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Cheap Texas Vacations

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Admin1

Cheap Texas Vacations

If you are looking for some summertime fun, cheap Texas vacations may be just what you need! Even for those living on a tight budget, it is important to get some time away from work and everyday life. Finding a little bit of extra cash can be a challenge, but it is not impossible, particularly in Texas where deregulation of utilities has caused electric providers across the state to offer cheap electricity from renewable resources, in order to compete for your business. You can cut a little from your grocery budget, trim some off your clothing allowance, or even find better electric rates in your city to make some room for a vacation fund. Whether it’s a weekend away, or a full week stay, here are some ideas for cheap Texas vacations you can take with your family and friends.

Enjoy the great outdoors at Lake Meredith. Lake Meredith is part of the National Park System, and has no entrance fee. Even better, the park campsites are free to use, on a first come, first served basis. This makes for one of the more beautiful cheap Texas vacations, with lake view campsites, spring wildflowers, and wildlife and bird watching opportunities. Horseback riding trails, as well as swimming and boating areas, make this a memorable place to visit.
Experience the Hill Country, in San Marcos. An easy drive from Austin and San Antonio, San Marcos is one of the more popular small-town destinations in Texas. Many of its attractions have to do with the San Marcos River, one of the most popular activities being the famous glass bottom boat rides over its crystal clear waters. There are plenty of dry activities as well, including cave tours and shopping.
Capture some cultural flavor, at the Fiesta Noche del Rio, in San Antonio. Through August 11, visitors to San Antonio can enjoy the longest-running outdoor musical revue of its kind in the United States, with seven acts of songs, dances and colorful costumes from Mexico, Spain, Argentina and Texas. San Antonio is always a fun place to visit, and can be among the most diverse and cheap Texas vacations, with the Riverwalk and the Alamo just two of the many delights of the city.
If you like the Victorian Era, you will love Fredericksburg. Founded in 1846, Fredericksburg is a quaint small town with much of its original architecture. Bed-and-breakfast inns are plentiful, vineyards and art galleries abound, and the shopping is excellent, so plan a weekend getaway to relax and enjoy this little town and its German flair.
Port Aransas offers a beach vacation and free music. From 7-9 each night, this seaside town offers free concerts from April to October. During the day, you and your family can relax and enjoy the beach, the sun, the fishing, and the eclectic mix of art galleries and boutiques.

As this list of cheap Texas vacations illustrates, you don’t have to have a huge vacation fund to enjoy some time away. You can set a little aside each month by cutting your monthly bills, and Payless Power can give you the power to pay less on your utility bills! To learn more about the convenience of prepaid electricity in Texas, and how to choose between electric companies in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston or other Texas cities, visit the Payless Power website. Contact us today, and start saving for that next trip!

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Electric Safety Tips: Floods Part 3

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Admin1

Electric Safety Tips: Floods

In this post, we will address electric safety tips to follow after a flood has occurred. If you have kept up with our safety tips so far, you should be in good shape, but once the natural disaster or plumbing emergency is over, there is still much to do. Even when floodwaters recede, the danger is still a factor, and following the right electrical safety tips is important.

Watch for live wires. Any broken or downed power lines should be immediately reported to your electric company, or the police.
Do not enter a home that has been flooded, unless the electricity has been turned off. This applies to a flooded basement, as well, and is one of the electric safety tips that must not be ignored. If the power has not been shut off, call a qualified electrician, or your power company.
Have an electrician check your system before you flip any switches. In other words, one of the best electric safety tips to bear in mind is just one word: caution. Do not turn on any lights or appliances, until you have the go ahead from a professional.
Have your furnace inspected by a qualified electrician. If it was flooded, it may need cleaning, drying, and reconditioning before you use it again.
Remembering the electric safety tips about keeping the power turned off, take covers off your outlets and unplug appliances. The appliances should be thoroughly cleaned, and allowed to dry for a few days, and the outlets and switches will probably need cleaning. Have a qualified technician check appliances before you use them.
Dry out light fixtures and lamps, again ensuring that the power is turned off. Take them apart and clean them, and replace light cords and plugs.
Have wet motors dried, cleaned, and inspected before you use them. As with many electric safety tips, this is best left to a professional, so enlist the help of a qualified technician.
If your breaker box or fuse box got wet, call an electrician. You will need the electrician to check the wiring to make sure it is safe.
Once the water recedes, have an electrician check all boxes, switches, and outlets in your home. If your home has been flooded, this is the only way to make sure it is safe to turn the power back on, circuit by circuit.

