i.e. lower crypto prices) cut into the hodl fantasy business model.

    Crypto Prices Electricity

    BTC’s price has fallen about 56% year to date, and the sky continues to fall for various crypto and bitcoin miners. Unfortunately one of the causes is higher electricity prices, which also affects those of us in the real world that appreciate history, tangibility, and stability. Furthermore, the global recession is looming while inflation catches up with all the money the Fed printed the last few years and the unnatural interest rate they suppressed to make up for the 2008 financial collapse while they reloaded bankers’ pockets.

    Save on Your Electric Bill

    GET THE BEST ELECTRICTY FOR YOUR BUSINESS

    We FORCE electricity companies to compete! Electricity providers will offer a lower price to us because they know they are competing for the business. This drives your price down!

    Hash price is a metric to determine the market value for each unit of hashing power, which is set through changes in bitcoin mining difficulty (which is currently high) and the price of the cryptocurrency. At a high level, the higher the hash rate the greater the difficulty to mine bitcoin — meaning that it takes more electricity to do so. If the electricity price is high, it’s harder to make a profit when they try converting imaginary money back into USD. Who’d a thunk it!

    BTC Prices Electricity

    The hash price is near a historical low, and it is about $70.72, down 80.5% from $361.82 a year ago. Additionally, energy prices have increased across many markets, which means miners’ expenses are at all-time highs.


    Ways to Lower Your Electricity Bill

  • Winter Forecast: Higher Rates & New Fees

    When summer winds down and temperatures cool off, it is usually time to shop for a lower electric rate. But this year prices are not falling simply because of higher generation rates and new fees for the grid are countering the normal seasonal drop we see in Texas. Here’s what you need to know about your electricity bill and how you might find a better electric rate.

    The average price for a 12-month plan is $.16 to $.17 per kilowatt. While that is down from the super-high $.21 rates we were seeing this summer, it is still histrionically high. In the scorching heat of a Houston summer many of us raise our thermostat to76-79 degrees during the day while we’re out of the house, hang items to dry, and avoid the drying cycle on the dishwasher. We do a lot to save, but if your electric contract is up don’t expect to get lower rates right now.

    Lower Rate Are Not In The Forecast

    Several factors keep electric rates high right now: the price of natural gas needed to make electricity is still high (Russia!). and retail electric providers are worried about another winter storm.

    “So now we’re worried about a problem in summer and then we’re worried about a problem in winter. So, what it means is we used to exit summer and I could find a really cheap, like six-month or eight-month contract to get me through the winter. And now winter is sometimes more expensive than summer.

    Some electric companies let customers move into lower rate if you agree to a longer-term contract but you have to watch out for early termination fees! If you’re contract is ending, you can source a better rate now and do it quickly-easily online…


    Please note that you will leave this website and connect to Chariot Energy.

    Don’t Let Your Electric Contract Auto-renew!

    If you have a couple of months before your contract expires, check rates regularly. Prices used to be relatively stable but these days they go up and down significantly.

    Save on Your Electric Bill

    GET THE BEST ELECTRICTY FOR YOUR BUSINESS

    We FORCE electricity companies to compete! Electricity providers will offer a lower price to us because they know they are competing for the business. This drives your price down!

    No matter your rate, there are some new fees on your bill you can’t control. Effective September 1st CenterPoint’s delivery charge went from $.038 per kWh to $.049. That’s a 29% increase in the base rate and approximately an extra $11 on the average electricity bill.

    Securitization charges are up too in order to provide a safety net for the entire Texas market after the mess from the recent winter storms.


    Other Ways to Lower Your Electricity Bill

  • Texas Needs to Do Everything to Address High Electricity/Energy Prices

    Though Texas is a leading producer of electricity, it must be sold and moved to accommodate a growing state… so Texas needs to advance its transmission capabilities. Because transmission congestion, the lowest-priced electricity can’t reach customers during high-demand times or power outages. Congestion is an expensive problem and a hidden cost that consumers absorb in high electricity bills.

    Congestion costs exceeded $2,000,000,000 in 2021. This year, congestion costs have already hit $800,000,000.

