Check out how the daughter of one of our employees showed support for her daddy’s industry at summer camp:
Doesn't she just make you smile?
July 27th, 2010
By Adam Martin
The jobs are simple: collecting dirty dishes, assembling plates of food or, in my case, pouring water for those who are eating. Tasks that are not complex, but essential.
Our Food First employee team at our first Stewpot visit.
In 90 minutes my four co-workers and I helped feed 760 people. Not bad.
According to its website, The Stewpot is “a safe haven for homeless and at-risk individuals of Dallas, providing resources for basic survival needs as well as opportunities to start a new life.” That certainly matches what we experienced.
Volunteers like us arrive just before meal time, were assigned straightforward tasks and then asked to pitch in and help. People, lots of hungry people, shuffle through and receive good food — ribs, coleslaw and other fixin’s on the day we served — and a brief reprieve from the Texas heat. The place is a well-oiled machine, efficiently serving those in need three meals a day, 365 days a year.
I look forward to serving there again.
Benji mans the "hole" -- collecting trash and cleaning trays.
The First Choice Power team is a fortunate group. We have good jobs working for an amazing company. We have families and friends and ample opportunities to better ourselves and our lives in countless ways. And now, through the Food FirstTM program, we have another opportunity to give back, as well.
So, on the first Wednesday of each month some of us will be pouring water and handing out food at The Stewpot. We’re happy to help because this community is our community, and we’re committed to it. There are simply too many hungry people in Texas. We’ve decided we’re going to do something about that.
Adam is an analyst supporting our wholesale trading and commercial sales teams. He works closely with the Culture Committee, a group of employees who endeavor to strengthen and energize the culture of First Choice Power. He’s a Food First employee volunteer team leader.
July 21st, 2010
A young Lufkin resident excited to dig in to her Food First™ bag
We continue to stretch our Food First™ efforts throughout Texas, with our most recent stop in East Texas. In partnership with East Texas Food Bank, First Choice Power is making it possible for 150 children to receive the nutritional, biodegradable Food First bags for their weekend meals this summer.
The First Choice Power Food First™ bags, filled with milk, fruit, juice, granola bars and canned foods, will be distributed every Friday this summer at Andrews Park in Tyler, Kingdom Harvest Ministries and Cornerstone Church in Lufkin.
Our Food First™ launch in East Texas generated a lot of local interest, including coverage from KLTV 7 News; Tyler’s CBS affiliate, KYTX ; and Tyler’s newspaper, Tyler Telegraph.
But the quest to fight hunger is far from over! For all of the Food First™ program details, including future launch cities, visit www.firstchoicepower.com/our-community/giving-back/food-first.aspx.
July 15th, 2010
Have you explored our new website yet?
Congratulations to Anthony Romero, the winner of our www.FirstChoicePower.com Scavenger Hunt.
Last week we challenged blog readers and Twitter followers to explore our new webite and answer four questions about our new site.
Anthony answered all four questions correctly. He will receive a $10 bill credit on his next First Choice Power bill. (Anthony, don’t forget to e-mail me your account number!)
Here’s the answer key:
1) Name three ways you can pay your bill.
- Online, telephone, pay with a check, Automatic Bank Draft, Automatic Credit Card, in person at participating agents. Learn more.
2) Check out the great photos on our Giving Back section. What is the name of our hunger campaign?
- Food FirstTM. Learn more about how we are helping fight hunger in Texas. Check back Monday for photos and an update on our launch in Tyler tomorrow.
3) What is one benefit of a fixed price plan and one benefit of a variable price plan?
- Fixed price plans: Wanting protection from rising energy costs and you want to know the price per kilowatt-hour you pay each month for 12 or 24 months.
- Variable price plans: Don’t want to be locked into a contract; you think energy prices are going to fall; you like freedom and flexibility and you might move soon.
4) What is the difference in cost of our “regular” fixed price plan and green fixed price plan? (Hint: this one involves typing in your zip code.)
- There is no difference. Sign up today. Click here and enter your ZIP code to see pricing for your area.