Whether you need advice on electric safety, or just a reliable energy provider with low rates, it is important to have a power company you can trust. To learn how you can sign up for prepaid electricity in Texas with no deposit and no money down, visit paylesspower.com today.

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Electric Safety Tips: Floods Part 2

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Admin1

Electric Safety Tips

In a previous post about electric safety tips, we discussed how to prepare for an emergency, specifically a flood. Electricity is extremely dangerous in the presence of water, but following home safety tips can help to keep your family safe. Remember these electric safety tips in order to escape relatively unscathed, even if your home has flooded.

When flooding is imminent, turn off the electricity at the main breaker box or fuse box. Do not do this if you have to stand in water to reach the boxes! One of the most important electric safety tips is to avoid conducting electricity and water is an excellent conductor. Turning off the electricity usually involves turning off the main breaker, then flipping each circuit breaker to “off.” Alternately, you might need to pull out your main fuse and then take out each circuit fuse.
Unplug small and large appliances. Remember your electricity safety tips about water, and do not disconnect an appliance if you have to stand on a wet or damp floor to do so. Move large appliances, like your washer and dryer, to higher ground; alternately, you can place them on blocks as long as they will not vibrate off while in use.
Put plugs in toilets, sinks, and other drains. Sewage backup can be a big problem; if you know a flood is about to happen, prevent that backup from entering your house.
During a flood, stay out of any room where water can cover cords or electrical outlets. In particular, stay out of the basement. Bear in mind our water-related electric safety tips, and stay out of any water that may have electricity in it. In addition, stay away from any room where you can hear buzzing, snapping, crackling noises, or see sparks.
Stay away from electrical boxes, equipment, or appliances with water around them. If your main electrical box or meter is in danger of being covered by water, call your electric company for help.
One of the best electric safety tips for your family is to keep your children out of harm’s way. You can do this by making sure they stay from both indoor and outdoor electrical equipment.
Use as little water as possible. While this may seem counterintuitive during a flood, it is actually one of the more important safety tips for avoiding contamination. Using less water puts less of a drain on sewer lift stations, and helps keep sewage out of your home.
Call your electric company immediately if you see any broken power lines. Even if you follow all the right electrical safety tips, some situations require professional assistance.

Whether you have an emergency or just want low energy rates, you need a reliable electric company. To learn how you can sign up for prepaid electricity in Texas with no deposit and no money down, visit paylesspower.com today. Then check back here for more electric safety tips and look for our next post, where we will discuss what to do after a flood.

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Electric Safety Tips: Floods Part 1

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Admin1

When considering electric safety tips, you may not think about what happens during a flood. However, when a home has flooded, the dangers posed by electricity are very real. Whether the flood is caused by a plumbing emergency or natural disaster, it is important to remember home safety tips in order to protect your family from harm. In this post, we will focus on electric safety tips designed to teach you to meet your own electric safety needs, by making arrangements before the flood.

First, have an emergency kit ready.This kit should contain anything you might need in an emergency, and every family member should know its location. Contents should include:
- Dry wooden stick: One of the most important electric safety tips is not to conduct electricity with your hands. Keeping a dry wooden stick on hand gives you something to use to flip circuits and breakers without touching them.
- Rubber gloves: Just as with the dry wooden stick, rubber gloves protect you from conducting electricity. They can also protect you from unsanitary conditions that may occur during a flood, and they will be useful during cleanup.
- Necessary prescription medications: Update this regularly, so that you do not end up with expired prescriptions during an emergency.
Clearly mark your electric circuit breakers and fuses. This is important for flood safety, but is also one of those electric safety tips that serves many purposes. Whether you have a short, a blown fuse, or a power outage, you will want to be able to easily identify your circuit breakers and fuses.
Make sure your sump pump is working. You might also consider having a back up, because you do not want to be stuck in a flood with no way to remove water.
Consider having a back-up generator in case the power goes out. An emergency is stressful enough, without a complete loss of power.

