What is Green Energy?

When you hear the phrase "green energy" what do you think of? Fields of windmills in the Midwest or suburban rooftops covered in solar panels? Maybe when you think of green energy you think about things that may not seem too practical or economically efficient. The fact is, just because something is green does not always mean that it has to be new or expensive. Any energy resource that is renewable, environmentally friendly and that does not pollute is a ‘green energy’ source and this category can include not only solar and wind power but also geothermal and even hydroelectric energy as well.

Let's talk a bit about each of these power sources and what makes them ‘green’. Solar energy may be the most well known up and coming green energy solution, but the technology is still in the development stage. While visions of a future where all buildings are wrapped in solar collecting material may not be too far away (in fact that technology does exist now) solar is still thought of as being inefficient, expensive and complicated to maintain. While that may have been the case some ten years ago, solar is rapidly growing out of its awkward adolescent years and developing into a hugely viable green energy option.Wind power has actually been around for hundreds if not thousands of years.

When people think of energy most of the time they are thinking of electricity, but any energy that makes things move or build up pressure is considered energy production or harvesting. Windmills were the first form of wind energy collection, and the modern equivalent are just as effective at producing electricity as their predecessors were at grinding flour. In fact, windmills are one of the least maintenance intensive source of energy, especially in what is known as the wind belt. The country’s largest wind farm is located in Texas, utilizing miles, and miles of windmills to produce clean Texas energy. Geothermal energy is a little more complicated. While places like Iceland and Wyoming have volcanic activity below their surface to provide steam and pressure, passive geothermal energy can actually be used on a worldwide level.

How much energy do we use each year heating and cooling buildings? The temperature below the ground is a constant 65 degrees F and by tapping into that with thermal rods, we can keep our buildings at that same temperature, never having to heat or cool from a greater extreme than that. Hydroelectric energy can also be considered green, but only is some situations. Small-scale hydroelectric stations do not require significant changes to the landscape and ecological balances around the water source so they are considered green. Larger outfits however require the flooding of massive amounts of area to provide a large enough reservoir to provide sufficient water volume so they leave a lasting and detrimental impact on the earth, making them not green.There are other types of green energy as well, but none of those technologies are developed to the point of being implemented.

However, when connected to the conventional power grid, green sources of energy can supplement our reliance on other, dirtier energy sources, gradually helping us make less of an impact on the delicate balances of our planet.

Economic Stimulus - Lower Electric Bills

In today's difficult economy, many families are finding it harder and harder to make ends meet. One of the reasons for the problems that so many people are having is the cost of their electricity bills. If you are one of these families, you are most likely looking for ways to cut the bills and put some of your money back in your pocket.

There are some states, like here in Texas, that will allow you to choose the Texas electricity company that you will use for your power. This is a great opportunity for those who live in those states to choose the company that offers the best prices. This plan is an all around winner for consumers in these states. Not only will you have the immediate benefit of choosing the company that will give you the best prices on your energy, but you will also be encouraging the companies to offer the best rates possible to gain your business. This is capitalism at its very best.

In addition to choosing the right Texas electric company for your energy, you can do a great many things around your home to save on your electric bill. Just becoming aware of the amount of electricity that you are spending will allow you to begin saving money. When you realize how much energy you are using, you are more likely to begin to conserve. Get a rundown of the appliances in your home and how much energy they use every day. Simply turning a few things off in your home may make a dramatic savings in your electricity bill.

Make sure that your appliances are energy efficient. When you consider the amount of energy that you can save on these appliances, they are well worth the money. Check the rating on your appliances and make sure that they are running efficiently at all times.

Do your research on energy saving and what you can do to make your home more energy efficient. The family that does their homework and pays attention to the energy that they are using will be the family that enjoys much lower bills. This puts money right back in your pocket instead of being paid to your electric company.

Take advantage of the opportunity to shop around for your energy in the states that allow this to take place. You have a fabulous chance to encourage great prices and competition among the utility companies. Find out if you have any choice when it comes to the utility company that you use in your state and do some comparison shopping. Many people can use www.ChooseEnergy.com.

Today's economy requires most families to tighten their belts and find ways to save money. The electric bills that you have and the energy that you use in your home is one of the ways that you can save some money. More and more families find themselves in dire straits and cost savings may mean the difference between surviving and not surviving. When you lose your job and have lost your income as many families now find themselves, finding a way to keep your head above water until you find a new job is vital. Energy savings and cutting the costs of your electric bill may be the one thing that gets you through this difficult period of time.