    Save on Your Electric Bill

    GET THE BEST ELECTRICTY RATE

    We love to hustle in order to lower your electric bill and save you money…

    …so you make your business better without worrying about overhead!

    We’re already mentioned that Texas surpasses every state in energy -> electricity production. In 2021, Texas produced 43% of all crude oil and 25% of all natural gas in the U.S., and produced 26% of its wind power. But unpredictable global economics, predictable population growth, and times of extreme weather can instigate sky-high electricity demand and strain the electrical grid. In some scenarios, unplanned outages can affect the entire integrated infrastructure, which depends heavily on electricity to operate: drinking water and internet or communications (i.e. medical devices) that depend on electricity.

    The current situation suggests we continue to build out energy resources to respond to inflation or other global crisis. Politicians and policymakers have to embrace an “everything is on the table” approach to developing and dispersing the state’s resources. This means Texas must cut the red tape preventing the state from fully harnessing renewables like wind or extracting tried-and-true commodities like Permian Basin oil and gas. This also means embracing generation that uses less water, emphasizing the addition of battery storage to dispatch electricity on demand, and incenting businesses to choose Texas to develop new energy technologies.

    Right now the state should not pit renewables against traditional fossil fuels or seek to replace one with the other. To generate electricity for residential, commercial, and industrial users, Texas should use natural resources plus renewable power generation to be successful. Some economic modeling has shown that fixing Texass power grid issues would result in massive economic, energy, and environmental benefits that include $11,000,000,000 in tax revenue and 25,300+ jobs.

    Inadequate Electricity Transmission Will Make The Grid Less Reliable and Jack Up Electric Bills

    The Texas economy will be in peril too. Providing affordable, lower-priced electricity and reliable power for homes, businesses, schools, and hospitals across the state must be an urgent priority. We an’t repeat this enough, it is crucial that legislators develop all energy resources synchronously while building out infrastructure (the grid!).

  • The Texas Heat & Electricity Prices Go Up! ERCOT Notice

    Texas expects record-high electricity demand this week, so the Electric Reliability Council of Texas issued an operating condition notice ahead of forecasted triple-digit temperatures across the state.

    The spike in demand is likely to raise electricity prices.

    Save on Your Electric Bill

    GET THE BEST ELECTRICTY RATE

    We love to hustle in order to lower your electric bill and save you money…

    …so you make your business better without worrying about overhead!

    The notice is the first tier of ERCOT’s alerts says it has enough resources available to meet forecast demand. The Texas grid has yet to see mass blackouts this year.

    ERCOT is issuing an OCN [Operating Conditions Notice] for the extreme hot weather with forecasted temperatures to be above 103°F in the North Central and South Central weather zones, from Friday, June 10 2022 until Monday, June 13, 2022. The normal high in those areas are 91 F this time of year.

    Back in May, Texas experienced back-to-back weekends of record-breaking heat and corresponding electricity demand. Regulators forecasted in May that the grid will have ample generation to meet the increased level of power usage brought on by this summer’s heat. In May the regulatory body issued its first power consumption notice, asking Texas residents to meter their energy usage and avoid using large machinery such as washing machines during prime windows over the course of a particularly hot weekend. Now in June, Texas broke the record on Monday and Tuesday and will keep rising this week until it tops the all-time high as economic growth boosts usage and hot weather causes homes and businesses to crank up their air conditioners.

    • Monday Demand: 72,386 MW
    • Tuesady Demand 72,785 MW
    • Wednesday Forecast: 75,305 MW
    • Thursday Forecast: 77,166 MW

    (previous record for June just last year was 70,257 MW)
    (all time high is 74,820 MW set in August 2019)

    One megawatt (1 MW) normally powers 1000 homes. On a summer day in Texas is only services 200 homes. ERCOT expects new wind and solar power plants added over the past year would increase resources available this summer to 91,392 MW. Even with tht extra supply, demand is spiking and will drive up electricity prices.

  • How to Get The Best Electricity Rates in Sugar Land, TX

    You’re current electricity contract is coming up and you recently checked on rates for electricity.

    SHOCK!

    Electricity prices are crazy high in Texas right now and are expected to trend higher. What can you do… whether you are searching for your business or home, should you use an independent broker to get the best electric rates in Sugar Land?