In our next post, we will have some electrical safety tips to help you and your family to remain safe during a flood. It is important to follow electric safety tips, to make sure you are not stuck in a bad situation. It is also helpful to have a reliable electric company, with good customer service and a solid emergency plan. To learn how you can sign up for prepaid electricity in Texas with no deposit and no money down, visit paylesspower.com today.

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MLB 2012 Season: Power Players to Watch

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Admin1

MLB 2012 Season

As the MLB 2012 season opens, baseball fans are gearing up for an exciting year! Here in Texas, the Houston Astros are celebrating their fiftieth anniversary while simultaneously playing their last year in the National League, before moving to the American League West with the Texas Rangers. As always , the big news in the MLB 2012 season revolves around the power players.

Yoenis Cespedes of the A’s will be one to watch during this MLB season. A rookie centerfielder from Cuba, he has already garnered criticism for showboating, but his mammoth shots speak for themselves.
Texas’s own Yu Darvish is a rising star. The third-ranked Texas Rangers gambled on this pitching phenom, but it looks like the decision is already beginning to pay off. Could this Japanese import be poised to lead the team to the World Series in the MLB 2012 season?
Albert Pujols is another American League player with a reputation. Known for his powerful hitting, Pujols is considered by some to be the greatest player of his generation. Ever since he signed a ten-year contract with the Angels in 2011, he has continued to live up to his own stats, proving himself to be worth every penny of his hefty salary.
Many consider Dustin Pedroia to be the best player on the 2012 MLB schedule. He won a Fielding Bible Award in 2011 as the best fielding second baseman in MLB, as well as the AL’s Gold Glove, but that’s hardly surprising — this Red Sox player has not failed to impress since he won American League’s Rookie of the Year back in 2007.
Justin Verlander and Jered Weaver are the top two starting pitchers in the American League. Playing for the Detroit Tigers, Verlander is the reigning Cy Young winner, a player with a powerful work ethic and an eye on the World Series. Look for the MLB 2012 season to be his best yet! Weaver’s fastball is a thing of beauty, and this ace pitcher for the Angels rarely disappoints.

These “Power Player Predictions” for the MLB 2012 season are brought to you by Payless Power, providing cheap electricity in Dallas, Houston, and the Central Texas area. Payless Power provides prepaid electricity with no deposit and no money down. Learn more on the Payless website, or join the online community on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.

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Dallas Tornadoes: Electric Safety Tips

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Admin1

Dallas Tornados: Electric Safety Tips

Natural disasters happen all over the country, but in Dallas, tornadoes are a very real threat. When a tornado hits Dallas, the damage can be quite extensive and the danger comes not only during the storm itself, but also during the aftermath. Knowing the right electrical safety tipscan make a big difference in keeping your family safe.

After a recent storm in Dallas, tornado damage was extreme. When an estimated twelve tornadoes touched down in North Texas, more than a dozen injuries were reported, and the chaos caused by the storms left buildings flattened and roofs torn off of houses. Hundreds of people had to seek refuge at community centers, hospitals, and shelters. In Dallas, tornadoes destroyed homes and tossed huge tractor-trailers around like toys. The wind was not the only problem — at the Dallas/Fort Worth airport, more than one hundred planes were damaged by hail.

Of course, no matter where you live, you should be prepared for emergencies. In Dallas, tornadoes are just one of the threats you might face. After a tornado, remembering these tips can help you stay safe:

Watch for damaged power lines. Loose or dangling power lines are a serious hazard and should be reported to the authorities immediately.
After a tornado, make sure electricity and gas is off before entering a building for the first time. When you are establishing the extent of the damage, make sure you are not exposing yourself to further hazard.
Look for spills, leaks, and damaged lines. Even the smallest amount of damage caused by Dallas tornadoes can knock over hazardous chemicals, puncture gas tanks, and even damage electrical wires and gas lines. Make sure nothing flammable or dangerous is leaking or falling in your way.
Use a flashlight for emergency lighting. A candle could ignite something you are not even aware is there, whether it’s debris or spilled chemicals.
Have an electrician check your appliances before you use them again. Electric motors that have been flooded will need cleaning and reconditioning before use. If an appliance emits smoke or sparks, it should be repaired or replaced.
Assume that any line on the ground is electrically charged. Even cable television lines can carry electricity, so use extreme caution around any lines.
Beware of standing water. Water can be electrically charged, so avoid any flooded areas when possible, and make sure power is turned off in a flooded building before you enter.

