To Compare…or Not to Compare

Do you often compare your electric bill with that of a neighbor, family member or even a previous house you have lived in?  You may ask, “Why are my bills different from my neighbor’s house that is even smaller than mine?”  If you are among the many who dare to compare, consider the following points when making a comparison:

• Square footage of homes & height of ceilings

• Heating and air conditioning systems (number, age and condition)

• Thermostat settings (e.g. leaving the thermostat fan in the ON position rather than AUTO)

• Type and number of windows and the direction the homes face

• How tightly the homes are sealed

• Amount of insulation in walls, floors and ceilings in each

• Trees and shading surrounding the houses

• Hot water usage (e.g. number, size and age of water heaters) at each location

• Types of electrical appliances and their usage

• Number and age of people in each home

• Length of time people are home (e.g. new baby, live-in   parents)

These are just a few items to look for.  In many cases, if you encounter drastically higher electric usage, the increase will more than likely be related to the heating or air conditioning equipment, water heater or differences in lifestyle.  For example, a new swimming pool in the summer, hot tub, or an additional refrigerator, freezer or dehumidifier can cause significant increases in energy usage.

For assistance with any questions or concerns, you may contact our Customer Call Center at 770-887-2363 or our Energy Services Department at 770-887-2363, extension 7544.

A crackling fireplace
on a cold night is an undeniable source of enjoyment.  However, it's not always the best choice for a home heat source.
 

Did You Know?
A fire will draw large amounts of heated air from inside your home and up through the chimney. While it's true that the fire will heat the immediate area, overall it causes heat loss inside the home if the inside-outside air temperature difference is more that 30 degrees. If this is the case, you could actually cause the heating system to work harder to heat your home.
 

What Can You Do?
You can reduce heat loss by lowering your thermostat setting and closing the doors to the rest of the house while using your fireplace. Fires are great on a cold evening, but when you choose to have one, don't forget to be energy wise.

For additional information, contact our Energy Services Department at 770-887-2363, Extension 7544 or visit our Energy Center online at www.sawnee.com

Scholarship and Washington Youth Tour Information

It’s already time to think about applying for the 2007 Sawnee Foundation Youth Scholarship program and Washington Youth Tour!  Outlined below is information on each program.

2007 Sawnee Foundation Youth Scholarship Program
If you have a senior in high school who is college bound, please keep reading!  In 2007, the Sawnee Electric Membership Foundation, a 501-C-3 charity organization, will be awarding a $3,000 scholarship to a senior in each of the seven (7) counties that Sawnee EMC serves.  Please be sure to check with the guidance office or counselor at your high school for informational packets or visit us online at www.sawnee.com for more information and an application. 

2007 Washington Youth Tour
The 2007 Washington Youth Tour will begin its week long visit to Washington, D.C., on June 7, 2007 and will conclude on June 14th.  High school students of Sawnee EMC members who will be at least 16 years of age by June 7, 2007 are invited to apply.  Washington Youth Tour recipients spend an all-expense-paid week in our nation’s capital learning about electric cooperatives, American history and U.S. government. 

For additional information and applications on both of these exciting programs, please contact Cindy Badgett, Director of External Affairs at (678) 455-1539 or via email at cindy.badgett@sawnee.com.  The deadline for submission of applications for both of these programs is February 2, 2007.  Remember, you can also view information and download applications online at www.sawnee.com!

New Information on the Energy Policy Act

In 2005, Congress passed the Energy Policy Act of 2005 which, among other things, amended the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA).  This revision to PURPA deals with standards that are to be considered relative to the conservation of energy, efficient use of electric utility facilities and ensuring reasonable rates for consumers.  In May of 2007, Sawnee EMC will hold a meeting which will allow its members to give input on these matters.  This meeting, in addition to reviewing studies conducted by Sawnee EMC, will lead to a discussion and ultimately a decision on the appropriateness of implementing any of the new Energy Policy Act standards.  Please take a few moments to become familiar with each of the Energy Policy Act standards listed below: 

•  Net Metering is a concept that allows consumers to sell any excess or unneeded electric energy generated by a system they own to a utility and offset electricity that the utility would have sold to the consumer during the applicable billing period.

•  Time-Based Metering and Communication is a concept that offers consumers a rate schedule based on certain times of the day (e.g. time-based rate schedule) for their power consumption.  This concept reflects any cost variances the utility incurs in purchasing wholesale power for that specific time of day the consumer utilizes the power and provides this price signal to the end user.

•  Interconnection is a concept that allows a consumer who has their own electric generation system or facility to connect or interconnect this system into their local electric distribution utility’s system.

•  Fuel Source Diversity is a concept that considers that utility’s mix of fuel sources used for the generation of electric energy and evaluates the merits of using a diverse range of fuel types and technologies.

•  Fossil Fuel Generation Efficiency is the final concept under review and it evaluates the merits of technologies and approaches that encourage utilities to increase the efficiency of their fossil fuel generation plants.

The last two standards (Fuel Source Diversity and Fossil Fuel Generation Efficiency) apply mainly to electric generation facilities.  Sawnee EMC is a distribution utility which means that Sawnee only owns and operates the distribution assets and does not own or operate generation or transmission facilities.  However, Sawnee plans to work with and discuss these standards with its wholesale power providers by reviewing the merits of these various standards and concepts as required by law.  

Below is the schedule of events and dates associated with Sawnee’s PURPA activities.  Note that to intervene in this process, you should provide notice by February 15, 2007. 

 If you have a question regarding any of the PURPA standards, Sawnee’s efforts to comply with the Energy Policy Act of 2005, or information listed in this article, please contact Sawnee EMC’s PURPA Officer, Mr. Ryan Satterfield, at (770) 887-2363 or via email at ryan.satterfield@sawnee.com.  More information can be found at www.sawnee.com/purpa.