One thing will be different:

There will, however, be new sources of power available as a result of the deregulated electric industry beginning January 1, 2002.

And that's the good news for Houston County Electric Members

The distinct structure of co-ops puts our customers in a position to take advantage of the deregulated marketplace while still maintaining all the advantages co-op membership brings.

Co-ops can use bargaining power that comes with representing thousands of residential customers to negotiate good deals for all their members.

As a member of an electric cooperative, you are in a unique situation. The Texas Legislature gave co-ops the option of joining a fully competitive market or, if they take no action at all, continuing to operate as they always have- finding the most reliable and inexpensive soureces of electricity and making them available to their members.

Houston County Electric Cooperative will proceed with caution, listening to our members. Should a co-op decide to "opt-in" to the deregulated market, the decision is permanent and the co-op may not opt back out should memebers have a bad experience.

At Houston County Electric Cooperative, we take our responsibility to our members very seriously. That's why we'll be going slow, listening to our members, keeping our options open ;maximizing our bargaining power.