Whether you are facing the trauma of Dallas tornadoes, or just need reliable energy at reasonable rates, it is important to find an energy company you can trust. Payless Power is a leading energy provider across Texas. Specializing in prepaid electricity, Payless Power offers electric contracts with no deposit and no money down. To learn more about prepaid electricity visit, www.paylesspower.com.

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Save Money on Electricity: Reduce Phantom Power

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Payless Power

In today’s economy, many consumers are looking for ways to save money on electricity. There are plenty of tips to be found, from having an energy audit, to using your appliances during cooler times of the day. In Texas, deregulation has made it more convenient to get cheap electricity in Dallas and the government is even helping through incentives such as tax credits for energy efficient appliances. However, one of the best ways to save money on electricity is to cut back on the phantom power.

What is phantom power? It is the discreet flow of energy from your home, also known as idle current, preventing you from saving money on electricity. Cell phones, electronic devices, tabs and other gadgets use electricity whenever they are plugged into an outlet, whether or not they are actively being used. It is not only the small appliances that cause the problem, either. Your television, computer monitors, and DVD players are also prey to phantom power, even as you read this blog. Fortunately, there are ways to stop phantom power loss and save money on electricity.

Identify the problem. There are tools available, like Kill-a-Watt and Wattson, which are designed to find the source of your power leak.
Save yourself the trouble of crawling behind the television. Use a power strip to plug in your devices thus being able to conserve energy with the flip of a switch.
There are gadgets on the market to turn items off for you. For example, the Mini Power Minder shuts off your computer’s peripherals in order to help save money on electricity.
Unplug things! To be frank, this is the simplest solution to the problem. When you are not using your electronic device, unplug it in order to save money on electric bills.

Learning how to save money on electric bills is not as difficult as you might think. Saving money on electricity in Dallas, Texas can be even easier! Find cheap electricity in Dallas, Houston and everywhere in between, by contacting Payless Power today at 866-963-9353. With no deposit and no money down you could be saving more every month!

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Lower Monthly Utility Costs

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Payless Power

Lower Monthly Utility Costs

In today’s economy, many homeowners are looking for ways to reduce their monthly utility costs. If you are looking for cheap electricity, Houston has the advantage of location; the deregulation of Texas utilities has raised the level of competition in the market, lowering prices and raising customer expectations. However, no matter where you live, you can lower your monthly utility cost by taking a few simple steps:

Take a closer look at your equipment:

Have an HVAC inspection. Hiring a certified technician to check your home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system is a smart move that can save money in the long run. The cost of the inspector is offset by the amount you will save on your monthly utility costs; fixing leaking ducts, for instance, can save you up to twenty percent.
Choose the right power. Use Energy Star guidelines to decide how powerful your heating or air conditioning unit needs to be. A unit that is too powerful will use more energy than you need, wasting your money, and it will also be less effective at controlling humidity.
Clean it up. Dirt and dust can reduce the airflow and impede your air conditioner’s effectiveness. Clean them monthly, and your monthly utility costs will be lower.
Mind the thermostat. According to Energy Star, programming your thermostat to run at higher temperatures while you’re at work can cut your electric bill by $180 each year.
Invest in energy efficiency. Energy-efficient appliances can save you money in the end. Even better, they may be cheaper upfront! Research the incentives available to you, and you may find that you qualify for a tax credit or rebate, just for buying appliances that are energy-efficient.

Find your energy wasters:

Look for leaks. Sealing cracks around doorframes and windows can reduce your monthly utility costs by about twenty percent.
Change your bulbs.
Learn to love the nightlife. Using heat-producing appliances like the dishwasher and dryer during the day will force your air conditioner to work harder. Do your chores at night to reduce your monthly utility costs.
Use your blinds. Controlling the amount of light that enters a room can help keep it cool. Consider insulated window treatments for extra savings.
Enjoy the breeze. It is an old-fashioned way to manage the heat, but it works! Open a window and turn on your ceiling fan. Remember, fans do not cool the room; they cool the people in the room, so turn them off when you leave.
Not using it? Unplug it! Microwaves, cell phone and laptop chargers, and other small appliances can use energy and generate heat when not in use. Plug them in to a power strip, and turn it off when you are not using it, to see a five to ten percent drop in monthly utility costs.

