Most Texas business owners don’t wake up one morning and choose a bad electricity rate.
It usually happens quietly—without warning.
Electricity contracts across Texas often include automatic renewal clauses. When a contract reaches the end of its term, the account may roll into a higher rate unless action is taken in advance. Many owners don’t realize anything changed until months later, when the cost shows up on their bill.
Why Timing Matters More Than People Think
In Texas, electricity pricing is influenced heavily by timing. The most competitive rates typically appear 90 to 120 days before a contract expires. That window gives customers options. Miss it, and pricing leverage drops quickly.
This is why experienced energy buyers plan ahead rather than reacting at the last minute.
Why Doing Nothing Is Still a Decision
Leaving an account unattended doesn’t keep it neutral. In deregulated markets, doing nothing often means paying more than necessary—especially during high-demand periods.
The takeaway for business owners is simple: knowing your contract end date matters just as much as knowing your rate.
A Practical Next Step
A quick bill review can reveal:
When a contract expires
Whether a rate is competitive
What options exist before renewal
This article is part of an ongoing energy education series provided by Amerigy Energy.
The Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce is requesting Commemorative Art Proposals for the 36th Annual Texas Blueberry Festival presented by Tipton Ford to be held on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Nacogdoches.
Many of our valued Chamber members have asked for their festival art proposals to be considered. The Chamber is offering that opportunity!
What Did Jesus Mean When He Said, “Knock, And It Will Be Opened To You”?
”I keep on asking my mom if I can play Nintendo, and she finally says yes,” says Clyde, 7.
Well, Clyde, there’s no doubt you’ve learned that persistence pays off. Your mother knows this, too. Give your mom a break, and apply that same persistence to things of God. You might be surprised at how much more rewarding it is.
“When you are dead, you are knocking on the door to get into heaven. When you ask to come in, the door will open,” says Connor, 6.
Jokes abound about Saint Peter examining credentials for entering the pearly gates. Some people believe in second chances such as reincarnation. Let’s see what the Bible says.
“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Hebrews 9:27-28).
Jesus died for our sins one time, and we have one life in which to decide whether we’ll trust him with our eternal destiny.
“Keep on trying hard, and you will receive everlasting life,” says Bruce, 11.
This is a common belief that appeals to our pride. Many things in this life are earned by persistent hard work. Eternal life is not one of them. The price is higher than anyone can pay. That’s why God sent the Lord Jesus to pay the price for us.
“If you keep asking Jesus into your heart, someday he will come,” says Sara, 8.
Sara, Jesus isn’t reluctant to impart his life to those who want it. Begging isn’t required. Jesus freely gives his eternal life to anyone who will “believe in him,” as John 3:16 so clearly states.
If our eternal destiny isn’t at stake here, why did Jesus command us to knock?
“If you pray for something, and God doesn’t answer it right away, he will answer you if you keep on praying,” says Gerald, 6.
When Jesus spoke of knocking, he also mentioned asking and seeking. To illustrate what he meant, Jesus asked, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11).
Even evil people give good gifts to their children. How much more does a good God give gifts to his children who ask? This is where persistence pays huge dividends. The key is to make sure you’re asking for the right things and persist in asking, seeking and knocking.
“Don’t quit following Jesus for one day. He will reward you,” says Grace, 10.
In the context of knocking, this is persistent prayer for the advance of God’s purpose and plan. We can pray boldly and confidently about many situations revealed in Scripture.
For example, we know it’s God’s will for Christians to pray for government leaders “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (I Timothy 2:2).
Think about this: Knocking on heaven’s door on behalf of our country and friends is a ministry to which every Christian is called.
Memorize this truth: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).
Ask this question: Do you believe in the goodness of God so that you will persist in asking him for good things that glorify him?
Kids Talk About God is designed for families to study the Bible together. Research shows that parents who study the Bible with their children give their character, faith and spiritual life a powerful boost. To receive Kids Talk About God three times a week in a free, email subscription, visit www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org/email.
