Commercial Electricity for Pet Grooming & Boarding in Texas
What a Texas grooming or boarding business pays for power - high-velocity dryers, hot water for baths, and kennel climate control - plus how to lower the bill.
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Texas has over 2,000 pet grooming and boarding businesses, and their power bill blends salon-style loads with something extra: keeping animals comfortable around the clock. Dryers, bath water heating, and kennel HVAC lead. Below is what these businesses use and pay. See related guides for hair salons and funeral homes, or browse all commercial electricity guides by business type.
Key Takeaways
- A typical Texas grooming business uses about 2,500–5,000 kWh a month (roughly $200–$420 at ~8.3¢/kWh); boarding kennels use more.
- Kennel/space HVAC and water heating lead the bill, with high-velocity dryers next.
- Boarding facilities run HVAC 24/7 for animal comfort, pushing usage up.
- Laundry (towels and bedding) adds a steady load.
- Efficient HVAC and water heating, LED, and a fixed rate are the biggest levers.
Grooming & Boarding Power, by the Numbers
Figures are estimates; overnight boarding with round-the-clock climate control runs higher. See methodology below.
What It Costs to Power a Grooming or Boarding Business
Grooming and boarding combine hot water for baths, high-velocity dryers, and laundry with the need to keep animals at a safe, comfortable temperature - around the clock at a boarding facility. That 24/7 climate load is what separates a kennel's bill from a grooming-only shop's.
Estimated usage & bill by facility type
| Facility type | Approx. sq ft | Monthly usage | Est. monthly bill* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grooming-only shop | ~1,500 | 2,000–3,500 kWh | $170–$290 |
| Grooming + daycare | ~3,000 | 3,500–6,000 kWh | $290–$500 |
| Boarding / kennel (24/7) | 5,000+ | 6,000–12,000+ kWh | $500–$1,000+ |
*Electricity portion at Texas's ~8.3¢/kWh average commercial rate. Round-the-clock climate control and larger kennels land at the high end.
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.
Dryers, Baths, and Kennel Climate
Climate control leads the bill - especially at a boarding facility that runs it 24/7 - with bath water heating and high-velocity dryers close behind.
| System | Why it draws power | Approx. share | Est. cost / month* |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC (kennel/space climate) | Keeping animals comfortable, often 24/7 | 30–40% | $105–$140 |
| Water heating | Hot water for baths and cleaning | 20–25% | $70–$88 |
| High-velocity dryers | Drying coats after baths | 15–20% | $53–$70 |
| Laundry | Washing and drying towels and bedding | 8–12% | $28–$42 |
| Lighting & other | Grooming, kennel, and office lighting | 8–12% | $28–$42 |
*Illustrative split of a ~$350/month grooming+daycare bill. Overnight boarding shifts more of the bill to 24/7 HVAC.
Where a Grooming Shop's Peak Comes From
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
- Stagger dryers so they don't all run at the same instant.
- Use efficient, zoned HVAC so kennel climate isn't over-conditioning empty areas.
- Upgrade water heating to a right-sized efficient or heat-pump unit.
- Watch your interval data to find the monthly peak.
Demand Response for Boarding Facilities
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.
How Groomers and Kennels Cut Energy Costs
- Lock in a fixed commercial rate. Comparing 30+ Texas providers at the right time is usually the biggest single lever.
- Upgrade and zone HVAC. Efficient, zoned climate control is the biggest lever, especially for 24/7 boarding.
- Improve water heating. A right-sized efficient or heat-pump water heater cuts a steady bath load.
- Switch to LED. LED grooming, kennel, and office lighting trims all-day load.
- Run laundry efficiently. Full loads and efficient washers/dryers reduce a recurring cost.
- 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 pet grooming or boarding business use in Texas?
A typical Texas grooming business uses about 2,500 to 5,000 kWh per month, or roughly $200 to $420 at the state's average commercial rate of about 8.3¢ per kWh. Overnight boarding kennels run climate control 24/7 and use more.
What uses the most electricity at a grooming or boarding facility?
Climate control (HVAC) leads the bill - especially at a boarding facility that runs it around the clock - followed by hot water for baths, high-velocity dryers, and laundry.
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 grooming or boarding business lower its electricity bill?
Upgrade and zone HVAC, improve water heating with an efficient or heat-pump unit, switch to LED, run laundry efficiently, and lock in a competitive fixed commercial rate.
Do grooming and boarding facilities pay demand charges?
Larger and boarding facilities can. When several dryers, the water heater, and HVAC run together, they create a peak in kilowatts that a demand charge bills across the whole month.
What is demand response and can a boarding facility earn from it?
Demand response pays businesses to reduce use during short grid-peak windows. Animal comfort comes first, but a larger operation can pre-cool and ease setpoints slightly during a peak 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 - 2,001 pet care (except veterinary) businesses (NAICS 812910) in Texas. Average commercial rate: EIA / state commercial averages (Texas ~8.3¢/kWh; U.S. ~13.5¢/kWh, 2026). Usage and the energy-user split are estimates that vary by services, size, and whether the facility boards animals overnight. Bills are electricity-only and exclude natural gas, taxes, fees, and any demand charges.