Congrats again to Anthony. Stay tuned for an in-depth look at some of the new features of our website next week.
Extra credit: What’s your favorite new feature of our site?
July 12th, 2010
A young girl picks up her Food First bag to enjoy during the weekend.
Our Food FirstTM campaign to help fight hunger in Texas expanded to West Texas last week with the launch of our summer food bags for kids in Odessa.
In partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Odessa and West Texas Food Bank, we helped distribute more than 150 bags full of nutritional and easy-to-open food for the kids to take home for the weekend.
“One in four kids in Texas doesn’t know where their next meal is coming from,” said Lee Pipkin, interim executive director of the West Texas Food Bank.
The First Choice Power Food First bags will help provide as many as five meals.
The Boys & Girls Club and West Texas Food Bank provide meals for the kids during the week, but there is a gap Friday afternoon to Monday morning.
During the school year many food banks have “backpack” programs.
But not during the summer.
The Food First program is the first of its kind, Pipkin said.
This summer, more than 15,000 meals will be provided by First Choice Power Food First bags, thanks to distribution from the Boys & Girls Club and purchasing power and volunteer support at the West Texas Food Bank.
Read more about the launch on the CBS affiliate in Odessa and in the Odessa American newspaper.
July 9th, 2010
Reduce Your Use Grants Wrap Up for the Season
by CCarlton | 2 Comments; | Posted in: In Your Community, Reduce Your Use Grants
Our 2010 Reduce Your UseTM Grant deliveries concluded this week with our final one at Lewisville’s PediPlace. PediPlace plans to purchase a new energy-efficient refrigerator with its grant. We are very excited and honored to help them with their purchase, as well as all of the non-profits who received Reduce Your UseTM grants from First Choice Power.
We have distributed $52,000 in Reduce Your UseTM Grants throughout the past few months with stops in cities all over the State of Texas, from Copperas Cove to Waco to our home-base city of Lewisville.
The Reduce Your UseTM Grant season may be over, but there’s no stopping us giving out grants in the future, we are now accepting submissions for the Classroom Energy Innovation GrantsTM ! Encourage your favorite teacher to apply for a Classroom Energy Innovation Grant worth as much as $2,000. These grants provide resources to Texas teachers with innovative and creative ideas about energy and energy efficiency. We will be accepting online applications until October 15. Visit www.FirstChoicePower.com/innovation to learn more and apply.
Stay tuned for 2011 Reduce Your UseTM Grant opportunities beginning next February!
July 8th, 2010
You’ve had a week to play around on our new website. So, now it’s time for a pop quiz! I know – groan, groan – those words still bring back instant panic attacks from calculus class in high school.
This one is fun and will help you get to know our new Website, and perhaps, learn some new tricks and shortcuts to save you time, money and energy.
Simply answer the three questions in the comments section, and we’ll pull a winner for a $10 bill credit!
1) Name three ways you can pay your bill.
2) Check out the great photos on our Giving Back section. What is the name of our hunger campaign? (I’ll give you a hint: our kickoff is in Odessa tomorrow.)
3) What is one benefit of a fixed price plan and one benefit of a variable price plan?
4) What is the difference in cost of our “regular” fixed price plan and green fixed price plan? (Hint: this one involves typing in your zip code.)
5) Extra credit: What’s your favorite new feature of the site?
Good luck, and let us know what you think!
July 6th, 2010
Today is a #twitterforfood event on Twitter. What does that mean? How does tweeting help hunger?
Thousands of Twitter users have skipped a meal during these events and used the savings to donate to their local food bank or hunger organization.
We invite you to participate and let us know what meal you skipped and where you donated.
Need a recommendation of where to donate? Through our Food FirstTM campaign we partner with the East Texas Food Bank, West Texas Food Bank and Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley.
In the Dallas area? We also do volunteer work with Meals on Wheels, CCA and The Stewpot and recommend giving to these great organizations.
By skipping a meal we all experience what millsions experience everyday. According to national statics, 1 in 8 goes hungry. And Texas ranks as one of the worst states when it comes to Texas. That means in some areas, it’s even worse than 1 in 8.