We’re back, and we’re already seeing plenty of action. Our Roadrunner men’s basketball team hit the floor this past Wednesday and Saturday after the holiday break, and our baseball and softball teams are preparing to start their 2026 campaigns in just a few weeks. (I’m sending links to the schedules with this release.)
We are AC, and we’re ready to Run ‘Em.
Here’s a quick rundown of the past week’s events, along with what’s coming up next:
Roadrunner Basketball
The Roadrunners returned a little rusty from the break, dropping a 60-53 decision to Baton Rouge Community College on Wednesday in the team’s first game back on the floor. AC’s Daemon Ely finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds, and Clarence Payia added 10 points, but their efforts weren’t enough to pull out the win.
On Saturday against Paris Junior College, the ‘Runners fell to Paris Junior College in a tough 61-58 loss at Shands Gymnasium. Despite outrebounding the Dragons by a 41-15 margin, AC just couldn’t come up with the big plays needed down the stretch. Jordan Mathews scored 17 and Julius Crosby 16 for the Roadrunners.
AC (8-5, 2-3) will play at Panola College in Carthage at 7 p.m. on Wednesday before returning home on Saturday to face Tyler Junior College at 4 p.m.
Lady Roadrunner Basketball Cancels Games
The Lady ‘Runner basketball team last played in AC’s 64-50 win over Western Gulf Collegiate back on Dec. 10, and while the ladies were chomping at the bit to get going again, the team will have to wait at least a few more days.
AC was forced to cancel games against McLennan Community College (Jan. 3), at Western Oklahoma State College (Jan. 5) and at Dallas College-Richland (Jan. 7). There are no plans to make up those contests.
The Lady ‘Runners (4-7) will open conference play on Saturday, Jan. 10 against Coastal Bend Community College as part of a women’s/men’s doubleheader at Shands Gymnasium. Game time is set for 2 p.m.
AC Soccer’s Jory Named All-American
Angelina College men’s soccer Jhosua Jory recently earned NJCAA Division I 2nd Team All-American honors, capping his incredible freshman campaign.
Jory, a product of Cinco Ranch High School in Houston, becomes the fifth Roadrunner soccer player in the past four years to receive All-American status, joining Kaito Ueki (2024), Omar Mora (2023), Jaheim Brown (2022) and Juan Lopez (2022).
Earlier this year, Region XIV named Jory its Most Valuable Player while awarding him 1st Team All-Region honors.
With his dazzling combination of speed and ball skills, Jory finished among league leaders in total points (23), goals (9) and assists (5). Those numbers were impressive, but Jory provided an all-time AC Soccer highlight when he nailed the last-second golden goal in AC’s thrilling 1-0, double-overtime win at Blinn College in the Gulf Coast South District Semifinals. With just five seconds before the teams would have headed to penalty kicks, Jory took a lob pass from teammate Kanta Maruyama and banged home the winner to set off a massive celebration.
Jory also added a hat trick (and six total points) in AC’s 7-2 win at Louisiana State University-Eunice on Oct. 7.
Jory has committed to play at Tulsa University.
AC Baseball, Softball Schedules Are Available for Viewing
Both the Roadrunner baseball and Lady Roadrunner softball teams are just a few weeks away from opening their Spring 2026 seasons. Both programs feature first-year head coaches (Jon Phillips with baseball and Kassie James with softball), and there’s excitement brewing for what is sure to be some exciting times on the diamonds.
The Roadrunner baseball team opens with a scrimmage at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall on Thursday, Jan. 22 (3 p.m.) before hosting the regular-season opener against Temple College in a doubleheader scheduled for a 1 p.m. start at Poland Stadium on the AC campus.
The Lady ‘Runner softball team will see its first action on Friday, Jan. 23 at Tyler Junior College in Tyler. The doubleheader is set for a 1 p.m. start. AC’s ladies won’t host their home opener until Wednesday, Feb. 4 when the Lady Roadrunners host Northeast Texas Community College in a doubleheader set for a 1 p.m. start at the Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex on the AC campus.