Spring Into Texas Electric Saving Tips

As the seasons turn toward spring, we can all look forward to the warm spring days and eventually the hot summer nights in Texas. Now is the time to prepare for the hot weather by managing your electric bill. You may be using more electricity than in the cooler months when you run your air conditioner, so this is a perfect time to find a way to lower those bills before you have to increase your energy use.

Preparing for an increased energy use for your air conditioning system could mean saving on other appliances in your home to minimize the effect on your monthly bill. Take a look at all of the other energy use that you have in your home and begin to find ways to minimize your use. It is as simple as being aware of the energy that you are using and finding ways to cut back.

Texas electricity means that you will have a choice when it comes to your electric service provider. Texas has made the decision to deregulate and it has given consumers a whole new way to look at their electric bill every month. No longer will you be forced to stay with a company that is charging you rates that are too high. Companies are now going to compete for your business and that means better rates for you. Spring is a good time to take a look at the Texas electric companies to find ways to prepare for the coming hot weather.

There are a number of appliances that we all have in our homes that we leave running on a constant basis. Computers are often left on and even though they use less electricity in their sleep mode than they do when fully on, off is a much better choice. Simple adjustments like turning off appliances when they are not in use and unplugging those electric appliances that continue to consume energy even when they are not powered on.

Get a rundown of the appliances that you have in your home and find out how much energy is being used by each of them. You might be amazed at the amount of savings that you can gain when you are aware of the energy that is being used. The savings that you can gain from turning off appliances might be enough to run your air conditioner on the hot summer days and not see a big difference in your electric bill.

The smart electric consumer is the one that will do the research and plan for the extra energy expense during the spring and summer months. Taking advantage of all the options that are available to you will make the summer months a cool breeze to get through. Visit some of the websites that are available that will give you the information that you need to get through the summer without raising the cost of your Texas electric bills. You will be glad that you made these changes in your home.

Clean Texas Energy

The number of pounds of carbon dioxide each individual generates a year is astounding; in the United States the average is 15,000 pounds. This number takes into account the amount carbon dioxide produced when the products and services we use are produced, the fuel we use to travel and the amount of energy we use in our homes. It is however possible to reduce and eliminate this number and live a “carbon neutral” life. Reducing our “carbon footprint” is an important step towards clean Texas energy sources.

Texans can start reducing their carbon footprint by becoming more energy efficient. This requires individuals to use less energy while maintaining their current life style. This can be done by:
• Switching to energy efficient appliances and light bulbs. Energy efficient light bulbs can save over 100 pounds of carbon dioxide in a year’s time.
• Reducing the amount of hot water used. People can invest in efficient on demand hot water heaters, low flow shower heads and wash clothes in cold water. This reduces the carbon dioxide load by over 300 pounds.
• Recycling reduces carbon dioxide waste by 2,500 pounds. Start a recycling program if one is not available.
• Planting trees can reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by about one ton for each tree planted. The trees not only absorb carbon dioxide, they provide wind breaks to keep buildings warm in the winter and shade to keep them cooler in the hotter months.

Another step towards the goal of clean Texas energy sources involves switching to renewable or clean energy sources such as solar and wind. Texas has always been synonymous with the oil industry. As sources of fossil fuel dwindle (oil production in Texas is down 73 percent since 1972) the state has to find new energy sources. The state has renewable and clean Texas energy sources to supply as much or even more sustainable energy than that which was supplied by fossil fuels. The potential for clean Texas energy is found in the renewable energy sources of wind, geothermal, biomass and solar power.

Wind power is considered sustainable and cost effective and is perfect as a clean Texas energy source. Texas has the potential to produce enough energy from wind to be self reliant. Calculations also show an overflow of wind power, this excess can be sold within the region.

Texas’ location is perfect for solar power generation. The state has many long sunny daysperfect for harvesting solar energy. Solar energy requires an investment but the returns make it worth it.

With the diminishing fossil oil reserves, Texas will have a substantial number of abandoned wells. These wells can be geared up to produce geothermal energy. This is another way to convert fossil energy dependancy to clean Texas energy usage.

Waste from agricultural and landfills can be used to produce biomass energy. Biodiesel has already been used to power some vehicles in some Texas cities effectively reducing some those cities carbon footprints.