Mention us on Twitter @firstchoicepwr or leave a comment to let us know what meal you skipped and where you gave! Join us as we help end hunger in Texas.
July 2nd, 2010
Source: Flag.com
It’s a long weekend. A lot families plan fun activities: a picnic, swim, barbeque, fireworks. All of which come with opportunities to save energy and remember safety tips.
Here’s a quick list of tips to remember as you celebrate July 4.
AC energy-efficiency tips:
- Set the Right Temperature When You’re Home: The temperature setting you choose plays a major role in how much energy you save each month. The generally recommended temperature is 78° F to 80° F for summer. For each degree your thermostat is set below 78°F, your electricity use increases by about 3%.
- Save Overnight: You can save 2% on your heating bill for every degree you reduce your thermostat at night.
- Turn it Up When You’re Out: If you’re gone during the day, raise the air conditioner thermostat by 5 degrees before leaving. This saves energy during times when you don’t need it. If your home will be vacant for several days, turn the air off. The electricity savings will be noticeable on your next bill.
- Replace the Filter: Check your filter often and make sure it’s clean. You’re A/C has to work much harder when the filter’s dirty. During peak use, you’ll want to replace your filter every month. If you find you use your unit less often in spring or fall, you can go 2-3 months without replacing the filter — but don’t forget to check it when the weather gets hotter or colder! Putting a reminder on your calendar is a good idea.
- Use a Fan: Installing a ceiling fan can save electricity by making the room feel around 10°F cooler while using far less energy than your air conditioner.
Pool pump energy-efficiency tips:
- Check your swimming pool pump motor at regular intervals to make sure it’s operating properly.
- An energy-efficient pump can save you hundreds of dollars per season.
- Reduce the running time of the pump to the minimum it takes to keep your pool clean. You can even install an inexpensive timer on your pump to automate the process so you don’t have to remember to turn it on and off.
- Clean your filters regularly. Put reminders on your calendar to make sure this task gets done on schedule.
Safety Tips (from USDA.gov)
- Fireworks rules for Texas
- Barbecue Safety
- Boating Safety
- Campfire Safety
- Healthy Swimming
- Skin Cancer Prevention
- Travel Safely
And, of course, you can save energy by turning off all the lights and enjoying the fireworks!
June 30th, 2010
First Choice Power’s Lewisville Office Debuts!
by CCarlton | 0 Comments | Posted in: In Your Community9:56 a.m. First Choice Power’s new Lewisville office is here at last! The ribbon-cutting begins in a few and, let me tell you, the crowd here is fantastic, bombastic. Stay tuned for live blogging as it happens and join us for our public celebration in t-minus one hour.
10:07 a.m.
Jacob Davis, the general manager of our Lewisville location, has kicked off the proceedings with a nice, warm welcome to the crowd…and from the community. Next up, First Choice Power’s president, Brian Hayduk.
10:13 a.m.
First Choice Power President Brian Hayduk is making some great remark about taking pride in the community — it’s all about you, the customer! — to eco-friendly operations and design features of our Lewisville location, such as a state-of-the-art “light shelf,” which filters natural light from outside inside the store so less artificial light is needed. Don’t you love (sustainable) technology?
Ribbon-cutting at our Lewisville opening
10:15 a.m.
Jacob just presented a First Choice Power grant to Keep Lewisville Beautiful, some of which they’ll use to give CFL (energy-efficient) light bulbs to the community. Want one…for free? Come to the Lewisville location (1081 W. Main Street #100) from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
10:17 a.m.
Mayor Ueckert of Lewisville is marshalling the crowd for the ribbon-cutting now. A lot excitement is in the air. First Choice Power is so happy and proud to bring another iteration of “You First” to North Texas. Say cheese!
10:19 a.m.
The ribbon is cut so now it’s on to the really fun part of today’s activities — free Fuzzy’s Tacos and remote-controlled cars…oh my! Come one, come all. Party starts at 11 a.m.