As always in East Texas, the potential exists for schedule changes because of inclement weather. We try to put out the word as soon as we get it, but the quickest way to confirm game days and times is to visit the AC Athletics website (angelinaathletics.com) to view the most updated schedules. We’ll also send out word on social media (AC Athletics Facebook and Instagram, etc.), but the on-line schedule will always serve up the most recent updates.
Live Streaming Reminder:
All AC Athletics regular-season home games are live streamed on TSBN Sports (a free streaming service for fans), with most of the conference road games also available for streaming. (This does not include baseball and softball fall games, as those are not considered official games.)
Once TSBN posts its schedules, AC fans simply need to visit the AC Athletics web site, look at the scrolling schedule in the middle of the page and click the blue “Video” link.
TSBN also offers an app great for smart phones, devices and smart TVs. (You’ve GOT to see those matches and games on the big screen.)
Reminder II: Admission to ALL Angelina College Athletics sporting events is free, as is the TSBN live streaming. Any other links offering streaming are scams.
Reminder III: For the most current schedule updates (especially for potential weather issues) visit the official Angelina College Athletics website (angelinaathletics.com). Fans can also receive updates on the AC Athletics Facebook, X/Twitter, and Instagram pages.
Upcoming schedules:
Wednesday, January 7:
Roadrunner Basketball at Panola College, 7 p.m. in Carthage, TX.
Saturday, January 10:
Lady Roadrunner Basketball vs. Coastal Bend CC, 2 p.m., Shands Gymnasium.
Roadrunner Basketball vs. Tyler Junior College, 4 p.m., Shands Gymnasium.
For any other information, contact Sports Information Director Gary Stallard at gstallard@angelina.edu.
With the holidays officially behind us, I’d like to wish you all a Happy New Year! As we turn the page on one year and begin another, we’re afforded a unique opportunity for new beginnings. Whether you commit to a New Year’s resolution or not, it’s my hope that we all take some time to consider ways to improve. In looking ahead to 2026, let’s make a renewed effort to enrich our own lives and the lives of others by lifting each other up and supporting one another in fulfilling our goals for the coming year.
With that, here’s an update from your State Capitol…
Capitol Update
This past week, Governor Abbott announced a historic $1.4 billion in federal funds headed to Texas to improve rural health care across our state. This massive investment was enabled by HR 1, also known as the Big Beautiful Bill, which passed in Congress last year.
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission will disperse the federal funds to support initiatives that recruit and retain rural health care workers through scholarships, relocation payments, and training programs; invest in improvements for telemedicine services; upgrade infrastructure in rural medical centers; and improve technological capacity and cybersecurity in rural hospitals and clinics.
This investment comes at a critical time for health care in Deep East Texas. As we all know, rural health care providers in our region struggle daily to keep their doors open. Since the end of the regular session, I have been constantly engaged with the Health and Human Services Commission, encouraging them to fund critical health care programs throughout our region. I will continue to tirelessly advocate for those funds, especially now that we have received this federal assistance.
In addition to the historic accomplishments the Legislature achieved this past session in bolstering rural health care through House Bills 18 and 3000, both of which I was proud to coauthor, this federal investment shows the continued dedication of our state and national leaders to ensuring that rural Texas can succeed and thrive. I want to thank President Trump, Senators Cornyn and Cruz, and Congressmen Babin, Luttrell, Moran, and Sessions for their work in ensuring this funding is directed to where it is needed most, for the benefit of rural Texans.
