Can households afford energy in Texas?
35th of 51. All Texas households: 2.2% ($2,162 of $98,429). Same income group, U.S.: 8.3%. Under 30% of median: 17.5% on $9,488. Renters 2.5%, owners 2.1%.
Texas burden by income bracket
At or above 6% in Texas: under 30%, 30% to 60%. Together 26% of homes (2,751,674 of 10,490,553).
Texas burden, % of income
- 17.5Under 30%
- 6.330% to 60%
- 4.360% to 80%
- 3.480% to 100%
- 1.6Over 100%
Getting the average under-30% household in Texas down to 6% takes $1,089 off its $1,658 energy cost, or $18,145 more income.
Texas income, cost and burden
| Bracket | Texas homes | Share | Texas income | Electric | All energy | Texas burden | U.S. burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30% | 1,147,316 | 11% | $9,488 | $1,436 | $1,658 | 17.5% | 17.0% |
| 30% to 60% | 1,604,358 | 15% | $29,563 | $1,604 | $1,862 | 6.3% | 6.3% |
| 60% to 80% | 1,052,681 | 10% | $46,516 | $1,713 | $1,997 | 4.3% | 4.3% |
| 80% to 100% | 968,853 | 9% | $60,951 | $1,772 | $2,071 | 3.4% | 3.4% |
| Over 100% | 5,717,345 | 54% | $151,511 | $1,999 | $2,393 | 1.6% | 1.6% |
| All | 10,490,553 | 100% | $98,429 | $1,827 | $2,162 | 2.2% | 2.2% |
Renters, owners and fuel in Texas
Renters pay $1,466 on $58,494 (2.5%); owners $2,582 on $122,496 (2.1%); U.S. 2.4% and 2.2%. Most common fuel: electricity, 61% of homes. Heaviest burden: bottled gas (propane), 3.0%.
| Texas heating fuel | Homes | Share | Texas income | All energy | Burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 6,422,029 | 61.2% | $84,619 | $1,969 | 2.3% |
| Utility gas | 3,633,312 | 34.6% | $124,209 | $2,466 | 2.0% |
| Bottled gas (propane) | 305,166 | 2.9% | $99,468 | $2,981 | 3.0% |
| Fuel oil | 9,020 | 0.1% | $63,728 | $1,616 | 2.5% |
| Wood, coal, solar and other | 121,026 | 1.2% | $57,225 | $1,263 | 2.2% |
Your burden against Texas
Help and shutoff rules in Texas
FY2024 LIHEAP heating help: 25,811 homes, 1 per 100 under 60% of median.
FY2026 funding snapshot $202,298,015, $74 per such home.
Eligibility listed: 150% Federal Poverty Guideline.
Benefits listed: Heating and Cooling: $1 minimum, $12,600 maximum Crisis: $1,800 maximum Weatherization: $12,000.
- Texas LIHEAP office, phone 877-399-8939 or 877-541-7905
- Clearinghouse snapshot, Texas
- Texas help with your bill
Cold-weather clause: No disconnection for nonpayment for any customer in a county with an 'extreme weather emergency': a day when the previous day's high did not exceed 32F and is predicted to stay at or below 32F for the next 24 hours anywhere in the county per nearest NWS reports ((j)(1)(A)).
Read: 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 25.483, checked 2026-10-02; some utilities only.
Not legal advice. Ask your Texas utility.
Highest-burden Texas counties
225 counties with 1,000+ homes; top: Swisher County at 5.1%, lowest of the 225: Travis County at 1.3%.
| Texas county | Homes | Income | All energy | Burden | Under 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swisher County | 2,401 | $53,979 | $2,741 | 5.1% | 13.3% |
| Baylor County | 1,477 | $64,084 | $2,948 | 4.6% | 14.0% |
| Brooks County | 2,652 | $43,776 | $1,999 | 4.6% | 11.3% |
| Knox County | 1,248 | $66,289 | $3,012 | 4.5% | 11.6% |
| Wheeler County | 1,908 | $72,469 | $3,158 | 4.4% | 11.9% |
| McCulloch County | 3,186 | $64,887 | $2,800 | 4.3% | 12.3% |
| Collingsworth County | 1,018 | $75,227 | $3,222 | 4.3% | 11.5% |
| Starr County | 18,634 | $50,913 | $2,181 | 4.3% | 9.8% |
Next to Texas in the ranking
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Sources
DOE LEAD 2022; LIHEAP Clearinghouse; CSV.
Questions
How much of income do Texas households spend on energy?
2.2% for all households ($2,162 of $98,429) and 8.4% under 60% of median income. U.S.: 2.2%, 8.3%.
Who is hit hardest in Texas?
Households under 30% of median income: 17.5%, 1,147,316 homes spending $1,658 on $9,488.
How many Texas homes get LIHEAP heating help?
25,811 in FY2024, 1 per 100 homes under 60% of median; not a take-up rate.
Is electricity the whole Texas energy burden?
No: electricity is 1.9% of 2.2%; gas and other fuel are the rest.