FACT CHECK: Oncor suggests Texans keep thermostats at 68 in the winter. Does that work?

Dalia Faheid
·3 min read

Oncor Electric Delivery, the largest transmission and distribution electric utility in Texas, recommends Texans set their thermostats to 78 degrees in the summer and 68 degrees in the winter to save energy and take a load off the power grid.

During the cold weather, every degree of extra heating will increase energy usage 6% to 8%, according to the Public Utility Commission of Texas. The U.S. Department of Energy says you can save up to 10% of heating and cooling costs each year by lowering your thermostat 7 to 10 degrees for eight hours a day.

Among Oncor’s other energy efficiency tips for heating and cooling your home: install a programmable thermostat, keep air vents open to increase circulation, use fans to cool your home, have your A/C and heating system serviced twice a year (during spring and fall), look for a new A/C unit with a 16 SEER and 12 EER and clean or replace air filters once a month.

But will setting your thermostat at 68 degrees in the winter really help save you money on electricity? Here’s what a local HVAC expert says you should know about heating your Texas home during the cold winter months.

What temperature should you set your thermostat at?

Aaron Spears, an HVAC manager at ABC Home and Commercial Services of DFW, isn’t on board with Oncor’s 68-degree setpoint suggestion. He always tells his customers to set their thermostats to where they are comfortable.

“I don’t advise listening to what Oncor or anybody else has to say about it,” Spears said. “I keep our thermostat at home programmed for 72 degrees and 55% relative humidity in the heating season and I am totally fine with the amount I spend for electricity and gas.”

If you have any issues that you would like to address before it gets cold outside, schedule an appointment for a heat checkup and you’ll receive a full evaluation of your HVAC system.

Heating your home during the winter

Here are some tips from Spears about heating your home during the cold winter months:

  • Always have your heat checked by a professional once a year to make sure the system is operating safely and efficiently.

  • If your home uses a gas furnace for heat, you need to have working carbon monoxide detectors installed.

  • The better the home’s insulation R value, the easier it is to heat the home and keep it warm.

  • Don’t run your system’s indoor fan in the on or continuous setting during the heating season, as it will get drafty and cause the heater to cycle more often.

  • If your home uses a heat pump system, program your thermostats to rely on the auxiliary heat strips if the outside temps are below freezing for a significant amount of time.

How can you save on electricity this fall, winter

You can save money on your electric bill this fall and winter using these recommendations from Spears:

  • Sign up for a biannual HVAC maintenance plan to keep the system clean, safe and efficient.

  • Program your thermostat’s schedule for lower temperatures during the times you are regularly away from the house for extended periods like work or vacation.

  • Increase your home’s insulation R value.