Can you introduce yourself?
Sure! I’m Carla C., and I live in Pflugerville, TX. We’ve lived here almost 20 years, and besides working a regular job, I also run a nonprofit out of the house.
What kind of life do you live at your home?
It’s a very busy life. It’s a multigenerational home here in Pflugerville. My husband and I live here, and we’re grandparents, so our grandson lives with us. I’m a workaholic, working a regular 9-5 job from home. I work on the computer and also breed and rescue German Shepherds, donating each puppy to a veteran or first responder. I work for AECOM in the environmental sector.
Tell me about your home—what are you most proud of? What matters most?
We have a very unique home. It’s themed after the Renaissance. I’m Viking, so everything is very dragons and knights, and yes, I have a real coat of armor in the house. I have a strong tie to the Vikings. I’m adopted, and when I took a DNA test, it was all Viking-related. We like to entertain—musician friends come over for dinner and parties, and I want to keep doing that. My home is my castle. It is important that my home is safe, and that’s the most important thing—to keep it safe for my family and my dogs.
What brought you to Base?
I was looking at Base for a couple of things. Since Ice-mageddon—or whatever it was called—here in Texas, it’s important that I don’t lose refrigerated foods, but I also don’t lose the ability to do my work. Even in the summer, when we have rolling blackouts or brownouts, I can't lose power. We don’t have solar, so I haven't done the whole solar thing.
Did you look into a generator or alternatives?
Generators are too loud, and they’re not cost-effective. It’s a minimum of $10,000, depending on how big you want it, and then you have to pay an electrician to come and install it, which can be anywhere from $1,200 to $5,000.
Do you remember the last time you had a power outage before Base?
The biggest power outage we had was after Snowmageddon. I was working in the office, and the pole went down. The power went out for about three hours, and I was in the middle of a meeting with a very important client. I had to call them back on my cell phone, apologize, and explain it all. After that, I said, “I’m done.” I was angry. anywhere else, and it cannot give power to anyone else.
Who were you with for your energy provider before? How’s it been since moving to Base?
I was with TXU, and with them, we were paying over $450 a month with the air conditioner running all the time and the TV on—my husband likes TV. And that was just too much. With Base, my bill hasn’t been over $200 at all.
When you first saw Base, what was going through your head?
I’m in accounting, and my father was an aerospace engineer, so he taught me to be very analytical. I wanted to understand the logistics behind it. I weighed the difference between a backup generator and the Base battery. The generator, although it’s there, you still have to go and turn it on in the middle of a storm. Number two, the generator still needs fuel. What if you’re snowed in or stormed in? Again—Base wins that. Number three, it’s cost-effective.
What would you say to a neighbor who’s thinking about Base?
I would tell them: really look into Base because it’s important to understand what they offer. There’s no gimmicks, there’s no hidden fees. When you have backup power, you shouldn’t have to be afraid. Base has really made my life that much easier. I don’t have to worry about it.
