Pictured: Ray Crock,
Guernsey Muskingum Electric Cooperative; and Chuck Fair, President.
Chicken BBQ this Saturday--July 26--at the Rotary Gazebo in Byesville.
“Customers can help reduce their
electricity costs,” stated Ray Crock from the Guernsey Muskingum Electric
Cooperative. A family can start saving by requesting a home energy audit from
their electric provider. Guernsey Muskingum provides the audits for free to
their members.
Crock pointed out electric costs are
reduced by increasing a home’s energy efficiency. This means that a homeowner
needs to reduce or eliminate drafts, increase insulation, use energy efficient appliances,
or correct wiring errors. Homeowners can see a return of 20-25% on their
investment by sealing drafts. Adding attic insulation can result in a 10-15%
return.
Homeowners can also reduce electricity bills by changing
how they use energy. For example, e electric costs are reduced by not washing
and drying clothes during peak use hours when electricity prices are highest. Co-op members can get help remembering to reduce energy use
during peak hours by having a Radio Controlled Switch (RCS) installed.
When a special radio signal is
sent to the switch, electric power to electric hot water heaters, heat pumps,
air conditioners or geothermal systems is temporarily interrupted during peak
hours of usage. These temporary power interruptions typically do not cause
serious inconvenience to the homeowner who will still have hot water, heat, and
a cool house. The switch and installation are free to co-op members.
Use of this switch is particularly
helpful since the price of a kilowatt of power is set based on the amount of
electricity used during the 5 highest peak hours recorded during a year. When the
amount of electricity used during these peaks can be reduced, every co-op
member’s costs will go down.
Crock was asked how to use portable
generators safely. He explained that when a portable generator is connected to
a home, the generator can back feed electricity into the power lines. This is a
safety issue for the lineman working on the lines. The homeowner is liable for
any damage caused by the back feed.
Crock recommended that anyone connecting
a generator to a house install a GenerLink Safety Device to prevent back feed. The
home owner will plug his or her generator into the safety devise, and it will automatically
disconnect the home from the electric grid as soon as the generator starts up.
More information about Guernsey
Muskingum Electric Cooperative programs can be found at www.gmenergy.com.
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