When Bandera Electric Cooperative launched Apolloware it was with the intent of providing our members with more insights. Originally intended for our members who had solar, we soon saw an opportunity to provide meaningful, and useful insights to members across all of Bandera Electric and the Texas Hill Country.
Electric bills have stayed largely the same for decades: how much energy you use and what it cost. While that information is useful, it rarely explains why your bill changes or what you can do about it.
If my bill is higher in October than it was in July, do I know why? It’s not likely (although in Texas nothing is impossible) that October was hotter than July, and I wouldn’t expect a hard freeze for Halloween, so how do I know why my bill is higher, other than I used more energy for something.
This is where Apolloware steps in. Apolloware is intended to give you real time information, as well as historical data, that you can view over specific periods of time, to determine exactly what is impacting your electric bill. We recently had a member reach out about their Apolloware device being offline. It had been offline for an extended period, but, as they told me, they just hadn’t been paying any attention to it. So why now? Well, as you might suspect, their bills had gone up, and they weren’t positive as to why.
A Communications Visit Gone Right
BEC dispatched its Master Electrician to investigate the offline device. When he arrived onsite, he quickly identified the connection issue preventing Apolloware from communicating. While restoring the device was a straightforward technical fix, the member shared a lingering frustration: they weren’t confident the energy insights were meaningful because the original electrical panel labels didn’t reflect what Apolloware was actually monitoring.
Rather than simply restoring the Apolloware connectivity and leaving, the Master Electrician took the opportunity to walk through the panel with the member. Together, they tested circuits, verified what each breaker controlled, and ensured Apolloware’s sensors were mapped correctly. The member asked questions throughout the process, eager to understand how everything was tied together. By the time they finished, each monitored circuit was properly and clearly labeled.
This step became the turning point. Now, with correctly labeled circuits, the device could translate energy usage into meaningful, actionable insights.
Making Energy Decisions with Confidence
For this member, it was a reassurance that they could accurately identify what was causing a spike in energy consumption, the HVAC system, and make adjustments to how they managed the temperature in their home to lower costs. But Apolloware isn’t just an opportunity to see what your large consumers of energy are doing. Most homeowners know that during the summer months in Texas, their HVAC system, mini splits and window units will be their largest consumers of energy but having Apolloware installed can give you so much more power.
Our energy services team has had countless conversations with members about reducing their costs and their energy consumption. Everything from changing their rate plan (time of use can be a game changer during those summer months) to helping members identify water well leaks through abnormal readings in Apolloware. Knowledge is power and Apolloware offers you the 2.0 version of your Electric Bill. If you’d be interested in learning more about Apolloware, our Energy Saver Program, or any other tools we offer members here at Bandera Electric, reach out at energyservices@banderaelectric.com.