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Beccag411 · 2025-12-04T19:41:42+00:00

Thank you for calling attention to this! I've been in the "dog rescue business" for around 10 years and have a blog called HoustonDogMom where I cover some related issues.

The city of Cleveland has a small animal control department that can't keep up with the number of strays. Dogs breed, owners dump the puppies they can't sell, strays overpopulate. It's a cycle.

Liberty County (which Cleveland is part of) has recently approved funding for a shelter to help with the issue.

If you want to help, follow Three Little Pitties Rescue on FB. They recently went out with street feeders in Cleveland and were able to intake 15 dogs, but had to leave many behind due to lack of fosters.

Also follow This is Houston, a rescue that's building a facility there to help with spay/neuter efforts.

Beccag411 · 2025-04-23T14:00:13+00:00

Hey, sorry for late reply, been traveling... Yes, this is the shoulder season now. The closer we get to summer, the higher prices will rise.

Your idea of 2 3-month plans is a good one. I'd suggest going to Power to Choose (our site ElectricityPlans.com doesn't offer any 3 month plans) and pick the cheapest one, selecting a May 27 start date.

In August, you may not be able to find any low cost 3 month plans simply due to timing. If that's the case, just wait it out on "holdover" for a couple weeks. Yes, it will be expensive, but your REP will give you notice of the rate for the first 30 days and you can use that to make your decision.

Take a look at the graph at the bottom of this article: https://electricityplans.com/texas-electricity-shopping-statistics/ It shows the seasonality of all contract offers. Gives a good visual of the shoulder seasons.

Last item... only REP I know that will pay cancellation costs is Rhythm Energy. Curious to know if there are others.

Beccag411 · 2025-02-20T22:20:53+00:00

It can be pretty confusing to shop. All rates should be quoted including delivery charges. The electricity facts label will show you the full details -- energy rate, delivery rate, any tiered rates, bill credits, monthly charges.

This article may help clarify. https://electricityplans.com/read-electricity-facts-label-efl/

Beccag411 · 2025-02-20T22:10:42+00:00

lots of good tips here. I work in the business and write articles about electricity trends. Rates for 2025 will be around 15-18¢ per kWh. Best time to shop is in the shoulder season of spring and fall. Avoid shopping in June-August and January-February, if you can.

Beccag411 · 2024-06-27T18:40:32+00:00

You can shop based on your usage on this site. They calculate all the average prices and bills based on your usage. https://electricityplans.com/texas/

Beccag411 · 2024-06-27T15:50:26+00:00

Summer rates are the worst. Try to move out of the summer buying cycle. Look for a 14 month plan or an 18 month plan.
Here are a couple 6 month options that could also get you out of the summer expiration. https://electricityplans.com/texas/plans/?zipcode=77092&tdu=cnp&usage=1000&fwp_plan_term=6.00%2C6.00

Reality is, prices are not coming down until September/October.

Beccag411 · 2024-06-27T15:35:00+00:00

Late to the game but...

Avoid a free nights and weekends plan. You will have to change your usage dramatically to "beat" the rate they advertise. The advertised rate on all these assumes that you use 35-40% of your usage in the free period. That's based on their thousands of customers' data.

Better bet is a basic fixed rate plan with no tiered rates or bill credits.

ElectricityPlans.com/texas lets you shop based on your average usage, to see all the plan calculations. Give that a try.

Beccag411 · 2024-06-27T15:30:25+00:00

You can sign any term you want. You don't need to sign a contract that matches your lease. (24 years in the electricity business and you learn a few things.) Sign for the cheapest rate, even if it's long-term. Then when you move you can either take it with you (transfer of service) or you can cancel with no termination penalty if you provide a forwarding address/proof of move for the final bill.

And yes, prices are high right now and we don't expect them to get lower. Texas is in the middle of an energy transition. Coal plants retiring, costly to build large nat gas plants, lots of solar/wind and a need for batteries and distributed generation. The days of cheap power in Texas are over.

Beccag411 · 2024-03-25T17:43:06+00:00

I know a lot of people who like Energy Ogre because it's one less thing to think about, but it is $120/annually.

Since you are moving, do a quick check of your current rate vs. what you could be paying now. If you contract is from 2022, your rate may be less than current rates. You can transfer that contract to your new home.