Purchasing green power at the individual, city or government level can lead to widespread use of clean Texas electricity. Texans can reduce their carbon foot print by building small scale renewable energy sources suitable for businesses or homes. The parts are affordable with wind and solar energy kits readily available. Individuals can also invest money in companies that sell, research and manufacture parts related to clean energy.

Business Profits - Could Your Electric Bill Help?

The late Milton Friedman was one of the greatest economic minds in history. It was Friedman who coined the term a business’ number one priority is to earn a profit. Most people understand this. After all, a business that is not profitable will not be operational for long. However, most people look at profits from a narrow perspective. That is, they see profits exclusively in the form of revenues. This, however, is not completely the case. Profits are how much you have earned over your expenditures. That means a business can increase its profits by reducing its expenditures. And, without a doubt, the biggest expenditure drain a business often deals with is energy costs. That is why it is critical to cut back on energy costs if you wish you business to remain profitable.

Thankfully, there are a number of easy ways to do this.

Don’t overuse wattage in your light bulbs. Many lights utilize bulbs are far higher in wattage than needed. Purchasing smaller watt bulbs or even changing out incandescent bulbs with LED or flourescent light bulbs would cut energy costs dramatically. Now, some may say LED and flourescent lights are expensive. While they do cost more than traditional bulbs, they last a LOT longer and require less electricity. As such, they eventually pay for themselves.

Putting energy consuming products on a timer is a good way to make sure that lights and computers are not left on after hours. It is shocking how much money a business loses do to employees leaving electrical items on when they leave work on Friday. However, if these devices are on a timer and shut off automatically, this problem can be circumvented. Most timers are also inexpensive and easy to install and they can be integrated into any office environment.

Insulating a building is a very common way to cut down on expenses. It costs a lot of money to heat and cool an office and when air is escaping due to poor insulation then it is escaping needlessly. Insulating an office is not an expensive proposition and, like most energy efficient lights, insulating ultimately pays for itself over time.

Having an energy audit could prove quite helpful. There are professionals who can examine a building and assess any problems with electrical energy expenditures. Of course, once these problems are revealed proper steps can be made to correct such flaws. You cannot undervalue the great benefits these professionals offer and that is why procuring their services is so highly recommended.

Lowering your electricity rate - You didn't think I'd write a blog post without throwing a plug to our services did you? Many businesses simply need to login to ChooseEnergy.com and request a lower rate for their business. This can have an immediate and dramtic impact on the overall electric bill.

In addition to saving a great deal of money for your business, there is an ancillary benefit as well. Namely, your business will be contributing greatly to the environment. By taking part in energy conservation, our natural resources will not be depleted at an accelerated rate. This connects to Milton Friedman’s assertion that the greatest social justice a company can perform is earning a profit. In this particular instance, boosting profits by cutting energy expenditures creates the ancillary effect of a cleaner environment. Any company that contributes to such a cause truly is deserved of acclaim. Why not let your business be among these companies?

Texas Electricity Proposed Changes

State lawmakers are looking over a proposal by the Cities Aggregation Power Project (CAAP) that would give cities the power to choose your electric provider. This is possibly one of the worst ideas I think I've come across since deregulation began in 2002. Essentially - this would provide CAAP and cities with the power to tell consumers who their "electric choice" would be. So, how is that "electric choice" anyway. They basically think people (Texas consumers) don't know what they need so they want the government to tell them what they need and who should be their power provider. Some people I speak with simply don't want to change - they like their power provider that they've had since before deregulation and simply are not switching. Well, if CAAP gets their way - consumers like this would not have that choice to stay with their current provider. They would be switched away - then they would have to contact their previous provider and switch back or they would have to opt out of the power pool so to speak. How many people do you think would miss this tidbit of opt out information if they recieved it in the mail? This proposal simply makes absolutely ZERO sense to me. More power, more control and more government is certainly not what competition and freedom of choice is all about. You currently have the power to choose even if you choose to stay with your current provider - that should be your choice. That's why large markets like electricity, transportation, telecom and others have been deregulated - so that consumers could have a choice, competition could breed lower prices - and markets could thrive through innovation.

