Rising Power Bills Test Texas Families as Growth Strains the Grid

By Michael Phillips | TXBayNews

Texas has long sold itself as a place where families can get ahead — low taxes, affordable living, and opportunity fueled by growth. But for many households, that promise is being tested by surging electricity bills that are forcing difficult tradeoffs between basic necessities.

A recent report by Dallas–Fort Worth ABC affiliate WFAA put a human face on the problem. Shakina Thompson, a single mother in Fort Worth, told reporters she skipped groceries to keep the lights on after her combined gas and electric bill topped $200. Temporary help from Fort Worth Community Action Partners offered relief, but her story reflects a broader trend affecting millions of Texans.

Rates Are Rising — Even If Texas Is “Below Average”

According to the Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute, residential electricity rates in Texas have climbed roughly 30% since 2021, with an additional 29% increase projected by 2030 if current trends continue.

Technically, Texas electricity rates remain slightly below the national average. The problem is usage. Extreme heat, long cooling seasons, and large homes mean Texans consume far more power than residents in many other states. The result is monthly bills averaging $160–$220, even before summer peaks hit.

For lower-income households, energy costs can consume 10–12% of income, compared with about 1–2% for higher earners — a gap that turns rate hikes into real hardship.

Growth Is the Core Driver

At the heart of rising costs is explosive demand growth inside the ERCOT grid, overseen by Electric Reliability Council of Texas.

Texas is adding people, factories, and technology faster than almost anywhere in the country. One major new factor is the rapid expansion of AI and cloud data centers, which consume enormous amounts of electricity around the clock — often equivalent to entire cities.

ERCOT forecasts show peak demand potentially doubling by the early 2030s if even a fraction of proposed projects move forward. While many applications may never be built, utilities must still plan transmission upgrades and grid hardening — costs that ultimately land on residential bills.

This comes on top of:

• Billions spent reinforcing the grid after the 2021 winter storm
• New transmission lines to support growth corridors
• Fuel price volatility and weather extremes

A Conservative Dilemma: Growth vs. Affordability

From a center-right perspective, the challenge is not growth itself. Texas’ pro-business climate has delivered jobs, investment, and national competitiveness. Few conservatives want to slam the brakes on innovation or send data centers to other states.

But there is growing concern about who pays when infrastructure costs explode.

In 2025, lawmakers responded with Senate Bill 6, requiring very large power users to shoulder more interconnection costs and participate in emergency curtailment. Supporters argue it protects households from subsidizing massive corporate loads. Critics warn that excessive regulation could dampen investment or distort markets.

The broader conservative consensus is clear:

• Reliability must come first — blackouts hurt families and businesses alike
• Costs should be allocated fairly, not quietly shifted onto households
• Markets should send honest price signals, encouraging efficiency and private investment in dispatchable power like natural gas and nuclear

Help Exists — But It’s Not a Long-Term Fix

For families in crisis today, assistance programs matter. Texans can access help through the state’s Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), local nonprofits, or utility hardship funds. Calling 211 remains the fastest way to find local support.

In deregulated areas, shopping for fixed-rate electricity plans can also provide short-term stability.

Still, relief programs are a safety net — not a solution.

The Bigger Question for Texas

Texas now faces a defining policy test: can it remain the nation’s growth engine without pricing working families out of basic utilities?

The answer will depend on whether leaders can balance innovation with accountability, welcome investment without socializing its costs, and ensure that ordinary Texans aren’t left choosing between groceries and keeping the lights on.

As stories like Thompson’s show, electricity policy is no longer abstract. It is personal — and increasingly political.