It’s been said that “Comparison is the thief of joy.” When it comes to looking at someone who has “more” or “better,” comparison will steal your joy. Having just been the giver and receiver of some holiday gifts, it’s easy to start comparing with others. But a more beneficial exercise would be to compare energy rates.

By that, we mean shop around for the best electricity rates for your unique lifestyle.

How do I score the best electricity deals?

To get a deal on anything, you usually need to “shop around.” Most of us do it for mortgage rates and insurance … for electronics and clothing … for groceries and travel. The same applies to electricity. But don’t worry — it’s much easier than holiday shopping. 

To make sure you get an affordable rate that works well for your home and lifestyle, perform an electricity supplier comparison. That way, you can see what kinds of plans and pricing each of the electricity providers offers. 

Note: There are many electricity providers in Texas. Make sure you’re searching among trusted Texas energy providers. Learn how to identify them here.

How do I compare energy rates and providers easily?

A great way to make apples-to-apples comparisons of electricity plans is to shop through an energy broker like Everything Energy. There, you’ll find plans from a number of trusted electricity providers. You can search based on your typical usage, term length preference and other factors. You can also see average monthly bills for each plan, so you can compare energy rates accurately.

What should I be aware of when I compare energy rates?

When you start shopping around, remember it’s more than just finding the cheapest electricity provider. There are quite a few things to take into consideration when you want to compare energy prices and plans, including:

• What term length do you want? (Longer contracts often let you lock in a lower price per kilowatt hour (kWh), while shorter terms offer more flexibility.)
• How many kWhs do you usually use each month? (Price per kWh can vary depending on usage, so make sure you read the fine print when you compare electricity prices.)
• What are your electricity usage habits? (Some plans offer better pricing at night or on the weekend.)
• What additional perks do you find valuable? (Some plans offer airline miles, gift cards, bill credits or other “extras.”)
• Is the energy source important to you? (Some electricity providers offer renewable energy sourced from the sun or the wind.)

One or more of these factors may be very important to you and your lifestyle. Because of this, the cheapest electricity provider might not necessarily be the best for you.

What else should I look for when I compare energy prices?

Some websites make it tricky to make accurate comparisons between plans. Comparing the price per kwh of plans only shows part of the story. Make sure you’ve read the details of each plan to determine if any contain extra fees or rate increases that could bump your price per kwh higher.

Everything Energy helps take the guesswork out of comparison shopping by showing monthly bill estimates for every plan based on your inputs. This way, you can make accurate comparisons and avoid any surprises. 

Start shopping now to compare energy rates and providers

Shopping for electricity is one form of comparison that won’t steal your joy. You may even jump for joy when you see how easy it is to find the best electricity rates and options for your lifestyle. Search plans in your area today!

Feeling a bit of holiday stress? Need a break from the hustle and bustle of the season? Learn a little about the cheapest energy plan out there: living off the grid. 

Living off the grid is defined as: not connected to or served by publicly or privately managed utilities (such as electricity, gas or water)

One extreme way to get the cheapest energy plan

People who live off the grid find other ways to meet their needs for power and running water. (Or they do without.) 

For example, 100% of their electricity is generated by power from the sun, the wind or other resources without help from the energy grid. Propane can replace natural gas. You can see how no electricity plan at all can naturally become the cheapest energy plan.

Obviously, most of us can’t and/or don’t want to go to that route. But we can incorporate some useful, and potentially money-saving, strategies from those who do.

Sampling the off-grid life

It takes a lot of time, research and personal energy to live the off-grid life. For the majority of people who prefer their modern creature comforts but also want the best electricity deals, here are a few tips from partial or total off-gridders.

1. Install a wood stove (or use the one you have)

A wood stove can be used as a primary heat source for your home. It can also heat water for bathing or cooking, heat up food and line-dry clothes.

2. Use solar power in some capacity

Rooftop solar arrays are becoming a realistic, clean-energy option for many homeowners. But even if rooftop solar is not in your future plans, you can still harness the sun’s power in other ways. A portable solar panel can be used to charge your devices. Or install a solar-powered water heater to cut down on energy usage. This can be an excellent step toward achieving the cheapest energy plan possible for your family without making the extreme leap to off-grid living.

