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Helping you help yourself
July, 2009
 ALMOST A QUARTER of the members of South Carolina's electric cooperatives live in manufactured homes, many constructed long before modern energy-efficiency standards were adopted. Many others live in inefficient site-built homes. The state's co-ops are working to obtain federal grant or loan dollars to address the massive number of houses that are woefully energy-inefficient. We estimate it will take $650 million over a 10- year period to increase the energy efficiency of 20 percent (120,000) of the least efficient of all co-op-served homes.
What you can do
Until funding becomes available, we're doing what we can to help our members use energy wisely. One way is to provide energy-saving tips in South Carolina Living magazine. Do what you can in taking steps to weatherize your home, seal drafts and reduce heat gain. Keep air conditioners set at the highest comfortable setting; 78 degrees F is recommended. Change filters monthly. These relatively low-cost steps will help hold down your power bill. More energy saving tips »
What we're doing
 We're looking out for you in other ways. Lately, we've raised concerns about proposals to combat climate change that would raise electric bills but do little to improve the environment. The administration favors emissions trading, or "cap and trade," a market-based approach designed to control power plant emissions by auctioning emission rights. Co-ops are concerned this system surrenders control of electricity prices to the financial community.
We stand ready to work with the president and Congress to develop more sensible, less costly approaches. We want the government to offset the cost of any new environmental laws by helping us help co-op members in South Carolina to save energy and money.
Outreach to Congress is vital. At this year's Annual Meeting, York Electric had more than 1,100 people complete post cards to send to our government officials, and we thank you for taking a few minutes to do this important step in getting our government to listen. If you were not able to complete a postcard, access the Web site ourenergy.coop. We all need to come together to face the energy challenges.
Paul Basha
President and
Chief Executive Officer
Related Links:
Our Energy, Our Future »
OurEnergy.coop
Energy Saving Tips »
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