Some parts of South Carolina had triple-digit heat as early as July 21. Pee Dee’s service area has recorded many days of temperatures above 90 degrees between July 21 and August 8.
You may have heard or read about increased electricity rates. Although some utilities have had to raise their costs,
I want to stress to you that the September bills do not reflect increased rates from Pee Dee Electric Cooperative. The bills you are receiving now are indicative of increased energy consumption due to greater air-conditioning use. This is a yearly occurrence that precedes the cooler months of the fall and winter.
We still have a few warm days ahead, but you can save on your bill by following a few guidelines: set your thermostat at 78 degrees or higher when you’re home. Set the air conditioning to 85 or higher when you’re not going to be at home for an extended time. Cooling costs are reduced by about five percent for every two degrees higher you set your unit.
PDEC offers energy- and money-saving tips for all seasons at its Web site, peedeeelectric.com or call Energy Experts at (843) 665-4070.
Your Co-op News
Information for
members of
Pee Dee Electric Cooperative
Office Hours
8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Friday
Corporate Headquarters
1355 East McIver Road PO Box 491 Darlington, SC 29540 District Office 1811 North 501 Bypass PO Box 683 Marion, SC 29571 Business and Power Outage
(843) 665-4070 Toll-Free (866) 747-0060
Web site
www.peedeeelectric.com
President and CEO
E. LeRoy “Toy” Nettles, Jr.
Chairman, Board of Trustees
James A. Goodson
Co-op News Editor
Tom Kinard
12 living in south carolina SEPTEMBER 2008 Pee Dee Electric Cooperative, Inc. livinginsc.coop
September bills
reflect summer
heat, A/C use
H
igh temperatures and excessive humidity in July and August each year have a significant effect on electric bills that members of Pee Dee Electric Cooperative receive in September.Electricity use increases when air-conditioning equipment runs longer and works harder to offset higher outdoor temperatures. Refrigerators and freezers in unconditioned areas like garages and sheds also
contribute to higher power use.
James Goodson, Chairman, Board of Trustees
File
Some parts of South Carolina had
triple-digit heat as early as July 21. James A. Goodson
You can save
on your bill by
following a few
guidelines
livinginsc.coop Pee Dee Electric Cooperative, Inc. SEPTEMBER 2008 living in south carolina 12A
service after
major outages
Goal is to get lights back
on ASAP for the greatest
number of PDEC members
R
estoring power after a major outage is an enormous under- taking that involves much more than simply throwing a switch or removing a tree from a line.The main goal is to safely restore power to the greatest number of customers in the shortest time possible. Keep in mind that if there is damage to power plants, switchyards or transmission lines, those facilities must be repaired by our power supplier before we can restore your service. Transmission lines seldom fail, but they can be damaged by ice storms, tornadoes and hurricanes. Tens of thousands of people could be served by a single high-voltage transmission line.
When those facilities are working, problems in Pee Dee’s electric distribution system can be corrected. Three primary areas of our system must be addressed.
1 — Substations repaired first. We have 36 local distribution substations, each serving thousands of consumers. When a major outage occurs, the local distribution substations are checked first. If the problem can be corrected at the substation level, power may be restored to a large number of people.
2 — Distribution lines repaired. Main distribution supply lines are checked next, if the problem cannot be isolated at the substation. These supply lines carry electricity away from the substation to a group of customers, such as a subdivision. When power is restored at this stage, all consumers served by this supply line could see the lights come on, as long as there is no problem farther down the line.
3 — Individual services restored. The final supply lines, called service lines, carry power from the transformer on utility poles or underground transformers outside houses or other buildings. Line
crews fix the remaining outages based on restoring service to the greatest number of consumers.
Sometimes, damage will occur on the service line between your house and the transformer on the nearby pole. This may explain why you have no power when
If there is damage to the equipment where the service drop enters your home, you may need to get an electrician to repair it before the co-op can safely restore your service. The weatherhead, where service lines enter the conduit leading to your home’s electric meter, is the responsibility of the homeowner. So are the conduit and the meter base. The co-op can replace or repair damaged meters or service lines, but if you see damage to your home’s weatherhead, conduit or meter base, contact an electrician immediately to get repairs started.
your neighbor does. Pee Dee Electric needs to know you have an outage here, so a service crew can repair it. Please call us at (843) 665-4070 or toll free (866) 747-0060. Do not touch any downed wires.