    Answer: Absolutely… and it costs you nothing!

    Wizard energy is an independent electricity/energy broker that forces big energy companies to compete for your business. To best electric rates in Sugar Land, we make the electricity providers bid with their best possible rate. When they bid for one of our clilents, they know that Wizard Energy gives them the opportunity to bid on dozens of other customers every year. Collectively, this drives your price down!

    Save on Your Electric Bill

    GET THE BEST ELECTRICTY RATE

    We love to hustle in order to lower your electric bill and save you money…

    …so you make your business better without worrying about overhead!

    We get you the best possible electric rate no matter what. People are also asking:

    Who has the lowest rate for electricity?
    Who has the cheapest electricity rates in Texas?
    What hours is electricity the cheapest?
    Who has the highest electric rates in Texas?
    How do I reduce my electric bill?
    How many kWh per day is normal?
    How can I get cheap electricity in Texas?
    What is the best electric plan in Texas?
    What is the average electric bill in Texas?
    How do I choose a Texas electric provider?

    These are things that we are more than happy to explain to you, but you don’t have to bother with.

    In addition to making electricity companies compete for your business, another reason we get better pricing is because the electricity companies know we help many clients. When a single business owner goes directly to an energy company, you’re offering them one (1) contract. Compare this to Wizard Energy giving them the opportunity to bid on dozens of customers every year… who do you think is more likely to get a better price?

    Do you have time to scour companies and plans for the best electricity rates in Sugar Land?

    Wizard Energy has the experience and know-how to request bids from all the electricity companies, review the terms and small print (we know what to look for), and select the best rate based on the market condition and constantly changing prices.

    • Review of your electricity usage and load profile
    • Request bids from electricity providers
    • Analyze electricity contracts and review fine print
    • Review electric bills and rates to make sure of your rate

    More Reasons Why We Get You The Best electricity Rate in Sugar Land

    We offer our clients independent, personal service. We are impartial and not tied to any electricity provider, big or small. We compare more than 20 suppliers to help find the right deal for each individual business.

    Electricity can be one of the greatest operating expenses a company faces, so we’ll make sure you’re getting the best energy rate possible by making big electricity companies compete for your business.

    Wizard Energy does all the legwork for you. We analyze your energy usage, speak to suppliers, and gather all the options so that all you need to do is select the deal that suits you. It’s pretty obvious… LOWEST PRICE!

  • Revival Of Nuclear Energy May Help Lower Electric Rates Eventually

    War in Ukraine is causing an energy reset. Western governments are rethinking dependence on Russian oil and gas, and it is a big opportunity for nuclear power to grow and help to lower electricity prices in Texas as well as the rest of the country and the world. Last week Britain announced it will begin developing small scale, modular nuclear power plants. The new energy path is a big win for uranium assets and electricity consumers.

    The emergence of nuclear as a clean energy source seemed unlikely. Nuclear power has been derided for four decades. The number of plants globally peaked in 1996 when 17.5% of all electric power was generated in those facilities. Since then public has opinion soured and the political will to keep plants open waned.

    Nuclear Energy Downfall

    Electricity Prices Goes Up

    Environmental movements gained global traction in the 1970s and nuclear energy was the perfect fall guy. Radiation poisoning was invisible and lethal. This was exploited in 1979 by The China Syndrome, a big budget Hollywood film that mirrored a partial meltdown earlier that year at Three Mile Island, a Pennsylvania nuclear facility. Although epidemiological studies later showed no increase in cancers in the area, fears of living near nuclear facilities grew exponentially.

    A complete meltdown in 1986 at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor led to the depopulation of 68,000 people across 1,000 square miles in northern Ukraine. And 154,400 Japanese were evacuated in 2011 when a nuclear plant in Fukushima was damaged following an earthquake and tsunami.

    Nuclear power plants all over the world began to close. Today these facilities generate only 10.3% of the world’s electricity. It is a contributing factor to electricitiy rates continuing to go higher and higher. The oddity is nuclear power is clean, green, sustainable and statistically much safer than most other forms of power generation, according to research compiled by Our World in Data.

