Average Electric Bill for a 1-Bedroom Apartment in Texas

The average electric bill for a 1-bedroom apartment in Texas runs between $80 and $160 per month, depending on the season, the city, the electricity plan, and how the unit is used. That range is wide because Texas has extreme seasonal swings — mild springs and brutal summers — and because the deregulated electricity market means rates vary significantly by provider and plan.

This page breaks down what drives that number, what typical monthly usage looks like by season, and what Texas renters can do to stay on the lower end of the range.

Monthly Cost Estimates by Season

Texas electricity costs for a 1-bedroom apartment follow a predictable seasonal pattern driven almost entirely by air conditioning load. Here are typical monthly bill ranges by season:

Estimates assume a fixed rate of approximately 12–13 cents per kWh all-in, which is a reasonable midpoint for a 12-month fixed plan in the DFW or Houston market. Actual rates vary by provider, contract length, and market conditions at the time of enrollment.

What Drives the Electric Bill in a Texas Apartment

Air Conditioning

Air conditioning is the single largest driver of electricity costs in a Texas apartment, accounting for 50 to 70 percent of total usage during summer months. Texas summers are long — DFW and Houston regularly see temperatures above 90°F from mid-June through mid-September, with July and August averaging daily highs above 96°F in Dallas. An apartment AC unit running for 8 to 12 hours per day during peak summer adds 400 to 700 kWh of usage per month beyond the baseline.

Apartment Size and Insulation

A 650-square-foot one-bedroom uses meaningfully less electricity than an 1,100-square-foot one-bedroom with a den, even at the same thermostat setting. Insulation quality, window exposure (south- and west-facing units get more heat load), and the age of the HVAC unit also matter. Older HVAC systems can use 30 to 40 percent more electricity than newer high-efficiency units to produce the same cooling.

Electricity Plan and Rate

Texas is a deregulated electricity market, which means renters choose their own retail electricity provider (REP) and contract. Fixed-rate plans lock in the price per kWh for the contract term. Variable-rate plans fluctuate monthly. During summer 2022, variable-rate customers in ERCOT saw bills two to three times higher than fixed-rate customers because wholesale prices spiked with demand. A well-chosen fixed-rate plan matched to your lease term is the single highest-leverage decision a Texas renter can make on their electric bill.

Appliances and Behavior

After the AC, the next largest electricity draws in a 1-bedroom apartment are the water heater, refrigerator, dryer, and lighting. An electric water heater in a unit that gets heavy use can add 75 to 100 kWh per month. A clothes dryer running four loads per week adds about 60 kWh per month. LED lighting across a typical 1-bedroom adds 20 to 35 kWh per month — far less than incandescent equivalents.

How Texas Rents Compare to the National Average

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that Texas households pay slightly above the national median for electricity on a per-kWh basis, but Texas apartments tend to run higher than the national apartment average for total monthly cost because of the state's extreme summer heat load. A 1-bedroom apartment in Minnesota might average $60 per month year-round; the same-sized apartment in DFW averages closer to $100 to $110 year-round once summer bills are factored in.

How to Keep Your Texas Apartment Electric Bill Lower

The most impactful things a Texas renter can do to keep their electric bill lower are choosing a fixed-rate plan matched to their lease term, setting the thermostat to 76–78°F during the day rather than 72°F (each degree lower adds roughly 3 percent to summer cooling costs), and using blackout curtains on south- and west-facing windows during afternoon hours.

Some Texas apartment communities offer lease-synchronized electricity enrollment — a service where the electricity contract is set up automatically at lease signing, matched to the lease term, and terminated at move-out without requiring the renter to call the REP separately. This eliminates one of the most common sources of unnecessary cost: renters who forget to cancel their contract at move-out and pay for electricity in a unit they no longer occupy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average electric bill for a 1-bedroom apartment in Texas?

The average electric bill for a 1-bedroom apartment in Texas is approximately $80 to $160 per month. The lower end applies to mild months in spring and fall. The upper end applies to July and August peak summer. A full-year average typically lands around $100 to $115 per month for a typical 1-bedroom.

How many kWh does a 1-bedroom apartment use per month in Texas?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Texas typically uses 600 to 900 kWh per month averaged across the year. In peak summer, usage can reach 1,000 to 1,400 kWh. In mild months, it may drop to 400 to 600 kWh. Texas electricity providers are required to show pricing at 500, 1,000, and 2,000 kWh tiers on the Electricity Facts Label, so the 1-bedroom range spans both the 500 and 1,000 kWh columns.

Why is my Texas apartment electric bill so high in summer?

Texas summer electric bills spike because air conditioning accounts for 50 to 70 percent of a typical apartment's electricity use, and Texas summers are among the hottest in the country. DFW and Houston regularly see 10 to 12 consecutive weeks above 90°F. ERCOT wholesale prices also peak in summer, which can push retail rates higher — particularly on variable-rate plans.

What electricity rate should I expect for a Texas apartment?

Texas retail electricity rates for apartment renters typically range from 10 to 16 cents per kWh on a fixed-rate plan, depending on contract length, provider, and market conditions at enrollment. Always compare the all-in average price per kWh at 1,000 kWh on the Electricity Facts Label, not the base rate shown in advertising.

Is the electric bill included in Texas apartment rent?

Most Texas apartments do not include electricity in rent. Renters in deregulated Texas set up their own contract with a retail electricity provider and receive a separate electric bill each month. Some properties offer lease-synchronized enrollment that automates setup at lease signing, but the renter still pays the bill directly.