When a plant manager opens the June invoice and sees costs up again, they often have two reactions: either they think the numbers are ridiculous and it has to be a pricing mistake, or they look at the invoice in disbelief, asking themselves if they’re taking the right shots. But no, there wasn’t any mistake with that number. That number started forming back when the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut down. Middle Eastern producers cut output by more than 11 million barrels a day. Countries started draining their oil reserves just to keep supply moving. And now Brent crude is sitting near $105 a barrel, months later, in a warehouse in Texas.
Let our commercial energy consultants walk you through the latest Short-Term Energy Outlook and how your local Texas budget reflects the realities of the current market.
Why Are Energy Costs Rising in Texas?
Diesel and jet fuel are running more than 60% above what anyone expected before the shipping disruption. Gasoline is up about 50%. If you run trucks, planes, or heavy equipment, you already knew that. What you might not have known is how long this is supposed to last. The EIA expects oil to keep flowing at reduced levels through this year, with a slow recovery starting around September and prices not settling back down toward $79 a barrel until sometime in 2027.
So this isn’t a spike you wait out over a quarter. It’s most of a year.
Related content: The Strait of Hormuz Is Closed. Onyx Power & Gas Specialists React to the Global LNG Markets
Summer heat is now driving electricity use up about 3% across the country. Texas has two things working against it here: brutal summer temperatures and a huge base of factories, warehouses, and commercial buildings that all draw power at the same peak hours.
However, there’s one piece of good news buried in here. Natural gas, which powers a lot of Texas electricity, is behaving itself (Thank God). Henry Hub gas prices are expected to stay close to $3.34 per million BTU through the second half of this year, only creeping up to around $3.55 next year. Compared to the wild swings in oil, gas is the calm one in the room.
Some of our commercial energy consultants are already discussing with our clients in Texas shifting more of their energy strategy toward gas-backed contracts rather than riding out oil’s mood swings.
How Commercial Energy Consultants Navigate This Landscape in Texas
When you’re in business, the last thing you want to think about is what could go wrong. The problem is that the energy market is a mess right now.If you want to really improve your chances of reducing costs and making a worthy investment, you need to watch your energy costs months in advance and plan accordingly.
We’ve been seeing signals like oil inventories dropping toward levels not seen since 2003, and we translate that into a simple call: lock your rate now, or wait. We look at how much fuel you burn, and we match you to a contract that fits that pattern instead of a generic one.
None of this is complicated once someone walks you through it. It’s just work that takes time most business owners don’t have.
⛽ Read more: 5 Ways Your Business Can Prepare for the Future
FAQ
What does a commercial energy consultant actually do?
A commercial energy consultant looks at how your business uses electricity and fuel, tracks market signals like the Short‑Term Energy Outlook, and turns all of that into a procurement and contract strategy that fits your operation. Instead of just chasing a low rate, they match structure, term length, and risk level to your real consumption patterns so your bill reflects planning.
Do I need a commercial energy consultant if I only have one facility in Texas?
Yes, if that facility has meaningful energy spend or exposure to peak‑hour pricing, a consultant can still move the needle. Even a single plant, warehouse, or large office can benefit from contract optimization, peak‑shaving strategies, and a clearer view of how Texas market conditions will hit your budget over the next 12–24 months.
How is an energy consultant different from an energy broker?
An energy broker mainly connects you with suppliers and rates. A commercial energy consultant goes further: they audit your usage, interpret forecasts, review and negotiate contract language, and stay with you after the deal closes to adjust your strategy as the market moves. Onyx operates as a full‑service energy procurement and management consulting firm, which means the relationship doesn’t end when you sign.
What kind of savings should I expect?
There’s no honest flat percentage, because savings depend on how you’re buying power and fuel today. Where commercial energy consultants tend to win is in avoiding bad contract structures, timing renewals around clear market signals, and lining up efficiency moves that reduce consumption when prices are at their worst. For some Texas clients, that’s meant immediate per‑kWh savings; for others, it’s meant avoiding large cost spikes in years like 2026.
Small Moves That Add Up in July and August
Onyx Power & Gas Consulting has been doing this out of Dallas since 2009, with more than 75 years of combined experience on the team and wholesale trading relationships across multiple regions. That’s not a claim about being the biggest firm in the room. It’s what lets Onyx get aggressive pricing for clients instead of taking whatever rate is on offer.
If you want a real read on what the rest of 2026 does to your energy budget, and not a generic rate quote, call Onyx Power & Gas at (877) 669-7422.
