Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may establish a first wireless connection with a first wireless device, and a second wireless connection with the first wireless device or a second wireless device, where the first wireless connection and the second wireless connection operate in a dual connectivity mode. The UE may identify first and second energy efficiency metrics associated with the first and second wireless connections, respectively. The UE may identify one or more parameters associated with a transmit power of communications at the UE, and may compare the first energy efficiency metric and the second energy efficiency metric. The UE may then allocate a first power resource to the first wireless connection, a second power resource to the second wireless connection, or both, based on the comparison, the one or more parameters, or a combination thereof.