Why Is My Electric Bill So High? San Antonio Summer Causes and Fixes

Why is my electric bill so high? If you are asking that after opening a summer CPS Energy statement, the answer is usually printed on the bill itself. If your San Antonio electric bill jumped this summer, look first at heavier air-conditioning use during long stretches of heat, combined with how CPS Energy prices summer residential usage. A single rate change seldom explains a summer jump on its own.

Start with your own usage numbers, work through the free fixes, then move to the upgrades that cut heat load. Call a licensed electrician when the clues point to wiring, a panel or a new circuit.

Why Is My Electric Bill So High? Check Your Bill First

The quickest way to find out why your electric bill is so high is to check whether you used more electricity or paid more for the same amount. Your bill and CPS Energy's My Energy Portal give you what you need.

• Compare kWh, not dollars. Put this month's kilowatt-hours next to the same month last year. My Energy Portal shows monthly usage from your bills going back a year.
• Count the days. A billing period with more days than usual adds usage on its own.
• Check the daily pattern. With a smart meter, the portal shows usage by day, by hour or in 15-minute increments, as recently as the day before. A high overnight baseline points to something that runs all the time.
• Compare with similar homes. The portal compares your efficiency with similar neighbors and shows reasons for month-to-month changes.
• List what changed. A new EV, a pool, a second refrigerator, a home office or extra people at home can all raise usage.
• Check the rate history. CPS Energy's rates page lists its most recent base-rate increase, 4.25%, effective February 1, 2024.

If your kWh went up, the fix is inside your house. If your kWh stayed flat and the bill still rose, call CPS Energy and ask them to walk you through the charges.

How CPS Energy's Summer Charge Works

A CPS Energy newsroom article from June 30, 2023 explains a peak capacity charge that applies from June through September to residential usage above 600 kWh a month, at 2.06 cents per additional kWh at the time of that article. Rates change, so check CPS Energy's current rates page and compare this summer's kWh with last year's bill before assuming a rate increase.

That article put the year-round residential base rate at 7.188 cents per kWh at the time and worked through an example of a home using about 1,400 kWh in a summer month, with roughly 800 kWh above the 600 kWh threshold. CPS Energy suggests setting your thermostat to 78°F in summer, and it points customers to STEP rebates, Casa Verde weatherization, WiFi Thermostat Rewards and its daily Beat the Heat conservation alerts.

Heat Load Drives the Bill

In San Antonio, the enemy is heat load: long summers and attic heat radiating down through the ceiling can force the air conditioner to run for hours. Thin attic insulation and leaky attic ductwork make it work harder for less comfort. Cut the heat load and you cut both everyday usage and the share of usage above the summer threshold.

The Department of Energy says heat gain and loss through windows is responsible for 25% to 30% of residential heating and cooling energy use, and that about 20% to 30% of the air moving through a duct system is lost to leaks, holes and poorly connected ducts. In a San Antonio attic, leaking supply ducts dump cooled air into the hottest space in the house. Shading west-facing glass and sealing attic ductwork go straight at both problems.

Other Loads That Push a Summer Bill Up

Air conditioning gets most of the blame, but several other loads run harder or longer in summer, and every kWh counts toward CPS Energy's 600 kWh summer threshold.

• Pool pumps. A single-speed pump on a long daily schedule adds up over a season. CPS Energy's STEP page lists a pool pump rebate.
• EV charging. A new electric vehicle adds steady usage. Plan any EV charger installation in San Antonio with your panel capacity in mind, and review EV charger installation cost factors before you buy.
• Electric water heaters. CPS Energy passes along the Department of Energy's recommendation to set water heaters at 120°F. An aging tank that runs more than it should is worth a look; weigh water heater repair vs replacement when it acts up.
• Garage refrigerators and freezers. A second unit in a hot garage works hard all summer.
• Heat-producing chores. CPS Energy suggests running laundry early in the morning or late at night and cooking with a slow cooker, air fryer or grill instead of the oven, so those chores do not compete with the air conditioner.
• Always-on electronics. Devices on standby draw power around the clock. CPS Energy's no-cost Home Energy Assessment includes energy-saving products such as smart power strips.

