Partnership Grant applications must be submitted online by 5 p.m. on June 15.

Visit www.FirstChoicePower.com/partner for more information on:

• Who's eligible?
• How to apply?
• What's funded, what's not?

Put the Partnership dollars to work where your community needs them most.

Before Texas implemented electric choice in 2002 and opened the market to competition, consumers had no options. There was one electric company per area, one price, and nothing customers could do if they didn’t like either.

Now that there has been electric choice for the past four years, customers are seeing more options than ever. One option that has received a lot of attention is a fixed-price product.

A fixed-price contract lets a customer lock in a price, avoiding the frequent increases that occur when the cost of the fuel used to produce electricity rises. Much of the electricity in Texas is produced by natural gas, so natural gas is the fuel that drives electric prices. The appeal of fixed-price products has been growing over the past years, especially in 2005 when natural gas prices spiked to historic highs, causing electricity prices to rise to record levels as well.

By signing an agreement to be placed on a fixed price for a fixed period of time, customers can shield themselves from price increases. When fuel prices increase, customers who are not on a fixed-price will see rate increases, but those on fixed prices will enjoy the same price for the full term of the agreement. Fixed prices give customers the price certainty that they need to manage their budgets without unpleasant surprises.

Many of First Choice Power’s customers already are enjoying the certainty of having a fixed-price contract. Soon, this product will be expanded so that it’s available to all customers. Watch for more information soon.

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Our first Community Crew project of the year — Warm A Heart (and a Sole) —was a resounding success! Community Crew is a new endeavor for First Choice Power, where employees can participate in various volunteer projects and fundraising initiatives.

In early February, First Choice Power employees across Texas collected new shoes for children in need during the Warm A Heart campaign. The shoes were then delivered to nonprofit organizations in the company’s service area to be distributed to children around Valentine’s Day.

Our next two Community Crew projects will promote literacy and support the American Cancer Society.

First Choice volunteers will be reading to children in Texas classrooms during the first two weeks of March as part of the National Education Association’s efforts to promote literacy and to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday. In addition, First Choice Power will support the American Cancer Society through sponsorship and employee participation in Relay for Life events around the state this spring.