Pee Dee Electric Cooperative
12B living in south carolina SEPTEMBER 2008 Pee Dee Electric Cooperative, Inc. livinginsc.coop
W
ith an estimated three out ofevery four Americans owning a personal computer, it’s becoming increasingly important to use them in an efficient and money-saving manner.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimates appliances and electronics account for 20 percent of a home’s energy bill, and personal computers are steadily taking a bigger slice of that pie. The DOE’s Energy Star program has acknowledged this trend, in 2007 unveiling new specifications for computers that are estimated to save consumers and businesses more than $1.8 billion in energy costs over five years. But until these more efficient models penetrate the marketplace, there are still some simple steps one can take to cut his or her personal computer’s energy use.
Turn it off
When to turn off your computer? It was once believed computers lasted longer if they were never turned off, but DOE says
this behavior carries over from the days of older mainframe computers and is no longer valid. Most personal computers reach the end of their use because of advances in technology long before the effects of being switched on and off multiple times take their toll.
Generally, the less a computer is on, the longer it will last. And DOE says you’ll maximize energy savings by shutting the monitor off if you aren’t going to use your computer for more than 20 minutes and recommends shutting off the whole machine if you don’t plan on using it for two hours.
Put it to sleep
Of course, many personal computers are now available with power management options that will put the computer and monitor into a low-power sleep mode after a period of inactivity. To achieve maximum power savings, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends setting computers to enter sleep mode after 30 to 60 minutes of inactivity.
A n o t h e r m i s -conception is that screen savers reduce a monitor’s energy use, but they often use twice as much energy and ultimately prevent a computer from entering sleep mode. To save even more, the EPA recommends setting monitors to enter sleep mode after
five to 20 minutes of inactivity.
Energy Star estimates consumers can save between $25 and $75 annually by taking advantage of these options. You can customize
Delete $25–$75 on
computer energy costs
Setting computers to enter sleep mode after 30 to 60 minutes of inactivity is recommended.
Setting computers to enter sleep mode after 30 to 60
The Department of
Energy estimates
75 percent of the
electricity used to power
home electronics is
consumed when the
products are turned off
Newer, Energy Star-qualified computers are more energy efficient.
W
alter Allread
your settings through your computer’s operating system. The lower the setting, the more energy you save.
Use power strips
It also helps to keep peripheral home computing devices like printers, speakers, copiers and fax machines plugged in to a power strip that you can switch off when not in use. The Department of Energy estimates 75 percent of the electricity used to power home elec-tronics is consumed when the products are turned off, so this preventive measure could really add up in energy savings.
For more on how to save money and energy by changing your computing habits, visit www.energystar. gov.
12C
living in south carolina SEPTEMBER 2008 livinginsc.coop livinginsc.coop Pee Dee Electric Cooperative, Inc. SEPTEMBER 2008 living in south carolina
T
he Home Depot has initiated a compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb recycling program at all store loca-tions nationwide.The free service allows customers to bring in any expired, unbroken CFL bulbs and give them to the store associate behind the returns desk. The bulbs will then be managed responsibly by an environmental management company that will coordinate CFL packaging, transportation and recycling to maximize safety and ensure environmental compliance.
The Home Depot has also launched an in-store conservation program to switch light fixture showrooms in U.S. stores
Home Depot recycling CFLs
from incandescent bulbs to CFLs by this fall, saving $16 million annually in energy costs, store officials said.
Page Chestnut
L
eave CFLs on for at least 15 minutes at a time. Frequently turning them off and on will shorten the lifespan.There are many styles of CFLs: spiral, globe, tubed, candle, indoor, outdoor, three-way, dimmable. For complete information on the best CFL for your purpose, go to energystar.gov on the Web.
CFL tips
Page Chestnut
helps save
taxpayers’ money
P
DEC’s Jeff Singletary installs a CFL at Lee State Park. Pee Dee Electric joined other co-ops in donating 4,300 CFLs to the state park system. Jeff, William Fleming and Page Chestnut spent time with co-op volunteers from all over South Carolina to install these energy- and taxpayers’ money-saving devices.Energy Star is a joint project of the US EPA & Dept. of Energy
NRECA
L
ike fluorescent tube lighting, compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) contain a small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing — an average of five milligrams. That’s roughly equivalent to the amount that would cover the tip of a ball-point pen. No mercury is released when the bulbs are intact or in use.While mercury is a toxin, it is an essential component of CFLs. Mercury is what allows the bulb to be an efficient light source. Many manufacturers have taken significant steps to reduce mercury used in their fluorescent lighting products. But, overall, using CFLs significantly reduces the amount of mercury emitted by power generators. That’s because a CFL uses 75% less energy than an incandescent light bulb to create the same amount of light. Energy Star-rated CFLs also last at least six times longer.