Listen, electric deregulation has certainly had it's ups and downs since it began in 2002, but let it run it's course and work out some of the market flaws. We are currently seeing some electric prices below what they were in December 2001 before deregulation started. How many items or services do you purchase today that are at a lower cost than they were 7 years ago? I would have to say not many. Plus, the run up in electric prices this past few years and especially this past summer were not only because of deregulation - without deregulation we would have seen similar prices increases. Did we not see $4.00+ gasoline prices? Was that caused by the deregulation of the Texas electricity market? No. More competition and innovation will help this market - not more control and regulation.

Time to Save on Texas Electricity

Daylight savings time (DST) starts tonight. Ben Franklin suggested daylight savings time in 1784 but it wasn’t until 1918 that Congress established it into law. Previously, DST began on the first Sunday in April and lasted until the last Sunday in October. The U.S. extended DST in 2007 to begin on the second Sunday of March through the first Sunday in November. This give us an additional 5 weeks of natural light – thus additional savings on our Texas electric bills. To help lower energy usage, during DST, the sun rises one hour later in the morning and sets one hour later in the evening - essentially stretching the day. This works because it saves energy due to less artificial light needed during the daylight hours. In the United States, residential lighting accounts for three point five percent (3.5%) of all energy use, thus daylight savings time helps the U.S. to utilize less energy. In Texas – nearly 10 percent of energy costs come from lighting. Texas electricity meters move fast enough during the spring and summer months, but every little bit helps. So tonight – don’t forget to move your clock ahead one hour thus we lose an hour when DST starts. To lower your electric bills even furthur - don't forget to sign up for a lower rate at www.ChooseEnergy.com.

Texas Electric News - Reliant Getting New Owner

There are quite a few things going on in the the Texas electricity market these days. News came today that NRG Energy has agreed to buy Reliant Energy’s retail electricity business in Texas for $287.5 million. This is obviously big news since Reliant Energy is one of the largest players (2nd behind Energy Future Holdings/ TXU Energy) in the Texas electric market with over 1.8 million customers. What's quite intersting is that Exelon has been trying to purchase NRG the past several months and they also recently stated that 51% of the shareholders of NRG have agreed in principal to the Exelon offer.

I believe this is solid show of support for the Texas electric market and an important move for Reliant Energy - especially since they released earnings today and lost over $437 million in the 4th quarter - that was compared to net income of $227 million in that same quarter a year ago.

A lot has changed in the Texas electric landscape in the past couple of years...

Texas Electricity Lows?

If you've been waiting for the right time to lock in a Texas electricity rate for your home or business - you don't need to wait any longer. Natural gas prices have a big effect on electricity costs and today natural gas futures dropped to six-year lows - falling as low as $3.916/ MMBTU. Even with mild weather predicted for much of the U.S. in March, natural gas prices are not likely to fall much further.

If you are looking to lock in and pick a Texas electric company for your business - Monday will be the time to do it. If looking for electricity prices for your home - you'll probably see better prices toward the end of the week once these prices have been reflected into the market.

Plus, it's a great time to lock in your rate before the summer heat comes our way. With Texas electricity prices this low - you simply can't afford to wait much longer. As you can see from the chart above - we certainly haven't seen natural gas prices like this in quite some time.

Texas Electricity Savings

Spring in savings with lower Texas electricity prices!

As witnessed today with RECORD high temperatures throughout Texas, summer is right around the corner...and we all know what that means - higher electric bills. Did you know it takes anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months to change over to a new Texas Electricity provider? What does that mean to you? Well, if you are paying over 13 cents for electricity today - you should switch now and lock in a lower Texas electric rate today so you can save big when to true Texas summer heat comes our way.

Compare prices and lock in a LOW 12 month rate today on www.ChooseEnergy.com!

Doom and Gloom on Texas Electricity?

When I open up the paper in the morning (yes, I still get the newspaper delivered to my door everyday) all I see if doom and gloom. We all see it - the economy, layoffs, stock prices, mutual funds, etc. Many articles have also been written recently about how Texas electric rates are high and deregulation is bad. Did you know you can get a Texas electric rate today for about the same price as you could before deregulation? Probably not because that doesn't sell papers. Do you pay the same for a gallon of milk, a gallon of gas, or a gallon of pickles as you did 7 years ago? Well, I really don't know about pickles but stay with me here.

