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Co-op re-energizes effort to help members
save energy, money
Focus is on delivering 'value and efficiency'
By Walter Allread
Google the word "energy" and you'll come up with a variety of hot topics: energy efficiency, energy conservation and renewable energy.
Members of York Electric Cooperative will be pleased to know their co-op is a leader in these areas, says Paul Basha, president and CEO. The cooperative offers its members renewable Green Power, generated mostly from landfill gases, Basha notes. It performs free energy audits of members' residences to help them identify ways to increase comfort while saving energy and money. York Electric Cooperative also helps commercial and industrial members get the most value for their energy dollar. All members can find a wealth of information about efficiency and renewable energy on the co-op's Web site, yorkelectric.net, and in co-op publications such as South Carolina Living Magazine.
 The co-op is re-energizing its energy conservation efforts, Basha notes. This spring, York Electric Cooperative will send each of its residential members two compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). The energy-efficient bulbs use a fraction of the electricity required by a standard, incandescent bulb to emit the same amount of light. The CFL effort is part of a statewide program by York Electric and 19 other independent, consumer-owned cooperatives in South Carolina to distribute 7 million CFLs over 10 years. Called "Do the Light Switch," it's part of a larger effort by the co-ops to help members use energy more efficiently and, in doing so, protect the environment.
The CFL giveaway follows cooperative-commissioned studies of the best options in renewable resources and energy efficiency, Basha says. "The study we did showed that promoting the use of CFLs was the most effective, quickest way to benefit the environment and lower our members' power costs. It's a means to providing instant savings to the member. It also helps offset the need for future power generation, if we get enough of these CFLs out there."
A natural fit
"Do the Light Switch," which is so far the largest single project to distribute CFLs by co-ops in the U.S., also illuminates the difference between electric cooperatives and other power providers, Basha says.
"We're a little different than the investor-owned utilities," he notes. Electric co-ops exist solely to serve their members; IOUs exist to earn profits for shareholders, who often are not members. "As a not-for-profit co-op, we have no reason to try to sell our members more power than they need," Basha says.
And the co-op practices what it preaches about energy efficiency, he notes. "We have always invested in technologies and training to keep our electric distribution system in tip-top shape. For instance, we use energy-efficient transformers and other equipment to enable our distribution system to deliver the most reliable, affordable service possible. Our engineers, line crews and other employees focus on efficiency every day."
"Members may not realize some of the efficiencies we've gained but they see the results on their power bills," Basha says. For example, the co-op takes a variety of steps to reduce line losses, or electric energy lost in the process of transmitting it over power lines.
Basha explains, "The average line loss for a co-op our size is almost 7%. York Electric Cooperative has averaged approximately half this amount in line losses in each of the last five years. This is a savings of $1.4 million per year in our wholesale power costs. That saves all of our members money. It's a way of keeping that money in the member's pocket instead of taking it and then giving it back to them later. Nowadays, there are plenty of things they need the money for."
'Out front and leading'
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| By using energy-efficient equipment, such as these transformers, YEC reduces line losses and holds down wholesale power costs for its members. "We try to find that perfect balance between efficiency, value and protecting the environment," Basha says. |
York Electric Cooperative also takes steps in its daily operations to avoid waste and to recycle unavoidable excess, such as short lengths of wire sometimes left over after crews build services. Large amounts of scrap wire and wooden wire spools are either used, sold or recycled, Basha notes. Even used motor oil from fleet vehicles is re-used in a clean-burn furnace that heats the fleet maintenance shop.
More conservation efforts are planned, all with the idea of using members' money wisely, Basha stresses. "We try to find that perfect balance between efficiency, value and protecting the environment."
For instance, the co-op recently worked with York County Solid Waste Collection & Recycling to obtain a grant to purchase a cardboard compactor. "We want to do what's right for the environment, but we also want to make sure it brings value to the member. In this case, we'll be able to recycle huge amounts of cardboard, which will cut operating costs, plus we'll help the environment. It's a 'win-win' situation."
The county recycling office is also helping the cooperative implement internal recycling efforts. Beginning in June 2008, York Electric Cooperative will make its Rock Hill office 100% "green" by regularly purchasing blocks of Green Power equal to the average monthly energy use there.
Basha notes that the state's co-ops and their chief power supplier, the state-owned utility Santee Cooper, were the first — and still the only — energy providers in South Carolina to offer renewable Green Power to consumers. Touchstone Energy co-ops like York Electric Cooperative have always been innovators, he adds: "We're out front and leading, which is historically what the co-ops try to do — not to be followers. This is just another example of that proactive leadership."
NEXT: This spring, York Electric will help members "Do the Light Switch" to energy-efficient CFLs »
Related Links
'Squirrelly' bulbs star in member's film »
CFLs available for 3-way switches, recessed fixtures »
YEC makes investment in renewable energy »
Green Power Program »
Touchstone Energy Light Bulb Energy Saver »
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