Verizon to Shed Landlines in 14 States

As part of Verizon Communications’ strategy to focus on wireless, broadband and FiOS fiber-optic services, they will sell their predominantly rural landlines across 14 states to Frontier Communications. This translates to the sale and transfer of 4.5 million landlines and related assets.

The big winners in this transaction will be stockholders and Frontier. All-in-all, Verizon stockholders will receive a total value of $8.6 billion and Frontier will become the largest operator of rural communications services across the U.S.

The states affected will be Arizona, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Washington, West Virgina, Wisconsin and some parts of California. The time line given by Verizon for the full transfer of all assets is 12 months.

For more information regarding this transaction and how it may affect you as a current Verizon customer, visit CNET News and Verizon Investor Relations.

CEA Study Finds Homeowners Use Electronics to Reduce Home Energy Costs

According to a new study from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)®, homeowners are factoring energy efficiency into purchase decisions of consumer electronics in an effort to reduce home energy costs. The study, Home Technologies and Energy Efficiency: A Look At Behaviors, Issues and Solutions, found increasing consumer interest in the energy efficiency benefits of consumer electronics products.

The study revealed that approximately one in 10 households conducted a home energy audit in the past two years alone. Of those who had undergone an audit, 61 percent replaced appliances or consumer electronic devices with more energy efficient models. Fifty-six percent of consumers show interest in "smart energy meters" that provide information on optimum times to run appliances for energy bill savings.

CEA also found that 57 percent of consumers believe an equal mix of behavioral changes and the use of new technology will help them conserve household energy. On average, consumers told CEA that they would need to see a 31 percent increase in their monthly home energy costs before they would seek out technology options to improve energy efficiency within the home.

One issue that needs to be addressed is low consumer awareness for terms used by the custom installation industry to describe home energy efficient technology. CEA found that, while consumers are highly aware of the EPA's ENERGY STAR® designation (84 percent), only 50 percent are aware of the term "smart home" and 38 percent are aware of "home automation". When given a sample of five major companies that sell smart home products or technologies, a little over a third of respondents are aware of those companies.

For more info on the study, check out the CEA press release.

Birds vs. Wind Farms

So here I was naive in my thinking that wind farms were a great addition to ways to create renewable energy. I mean sure wind farms are a fantastic way to help the planet, but in a way are they hurting it?

See, I had no idea the huge spinning turbines could interfere with flying birds and their migratory paths. I know common sense, but I failed to make that connection.

Well, a wind farm in Texas is trying to help our fellow winged creatures by installing new radar technology. Apparently the radars will shut off the turbines if animals are in danger of colliding into it. Pretty cool!

Check out the article, Using Radar to Protect Birds from Wind Farms, to learn more on this topic.

How Your Freezer Can Save You Money

For some, the home freezer is a frozen wasteland of TV dinners, freezer-burned leftovers and chunks of ice stuck in the ice maker. If you're like me, there is an unnecessary amount of food each month that ends up getting spoiled in the refrigerator or the pantry, only to be needless tossed in the waste basket. However, the freezer can help. We use it to chill our desserts and get ice to make our drinks cold, but did you know that your freezer can save you money on food, as well as reduce waste?

The New York Times has a great article up about how the normal home freezer can extend the life of your food. Rather than throw food away, you can store it and squeeze the most out of the items that you buy at the grocery store. There are several tips that range for all kinds of food, including strips of chicken, grain, egg whites and more, and how you can use leftovers to make new meals.

To read more about using the freezer to save money on food, be sure to visit the New York Times.

Are You Ready for the Digital Television Switch?

Nielson has reported that nearly 3.5 million or 3.1% of U.S. households are still not fully prepared for the digital television switch scheduled for June 12. This is quite a significant improvement from statistics in late December 2008 of 6.8% being unprepared.

By this time, you all know about the converter box coupons, where to buy converter boxes, how to install them and how to fix reception problems. But are you aware that you may need an antenna in addition to the converter box? If you have a TV with an internal digital tuner, you’re fine. If you have an analog TV that’s connected to a converter box, you’ll need either an indoor “rabbit ears” antenna or a rooftop one to supplement it.

Basic indoor antennas run for about $10, though some cost much more. If reception is spotty, try mounting in other areas of the room. For the best reception, purchase a rooftop antenna with a rotor which start at around $50.

Are you one of the 3.5 million families that are unprepared for the switch? Don’t be left in the dark! Visit DTV.gov for general information regarding the transition and AntennaWeb.org if you determine the need for an antenna.

