Copperas Cove hosting town hall meeting for Texas Power Switch

By LYNETTE SOWELL

Cove Leader-Press 

The City of Copperas Cove is hosting a special town hall meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 6 p.m. in the Copperas Cove City Council chambers, located in the city’s technology building at 508 S. 2nd St. 

The meeting includes a presentation and overview of the Texas Power Switch Program. Texas Power Switch is an energy switching program that gives residential electricity customers the opportunity to sign up and get a lower rate on electricity. 

According to iChooser, LLC, the company of whom Texas Power Switch is a subsidiary, there is no cost to the city to offer this service, nor does the city receive any financial compensation for those who participate in the program. 

“All you need to sign up is information from an electricity bill,” said Russ Rhea, on behalf of Texas Power Switch. “After registering, residents will receive an email by Feb. 14 with the lowest offer and they can decide whether to accept it. The more people that participate, the greater the chances are of obtaining a competitive rate.

“While electric deregulation is now 20 years old in Texas, most Texans don’t take advantage of it because of the complexities involved. Texas Power Switch takes care of the entire switching process.”

Cities like Waco, Farmers Branch, Lancaster, Corinth and Fate are among other Texas cities that already participate in the program, which has helped save residents an average of approximately $375 a year on electricity bills.

For example, during the first round for Texas Power Switch in Waco, 2,292 registered for the auction, with 778 accepting the offer. For those 778 customers, the annual estimated savings was $307,310, according to Rhea.

Those who wish to participate must register for free by January 27, at www.texaspowerswitch.com/copperascove. Then, electric providers will be invited to an auction where they will compete with their best offers, and the lowest rate wins. Participants will receive a personal offer email by February 14, and then decide whether to accept the offer or not. According to the press release, there is no obligation to switch. Texas Power Switch will oversee the transition to the new provider for all participants who accept the winning offer.

Households served by electric cooperatives and municipally-owned utilities are not able to participate; however, any household in a deregulated service area is invited to participate and Copperas Cove residency is not required. 

After the presentation at Wednesday’s meeting, there will be a time for questions and answers.