When a High Bill Points to an Electrical Problem

If usage jumped and nothing in your routine changed, something may be running when it should not. Common culprits are an air conditioner that never cycles off, a pool pump stuck on its timer or an electric water heater that runs too often. Switch suspect equipment off at its normal control, not at the panel, and watch the overnight numbers in My Energy Portal.

Some signs matter for safety before they matter for your bill. Call a licensed electrician if you notice:

• Outlets, switches or cover plates that feel warm or look discolored
• A burning or hot-plastic smell near outlets, fixtures or the panel
• Breakers that trip repeatedly, especially when the air conditioner starts
• Lights that dim or flicker hard when large equipment turns on

Do not open your electrical panel or test circuits yourself. A licensed electrician in San Antonio can trace the load safely and tell you whether the panel, a circuit or the equipment itself is the problem.

Six Things You Can Do This Week

1. Raise the thermostat a few degrees and use a schedule, especially while you are at work.
2. Ask CPS Energy whether your smart thermostat qualifies for its WiFi Thermostat Rewards program.
3. Change the air filter regularly in summer; a clogged filter makes the system run longer.
4. Seal obvious air leaks around doors, windows and outlets. Income-qualified households can ask CPS Energy about Casa Verde weatherization.
5. Use ceiling and portable fans so you are comfortable at a higher setting.
6. Shade west-facing windows and close blinds in the afternoon.

The Department of Energy estimates you can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by turning your thermostat back 7°F to 10°F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting; in summer, that means setting it higher while you are away. CPS Energy notes that pairing your air conditioner with a ceiling fan lets you raise the thermostat by about 4°F with no reduction in comfort. Check My Energy Portal the next day to see what each change did.

Six Jobs to Leave to a Pro

7. Add or upgrade attic insulation; CPS Energy's STEP page lists an attic insulation rebate.
8. Have the air conditioner serviced by a qualified HVAC professional before peak season.
9. Seal and repair leaky ductwork.
10. Replace an aging, inefficient air conditioner or install a heat pump when repair no longer makes sense; confirm any rebate with CPS Energy before you buy. Compare SEER2 ratings on every quote.
11. Upgrade to a variable-speed pool pump; any new circuit or panel work for it should be done by a licensed electrical contractor.
12. Have an older or overloaded electrical panel inspected and, if needed, upgraded. See electrical panel upgrades.

CPS Energy Programs That Can Lower Your Bill

CPS Energy's STEP page lists residential rebates including WiFi Thermostat Rewards, Home Energy Rebates for central air, heat pumps, pool pumps and attic insulation, a Cool Roof Rebate and a High Performance A/C Tuneup.

• No-Cost Home Energy Assessment. A trained energy specialist evaluates your home's energy use, recommends improvements and can provide products such as LED bulbs and smart power strips. It is for CPS Energy residential account holders in single-family homes up to a fourplex, once per residence every 5 years.
• Casa Verde weatherization. Eligible homeowners and renters can get upgrades such as attic and wall insulation, duct sealing, WiFi smart thermostats and window A/C replacement through a registered Trade Ally. You can qualify by household income, by an energy burden of 10% or more of annual income, or by receiving income-based assistance.

Programs and amounts change, so confirm eligibility with CPS Energy before you sign a contract.

A Sensible Order of Operations

Start with the free and low-cost steps this week, then schedule the work with the biggest heat-load reductions: insulation, duct sealing, air-conditioning service and equipment upgrades when they are due. Ask CPS Energy which rebates are open before you sign a contract.

Keep notes on what you changed and when, and compare each month's kWh in My Energy Portal with the same month last year. That record shows which fixes worked and gives any contractor real numbers to work from. If the trail leads to an overloaded panel or new circuits for a pool pump or EV charger, that part is work for a licensed electrical contractor.