Best Thermostat Settings to Save on Texas Electricity

Your Thermostat Controls 60% of Your Bill

In Texas, heating and cooling account for the largest share of your electricity bill, typically 60-70% during summer months. That means your thermostat setting has more impact on your monthly costs than almost any other single factor.

The good news is that small adjustments add up to big savings. You do not need to suffer through a hot house to see a difference. A few strategic changes to how you program your thermostat can easily save $30-$50 per month during summer.

The Right Temperatures for Each Situation

When you are home during the day: 78 degrees. This is the Department of Energy’s recommended setting, and it genuinely saves money. If 78 feels too warm, use ceiling fans. They cost about 1 cent per hour and make a room feel 4 degrees cooler.

When you are away from home: 82-85 degrees. There is no reason to cool an empty house to 78. Raising the temperature by just 4-7 degrees while you are at work saves 12-21% on your cooling costs for those hours.

When you are sleeping: 72-75 degrees. Most people sleep better in a slightly cooler room. Since outdoor temperatures drop at night, your AC does not have to work as hard to maintain lower indoor temperatures. Setting it to 74 is a solid compromise.

In winter: 68 degrees when you are home, 60-62 degrees when you are away or sleeping. Texas winters are mild compared to northern states, so heating costs are usually a fraction of summer cooling. But in a cold snap, proper settings still matter.

Programmable Thermostats: Set It and Forget It

A basic programmable thermostat costs $25-$50 and lets you set a schedule so you never have to think about adjusting the temperature. Program it to raise the temperature 30 minutes before you leave for work and lower it 30 minutes before you get home.

The savings from a programmable thermostat come from consistency. Most people forget to adjust the temperature when they leave the house. A programmed schedule eliminates that problem entirely and can save 10% on your annual electricity costs.

Smart Thermostats: Worth Every Dollar

Smart thermostats like the Google Nest, Ecobee, or Honeywell Home take programmable thermostats a step further. They learn your schedule, adjust based on occupancy, and let you control the temperature remotely from your phone.

The Ecobee includes room sensors, which is especially valuable in two-story Texas homes where the upstairs runs hotter than downstairs. Instead of cooling the entire house to make one room comfortable, the sensor tells the thermostat to focus on where people actually are.

Most smart thermostats cost $120-$250. With annual savings of $240-$360 for a typical Texas household, the payback period is under one year. Some Texas electricity providers even offer smart thermostats for free or at a discount when you sign up for a plan.

Common Thermostat Mistakes That Cost You Money

Running the fan on ON instead of AUTO. The ON setting keeps the blower running 24/7, even when the AC compressor is off. This adds $20-$40 per month in electricity and actually increases indoor humidity by pulling moisture back off the coils.

Cranking the thermostat way down to cool faster. Setting it to 65 does not cool your house faster. Your AC cools at the same rate regardless of the target temperature. All you do is make it run longer than necessary, wasting electricity.

Not changing the air filter. A dirty filter restricts airflow and makes your system run longer to reach the target temperature. Replace it every 30-60 days during summer. A $5 filter can save you $20 or more per month in electricity.

Use Your Thermostat Data

Most smart thermostats track your daily and monthly energy data. Check the reports regularly. You will see exactly how many hours your AC ran each day and how different temperature settings affected run time. Use that data to find the settings that balance comfort and cost for your specific home.