Keep Lewisville Beautiful reps at our new office
10:41 a.m.
Our community grant recipients, Keep Lewisville Beautiful, has representatives here to hand out CFL light bulbs to save energy…and you money. So stop in today to pick up a free one. We’d love to see you!
10:51 a.m.
Our very own Michael Swart is telling onlookers all about the cool eco-friendly and customer experience features that make the Lewisville location a winning concept. Drop by and see for yourself how First Choice Power is putting You First.
10:58 a.m.
Chris Summer with 99.5, The Wolf is here as part of a live radio remote from our Lewisville location. They’re giving away NASCAR tickets but you have to come out here (1081 W. Main Street #100, right across from Lewisville High School) to win. Just turn where you see all of the First Choice Power flags, NASCAR display and yummy tacos. Are you here yet?
11:04 a.m.
First Choice Power customers, existing and future, are checking out our storefront and meeting with our exceptional customer service agents. We have great plans, energy-saving tips, excellent promotions and more happening in-store today. Kind of like summer school, but with just the run recess part.
Remote-controlled cars at First Choice Power in Lewisville
11:15 a.m.
There are plenty of fun, *free* activities for people of all ages at our Lewisville opening. From remote-controlled First Choice Power cars, to a real NASCAR vehicle on display, to giveaways from 99.5, The Wolf; you won’t run out of things to enjoy. So come on out and celebrate with us!
11:29 a.m.
It’s lunchtime. Who’s hungry? If you’re in the Lewisville area, we have a lot of free food that we want to share with you. Fuzzy’s Tacos is here with their renowned beef and chicken tacos, as well as chips, salsa, queso and iced tea.
11:37 a.m.
Need another reason to stop by our Lewisville office today? You can take advantage of our 12-month green plan for 11.1 cents/kWh, within Oncor territory. (In-store promotion only.)
NASCAR vehicle in front of our new office
11:42 a.m.
The NASCAR vehicle is a hit, especially with the kiddos. How cute is this? (That’s a rhetorical question; the answer is: very!)
11:49 a.m.
It’s always wonderful to meet our long-time customers face-to-face. One Lewisville resident has allowed us to be her energy service provider for 23 years. How awesome is that? We’re so grateful for our loyal customers and the privilege it is to put You First.
11:57 a.m.
Lewisville Area Chamber of Commerce President Matt McCormick has joined us for our grand opening celebration. Nice representation of First Choice Power as an active member of the *business* community, as well as a proud part of the overall. Did you know the Lewisville Chamber selected First Choice Power as its 2009 Business of the Year? What an honor.
12:06 p.m.
Now chatting with Keep Lewisville Beautiful Executive Director Coralee Lennert about the terrific community improvement projects her organization does with grant money like from First Choice Power. Among them, KLB is involved in a cigarette litter prevention program (in partnership with Keep America Beautiful), annual spring cleanup, Trinity “trash bash” to clean up the river and its tributaries, and more. Visit keeplewisvillebeautiful.org for full calendar of events, community recycling information, or to learn more about volunteer opportunities.
First Choice Power's free giveaway items
12:27 p.m.
First Choice Power has a table full of LED night lights (less electricity, longer lasting) and Loblolly Pine tree seedlings. Free…for you, our customer. We’re still at our Lewisville retail store (1081 W. Main Street #100) celebrating our grand opening today. So come on out and join us for the next hour for food, fun and You First.
12:34 p.m.
One of the best things about our new Lewisville office is that our customers can come in and pay their bill electronically. That’s right we have a bank of computers available if you don’t have Internet access at home. In addition, you can check out our new site as well as our community partners’ sites.
Online Bill Pay via new FirstChoicePower.com
12:47 p.m.
Have you connected with us via social media (Facebook, Flickr, Twitter)? If not, please do. We’d love to interact with you, get your feedback and share in this online community.
12:56 p.m.
We’re wrapping up our grand opening celebration in Lewisville–thanks to all who joined us!–but the office is open for business (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.) so don’t hesitate to stop by. Let us know, offline or on, how we can serve you better — You First!
