Texas electricity prices rose 4.4% over the past year — less than the national average — but experts say a surge in energy-hungry data centers could soon send costs soaring.

Why it matters: The AI boom could drive up power bills, adding to the financial strain as inflation hits household essentials.

By the numbers: The national average retail price for 1 kilowatt-hour of electricity rose from 16.41 cents to 17.47 cents between May 2024 and May 2025, a 6.5% jump, per the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

• Texas' price increased from 14.84 cents to 15.49 cents.

Between the lines: Power prices vary by region and depend on a mix of supply, demand, fuel costs and infrastructure.

• Many analysts say energy-intensive data centers are a growing factor, especially in regions where they're booming.
• That's due to their immediate consumption, plus grid operators' investments in new transmission infrastructure to meet projected demand.

What they're saying: "Anywhere you're seeing a massive takeoff in load growth, the most likely cause is data centers, and that is almost certainly going to have an impact on electric rates," says Cathy Kunkel, energy consultant at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.

Zoom in: In Texas, demand could double or quadruple by 2035, according to University of Houston researchers. Without upgrades, that risks a 27– to 40-gigawatt annual shortfall.

• CenterPoint Energy in May announced it will increase its capital project spending by $4 billion to $52.5 billion through 2030 thanks to the rise in data center usage.
• Greater Houston is home to more than 50 data centers and plays a broader role in data center power usage as a manufacturing hub for Apple data servers.

State of play: After the passage of Senate Bill 6 in June, Texas is one of the first states to require emergency shutoff switches for data centers, giving the Electric Reliability Council of Texas the power to cut service during crises like heat waves or winter storms.

The bottom line: Many of us are paying for the AI boom, whether we use the tech or not.

Packs of flesh-eating New World screwworms may soon swarm the U.S., but Texas has a plan to stop them.

The big picture: The life-threatening maggots that prey on the open wounds of mammals pose a massive risk to ranchers and farmers nationwide.

Driving the news: The Texas Department of Agriculture announced last week it will deploy a synthetic bait called "Swormlure" to attract the flesh-eating flies with a scent similar to open wounds.

• The trap "will kill up to 90% of flies on contact," the state said.
• The Texas plan also includes a new feed additive for livestock and deer, as well as the development of a vaccine that can kill screwworm larvae.

What they're saying: "When it comes to safeguarding Texas' $15 billion cattle industry, we need to focus on action rather than words," Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said in a statement.

• "We're taking real action with effective solutions to stop NWS in its tracks."

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💰 Houston city leaders approved a $314 million spending plan to help the city recover from last year's storms, including $100 million for housing not in the original proposal. (Houston Chronicle)

🏘️ A new affordable housing development constructed with 3D printing technology is underway in south Houston. (CultureMap Houston)

Two Cleveland ISD school buses flipped over in separate crashes on the same stretch of road in the district's first three days of school. (Houston Public Media)

Houston workers are going into the office 25.6% less often than they were before the pandemic, according to a new analysis.

How it works: Placer tracked foot traffic at 1,000 commercial office buildings with ground-floor retail nationwide and compared the change in office visits from July 2019 to July 2025.

The intrigue: New York City was the only major city to see an increase in office visits.

🦕 Dance under the dinosaurs at the Houston Museum of Natural Science's Mixers and Elixirs party Friday.

• Tickets are $25 for the public and $20 for members. 7-11pm.

🎨 Tour art studios at The Silos on Saturday.

• Free. Noon to 5pm.

🤘 Find your next obsession at Insomnia Gallery's Punk Rock Garage Sale Night Market at Bad Astronaut Brewing on Saturday.

• The market runs from 6-10pm.

🎵 Listen to local Houston bands and artists perform at Miller Outdoor Theatre's Summer Mixtape concert Saturday.

• Free. 8pm.

🧑‍🎨 Explore your artistic skills at the Archway Gallery's life drawing marathon Sunday.

• Entry to all three sessions is $50, or $20 each. 10am-10pm.