The Solar Energy Industries Association ranks Texas as the top state for solar growth in the next five years. So, it may be worth researching your home’s solar power potential. 

Tip: Green energy suppliers like Green Mountain Energy offer many ways to support clean, renewable energy.

3. Rethink your evenings

For many, it’s just a habit to come home from work, eat dinner and then relax in front of the television or play a video game. But studies show that the blue light from screens can disrupt the body’s biological clock and interfere with good sleep. 

What would happen if you replaced evening screen time with tech-free activities in front of a warm fire or candlelight? Not only could you improve your sleep, you could also trim some kilowatts from your monthly electric bill. This may not get you the cheapest energy plan like off-gridders, but it could make you more energy efficient than your neighbors.

4. Ditch the wi-fi

If you’ve gone all-in on idea #3, and you don’t need an Internet connection all the time at home, you might be ready to ditch your modem and router. In addition to saving electricity, you’d also be free of your Internet bill. So, even if you’ve found a cheap electricity company or the best rate, you can still save in related ways. 

At the same time, you’d still have some Internet access if your mobile device has a data plan. And if you need the occasional wi-fi connection, you could always hop on the network at a local café or shop for free.

5. Use the clothes dryer sparingly

There’s something satisfying about hanging clothes and linens outside to dry. At first, it feels like a huge task compared to tossing them into the dryer. But as you go, it’s relaxing and you realize that it doesn’t actually take very long.

SpeedQueen, manufacturer of washers and dryers, even says that drying clothes outside in winter (on a dry day, of course) is definitely possible. It just takes a little more time and patience.

Compare electricity rates to find the cheapest energy plan

Most of us will probably keep our connection to the electricity grid. But that doesn’t mean we can’t look for the best electric company for our needs or search for one that provides the cheapest energy plan for our current, on-the-grid life. 

For holiday shopping that’s empowering and easy, visit Everything Energy and compare electricity rates in your area.

It’s mid-December. Have you made a dent in your holiday gift list yet? If you’re still looking for that perfect gift, think outside the box. How about something that will help the receiver combat electric prices and keep their monthly electricity cost down? 

From energy-efficient tech gifts to non-tech items and “experience” gifts, we’ve got you covered.

Fight electric prices with energy-efficient gifts

Take away the stress of today’s electric prices by giving the gift of lower energy usage with these thoughtful present ideas:

Smart plugs

A few smart plugs placed in the right spots can help lower usage and, potentially, their monthly electricity cost. Use them to reduce phantom load from charging devices, schedule a slow cooker to turn on or off while you’re at work and more. It’s a nifty little gift for the practical person in your life.

Smart power strip

Like smart plugs, a smart power strip is not the most glamorous of gifts. But it makes up for its lack of sparkle with its utility. Instead of unplugging devices when not in use to avoid standby power loss, a smart power strip lets you cut power remotely without pulling the plug. 

Smart thermostat

If your gift recipient still has an older thermostat, you could give them an upgrade. A smart thermostat can learn their comfort zone and is easy to control via a mobile app. That makes it possible to adjust temperatures while out and about, reducing waste.

The average ENERGY STAR® smart thermostat saves about 8% of heating and cooling costs. With Texas’s long, red-hot summers, the savings could add up and help achieve the cheapest electricity bill possible.

Any ENERGY STAR® certified item

From light bulbs and laptops to large home appliances, ENERGY STAR® certified products are designed to be energy efficient. If you want a gift that will help defend against fluctuating electric prices in the years to come, look for the ENERGY STAR® symbol.

Fight electric prices with non-tech gifts

If you’re looking for a gift that doesn’t need to be plugged in to make a difference, try these ideas:

Watt meter

For the curious, numbers-obsessed person in your life, gift a watt meter. Plug in this handy device in the wall socket, then plug any electronic item into the meter. It measures how much energy the item uses, both in standby mode and when in use. 

Your recipient will feel empowered with the added knowledge. Electric prices become a lot less stressful when you know exactly how to cut your usage.

Low-flow showerhead

People sometimes forget that it takes a lot of energy to heat water. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that low-flow showerheads with the Water Sense label can save the average family 2700 gallons of water each year. That translates to around 330 kilowatt hours annually — enough to power a home for about 11 days. Someone who values utility (and sustainability) would find this gift very thoughtful.

