From the oil fields of West Texas to the climate change debates in Austin to the wind turbines in the Panhandle, energy is ever-present for Texans. The Energy Department is a collection of stories, tips, and guides on how energy impacts you, your home, and your community. Find out more below, thanks to our sponsor, Direct Energy.
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The Energy Department
Brought to you by Direct Energy
Stories from our sponsor
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More Corporations Getting Involved in “Giving Back” to Make an Impact.
Corporate-sponsored community involvement is becoming more popular, and one of the most active Texas-based companies in terms of giving-back-to-make-a-difference is Direct Energy. Read more about Direct Energy and other corporations giving back, and watch the video of the opening of the new Direct Energy Patient Floor and Cardiac Patient Care…
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What’s Improved Thanks to Texas’ Open Electricity Market?
Things changed for the better in 2002, after the Texas legislature opened the state’s electricity market to competition in most regions of Texas. Since then, competitive market pressures continue to drive retail electricity providers to focus on improving their customer services, customer insight tools, and innovative new products and solutions…
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Last Summer Was Hot, But Texans Stayed Cool. Here’s Why.
Last summer was hot, but Texans stayed cool. Read how the Texas Energy Grid was managed and maintained during these sweltering heatwaves.
Stories from our editors
UT Geologists Extract Potential Natural Gas Source From the Ocean Floor
Methane hydrate, the compound recovered by the scientists, could provide power to future generations.
John Goodenough Plans to Make Gasoline Obsolete
How a wisecracking 95-year-old chemist plans to reenergize the future.
Can Engineers Convert Heat from Pavements into Clean Energy?
A recent grant can help the UTSA team improve their thermal energy-harvesting system.
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Direct Energy and Amazon Prove There Are Easy Answers.
Want solutions for saving money and simplifying your life? Just ask Amazon Alexa. Direct Energy has leveraged Amazon’s Alexa Skills and devices to provide customers with an easy-to-use tool that delivers the ultimate control over your home environment — and your electricity bill. “Alexa is Amazon’s voice service and the…
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Hurricane Season 2018: What to Do Before, During and After
While the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey may seem barely behind many Texans, another hurricane season began June 1 and will run through November. And the good news? According to the Texas Hurricane Handbook, most major storms hit Texas in August and September, which means you still have several weeks to…
Stories from our editors
West Texas: The Future of Texas Energy Resilience
Investments in transmission lines from wind-producing regions bring options, savings, and reliability to consumers.
Houston Museum of Natural Science Opens High-Tech New Energy Hall
One of the museum’s most popular attractions is back and bigger than ever.
Failure to Prep for Climate Change Could Hurt Texas’s Credit Rating
States and cities that do not create adequate "adaptation and mitigation strategies" may face tarnished credit ratings, Moody's warns.
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The ‘Why’ & ‘How’ of Understanding the Energy Grid
Do you know who your energy provider is? Did you know you have a choice? After all you send them money every month to keep the electricity flowing. But what’s the process behind that flow? Enter the Texas energy grid, which is a combination of the generation, transmission and distribution…
How to Switch Electricity Providers in Texas
For over 15 years, Texas residents had a choice when it comes to selecting their retail energy provider. Today, 85% of Texas is deregulated (with only a few cities that are still regulated like Austin, San Antonio, and El Paso).
Paying Energy Forward
Ever been in line at Starbucks, stepped up to pay, and learned that the gentleman in front of you bought your latte? Maybe it’s an iced latte during the Texas summers, but this type of thing happens, folks. There’s no doubt that Texas boasts hospitality, manners, and we love to…
5 Tips for Understanding Your Electric Bill
For years, I was one of those “get the electric bill and just pay it” people, not bothering to dig into the details. But a recent move to a new residence and curiosity how my energy costs might change prompted me to do some digging. What I discovered would save…