We’re Committed to You                     

You can take comfort in knowing that our residential fixed-rate and month-to-month plans are not tied to real-time market prices, protecting you from wholesale power price swings. This means you won’t see a rate increase for February usage in your next bill because of the winter storm. If you used more energy than normal to heat your home during the severe cold, you could see an increase in usage costs.

We're not going anywhere.

We are the longest-serving renewable energy retailer, and you can count on us. Our doors are open, and we aren’t at risk of going out of business or having any of our customers rolled onto a Provider of Last Resort (POLR). We’ve been dedicated to changing the way power is made by offering 100% clean energy, carbon offsets and sustainable living solutions since 1997, and we’re in it for the long haul.

Concerned about electricity usage? We have answers.

If you use electricity to heat your home and water, energy usage can be very high during extremely cold weather, even if outages occur. When power isout for an extended period of time, and then restored, your home may struggle to warm back up, which can cause your electric furnace to run continuously. Electric furnaces in winter can consume three  to four times the energy that a comparable air conditioner consumes in summer, even without a power interruption. Similarly, if you have an electric water heater, it can potentially use lots of extra energy to heat water during periods of extreme cold.

Your home doesn’t have to have central heat to have consumed a large amount of energy. Space heaters can consume 1500 watts per hour or more. If, for example, you have three or four space heaters running 24 hours a day for a few days of extreme cold, usage adds up quickly. 1500 watts x 4 heaters = 144,000 watts per day or 144 Kwhs.

Weather impacts a home’s energy usage more than any other external factor. When the weather is colder, our homes are likely to consume more energy — especially when we experience record-setting low temperatures for several days in a row.

You can reduce winter energy usage.

Yes, you want to be warm and comfortable in winter, but setting the thermostat too high during a cold snap leads to more energy usage. In fact, for every degree your thermostat is set above 68, it may increase heating costs by 3–5%.

So, if you notice your home isn’t heating evenly and your furnace runs all day, your unit might need service, or you may need extra insulation. Contact an HVAC professional for help with repairs. 

If you have trouble with your bill, we can help.

This winter storm has placed some unexpected financial hardships on many Texans. If you feel that the extra strain has put you at risk of being unable to pay your electricity bill, contact us as soon as you can to discuss potential payment options.

Helpful winter safety and recovery tips.

While the worst is behind us and the electric grid has become more stable, there’s a lot  to do to move forward from the storm. Here are a few conservation and safety tips you can follow while you navigate the recovery process.

• Check for and seal any air leaks around doors and windows to reduce the amount of electricity it takes your HVAC system to keep you comfortable.

• Turn the thermometer on your water heater down to 120 degrees.

• Never taste food to find out if it’s still safe to eat.

• Plan for the future: Stock up on nonperishable foods and backup power sources and establish how you’ll contact loved ones if communications are interrupted.

• If you haven’t restocked your home emergency kit, or if you need to build one, this guide can ensur you have what you need: https://www.ready.gov/kit.
  
  
• Document any damage that was done to your home as a result of the storm.

• If you're dealing with burst pipes, you can find a licensed plumber in your area by visiting the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.

• Call 311 (if you live in Houston) or 211 (if you live elsewhere in Texas) to find a shelter or a community assistance program in your area.

For more tips, visit our energy-saving tips page.

There's still support.

Texans: As we recover from the extreme temperatures we faced in February, Green Mountain Energy wants you to know that we’re committed to your well-being. We’ll do everything in our power to keep you up to date and current as information unfolds.

You can contact us with any questions and concerns you may have because we are committed to you.