Texans face skyrocketing home energy bills as the state exports more natural gas than ever

The cost of electricity in Texas is tightly tied to the price of natural gas, which has more than doubled since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February.

  • A pumpjack next to a home in Gardendale. Texas is the nation’s top natural gas producer but the state has started exporting more of it to other countries, which contributes to rising utility costs for Texans. Credit: Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribune
    A pumpjack next to a home in Gardendale. Texas is the nation’s top natural gas producer but the state has started exporting more of it to other countries, which contributes to rising utility costs for Texans. Credit: Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribune
    Texans are seeing skyrocketing home electric bills this spring and summer, with many customers paying at least 50% more than they did for electric bills at this time last year. And nobody seems to know when costs will go down. “I am worried people are going to be shocked,” said John Ballenger, vice president at Texas retail electric provider Champion Energy. “Realizing...

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