Electricity rates — Austin Energy
A household served by Austin Energy using 1,000 kWh a month pays about $1,486.32 a year on the cheapest of 2 generally available plans — Residential - Outside Austin from Austin Energy. Rates checked September 2, 2026. A further 3 schedules are published but restricted — means-tested, closed to new customers, or needing particular equipment — and they are priced further down.
Every priced plan, 1,000 kWh/mo
| Plan | Per year | vs cheapest | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Time-of-Use Pilot Program - Outside Austintime-of-use · pilot programme | $962.05 | −$524.27 | 8.0¢ |
| Residential - Outside Austin✓ cheapesttiered | $1,486.32 | — | 12.4¢ |
| Residential Time-of-Use Pilot Programtime-of-use · pilot programme | $1,550.31 | +$63.99 | 12.9¢ |
| Residentialtiered | $1,562.64 | +$76.32 | 13.0¢ |
| Residential Low Incometiered · low-income rate | $2,342.28 | +$855.96 | 19.5¢ |
Cost across usage levels
The cheapest plan at each consumption level, showing whether the ranking holds as usage changes.
- 500 kWh/mo — cheapest $814.68 (Residential - Outside Austin), dearest $838.44, a $23.76 spread
- 1,000 kWh/mo — cheapest $1,486.32 (Residential - Outside Austin), dearest $1,562.64, a $76.32 spread
- 2,000 kWh/mo — cheapest $2,964.12 (Residential - Outside Austin), dearest $3,240.24, a $276.12 spread
What a typical bill costs
At 1,000 kWh a month the 5 priceable plans here run from $1,486.32 on Residential - Outside Austin to $1,562.64 on Residential, with a median of $1,524.48.
The spread is $76.32 a year — about $6.36 a month for identical electricity.
Effective rates, bill divided by kilowatt-hours, span 12.4¢ to 13.0¢ per kWh at that usage.
How the answer changes with usage
Residential - Outside Austin is cheapest at every level tested — $814.68 a year at 500 kWh a month, $2,964.12 at 2,000 kWh.
The penalty for a poor choice grows with usage: $23.76 a year at 500 kWh against $276.12 at 2,000 kWh.
Cheapest 5 plans at 1,000 kWh a month
Residential Time-of-Use Pilot Program - Outside Austin — $962.05 a year, 8.0¢ per kWh effective, time-of-use. It carries a $10.00 monthly standing charge.
Residential - Outside Austin — $1,486.32 a year, 12.4¢ per kWh effective, tiered. It carries a $15.00 monthly standing charge.
Residential Time-of-Use Pilot Program — $1,550.31 a year, 12.9¢ per kWh effective, time-of-use. It carries a $15.00 monthly standing charge.
Residential — $1,562.64 a year, 13.0¢ per kWh effective, tiered. It carries a $15.00 monthly standing charge.
Residential Low Income — $2,342.28 a year, 19.5¢ per kWh effective, tiered. It carries no standing charge.
How these plans are structured
Of 5 priceable plans: 3 tiered, 2 time-of-use.
Fixed monthly charges run from $10.00 to $15.00.
Who provides these plans
Austin Energy was found serving Austin, Texas. 5 of its 5 published residential schedules can be priced.
The largest saving available here
Moving from Residential to Residential - Outside Austin saves $76.32 a year at 1,000 kWh a month, with no change in consumption.
What this does not cover
2 of these plans price by hour. WattClear does not know which hours a household uses, so those estimates carry lower confidence and say so on the figure.
New to these terms? The methodology page explains tiered bands, time-of-use periods and fixed charges, and sets out exactly what the rate engine assumes.
Estimate — your actual bill may differ.
Tariff structures from NREL/OpenEI Utility Rate Database (CC0 1.0), retrieved September 2, 2026.
Location resolved through the US Census Bureau Geocoder (Public domain) at 30.2672, -97.7431.