According to data from ChooseEnergy.com, Texas electricity prices have gone down 30% in the DFW area and 35% in the Houston area since the July 2008 summer highs. I think that's pretty good considering how the Texas electricity markets price their services. They are dependent are a number of things including natural gas prices and access to credit. While natural gas prices have dropped nearly 70% since those summer highs, the access to credit markets is certainly not what it used to be. These are difficult economic times that we live in and like most products and services - prices go up.

In regards to deregulation being bad for Texas. Let me ask you - Do you shop for milk at a convenience store or a grocery store? If you are going to fly are you going to just go up to the counter on the day of the flight and purchase a ticket? Are you on the same cell phone minute plan that you signed up for 7 years ago? If you are like most people - the answer is no.

If you go to the convenience store and buy a gallon of milk you are probably going to pay $3.50 - $4.00. However - if you shop around at a grocery store - you'll probably pay less than $2.00 for that same milk.

If you purcahse a last minute ticket from the counter at the airport to fly, to let's say Florida - you may pay over $1,000 for that ticket. However - if you shop around a bit early and compare prices online - you may get that ticket for as little as $100.

10 years ago - cell phone plans were expensive and you had a limited amount of minutes to use. Nowadays - they are so competitive that rates change monthly and you get unlimited minutes.

You see what I'm getting at here? You have to shop around for deals in deregulated environments. If everyone shops around - prices get more and more and more competitive and you save money. If you don't do anything - you are at fault. Not the convenience store owner that is selling you $4.00 milk or even the electric company that is selling you 14 cent electricity. It's "convenient" to just grab the milk while you are there rather than going down the street to save $2.00 and it's also convenient to not do anything in regards to shopping around for electricity - but it saves you money.

If you are currently on a rate above 12.5 cents per kWh for your residential electric service like many Texans - it's time to shop around. If you don't mind paying $4.00 for a gallon of milk - you probably don't mind paying 13 cents of more for electricity, but you shouldn't complain about it and people shouldn't write about it. Just because some people don't like to shop around for the best price, it doesn't mean that dregulation is a bad thing.

You have the Power to Choose Texas Electricity

To many of us, we simply want to flip a switch and have the light come on in our home or business. So what does Texas electric deregulation mean to you? Just like choosing your home telephone service or buying an airline ticket, large industries must be deregulated to promote competition. This process leads to lower prices and a wider selection of services for you the consumer. The point to deregulation is that you now have control. You have the control as to who supplies you Texas electricity, so you can determine what matters most; lower prices, cleaner energy, better customer service, or better payment options. Whatever matters to you, deregulation gives you that power - your power to choose not someone else's.

This is an exciting time and Texas is leading the nation in electric deregulation. Many states are looking at the Texas electricity model for their future deregulation plans and policies off what our state has created. With competition, customers can now freely negotiate with Texas electric providers that are competing hard for your business.

Due to increased demand, natural disasters, and other factors, energy costs have risen across the board since deregulation, but we are now seeing the advantages of deregulation in lower electricity prices. Texas electricity prices have come down 40% since the summer highs of 2008. This dramatic decrease in price has only been seen in deregulated parts of Texas. So the model is working - we just have to give it more time.

Just as the Internet has made it easier for people to compare mortgages, travel rates and other services, ChooseEnergy.com has developed a ‘compare and buy' site that offers a trusted and objective comparison of available Texas electricity providers for residential and commercial customers. Before now, comparing and switching Texas electric providers was a very frustrating, confusing and time consuming process for Texas residents and businesses. With ChooseEnergy.com, consumers and business owners now get direct access to real-time pricing and the ability to switch providers, through an easy-to-use electricity services portal.

As far as change - nothing much really changes except as who sends you a bill. The same Texas electric delivery company will maintain and deliver you your electricity. If there is ever a power outage, they will still come and fix it for your block. Look at it this way, if your electricity goes out does it only go out for you and not your neighbor? No. You and your neighbors are connected to an electricity grid and more closely to a transformer. That Texas electricity delivery company is still going to go out and fix that same transformer that blew and turn the power back on for everyone that was affected. Not just for those that have not switched. They don't know nor do they care where you get your power. They have a job to do and it is to get your electricity turned back on. It's that simple.

Even if you don't make a switch to another provider, do the research and find out your options. Maybe you don't want to switch and want to stay with your current electric provider but would like to purchase cleaner renewable electricity. Chances are, your current electric company offers a renewable energy product for your home. Do the right thing, exercise your power to choose today.

