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Energy Efficiency Key to Meeting Mandate
In today’s troubled economic climate, we all are searching for places to sock away money that offer the promise of a healthy return. While no one can predict when the stock market will fully recover, crunching a few numbers does show one safe investment alternative: energy efficiency. Even in good financial times the annual Wall Street return on stocks averages 14 percent, followed by 4.2 percent for 30-year bonds and 3.5 percent for money market accounts.
Nationwide, the cost of residential electricity climbed an average of 26% between 2002 and 2007, and it is projected to go even higher.
As if that weren’t bad enough, today’s electricity supplies won’t be able to keep pace with future demand.With state legislation enacted by our state elected officials in 2007 to become less dependent on non-renewable energy sources, we must consider every option which can reduce our need for energy derived from standard means such as oil, coal and natural gas.
To this end, Piedmont Electric—and other utilities nationwide—is researching programs that can improve energy efficiency for you, our member-consumers.In recent months we have been heralding the use of compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), and are offering incentives to members who change out their old incandescent light bulbs.We are also looking at additional incentives for installing solar water heaters and using water heater insulation blankets.
By helping you use energy more efficiently, we will be able to meet our mandates for reducing our dependency on non-renewable resources—and help you save on your energy bills! That’s a “win-win” situation for everyone, especially in light of the higher cost for generating power with renewable resources.
We are tentatively planning to put a Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS) Rider into effect beginning with the May billing cycles.
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As noted on page 1, the Annual Meeting of the Members of Piedmont Electric will be Friday, April 17, at Orange High School in Hillsborough.
A lot has occurred in the past year concerning your electric cooperative, and that makes it even more important for you to attend this meeting to learn what has—and will be—happening during the coming year.
We hope you will take this opportunity to learn more about Piedmont Electric. After all, this is YOUR business. |