The mobile office is on the road again in January and our District Director will look forward to seeing you on the following dates in the following locations: January 7 at the San Augustine County Courthouse in San Augustine from 9:30-11:30 am; January 14 at the Polk County Commissioner’s Courtroom in Livingston from 9:30-11:30 am and the Tyler County Commissioner’s Courtroom in Woodville from 1:30-3:30 pm; January 21 at the Houston County Courthouse Annex in Crockett from 9:30 -11:30 am and the Trinity County Courthouse in Groveton from 1:30-3:30 pm.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office if we can help you in any way. My district office may be reached at (936) 634-2762, and our Capitol office at (512) 463-0508. Additionally, I welcome you to follow along on my Official Facebook Page, where I will post regular updates on what’s happening in your State Capitol and share information that could be useful to you and your family: https://www.facebook.com/RepTrentAshby/.
Join us for the 106th Annual Chamber Banquet & Meeting on January 29! Start the evening with a reception at 6 PM, followed by dinner and awards at 7 PM. Tables are $600, and individual seats are $60.
Reserve yours today by calling 936-634-6644 or online at bit.ly/ACBM-26.
Interested in sponsoring? Email Admin@LufkinTexas.org for details.
NACOGDOCHES – The City of Nacogdoches was made aware of a supposed Nacogdoches Housing Authority press release circulating over the weekend that announces a U.S Department of Housing & Development (HUD) housing project in close proximity to Nacogdoches High School. The release stated that site clearing for the project was already underway and promoted a completion date in January of 2028. This report is false, and the City of Nacogdoches is currently investigating to determine the origin of the press release and the individual(s) responsible for creating it. No such project has been proposed for review or approval by the City of Nacogdoches within the Nacogdoches city boundaries or extraterritorial jurisdiction.
The City of Nacogdoches places a high value in public trust, transparency in its information sharing processes and utilization of official city platforms and trusted news media sources to keep citizens informed.
With 2025 now in the rearview mirror, it’s worth taking a moment to look back at the weather that made it a unique year for East Texas.
Studying long-term averages can be misleading. Mark Twain famously warned us about lies and statistics – and while the quote isn’t fit to print here, the point stands. A year can look “average” on paper and still behave anything but average in your landscape or fields.
Total rainfall recorded at the Angelina County Airport (our official weather recording station) came in at 46.4 inches for the year. The 35-year average is 50.34 inches. At first glance, that puts 2025 only slightly below normal. However, like most years, that number hides the hard truth about when the rain actually fell.
The first eight months of the year were at or above normal rainfall. In fact, by the end of June, we were nearly eight inches ahead of average. July ran a little short, August was about normal, and then, starting September 1, the spigot shut off.
September is officially recorded at just 0.07 inches of rainfall. Much of October followed the same pattern, with only a few late-month showers offering limited relief. November was dry, and December was even drier, failing to reach a full inch of rain.
This sharp contrast had very different effects depending on who you were working with.
In home landscapes, irrigation systems that hadn’t been needed all year suddenly had to work overtime. I worked with one homeowner who didn’t turn on her sprinklers until September — and then had quite the water bill just to keep her plants alive.
For forage producers, hay production across Angelina County and much of East Texas was normal to well above normal through the growing season. Many producers harvested excellent first and second cuttings. In some cases, second and third cuttings were never harvested at all. Those hay cuttings were either grazed off or left standing because there was already more hay than needed.
So much hay was produced that some producers began feeding as early as October. While that may sound like a terrible decision, early feeding helped them utilize last year’s carryover hay in which they already had invested time and money.
For hay producers and cattlemen enrolled in rainfall insurance programs, 2025 was an exceptional year. Strong forage production through summer followed by a sharp fall dry period created favorable conditions for both grazing and insurance payouts.
Temperature-wise, the year was remarkably unremarkable – and that’s a good thing.
Aside from a warm February and an unusually warm Christmas period, daily temperature data from the airport show that most of the year stayed within normal ranges. February did set a few high-temperature records, but the growing season itself was steady and forgiving. Notably, temperatures never reached 100 degrees all year.
For gardeners and agricultural producers alike, 2025 serves as a reminder that averages don’t tell the whole story. Timing matters. Distribution matters. And a year that looks ordinary on paper can behave very differently where it counts – in the pasture, the hayfield, and the landscape.
