Hello neighbor! Welcome to Sam Houston Electric Cooperative.
We’re All About You
Sam Houston Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned utility. As one of our newest consumer-members, you’re also our newest owner.
Since our beginning in 1939, Sam Houston Electric Cooperative has existed to power communities and empower members.
Power Communities: We strive to provide reliable service at competitive rates. Protecting the best interests of your electric cooperative.
Improve Lives: Meeting your electricity needs of today, and preparing to serve generations to come through safety and reliability.
Serve with Excellence: We take great pride in serving you with excellence. You deserve our very best.
Serving You
Cooperatives were created to serve the best interests of their member-owners. Everything we do at Sam Houston EC contributes to fulfilling that mission.
1. People First
The people who receive electricity from Sam Houston EC are not simply customers–they’re our consumer-members, and we have a greater responsibility to them.
2. Community Support
Each year, the Cooperative donates money to local non-profit organizations, supports youth programs, and hosts community-improvement projects.
3. Our Environment
Sam Houston EC is committed to being good stewards of our natural resources. From implementing a program to protect bald eagles and other raptors to supporting positive vegetation growth in local lakes and educating Co-op members about energy conservation, Sam Houston EC’s focus on environmental stewardship is ongoing and strategic.
Our Service
Sam Houston Electric Cooperative’s service territory extends into parts of 10 East Texas counties. We serve members across from Dayton to Diboll, and from Huntsville to Spurger. That roughly translates to an area the size of Connecticut.
8681
Miles of power lines
12
Meters per mile
177211
Power poles
44
Substations
165
Employees
11
Directors on the Board
Board of Directors
The Sam Houston Electric Cooperative Board of Directors is made up of active and engaged Co-op members. The board members represent their neighbors’ and communities’ best interests and provide direction for the Co-op’s priorities and future. Each person commits time to education, training, and listening to their communities.
Meet the Board of DirectorsOur Beliefs
All cooperatives follow the same set of principles. They guide the way we do business.
1. Voluntary & Open Membership
2. Democratic Member Control
3. Members’ Economic Participation
4. Autonomy & Independence
5. Education, Training, & Information
6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives
7. Concern for Community
Learn more about the cooperative way and how we operate on our Who We Are page.
Member Rights & Responsibilities
As a member of Sam Houston EC you have the right to:
Dependable Service
From maintenance to upgrades, a daily part of our work at Sam Houston EC is to take proactive steps to provide reliable service to your location.
Privacy
We comply with the Open Records Act. However, we respect the privacy of our members. Therefore, we keep the information in our member files confidential.
Be Heard at Member Meetings
You are entitled to be recognized and provided an opportunity to speak at meetings on the condition that you observe the rules of parliamentary procedure.
Service Without Discrimination
We ensure that Cooperative members will not be discriminated against based on race, color, sex, nationality, religion, or marital status.
Information About Sam Houston EC
Visit us online or give us a call. We are happy to provide you with information about our operating procedures, rates, tariffs, special services, and programs.
Be Treated with Care
When it is necessary for our employees to access your property, special care will be taken to ensure we leave the area as undisturbed as possible.
Be Heard if You Have a Concern
We want to hear from you. Contact a member service representative at (800) 458-0381.
Your Share of Capital Credits
The Cooperative distributes excess capital to its members as financial conditions permit.
In short, we care about you.
Rates & Fees
We’re a not-for-profit business. Our primary focus is to look out for your best interests. Sam Houston EC’s bottom-line commitment is delivering reliable power at some of the most competitive rates around.
View Rates & Fees
Understanding Your Bill
You pay your bill every month, but what exactly does it mean? Your monthly electric bill is full of useful information. Examine it more closely and see what to look for on our Understanding Your Bill webpage.
Easy Ways to Pay
As a service to our members, Sam Houston EC provides a variety of payment options designed to simplify bill paying. View our Payment & Billing Options page for details about each.
Pay With Cash, Check, or Credit
Automatic Payments
Fidelity Express Payment Centers
In Stores with Vanilla Direct
Budget Billing (Even Monthly Payments)
Deferred Payment Plan
Pay As You Go with myPrePay
Services
How can we help you? We’re about more than just setting poles and stretching wire. We’re here to serve you. You have a variety of services to choose from to enhance your electric service. Give us a call at (800) 458-0381.
Register your cell phone, landline, or email address with us, and we’ll make sure you stay in the loop. Set up your own alert preferences in your mySamHouston account, and we’ll let you know when your bill is due, when a payment is received, or even when you’re close to your desired monthly electricity usage.
