Branch Launches 6 New States����������������������

Branch, a full-stack insurance company that pioneered instantly-bundled home and auto insurance, announced April 1 its expansion to six new states including Idaho, Iowa, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee and Virginia.

These new additions bring Branch’s total state roster to 25 and means 49% of Americans can access Branch’s instant-pricing capability. Through Branch’s rapid growth, the company maintains a stellar customer service experience with an impressive 4.8 Trustpilot rating.

Having launched in six new states since the beginning of 2022, Branch continues to attract new members with its instant-pricing capability and average annual bundled savings of $535. With the goal of national coverage halfway completed, Branch continues to pave the way for convenient and affordable insurance with the aim of being available in all 50 states before the end of 2022.

Source: Branch Texas has been having intermittent issues with its dated power grid for years, though these past few winters have brought the issue into the eyes of the media.

Now, as hotter temperatures are upon us, the state’s grid is struggling once again.

The increased demand for electricity in the Lone Star State has caused officials to alert customers of potential issues, requesting they work to conserve energy. ERCOT, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, recently announced six power plants had tripped due to the excessive power use associated with rising temperatures.

The council issued the following statement via Electrek, asking customers to limit the amount of power they use between peak times, 3 to 8 p.m.:

“This afternoon, six power generation facilities tripped offline resulting in the loss of approximately 2,900 MW of electricity ... We’re asking Texans to conserve power when they can by setting their thermostats to 78 degrees or above and avoiding the usage of large appliances (such as dishwashers, washers and dryers) during peak hours between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. through the weekend.”

Meanwhile, Tesla became aware of ERCOT’s request, and it sent out an alert to all of its vehicle owners in the state. The simple alert popped up on peoples’ Tesla touch screens making them aware of the grid concerns and advising them to avoid charging during peak times.

Electrek received information about the Tesla touch screen notification via Reddit, which was shared by Tesla owner Karlan Mitchell. The notification reads:

“A heatwave is expected to impact the grid in Texas over the next few days. The grid operator recommends to avoid charging during peak hours between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., if possible, to help statewide efforts to manage demand.”

As you are likely aware, Tesla just recently opened a brandnew factory in Austin, TX, CEO Elon Musk has relocated to the area, and the company’s headquarters has officially moved from California to Texas. Texas is also home to SpaceX’s Starbase launch site.

Musk has been encouraging people to move to the Austin area and apply to work at Tesla. He’s also suggested builders ramp up efforts to make more housing available. However, most importantly, Tesla has already been working on plans to help Texas with its failing power grid.

Thus far, Tesla has started supplying energy storage for Texas to the tune of 81 Megapack commercial batteries. Electrek said Tesla plans to continue in its efforts to help, and it will roll out residential storage and solar systems as well. In fact, the company is already installing solar roofs and Powerall batteries in new home construction projects in Austin.

Continued from Cover Higher Pay

The group gathered outside the State House to demand action on a pair of proposals before the lawmakers that would raise the lowestin-the-nation labor rate for auto body repairs.

The bills, H.1111 and S.709, both called “An Act to establish minimum reimbursement rate to insurance claimants,” are currently being ironed out between the legislative chambers through a joint committee. Both would set the rate for repair at upwards of $78 per hour of labor, according to advocates.

The current rate is just $40 per hour, which, according to the group, is the lowest in the nation and just $10 more than it was in 1988.

AASP-MA Executive Director Evangelo “Lucky” Papageorg said the industry is filled with technicians that started because they thought it was a cool job, one that they learned to love. That passion, he said, does not feed their families though.

“The problem is that loving and cool don’t pay the bills. We need to be able to pay the bills,” he said.

The bills have until June 30 to clear the committee, after which the legislature would have just a month before the end of the session to approve and send them to Gov. Charlie Baker’s desk.

Standing in the way, according to former state Sen. Guy Glodis, are insurance companies that want to keep reimbursements low.

Glodis said auto body workers first approached him in 2003, saying their wages were so low they couldn’t compete to keep workers from leaving the state. He said the problem was recognized by legislative leadership, who said they would do something about it.

“Folks, that was over 20 years ago—nothing has been done,” he said. “We’re here to educate the legislature about the greed and the injustice and the dishonesty of what’s going on with the insurance industry where they are purposely stagnating and suppressing wages.

“It hurts business and it hurts families,” he said.

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Dominion Sure Seal Celebrates its 50th Year Anniversary

For the past ve decades, Dominion Sure Seal has been a leading manufacturer of sealants, protective coatings, and adhesives for body shops, car restoration companies, and car dealerships throughout North America.

If you ever need reliable and a ordable products like undercar coatings, paints, plastic repair systems, anti-corrosion materials, liquid bedliners, adhesives, tapes, and specialty chemicals for your collision repairs or restoration jobs, the brand name Dominion Sure Seal is likely all over your shop.

The company’s CEO Greg Morton is proud of his family’s business and honored to have played a major role in the success story at Dominion Sure Seal. “I began working here at age 14, working part-time; sweeping oors and painting walls,” he said. “Initially, we sold directly to body shops and then in 1995, we broke into the market by working with distributors and warehouse wholesalers.

By knowing what the collision repair industry needs and ful lling them with new products over the years, we’ve grown here in Canada and in the United States. Now we’re in a lot of major retailers throughout Northern America and the business has doubled within the past 5-6 years.”

Greg’s late father Ron started the business in 1972, one year after Greg was born. The company started with ve people and now they employ 30, which includes 40 regional reps.

The company’s rst major victory happened in 1989, when chemists at Dominion Sure Seal unveiled a plastic repair system that quickly became a go-to product for body shops and car

Then in 1995, Dominion came out with Gator Guard, an epoxy liquid bedliner that helped the company to create an entire line of epoxy-based products.

Today, Dominion Sure Seal sells more that 100 di erent products to collision repairers, car restorers, and car-crazed individuals (aka do-it-yourselfers)

Another big reason for Dominion’s longevity and success includes its people, Greg said. “My brother Derek is our Managing Director and everyone here feels like they’re a part of our family, which they are.

We have people here who have been with us for 15-20 years and that continuity has enabled us to be a market leader.”

By carefully monitoring the pulse of the collision repair industry and developing products to improve the lives of body techs, painters, and mechanics, Dominion Sure Seal is looking with con dence at the next 50 years.

“People know our name, with 90 percent of our customers coming from the automotive repair industry and the rest from the DIY market,” Morton said. “We’re well-known for quality products, great prices, and customer service and it has de nitely paid o . We started with two products now we carry 100 and we’re developing new ones all the time. We know the body shop business from top to bottom and that’s why we create products that will enable collision repair professionals to do a better job, while cutting cycle time and improving the bottom line.”

Greg Morton (right) and Managing Director Derek Morton now run the show at Dominion Sure Seal

The late Ron Morton started the Dominion Sure Seal in 1972, built around quality products, great prices, and amazing customer service.

800-265-0790

905-670-5411 905-670 5174 Fx

Dominion Sure Seal 6175 Danville Road Mississauga, ON, Canada L5T 2H7 www.dominionsureseal.com