Stimulus Bill

Part of the “Stimulus Bill” in Congress is dedicated towards Energy. In fact, $8.5 billion is earmarked for renewable energy projects. So what is renewable energy? Renewable energy or green energy is electrical power that is produced from clean, renewable energy sources. Renewable energy comes from sources that are less or zero-polluting like wind, solar and water. By utilizing the wind or water to turn turbines, or the sun to heat fuel cells you can produce electricity that is free from the use of fossil fuels. Traditional power sources like coal and natural gas power plants emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and deplete our fossil fuels. Utilizing green energy reduces smog, greenhouse gases and air pollution.
How do you choose Green Energy? Well, if you have a choice in who supplies your electricity, you can choose green energy by switching your Texas electric service to a retail electric provider that offers green energy like wind power. If you don’t have a choice in electric suppliers you can contact you current electric company and request green energy option credits.
Most Texas electricity customers now have an option of utilizing a green energy product from their electricity supplier or by switching to a provider that has a green energy product. In fact, Texas now produces more wind power than any other state and aggressive plans to produce much more in the near future.
One of the most popular green energy options available is Green Mountain Energy. Green Mountain Energy is the largest retail provider of less-polluting electricity to residential and commercial customers in the U.S. and they have many plans to choose from. You can choose green energy credits or electricity service options like 100% wind power.
Many businesses are also taking notice to their impact on our natural resources. There has been a tremendous movement in the past few years for Green Energy and companies are taking notice to their carbon footprint and their impact on the environment. Many companies are using green energy credits, and taking on comprehensive energy efficiency initiatives for their entire organization.
Hopefully the new “Stimulus Bill” and its publicity will inject more interested parties to renewable/ green energy. The more people that choose to go green will obviously produce a wider the impact and further the development of renewable resources.

Commercial Electric in Texas

Do you have an energy plan? If you are a business owner or make budget decisions at a company – you need a plan. Texas electricity prices have been falling recently and if you have not taken advantage of thesnot so muche prices, you certainly need to today. Check out the graph on the left - see a trend? Now don't you think it's time to take a look at your rate?

As a business owner and a user of commercial electric in Texas, it is important to reduce electricity costs and improve your bottom-line. By switching to a retail electricity supplier that has your best interest in mind, and you will start to see some significant savings to your business' bottom-line.

When choosing a new electric provider for your business you need to do some homework, especially if you are a large commercial or industrial user of Texas electricity.
You can call up a bunch of retail electric providers (there are currently over 40 active business electricity suppliers operating in Texas) and get pricing from each of them, or you can now go straight to ChooseEnergy.com and get direct commercial electric from up to 8 of the most trusted Texas electricity suppliers and start saving money on your company's energy costs.
Many factors in electricity pricing and contracts are different from one provider to the next. ChooseEnergy.com helps makes it easy to understand. ChooseEnergy.com understands the energy commodities markets and their impact on energy pricing, and provides you with market insight you need to make an informed decision. It is a neutral energy marketplace where you can get the contract that fits your company's needs.

ChooseEnergy.com’s end goal is to secure you the best provider, best contract, best price, and superior customer service for your business electricity needs.

Texas Electricity

I was talking to my wife's friend the other day, and she was finally ready to take my advice and switch to new electric company to lower her energy bill. She realized that electricity is a comodity - the lower the price the better, but more importantly - she needed to lower the family's monthly budget. Everyone has been hurt by these stressful economic times and everyone is trying t find ways to cut that monthly budget.

Well, if you haven't been watching the Texas Electricity market recently you've been missing some big savings. Every single one of our provider partners have lower their electric rates. If you signed up for a month to month service in the past 6 months - now is the time to lock in your rate for 12 months. These low Texas electricity rates probably won't last long. You see, electricity price rise and fall in respect to natural gas prices. For the past few months - natural gas prices have gone down due to a warmer winter, lower demand and higher supply. Well, once people begin to turning on their air conditioning in their homes - the demand will increase because many electric plants in Texas are run off of natural gas. This will increase the cost of natural gas thus increasing the cost of Texas electrity rates.

In the past six months alone, we've seen a 27% decrease in prices in the Houston market and 23% decrease in price in the Dallas/ Ft. Worth market. That's some big savings. If your electric bill last month was $200 and you haven't sign up for a lower rate in the past few months - that would be over $600 a year in savings. If your electricity bills are higher than that - just think about how much you could save.

