Commercial electricity
usage estimator
Start your new-location quote with a usage estimate. Enter your business type, floor area and hours to see monthly and annual electricity use, with the method shown.
Your estimate
About 10,950 kWh a month
About 131,400 kWh a year
How it was computed
Restaurant or bar, 3,000 sq ft × 43.8 kWh per sq ft per year (EIA CBECS 2018) = 131,400 kWh a year
Market context, not a quote
At the EIA Texas commercial all-in average of 8.47¢ per kWh (07/2026) that is roughly $927 a month, supply and delivery together. A supplier's quote may price supply alone, so it is not always directly comparable to this figure.
At that estimated usage, the account may qualify for a reverse auction, where suppliers bid against each other for the contract; Voltcheckr reviews each application.
A labeled estimate on EIA CBECS 2018 intensities, never a meter read. Voltcheckr LLC is a registered electricity broker (Texas PUCT Broker Registration BR260102), not a utility and not a supplier.
Voltcheckr LLCPUCT-registered broker BR260102
Over 100,000 kWh a year?
What it means
Estimating usage at a glance
The estimate is the EIA CBECS 2018 electricity intensity for the building activity (kilowatt-hours per square foot per year) times the floor area, adjusted for the hours the business is open. It is a starting point for sizing a supply contract, not a meter read: kitchen equipment, refrigeration, the age of the HVAC and the climate move real usage a long way. Twelve months of bills always beat the estimate, and a supplier quoting a brand-new location will usually price on an estimate like this one until the first bills arrive.
Cite as: Voltcheckr LLC, Commercial electricity usage estimator (EIA CBECS 2018 intensities), voltcheckr.com/tools/commercial-usage-estimator.
Compare offers
See what Texas suppliers offer your business
See your options before you sign. Compare supplier rates and contract terms, with help when you need it.
Live ratesNo signupNo obligation
Reverse Auction
For accounts over 100,000 kWh a year
Need help? Call (469) 708-9311
We set it up with you
Voltcheckr reviews your application and usually contacts you within the hour, 7am–7pm CT, Monday–Saturday, to set up the terms you want.
Suppliers bid head to head
You get each bid by email as it comes in, usually over 4 to 5 business days, and offers tend to improve, most often on the last day.
Pick the winning bid
Voltcheckr goes over that supplier's contract terms with you before you sign.
Need help? Call (469) 708-9311
Customer story
~24%
lower supply rate than the previous tenant's
On the Rocks Italian Bistro
Burleson, Texas · 24-month fixed rate
Why ask suppliers for a price when they can bid for your contract?
Accounts over 100,000 kWh a year can apply for a reverse auction. One account's historical result; savings vary by account and market.
See how the auction worked →How it works
Compare before you commit.
- 01
Start with your business ZIP.
Add your usage and when you need service.
- 02
Put the offers side by side.
Check the rate, contract length and what is included.
- 03
Choose with the terms in view.
Continue online where available, or get help.
Who does what
Why use a broker?
You choose the supplier. Your utility continues delivering power.
How we're paid
No separate fee: suppliers pay us a commission when a contract is signed.
Why use Voltcheckr
Bring your comparison into one place. We help you review available supplier offers, check what each includes and understand the terms before you choose.
How we handle data
We use your bill and usage to prepare your quote, and share them with suppliers only with your authorization. We never sell your data.
Texas focus
Check who serves your address.
Choice follows the service address and the utility named on the bill, never the city name alone.
Renewal Reminder
Custom Rates
Rates priced for your utility, your renewal month and, with a bill, your usage.
Clear Terms
Fixed supply rates, each with its supplier, term and start month. No supplier conditions attached.
Sign Up Online
Pick an emailed rate and sign up on our site with your yearly usage or a recent bill (some plans need the bill). The supplier's contract then comes by email to sign.
Right on Time
Emails start about 90 days before your contract ends, or right away if it is closer, so you can renew before it rolls to a month-to-month rate that can cost more.
Rates in your inbox before you renew. Stop anytime.
Broker disclosure: Voltcheckr LLC is an independent energy broker (Texas PUCT Broker Registration BR260102), not an energy supplier, with no affiliated supplier. The supplier you choose pays us a referral commission, and you contract directly with that supplier. You can stop using Voltcheckr at any time at no cost. By continuing you acknowledge our broker disclosures.
Usage estimate questions
How accurate is an estimate from square footage?
Within the range a supplier expects for a new account, and no better. CBECS intensities are averages across thousands of buildings of each type; two restaurants of the same size can differ by half depending on the kitchen, the hours and the refrigeration. Treat the figure as a sizing estimate and replace it with real bills as soon as there are any.
What if my business type is not listed?
Manufacturing and other process loads are deliberately absent: CBECS covers commercial buildings, and a plant's usage is set by its equipment, not its floor area. For those accounts a supplier prices on the bills or on an engineer's load estimate.
Can a new business get a supply quote with no usage history?
Yes. The quote is sized on an estimate like this one, and some suppliers ask for a deposit or a copy of the previous tenant's bill for a location that is changing hands. Twelve months in, the account is re-quoted on its own history.
See your options before you sign.
Compare available rates and terms. Start with your business ZIP.
Compare business rates →Need help? Call (469) 708-9311
Voltcheckr LLC · PUCT Broker Registration BR260102 · No separate fee, the supplier pays us