Free energy audits are available to all members to better understand how your energy dollars are spent, and pinpoint ways to reduce your energy use and save money. An energy audit includes a home or business inspection and a personalized report of recommended actions for improved energy efficiency
Commercial-grade LED area lighting is available. These lights automatically come on at dusk and turn off at dawn. Service costs include all maintenance and will appear on your monthly bill. Our lights are often more energy efficient and less expensive than alternatives you might purchase and install yourself.
If you’re planning to upgrade the electrical service facilities at your home or business, call Sam Houston EC first. Our experts keep up with ever-changing specifications and electrical codes. We can help make the transition a smooth one.
Sign Up for mySamHouston
Your mySamHouston account lets you view and pay bills, monitor electricity usage, set up alerts, and more. Accessing your mySamHouston online account is free and easy. Use a web browser or download the mobile app.
Register Now Download AppOutage Reporting – Be Prepared
Sam Houston EC keeps a close eye on potentially threatening weather year-round. You’re encouraged to visit our Outage Center for up-to-date information and regular status reports during major outage events.
Report Outages at (888) 444-1207 or using the mySamhouston app.
Energy Saving
Saving energy can lower your bills and help the environment.
Track Down Your Peak Energy Consumption
The amount of kilowatt-hours consumed during a given period is the basis for how your electric bill is calculated each month. Log in to your mySamHouston account, and with this information and a little research, you can track down your peak energy consumption.
Here’s what to look for:
Are there unexpected patterns in your usage or daily costs?
Were your daily activities different on those days? (i.e. family stayed home, extra guests, laundry day)
Was the temperature higher or lower on those days, causing the A/C or heat to run extra?
You can export your data or view your billing history. While you’re logged in, you can sign up for email or text message alerts. Register your cell phone, landline, or email address with us, and we’ll make sure you stay in the loop. Set up your own alert preferences, and we’ll let you know when your bill is due, a payment is received, or even when you’re close to your desired monthly electricity usage.
Don’t Let Winter Bills Freeze Your Wallet
Each year the holiday season and cold weather cause Sam Houston Electric Cooperative members to consume more electricity. Bills are calculated each month based on the exact amount of energy your home uses. Cold-weather heating and cooking cause more electricity to be consumed.
Just as your car consumes more gasoline on long trips, your home consumes more energy for heating during cold weather. You may have noticed your heater running constantly, or you may have used space heaters to maintain a comfortable home.
Here are a few tips to keep your electric bill from ruining the holidays:
Program your savings with a programmable thermostat. When you are asleep or away from your home, turn your thermostat back 10 to 15 degrees for 8 hours and save around 10% a year on heating and cooling.
Our hot water heaters are constantly warming the water in the tank trying to keep the temperature close to where you set it. And most of us have our hot water heater temperature set too high. Lowering this setting will save money.
Our devices don’t sleep. Even though we turn off the computer, DVR, PlayStation, or other devices, most go into standby mode—instead of completely powering off. They’re also regularly performing updates, downloading content, and wasting energy when they’re still plugged in. Phantom, or vampire loads, can account for more than 10% of your power bill.
Run your appliances without running up your bill with a few easy tips: change your A/C filter routinely; clean your refrigerator’s condenser coils; always wash or dry full loads of clothes; and turn off the heated dry setting on the dishwasher.
Phantom Loads May Be Lurking In Your Home
Did you put your computer to sleep? It can still draw more than 20 watts in sleep mode. None of us want to miss the next episode of our favorite TV show. But remember that while the DVR is recording, it’s using nearly 38 watts of power. Plug devices into power strips rather than individual outlets. Instead of unplugging everything, simply turn off the power strip and unplug it.
See additional Energy Saving Tips.
Community
Serving Beyond Our Lines: Cooperatives were created to serve the best interests of their consumer-members. Everything we do at Sam Houston Electric Cooperative contributes to fulfilling that mission.
Unclaimed capital credits returned by the State of Texas have funded more than $1 million in scholarships to students in our area since 1992.
We feel a strong obligation to educate our members and their children about how to work and play safely around electricity. Ask how we can share with your group.
Members can have their bills rounded up to the next dollar (e.g., a $125.75 bill becomes $126). The difference ($0.25) is invested back into our communities through grants to local nonprofits, and civic or community-based organizations.
Each year Sam Houston Electric Cooperative awards an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. for 2 high school students to participate in this youth leadership program. Contest winners join other students from Electric Cooperatives across the nation.
Contact Us
If you need to reach us for any reason, contact the office near you. Call (800) 458-0381 or visit one of our office locations.
Want to save or print this information? Download our New Member Brochure (PDF) Espanol (PDF)