Anyway, pull out your Texas electricity bill and if you are paying over 13 cents per kWh - it's time to lock in to a lower rate today.

Are Texans Paying Too Much?

This question has come up quite a bit recently because of the big drop in the energy markets. With the drop in natural gas and oil - many feel that resdiential electricity rates here in Texas should be much lower.

Well, credit helps run the electricity market in Texas and we all know what has happened recently in the credit world. In order to purchase power to sell into the market - Texas retail electric companies need credit to hedge the power they've purchased. Since the credit standards are much tougher, Texas electricity providers have access to less power and are less aggressive with their pricing at this time - simply because it's much harder to get.

So, are Texans paying too much for their residential electricity? I don't think so. The market is what it is - there are plenty of companies out there that rely on being the low cost provider. If they could lower their rates - they would. It's simply a tough market right now, plus prices have dropped 30%.

Anytime you see a drop of 30% - it's a good time to lock in. Will the credit markets get better and help lower electricity rates come to the market? That's certainly possible, but with the cold winter upon us there should be an increased demand for natural gas - thus an increase in natural gas and electricity costs. Do you know how long our nation will be in this credit crunch? I certainly don't.

My advice would be this - Prices are favorable right now and I'm recommending my clients lock into a rate for 12 or 24 months.

Holiday Shopping From Your Electric Bill?

The holiday shopping season is upon us and many consumers could find extra money for their holiday shopping budget in their electric bill.

The Friday after Thanksgiving is the biggest shopping day of the year. This time of the year is associated with deep discounts, early bird deals, and big sales. The economy has certainly put a damper on things this year and many of us are watching every penny we spend. Well, I’ve got some good news. If you have turned on the news or filled up your car recently you've noticed much lower prices are at the pump. In fact, yesterday I filled for only $1.57 a gallon when it was $4.09 a gallon less than six months ago. That’s a savings of forty dollars on one single tank of gas. Energy prices around the globe have dropped dramatically from their summer highs. Electricity prices have come down as well and if you are in a deregulated electric market like Texas, it’s a great time to lock in a lower rate. This will help you find those extra dollars for those fantastic holiday sales.

The problem is people don’t look at what rate they have with their current electric company. Similar to cell phone plans, you need to shop around and check rates to make sure you are always on the best rate/ plan available. What should you do? If you haven't check on your electric rate recently - you might be in for some holiday cheer. Go to: http://www.chooseenergy.com/ - Many electricity providers are offering rates up to thirty percent lower than their best prices just five months ago. Pair a much lower rate with some reduced consumption and you’ve got a recipe for hundreds of dollars in savings…just enough for that holiday budget.

FALL INTO LOWER ELECTRIC BILLS

The fall season is a perfect time to lock in a lower electric rate.

As a full-time energy analyst and business owner (http://www.chooseenergy.com/), people always ask me – when is it a good time to lock in an electric rate? Well, you can “fall” into lower electric rates if you lock in during the fall months. There are peeks and valleys (head and shoulder) months in regards to energy prices. Electric rates track closely with natural gas prices and historically the months during the fall are valleys or shoulder months which makes for a good curve when trying to determine when to lock in your electric rate.

So what should you do? There still seems to be a premium on pricing out in 2012 and 2013 so I would recommend signing either a 12 or 24 month contract at the present time. This is where the rates are most attractive and the best time to end your contract during these same shoulder months so you can renegotiate during the low season.

Just as the Internet has made it easier for people to compare mortgages, travel rates and other services, ChooseEnergy.com has developed a compare and buy site that offers a trusted and objective comparison of available Texas electricity providers for residential and small commercial customers. Not only do we select the providers that participate on our site, but we also show their most attractive rate plans for your home or business. Plus, as I mentioned the fall season is a great time to lock in a lower Texas electricity rate. Electricity prices usually track with natural gas costs, and natural gas is traditionally lower in shoulder months during the fall and spring season, before consumer demand increases during the cold winter months when consumers are using more natural gas.

As I mentioned in a previous post - just like cell phone providers – like AT&T or Sprint - Retail electric providers bid on customers’ electricity business. These providers can also personalize their bids to each customer or modify their offers and terms as often as they wish. For instance, electricity retailers may offer exceptionally competitive rates tied to longer term contracts (but we recommend not signing longer than 36 months at the present time) to attract customers in a targeted geographic area or offer a renewable energy product, like energy produced from wind, for the same price as you are currently paying.

