Cirro to open free-standing retail power store in Texas

Cirro Energy and its authorized agent Texstar Power Brokerage are bringing storefronts to Texas's retail power market.
     The state's first free-standing retail power store is officially to open in San Angelo Aug 16.
     San Angelo is part of the tri-city area with Midland and Odessa.
     Customers will enjoy the same ease in buying power that they do for cell phones and pagers, said Tim Bell, Cirro executive vice president.
     The stores are designed, he added, to educate customers about deregulation's benefits and make it easier for Texans to switch and save money.
     The stores let customers talk with a real person, noted Kent Beagle, a principal for Texstar.
     Getting good advice from a local person they trust is important to customers considering switching, he added.
     Shoppers can consult with an energy savings specialist and use Cirro's price comparison calculator at the store.
     The typical West Texas Utilities customer can save about 15% by switching to Cirro, the firm claims.
     The stores will promote Cirro's SmartShop program, a website where customers can buy energy saving appliances.
     Originally published in Restructuring Today on August 15, 2005