Working from home in DFW has unique considerations. Here's the tech setup guide.
Internet (most important):
- See broadband comparison post. AT&T Fiber if available, Spectrum otherwise.
- Invest in a mesh WiFi system if your DFW house is 2,000+ sqft. Eero, Google Nest, or TP-Link Deco.
- Backup internet: T-Mobile Home Internet as failover ($50/month). Peace of mind.
Power (DFW-specific):
- UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) — DFW storms cause frequent brief outages. A UPS keeps your computer running for 10-30 minutes during outages. $100-200 for a good one (CyberPowerPC or APC). Essential for DFW WFH.
- Surge protector — Texas storms = power surges. Protect your equipment. Not a power strip — a real surge protector with joule rating 2000+.
Smart home for DFW conditions:
- Smart thermostat (Ecobee, Nest) — Texas electric bills can be $300+ in summer. Smart scheduling saves 15-20%. Some Texas electricity providers give rebates for smart thermostats.
- Video doorbell (Ring, Nest) — package theft is common in DFW. A $100 doorbell camera is insurance.
- Smart sprinkler controller (Rachio) — DFW water restrictions require specific watering days. Smart controllers auto-adjust for rain and schedule. Saves water + fines. Source: rachio.com
Electricity providers (DFW-specific):
- Texas has a deregulated electricity market. YOU CHOOSE your provider.
- Compare rates at PowerToChoose.org (official state site). Source: powertochoose.org
- Fixed rate plans protect you from summer price spikes.
- Average DFW rate: $0.10-0.14/kWh (varies by plan and provider).
Sources:
- PowerToChoose.org for electricity comparison
- Smart home product websites
- Personal DFW WFH setup experience
What's in your home office setup?
PowerToChoose.org is the most important website for DFW homeowners. I saved $40/month switching from my default TXU plan to a competitive fixed-rate plan.