C-stores are among the most electricity-intensive commercial facilities per square foot in Texas. Refrigeration cases and cooler banks run 24 hours a day without interruption and typically account for 40 to 50 percent of total electricity consumption. Fuel canopy lighting operates through the night, interior lighting maintains bright levels to create a welcoming customer environment, HVAC systems cycle constantly, and POS systems, food service equipment, and ATMs add continuous base load. Operating 24/7 means there is no off-peak window for these systems to rest — and most C-store operators have never competitively priced their electricity in Texas's deregulated market.

Most C-store operators benefit from a fixed-rate electricity contract. Refrigeration is a non-negotiable load — you cannot reduce consumption during high-price hours without risking product loss — which means indexed pricing exposes your store to summer wholesale price spikes with no ability to respond. A fixed rate locks your generation cost per kWh for the full contract term, giving you a stable and predictable energy expense you can factor accurately into store-level P&L.

Yes. C-store chains and fuel retail operators with multiple Texas locations can aggregate all sites under a single master electricity agreement. The combined 24/7 load from multiple locations gives suppliers a significant volume block to price competitively, resulting in lower per-kWh rates across every store in the portfolio. Lee Multi-Services aligns all contract expiration dates so your team manages one renewal event rather than tracking individual store contracts.

Refrigeration — including open-door cooler banks, reach-in cases, and any food service cold storage — typically accounts for 40 to 50 percent of a convenience store's total electricity consumption. Because refrigeration runs continuously and cannot be curtailed without risking product loss, it creates a large, inflexible base load that dominates the electricity profile. Lee Multi-Services models your refrigeration load specifically when sourcing rate structures, ensuring the plan we recommend accounts for this anchor load rather than treating your store like a generic small commercial account.