If Texas Energy Companies Paid You To Use Less, Would You?

With these record temps we've been seeing across Texas for the last couple of weeks, a lot of us have been using way more energy in our homes.

Whether that's constantly powering window A/C units or using a central air system, we're burning a lot more energy than we typically would. That always causes problems on the power grids across the state, and it taxes them.

This is what has caused ERCOT and others to go on a rolling blackout sort of system at times. If the power grid is taxed, it can't provide the energy needed for everyone and it overloads the system. That happens and a ton of people lose it.

The question for years and years though has been how do we get energy usage to drop and people willingly want to participate? No one wants to keep their home at 80+ degrees when it's over 100 degrees outside.

One of the ideas that has recently been bandied about is, what if companies paid customers to NOT use as much energy?

Hmmm, that would have me thinking a bit. We all know where the economy is right now, and everyone is either looking for ways to cut costs or bring in more money to the household to survive.

For example, if Xcel came to me and said they'd give me $100 bill credit per month to use only a certain amount of energy during peak usage hours, I'd have to consider that. Say my energy bill is typically $150 per month. That's allowing me to only pay $50 per month, and that's something I think I'd be great with.

Furthermore, I'm typically busy at my kids baseball practices or games during peak hours, so I'm already using a bit less energy than usual since the family typically isn't at home. If I can use that to my advantage, why wouldn't I?

Now, there's nothing in stone that says this is a system or idea they're going to activate, but it would be interesting to see how many people would be willing to be a bit warmer for a few hours to save a fair amount of money.