It certainly pays to not only get the right offering that fits your home or business electricity needs, but also getting that offering at the right time. So do some shopping for your home or business during this holiday season and take advantage of fall electric rates.

SaveOnEnergy.com ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

DALLAS — Sept. 24, 2008 – Dallas-based SaveOnEnergy.com announced today the company has launched a strategic partnership with Choose Energy (http://www.chooseenergy.com/). Choose Energy customers can now utilize the innovative commercial exchange portal launched by SaveOnEnergy.com in October 2007. The initiative between the two companies allows Choose Energy to focus on their residential expansion while utilizing the commercial driven technology of SaveOnEnergy.com’s exchange portal.


As the leading web portal connecting customers to suppliers, SaveOnEnergy.com has experienced significant growth and success in the last five years in Texas’ competitive energy market. SaveOnEnergy.com and Choose Energy are looking into their current expansion campaigns and expect the partnership to carry over into new markets as well. To date, both companies see New York as their next opportunity for market expansion.

“This strategic partnership with Choose Energy provides our proven technology and numerous options to their commercial customers while continuing to promote healthy competition within our industry,” said Brent Moore, founder and CEO of SaveOnEnergy.com.

“This partnership allows us to place more focus on our continued development around the residential energy space with increased offerings and services for the Texas homeowner. SaveOnEnergy.com’s commercial portal provides a valuable tool for our business customers – direct quotes from some of the largest and most competitive energy providers in the market today,” said Jerry Dyess, president of Choose Energy.

The first model of its kind in the competitive energy industry, SaveOnEnergy.com’s exchange portal allows energy suppliers to compete head to head for the customer’s business. Business customers simply log on to the SaveOnEnergy.com website (www.SaveOnEnergy.com), enter their business and usage information, and the information is then delivered real-time to each of the participating energy suppliers. The suppliers then evaluate the information and contact the customer directly.

Different than other online energy brokers, SaveOnEnergy.com no longer uses an internal direct sales force for commercial leads and now serves as a clearinghouse where suppliers compete directly for the customer’s business. The retail exchange format frees customers from time consuming efforts to locate competitive energy firms and solicit bids for their energy usage. With a click of the mouse, customers are contacted directly and receive real-time competitive bids.

Hudson Energy Teams up with Choose Energy’s Online Energy Marketplace to Offer Competitive Electricity Plans to Texans

DALLAS – August 28, 2007 – Hudson Energy Services has joined Choose Energy (http://www.chooseenergy.com/), a division of Amen Properties (NASDAQ: AMEN), to offer consumers additional choices of competitive electricity plans and savings to better serve their needs.

Choose Energy’s recently updated Web site (http://www.chooseenergy.com/) sets it apart from other listing sites such as Texas Electric Choice Web site (http://www.powertochoose.org/) by enabling customers to easily compare offers and sign up without leaving its site.

“Choose Energy’s Web site functions uniquely as an unbiased researcher to provide consumers with a wide range of electricity plans that are comparable in real-time market conditions,” said Deryl Brown, CEO of Hudson. “As we build our business in Texas, we are always looking for more ways to conveniently provide business and residential customers with our competitive options, and the Choose Energy site meets our needs completely.”

“We are very pleased to have Hudson team up with us to offer consumers more plan options on the site,” stated Jerry Dyess, general manager of Choose Energy. “We share the same business focus of consumer convenience and hassle-free switching, so I knew we would work well together.”

“Many people only begin thinking about switching electricity providers during the hot, summer months when their bill hits its peak,” said Dyess. “As we begin transitioning into the new fall season, it’s an ever better time for customers to re-evaluate their electricity plans, so they can lock in lower fall rates and start saving money all year long.”

Choose Energy also now enables business customers to select from one of three secure ways to receive bids for their business. They can provide basic information about their business online and receive electricity rate comparisons and sign up online; they may fill out a simple online form and request a Choose Energy consultant to contact them; or, they may call and speak with a representative.

About Choose Energy

Choose Energy, http://www.chooseenergy.com/, is committed to being the leading and most trusted online source to residential and small business consumers for comparing and selecting competitive energy services. This customer-focused commitment is backed by experienced energy resources, great prices from qualified suppliers and powerful technology to enable real-time pricing, efficient enrollment and switching.