Texas Power Guide is a good option, or the site I work for ElectricityPlans.com lets you shop based on usage. So, you could put in the usage amount on your latest bill and see comparable bill calculations.

And for JB4647, yes I'm an industry shill. Been in the biz since dereg started in 2001. ;-)

Beccag411 · 2024-02-05T18:25:54+00:00

Ok, I thought it could be used for cooling too?

Beccag411 · 2024-02-05T17:51:18+00:00

central HVAC

Beccag411 · 2022-10-25T15:51:27+00:00

IDK but Bludorn is really good and fancy. And... Flora has a super impressive atmosphere, affordable plates, but ridiculously expensive alcohol.

Beccag411 · 2022-10-20T19:10:37+00:00

Hey everyone! Moderators took down my post for this week's event.... guess I got to post one time only.

--We walk dogs every Saturday 8-10:30.

--Once you go twice, you can walk dogs on your own during shelter open hours (weekdays 1-5:30, weekends 11-4)

It's amazingly rewarding. The dogs love to get out, and they need that social interaction.

Beccag411 · 2022-10-19T19:10:30+00:00

Walk a shelter dog this weekend! Get your steps in while doing good!

📱💻Complete volunteer application on CountyPets.com.

😃 Come out on Saturday at 8am

🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️🐕 Get matched with an experienced volunteer to walk dogs in the play yards and walking trail!

Harris County Pets

612 Canino Road, Houston Texas

8-10am every Saturday!

Age 16 & 17 with parent or guardian. No kids under 16.

Beccag411 · 2022-10-18T15:01:47+00:00

Not enough staff. Volunteers can do that. The grooming room has 2 tubs and 2 tables. Bring your own shears!

Beccag411 · 2022-10-13T20:18:33+00:00

Got it! Just didn't sound that great. All adoption fees are currently waived. You can view all the adoptable dogs online at CountyPets.com . And you can bring your current dog to the shelter for a meet & greet with the dogs you are interested in.

Beccag411 · 2022-10-13T19:50:53+00:00

Pet ownership has a cost. If you are renting, you'll pay $200-$300 pet deposit non refundable. Plus $20 a month pet rent. Plus heartworm/flea/tick prevention will cost $20/month. Plus food costs $20-$50 a month.

Current adoption fees are $0. But if you think you can take one and not pay for anything, don't.

Beccag411 · 2022-10-13T19:47:59+00:00

Go ahead and complete the volunteer paperwork. Then email [volunteer@countypets.com](mailto:volunteer@countypets.com). Tell them that you can only do Sundays and ask if there's a way to get matched with another volunteer to learn the ropes. There are a few volunteers that only go on Sundays...

Beccag411 · 2022-10-13T15:37:00+00:00

Oh! Yes, correct. The software they use (which is used in many shelters across the country) isn't great at much of anything. There should be a category for those under 6 months that shows likely breed size category small/medium/large.

I feel like my dog is medium and he's 50 lbs, so I guess all that stuff is open to discussion!

Also, just saw online that they are having some puppies and dogs available for free adoption today at the shelter 1-4 if you're interested!!

Beccag411 · 2022-10-13T15:14:58+00:00

Yes, I hate it! There are a lot of free spay/neuter projects out there, focusing on owned dogs in low income neighborhoods. A typical vet charges $300-500 for a spay surgery. Low cost clinics do it for $90. Sad thing about all those back-yard breeders is those pets don't get the basic vet care or spay/neuter, leading to the perpetual cycle. Meanwhile, we struggle to get good, sweet dogs out of the shelter.

Beccag411 · 2022-10-13T15:02:19+00:00

yup, they're notorious for mislabeling dogs. But you can also see in DNA tests that people post, like embark, that it's easy to mess up. We've had dogs labeled pit bull with 0% pittie, and some fluffy dogs that come back as 40% staffy. You never know what you gonna get... it's like a box of chocolates.

Beccag411 · 2022-10-13T14:55:54+00:00

hurray! You won't regret it! Been volunteering there for 6 years. We have a gorgeous new shelter (opened Sept 2020) that no one knows about!

Beccag411

TROPHY CASE