TXU Energy to Provide Assistance with Electricity Bills This Summer

The hot summer months are typically when electricity bills spike resulting in customers falling behind on payments and possible turn-off of service. TXU Energy recognizes the special needs that the more vulnerable demographics have during the summer and aim to target those needs with their Summer Moratorium program.

For the third year in a row, TXU Energy will provide a deferred payment program for customers considered low-income, ill, disabled or at least 62 years of age. If you qualify based on the above criteria, call TXU Energy at (800) 242-9113 beginning July 1st and inform them of your situation. The flexible payment plan will be in effect from July 1 through September 30. TXU Energy will also waive deposits for customers over 62 years of age and for those with a near-perfect history of timely payments.

Visit TXU Energy for more information regarding this program and make sure to forward to someone you know who would appreciate the assistance. If you're in the market to switch providers or just to shop around, visit WhiteFence to find the best deals in electricity service and other home services. 

Beat the Summer Heat with the Best Electricity Plans

We are on the cusp of summer and here in Texas we’re certainly starting to feel the effects. You know the suffocating blanket of heat that envelops you as you enter your car, the humidity that raises the temperature by at least 5 degrees, the unmerciful rays of sunlight beaming down for hours… ahhhh, summer is here.

To combat the unrelenting heat, many of us will be uncompromising in our air conditioner usage. More reason to shop around now and beat the rush to get the best deals in electricity plans. For those of you living in deregulated markets, you have the power to choose providers.

Determine what factors are most important to you and your family.

• Do you prefer fixed (rate stays the same over time) or variable (rate fluctuates over time) rates?
• Do you mind paying a few cents more for renewable energy?
• Are you willing to be locked in for a couple of months to a year with longer contract terms resulting in cheaper rates?
• How sensitive are you to promotions such as gift cards and cash back offers?

Use resourceful comparison sites such as WhiteFence and ElectricityTexas to research deals and save money. With just a few hours of contemplating the above questions and browsing, you’ll save your family hundreds of dollars this summer.

Save Money by Improving Your Credit Score

The beginning of the month is usually when we all take a deep breath and pay our dreaded bills. It’s an unpleasant yet necessary ritual that without we would get swamped by collection agencies. So, as we sit with pen and paper, or computer and keyboard, this month, I thought we could all re-evaluate our payment plans and be reminded of methods to improve our credit scores.

The biggest culprit in bad credit is out-of-control credit card debt with the average American carrying around approximately $8,000 worth of it. First things first, stop using plastic! Then, starting with the highest interest rate card, pay off monthly as much as you can while you continue to pay the minimum payments on the rest. When determining your FICO credit score, debt balances in comparison to credit lines are heavily factored, so strive towards maintaining low balances. An obvious, yet easily overlooked tip is to always pay your bills on time. Just one slip and it can detrimentally affect your credit score.

As you’re taking steps to improve your credit, remember that it’s like losing weight – it won’t happen overnight. Keep in mind the long-term benefits to maintain motivation. Those with higher credit scores are offered the best rates on all major types of loans which will save you money. For more credit-improving tips, visit CNNMoney and check out this interactive online debt planner if you want to visualize your monthly payments and goals.

Saving Money at the Grocery Store

As many of us know, there are plenty of ways for people to save money in their day-to-day spending. Whether it's through car pooling or the way we use water and electricity, we can find all kinds of opportunities to pinch a few pennies.

However, one place that we could always use more money saving tips for is the grocery store. CBS News has put together a list of tricks to turn regular shoppers into savvy shoppers when it comes to the food we buy.

• Check the bottom shelf. Since eye-level is where most shoppers do their spending in the grocery store, many companies pay to have their items stocked there. Check the bottom of the shelf for more cost-effective items.
• Mind the end-cap. Just because certain products are on display at the end of the aisle doesn't mean they are on sale. In addition, check the expiration date on these products. There's a chance the retailer has put less fresh items there in hopes of selling them before they go bad.
• Convenience costs money. Sure, you can buy pre-cut chicken or shredded cheese, but it's always cheaper just to buy the full product yourself and then cut it or separate it out later.

To see these tips and others, be sure to visit CBS News to find out more about how you can save money at the grocery store.

Broadband for All Americans Part of Stimulus Package

The Federal Communications Committee has been tasked with proposing a plan for all Americans to have broadband access as part of President Obama’s economic stimulus package. This plan must be delivered to Congress by February 17, 2010 and take into consideration key opportunities such as how to reach all Americans with broadband service, how to maximize use of current broadband infrastructure and methods for broadband to increase consumer and economic activities.

Cable companies and telcos will receive portions of the stimulus package and it’s likely that unserved and underserved populations will be primary recipients of individual funds. To stay abreast with progress on this initiative, visit FCC.