As legislators debate bills in committee, on the Senate and House floors, and behind the scenes, a set of small but mighty bills is quietly moving through the Texas Legislature - and they could deliver huge wins for energy reliability, affordability, and public health.
Energy efficiency is one of the fastest, cheapest ways to reduce strain on the grid, cut energy bills, and protect vulnerable Texans. These five bills might not seem energizing - but they could make all the difference when the next weather emergency hits.
What is Energy Efficiency?
Energy efficiency is simply about reducing waste. Energy efficiency aims to decrease the amount of energy required to provide products and services through the use of improved technology and practices. By lowering the amount of energy needed for the same or greater service output, we reduce our reliance on fossil fuels needed to generate electricity. We also save money - and water.
Why Energy Efficiency Matters
Energy efficiency is one of the cheapest and fastest ways to improve grid reliability, reduce energy bills, and lower pollution levels. Yet, Texas has underinvested in this resource for years. With record-breaking heat in the summer and devastating storms in the winter becoming more common, now is the time to act.
Energy Efficiency Bills
Learn more about the bills we need to move before upcoming deadlines. Want to help? Contact your legislator.
HB 1359 (Rep. Hernandez): Bill Relief for Vulnerable Texans
This bill would establish a state program to help low-income and medically vulnerable residents pay their electric bills during extreme weather events. It would also fund education programs to connect Texans with energy-saving, weatherization, and demand response tools.
HB 3237 (Rep. Turner): Keep Texas Buildings Energy Smart
This bill would extend the state’s successful public building efficiency program, which is set to expire in 2026. It helps schools, colleges, and agencies report energy use and set consumption reduction goals.
HB 5323 (Rep. King): Create the Texas Energy Waste Advisory Committee
This bill would establish a collaborative advisory body to identify and promote opportunities to reduce energy waste across the state. It brings together key players like ERCOT, the PUCT, TCEQ, and others to help shape smart efficiency policy.
HB 3826 (Rep. Hernandez): Coordinate Efficiency Across Texas Utilities
This bill would create the Texas Energy Efficiency Council to boost coordination among utilities, raise public awareness of efficiency programs, and serve as a central information hub. With hundreds of millions in federal funds flowing to Texas, this council would ensure we make the most of them.
If Energy Efficiency Can Help, Why Hasn’t Texas Made Any Meaningful Investments?
We wonder about that, too. Our best guess? Efficiency programs aren’t good for big utility companies. When we waste less energy, we spend less money on powering our homes, businesses, and communities. Utilities like Centerpoint and Oncor use their influence at the Texas Legislature to squash any meaningful improvements in energy savings programs to increase their revenue and profit off of ratepayers. Our voices must be louder than the utility lobbyists that are paid to keep our bills high and keep programs like the ones listed above from helping Texans.
Let’s Stop Wasting Energy - and Opportunity
Texas has spent too long ignoring the cheapest, cleanest, and most immediate solution to our energy problems. These bills give us the tools to change that. Let’s make sure our legislators don’t let them die quietly.
Contact your legislator today. Share this blog. Let’s make energy efficiency impossible to ignore.