Consider the source:

Know your options. Especially in places like Houston, utilities can vary widely in cost from company to company. Do your research, and learn the average monthly cost of utilities before you decide on a provider.
Ask about available plans. Time of use plans, fixed rate plans, and prepaid electricity are all options that companies sometimes offer to help reduce your energy costs. Ask questions, in order to make an educated decision.

If you are looking for ways to manage your electric bill, you might consider the benefits of prepaid electricity. In Dallas, Houston and everywhere in between, you can sign up with Payless Power with no deposit and no money down. Contact us today at 866-963-9353 to learn more.

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Home Energy Saving Tips: The New Light Bulbs

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Payless Power

Read any article on home energy saving tips, and you’ll surely run across ample praise for the latest energy-efficient light bulbs. Still, many consumers have yet to jump on this bandwagon, reluctant to part with their traditional incandescent bulbs. For those paying Dallas electric rates, it is important to go ahead and make the switch, because doing so will save more money than you may realize.

First, understand that soon you will not have a choice. Beginning next year, federal law mandates that incandescent bulbs be phased out. As of January 2014, only three-way bulbs, plant lights, and appliance bulbs will be incandescent, and any leftovers may become expensive novelty items. Retailers will be allowed to keep the old bulbs on the shelves until they run out, but most light bulb manufacturers have already begun to phase out traditional bulbs.

Change is not necessarily a bad thing. Even though many consumers complain about the harsh light of fluorescents as compared with the soft glow of an incandescent bulb, people may be more willing to adjust once they experience the savings in their energy rates. A typical household could save $10 to $50 on electricity each month by switching all of their incandescent bulbs to CFLs or LEDs, and if every American home replaced one bulb, it would reduce greenhouse gases by an amount equal to the emissions of 800,000 vehicles! That is huge for the environment, but it is also huge for the wallet of the average consumer. When it comes to electricity rates, Dallas has some of the highest costs in the country, so it makes sense for consumers in the area to use whatever home energy saving tips they can find.

While it may be difficult to let go of the bulbs we have used since Edison patented them in 1880, it makes sense when it comes to energy rates and environmental costs. To find out how you can save more on your Dallas energy bill, visit paylesspower.com.

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How to Read Your Electric Meter

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Payless Power

Have you ever looked at those curious spinning dials on that round glass box attached to your house and wondered how to read your electric meter? Payless Power, your retail provider of cheap electricity in Houston, can explain how to make some sense of those dials and help you understand how to calculate your household’s monthly electricity usage. Knowing how to read your electric meter will enable you to compare your figures with what the electric company is charging you. It is also useful to monitor and record the amount of electricity you use each month to compare the changes from month to month, season to season, or from the current year to the previous years.

The typical electric meter you are probably familiar with is a round glass and metal box that is usually attached to the outside of your house. The meter is enclosed in clear glass and has four or five dials inside it. Each dial is numbered 0–9 and they record the amount of kilowatts of power being used. To read the deals each month you will need to record the numbers you see starting from the right and going toward the left. If you notice that the pointer on the dial is between two numbers such as 3 and 4, you should record the lower number. While looking at the five dials, you should also notice that the dials don’t all spin in the same direction! The first, third and fifth dials spin clockwise and the second and fourth spin counterclockwise, so be sure you are recording the correct numbers to have an accurate reading!

This basic example should help clarify how to calculate your household’s monthly electricity usage:

You have recorded the numbers on the five dials and it reads 05000. Last month your reading was 04000. Now you need to subtract last month’s reading from the current month’s reading: 05000 – 04000 = 1000 kilowatt-hours used.

Learning how to read your electric meter and keeping track of your household’s monthly electricity usage is not as difficult as you might have feared! Payless Power, your retail provider of cheap electricity in Houston, wants to help you conserve energy and keep your utility bill low. To start saving money on your energy bill and to learn about the advantages of using Payless Power, contact us today at 866-936-9353 or visit us at www.paylesspower.com.

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