Commercial Electricity for Medical & Physician Offices in Texas
What a Texas medical practice pays for power - HVAC and fresh air for exam rooms and waiting areas, lighting, and clinical equipment - plus how to lower the bill.
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Texas has over 22,000 physician offices, and their electric bill looks a lot like an office building's with a clinical twist: HVAC and ventilation lead, followed by lighting and medical equipment. Below is what medical offices use and pay. See related guides for dental offices and urgent care & outpatient centers, or browse all commercial electricity guides by business type.
Key Takeaways
- A typical Texas medical office uses about 6,000–12,000 kWh a month (roughly $500–$1,000 at ~8.3¢/kWh).
- HVAC and ventilation are the biggest load, with lighting close behind.
- Clinical equipment and imaging add a modest but steady load.
- Small refrigeration for vaccines and specimens runs 24/7.
- Efficient HVAC, LED, and a competitive fixed rate are the biggest levers.
Medical Office Power Use, in Brief
Figures are estimates for a typical outpatient clinic. See methodology and sources below.
What a Medical Office Pays for Power
A medical office runs like an office building that needs more ventilation and a bit of clinical equipment. Exam rooms, waiting areas, and labs need steady fresh air and comfortable temperatures, so HVAC leads the bill, with lighting and equipment behind it.
Estimated usage & bill by practice size
| Practice size | Approx. sq ft | Monthly usage | Est. monthly bill* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small practice | ~2,500 | 2,500–5,000 kWh | $200–$415 |
| Typical clinic | ~5,000 | 6,000–12,000 kWh | $500–$1,000 |
| Large multi-provider | 12,000+ | 15,000–30,000+ kWh | $1,250–$2,500+ |
*Electricity portion at Texas's ~8.3¢/kWh average commercial rate. Practices with imaging (X-ray, ultrasound) or in-house labs land 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.
Climate Control Leads a Clinic's Bill
Cooling and ventilating the space is the dominant load, with lighting second and clinical equipment a smaller, steady contributor.
| System | Why it draws power | Approx. share | Est. cost / month* |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC & ventilation | Fresh air and cooling for exam and waiting areas | 40–50% | $300–$375 |
| Lighting | Exam rooms, offices, and waiting areas | 20–25% | $150–$190 |
| Medical & imaging equipment | Diagnostic and clinical devices | 10–15% | $75–$115 |
| IT, office & servers | Computers, EHR systems, networking | 8–12% | $60–$90 |
| Refrigeration & water heating | Vaccine/specimen fridges and hot water | 5–10% | $40–$75 |
*Illustrative split of a ~$750/month clinic bill. Practices with imaging or in-house labs shift more toward equipment and ventilation.
Do Medical Offices Face Demand Charges?
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
- Pre-cool the space before the afternoon patient rush.
- Stage rooftop HVAC units so they don't all start together.
- Schedule heavy imaging to avoid stacking with peak cooling where practical.
- Confirm your rate - many small practices don't need a demand-based plan.
Demand Response for Outpatient Clinics
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 Medical Offices 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 maintain HVAC. Efficient rooftop units and smart thermostats tame the biggest cost.
- Switch to LED. LED exam-room, office, and waiting-area lighting cuts a steady load.
- Add lighting and setback controls. Occupancy sensors and after-hours setbacks trim wasted energy.
- Right-size ventilation. Meet clinical air requirements efficiently rather than over-ventilating.
- 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 medical office use in Texas?
A typical Texas medical office uses about 6,000 to 12,000 kWh per month, or roughly $500 to $1,000 at the state's average commercial rate of about 8.3¢ per kWh. Small practices use less; large multi-provider clinics use more.
What uses the most electricity in a medical office?
HVAC and ventilation are the biggest load because exam rooms and waiting areas need steady fresh air and cooling, followed by lighting, then clinical and imaging equipment. Small vaccine and specimen refrigeration runs 24/7.
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 medical office lower its electricity bill?
Upgrade and maintain HVAC, switch to LED, add occupancy and after-hours setback controls, right-size ventilation to clinical requirements, and lock in a competitive fixed commercial rate.
Do medical offices pay demand charges?
Smaller practices often stay on an energy-only rate, but larger clinics can carry a demand charge, billed on the single highest peak in kilowatts when HVAC, lighting, and imaging run together.
What is demand response and can a clinic earn from it?
Demand response pays businesses to reduce use during short summer grid-peak windows. Patient care comes first, but a larger practice can pre-cool and ease HVAC in common areas 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 - 22,601 offices of physicians (NAICS 6211) 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 practice size, imaging, and in-house labs. Bills are electricity-only and exclude taxes, fees, and account-specific demand charges.