    Nuclear Power Can Be Green and Cheaper for Electricity

    Nuclear facilities are essentially extremely large tea kettles. The power-generation process begins when a uranium atom is split in half to create fission. This releases a tremendous amount of energy. Rods of the fissionable material are cooled in water, creating steam that spins a turbine and creates electricity.

    Most coal or natural gas power plants generate electricity the same way. The difference is uranium is a far more efficient source of energy. A single set of rods the size of a fireplace log holds enough energy to power 100 homes for a year. Uranium is also cleaner. Using it to create electricity does not release carbon into the atmosphere. This is especially as the world races toward zero emissions.

    The Future of Nuclear Energy

    The United Kingdom had 15 nuclear facilities operating in 1997, generating 27% of the country’s electricity. By 2024 only two plants will remain. With the help of Rolls Royce, Prime Minister Johnson wants to reverse the trend. The goal is to build smaller power generation facilities based on Rolls’ nuclear-powered submarine engines.

    It might be the perfect solution for an economy shying away from carbon emissions, and the perils of dependence on Russia oil and gas. The Netherlands, Czechia, Poland, Estonia, Slovenia and Serbia are now studying their nuclear options. Also, the European Union has labelled nuclear power as a climate-friendly investment.

  • Electricity Will Be Much More Expensive Next Winter

    Prepare now and lock in your electric rates!

    Electric rates are expected to spike next winter, reaching their highest point in at least two decades on the back of higher energy demand and market turmoil caused by the war in Ukraine. The electric rate could reach 15.6 cents a kilowatt hour, according to estimates.

    If that happens, the rate for many would be nearly double what was just approved by state regulators for the summer. As a result, the monthly bill for a typical residential customer, after delivery and other fees are factored in, would jump from about $111 to more than $150. The prospects aren’t looking good for ratepayers.

    “These are the highest futures prices that I recall in my 10-plus years doing this,”

    James Ruebenacker, manager of wholesale electric supply for National Grid in New England
    Electricity Prices Going Up

    Electric Prices Rising Nationwide

    Electric rates across the nation were already going up coming into this year as the economy started recovering from the COVID pandemic. The average electric price nationwide last year rose at its fastest pace since 2008, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The surge came as the price of natural gas, a major fuel for electric generation, more than doubled. The trend is expected to continue this year.

    Wholesale electric prices this past January hit their highest point in eight years while real-time and day-ahead power prices more than tripled compared to January 2021. The effects are already being felt by consumers… rates climbed 20-25% in January.

    Next winter the country will feel more of the effects of the overheated energy market.

    Electric Rates Tied to Price of Natural Gas

    The last time electric rates approached what’s being projected was in the winter of 2015. Before that, consumers would have to go back to 2008 to find a similar spike in the price of power. Amid a global surge in oil and natural gas prices, the winter rate hit 12.4 cents a kilowatt hour.

    Both previous price hikes came in large part from an increasing reliance on natural gas for power generation. With more power generators depending on the fuel source to create electricity, power suppliers have been thrown into competition with the heating market to get gas. The result has been a pattern of peaks and valleys in electric prices, with increases in the winter when gas needs are high and decreases in the summer when demand ebbs. The pattern has only grown more dramatic in recent years.

    War in Ukraine also pushing up energy prices

    The war in Ukraine is only adding to the upward pressure. European countries are looking for alternatives to Russia for sources of natural gas, meaning that already-high prices to ship liquefied supplies of the fuel are climbing even more.

    Within the next few years, offshore wind is expected to help fill that load, but some regions continue to get as much as 20% of power from oil-burning plants. The electricity from those plants is expensive and is expected to become more costly with global oil prices nearly double what they were a year ago.

    When compared to data going back to 2000, the projected rates will be the highest on record. Even in an apples-to-apples comparison of winter rates only, it still stands out, at nearly 50% higher than other recent peaks.

    Regulators urge Consumers to Prepare for Rate Increases

    Understanding why price increases happen is helpful for many but it doesn’t help pay the bills. Customers are encouraged to reduce usage through energy efficiency programs. By next winter, the price is projected to reach 14.5 cents pre kWh… It is a reflection of global energy markets.