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Xcel Energy: Texas home electricity bills up about 5 percent compared to last summer

Customers can more than offset 12 cents-a-day increase with conservation

AMARILLO, TEXAS - Prices of electric service from Xcel Energy will be up this summer compared to last-but at typical homes, by only 12 cents a day.

Residential customers of Xcel Energy in Texas will pay $3.64, or 4.9 percent, more a month for 1,000 kilowatt-hours of service this year compared to last year. The summer 2003 price for 1,000 kwh was $74.77. May through October this year, 1,000 kwh delivered to a home costs $78.41.

Commercial and industrial class customers also will see summer price increases-larger than at homes, because they use larger amounts of electricity.

Higher costs of natural gas burned to generate electricity at natural gas-fueled power plants have forced the price increases, said David Hudson, Xcel Energy director of regulatory administration.

“We encourage our customers to offset the increases, and more than offset them, by conservation,” Hudson said. “Just a couple of kilowatt-hours saved every day at a home will offset the price difference from last year to this.”

A kilowatt-hour is equivalent to the amount of electricity used by a 100-watt bulb over 10 hours, he said.

Consumers who want easy-to-read tips on wise use of electricity can get Xcel Energy’s brochure “60 Simple Ways To Save Money on Your Energy Bill” free by calling 1-800-895-4999 or going to www.xcelenergy.com. Public libraries offer free access to computers and the Internet.

The Web site also features InfoSmart from Xcel Energy, an interactive, online information source Hudson described as a user-friendly, highly customizable tool that can provide each customer specific recommendations for making a home comfortable and more energy-efficient.

“Xcel Energy’s lower-cost, coal-fueled power plants, fortunately, will help us keep our overall prices low,” Hudson said. “Xcel Energy’s prices for all classes of customers in this region will continue to be among the lowest in the Southwest and even the nation. 

“For instance, this summer the electric utility serving most of the Dallas, Ft. Worth areas will charge about $104 a month for 1,000 kilowatt-hours of residential service, more than $25 higher than Xcel Energy’s $78.41.”

The Public Utility Commission of Texas offers other price comparisons for electric service to various classes of customers around the state, at www.puc.state.tx.us, under “electric; reports; recurring reports; bill comparisons for non-competitive markets” (compare also to prices in Texas “competitive markets”). Xcel Energy is identified on the site as Southwestern Public Service Company.