Learn more about CFLs at DoTheLightSwitch.com
12D living in south carolina SEPTEMBER 2008 livinginsc.coop
Pee Dee Electric Cooperative
Pee Dee Electric Cooperative, Inc. As a visible sign of PDEC’s genuine concern for saving energy in all we do, a 2009 Saturn Vue Hybrid was recently added to the co-op’s fleet of vehicles. It uses both self-generated electricity and an internal combustion engine. This automobile gets better gas mileage and produces far fewer emissions than a standard model. We’re “Growing Green, Together.”
Tom Kinard
As a visible sign of PDEC’s genuine concern for saving energy in all we do, a 2009 As a visible sign of PDEC’s genuine concern for saving energy in all we do, a 2009
Tom KinardTom Kinard
Future leaders
go to Washington
E
ach year, Pee Dee ElectricCoopera-tive sponsors two rising high school seniors to attend a week-long, all- expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. There, they join hundreds of other students representing co-ops from around South Carolina and the nation in a journey filled with information and fun. This year, PDEC sponsored Linsey Fuller and Drew Eads. Linsey attends Mayo High School for Math, Science & Technology in Darlington. She is the daughter of Steve and Margarita Fuller. The son of David and Katie Eads, Drew also attends Mayo High School for Math, Science & Technology.
Tour members learned about electric cooperatives, American history and the U.S. government. They attended educational seminars, met with their congressmen and senators, saw the sights around our nation’s capital and made lifelong friends. By helping to educate young people and enhancing their self-worth, Pee Dee Electric promotes and inspires responsible
and informed participation in the democratic process — in essence, ensuring a stronger future for everyone.
The Washington Youth Tour is a part of Pee Dee Electric’s educational support program and our commitment to the community. Participants must reside with members of Pee Dee Electric Cooperative.
For additional information, please contact Page Chestnut, (843) 292-4345.
Linsey Fuller, at left, and Drew Eads below the Capitol dome in Washington, D.C.
Co-op
core
value
goes
Green!
13
livinginsc.coop SEPTEMBER 2008 living in south carolina
living in south carolina SEPTEMBER 2008 livinginsc.coop Pee Dee Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
$15
Energy Voucher
Energy Voucher
Pee Dee Electric Cooperative
Florence City-County
Civic Center
credit
credit
Registration Gift:
Registration Gift:
Each member who registers at the Annual Meeting will receive a $15 energy voucher for
their electric bill.
OTHER FESTIVITIES:
OTHER FESTIVITIES:
VISIT OUR MARKETING TABLES to learn more about Value-Added Services and Innovative Programs:
• Surge Guard®Table:
Sign up and get $15 off installation fee.
• PLUSinformation on GreenPower, Pee Dee Electric Scholarships, Free Energy Audits, ERC Energy Efficient Home Improvement Loans, H2O Select®Water Heater
Rebate Program
and much, much more. . .
9A.M.–12Noon REGISTRATION & VOTING
9A.M.–11:30A.M. HEALTH FAIR
12Noon BUSINESS MEETING
After the Business Meeting:
All Prize Drawings
Y
ougetthe
Y
ougetthe
Grand Prize*:
Grand Prize*:
•
2001 GMC Safari Van
* You must be present to win! OTHER PRIZES: • Door Prizes •3 Bonus Prizes:Energy Vouchers for $300, $400 & $500
• WIRE Raffle Prize:
Tickets $1 — $200 & $300 Cash ENTERTAINMENT: ENTERTAINMENT:
The Woodys
11A.M.-12Noon HEALTH FAIR: Carolinas Hospital System2 Super Bonus Prizes:
2 Super Bonus Prizes:
•
Neuton CE 6.2
Battery Powered Mower
843-665-4070 866-747-0060 Toll Free peedeeelectric.com
