Commercial Electricity for Clothing Stores in Texas
What a Texas apparel store pays for power - where display lighting, not refrigeration, leads the bill - plus how demand charges work and how to save.
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Texas has over 7,300 clothing stores, and unlike a grocery or c-store, an apparel shop's power bill is led by lighting - bright, layered display lighting to show merchandise - followed by HVAC. Below is what clothing stores use and pay. See related guides for furniture stores and hardware stores, or browse all commercial electricity guides by business type.
Key Takeaways
- A typical Texas clothing store uses about 4,000–8,000 kWh a month (roughly $330–$660 at ~8.3¢/kWh).
- Display lighting is the biggest load - often 40–55% of the electric bill.
- HVAC is the second cost, working hardest in the Texas summer.
- Apparel stores run only about 14 kWh per square foot per year - modest for retail.
- LED display lighting and a fixed rate are the biggest levers.
Clothing Store Electricity Snapshot
Figures are estimates for a typical mall or strip-center store. See methodology below.
What a Clothing Store Spends on Electricity
Apparel retail is lighting-led. Stores use layered display, accent, and fitting-room lighting to make merchandise look its best, and that lighting - plus HVAC to keep shoppers comfortable - is most of the bill. Overall intensity is modest, around 14 kWh per square foot per year.
Estimated usage & bill by store size
| Store size | Approx. sq ft | Monthly usage | Est. monthly bill* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small boutique | ~1,500 | 1,800–3,500 kWh | $150–$290 |
| Typical mall / strip store | ~4,000 | 4,000–8,000 kWh | $330–$660 |
| Large apparel store | 10,000+ | 12,000–22,000+ kWh | $1,000–$1,800+ |
*Electricity portion at Texas's ~8.3¢/kWh average commercial rate. Stores with heavy accent lighting and big glass storefronts run higher.
How does the Texas commercial rate compare?
Texas businesses pay an average of about 8.3¢ per kWh - roughly 38% below the U.S. commercial average of ~13.5¢. Because Texas is deregulated, you can shop the supply portion of your bill across 30+ retail providers and lock in a fixed rate - compare current commercial electricity rates.
Lighting Leads a Retailer's Bill
With no refrigeration and light equipment loads, a clothing store's electricity goes mostly to lighting and cooling - which makes an LED conversion unusually high-impact here.
| System | Why it draws power | Approx. share | Est. cost / month* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lighting | Display, accent, and fitting-room lighting | 40–55% | $200–$275 |
| HVAC | Keeping shoppers comfortable in the heat | 25–35% | $125–$175 |
| Fitting rooms & back-of-house | Stockroom, offices, tailoring | 6–10% | $30–$50 |
| POS & electronics | Registers, security, computers | 5–8% | $25–$40 |
| Signage & exterior | Window and sign lighting | 4–7% | $20–$35 |
*Illustrative split of a ~$500/month typical store bill. Halogen or older accent lighting pushes lighting's share higher.
How Display Lighting and AC Drive Peak Demand
Most of your bill is energy — the total kilowatt-hours (kWh) you use over the month. But many commercial accounts also carry a demand charge, billed on your single highest peak of power draw, measured in kilowatts (kW), usually over a 15-minute interval. It doesn't matter only how much electricity you use, but how fast you use it at your busiest moment.
How to keep demand charges down
- Convert display and accent lighting to LED to cut both the load and the heat it adds.
- Pre-cool before opening to soften the afternoon HVAC surge.
- Use controls to dim or zone lighting in stockrooms and off-hours.
- Watch your interval data to find the monthly peak.
Easing Load on Peak Afternoons
Demand response is a program where businesses agree to reduce their electricity use for short windows when the Texas grid (ERCOT) is under strain — typically late afternoons on the hottest summer days. In exchange, participating businesses earn payments or bill credits.
Where Apparel Retailers Save on Power
- Lock in a fixed commercial rate. Comparing 30+ Texas providers at the right time is usually the biggest single lever.
- Convert display lighting to LED. With lighting up to half the bill, this is the highest-impact upgrade for apparel.
- Add lighting controls. Dimming, zoning, and timers cut lighting in back and after hours.
- Right-size and maintain HVAC. Clean filters and smart thermostats keep cooling and demand peaks in check.
- Manage the storefront. Solar film on big glass fronts reduces the cooling load.
- Review demand and interval data. Knowing your peak kW shows whether a different rate structure would save money.
Related Commercial Electricity Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How much electricity does a clothing store use in Texas?
A typical Texas clothing store uses about 4,000 to 8,000 kWh per month, or roughly $330 to $660 at the state's average commercial rate of about 8.3¢ per kWh. Small boutiques use less; large apparel stores use more.
What uses the most electricity in a clothing store?
Display and accent lighting is the biggest load - often 40 to 55% of the bill - followed by HVAC. With no refrigeration and light equipment loads, an apparel store's bill is mostly lighting and cooling.
What is the average commercial electricity rate in Texas?
Texas businesses pay an average of about 8.3¢ per kWh as of 2026, roughly 38% below the U.S. commercial average of about 13.5¢. Your actual rate depends on your ZIP code, utility (TDU), usage, and when you sign your contract.
How can a clothing store lower its electricity bill?
Because lighting can be more than half the bill, switching display and accent lighting to LED is the highest-impact step, followed by lighting controls, efficient HVAC, storefront solar film, and a competitive fixed rate.
Do clothing stores pay demand charges?
They can. When full display lighting and rooftop A/C run together on a hot afternoon, the peak in kilowatts is billed by a demand charge across the whole month; LED lighting reduces both the load and that peak.
What is demand response and can a clothing store earn from it?
Demand response pays businesses to reduce use during short grid-peak windows. An apparel store can pre-cool, ease HVAC, and dim non-essential accent lighting for a short window in exchange for bill credits.
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Get a Free Quote Call 866-284-9272Methodology & Sources
Business count: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023 - 7,358 clothing stores (NAICS 4481) in Texas. Average commercial rate: EIA / state commercial averages (Texas ~8.3¢/kWh; U.S. ~13.5¢/kWh, 2026). Usage uses a ~14 kWh/sq ft/yr retail intensity; the energy-user split is illustrative. Bills are electricity-only and exclude taxes, fees, and account-specific demand charges.