Solar power bank

A solar power bank is a perfect gift for a friend or relative who is always on the move. Using the sun’s power, this gadget keeps smartphones, tablets, earbuds and other items charged. A device like this will help your recipient forget about electric prices altogether!

Solar outdoor lighting

Many homes already use solar lighting in gardens, along walkways or around pools. A gift of solar porch lights or safety spotlight can complement existing solar lighting without adding to the electric bill.

Push back on electric prices with experience gifts

If “stuff” is getting out of hand for your recipient, gift an experience or non-physical present instead. Here are just a few options:

Energy audit

Give the gift of energy efficiency by arranging an energy audit for your friend or family member. A professional will evaluate their home for inefficiencies and suggest improvements. 

Some electricity providers offer this service for free or a small fee. Either way, you’ll be gifting valuable information and action items that can help alleviate the effects of electric prices.

Home solar panel consultation

Many people want to learn about home solar panels. But they can’t find the time to get the ball rolling. Help start the info-gathering process by setting up a solar installation consultation for them. Who knows — by this time next year, they may be showing off their new rooftop solar array to you!

Donation

Are you shopping for a person that has everything? Make a donation in their name to an environmentally friendly charity. Find one they’d be honored to support. Sure, it won’t affect their personal electric prices, but it supports the bigger picture of a sustainable future.

Compare energy prices to find the best energy deals for your lifestyle

Now that you’ve thought about others’ electric prices — and gifts to help ease their monthly electricity costs — compare energy prices for your own home with Everything Energy. 

Our personalized tools help you make more exact comparisons to find the best plan for you and your family’s needs. Click here to start searching.

Everything Energy is an energy broker. Specifically, we help residential customers find the best electricity provider and electricity plan for their home, preferences and lifestyle. 

Read on to learn how you can benefit from using an electricity broker in your home energy search.

What does an energy broker do?

Like many other types of brokers, an energy broker (or utility broker) connects a buyer and seller. For Everything Energy, that means a residential customer and an electricity provider.

As an energy broker, Everything Energy’s goal is to give consumers a straightforward way to make apples-to-apples comparisons of electricity plans. We want to simplify the somewhat daunting task of choosing an energy provider. Our tools help you narrow down the options from a variety of trusted Texas electricity providers. 

Saving money with an energy broker

Using Everything Energy’s innovative search tools, you can zero in on the best energy provider and plan for your specific needs. 

In reality, one size never fits all when it comes to electricity plans. Some plans work well for a family of five in a 2000-square-foot home. But those same plans may not be optimal for a college student living in a studio apartment. 

The price could appear to be the same when focusing only on the cost per kilowatt-hour. But when you apply a higher level of personalization and adjust for usage habits, a different story may emerge.

As an energy broker, Everything Energy takes the information you provide and factors that into the equation. What you get are average bill estimates that let you make more precise comparisons. This helps you get the best plan for you, which in turn could save you money.

What does an energy broker not do?

There are several things an energy broker does not do. These include:

• Make the electricity that is delivered to your home
• Deliver the electricity to your home
• Maintain the poles and wires in your city
• Provide customer service for the electricity providers
• Handle power outages and other emergencies

Does it cost money to use an electricity broker?

Not at all! The best part about an energy broker is that it doesn’t cost you, the consumer, anything to use. We’re simply here to offer you a number of solutions to choose from. And we are confident we can help you find the perfect fit for your needs. 

You don’t need to provide your credit card to use our site, or even any personal information. Just filter your options by selecting your monthly electricity usage, term length preferences and other inputs. You’re even able to search for green energy suppliers and plans. Or, view only the energy plans that offer airline miles or other perks. The choice is yours.

Once you make a decision, you go directly to the electricity provider’s website for the sign-up process.

For the most personalized results, you do have the choice of allowing Everything Energy to access your Smart Meter data. However, this is optional. And it always requires your prior consent.

How do I start using an energy broker to find the best electric company for my needs?

You’re almost there! Just click over to the Everything Energy home page to get started. Enter your ZIP code to view electricity plans available in your area. Then, explore our filters to find the very best electricity plan for your home, family and needs.