On The Wire @ WCEC

WCEC Bills Get New Look

WCEC bills will have a fresh new look beginning this month, thanks to the metering system adopted in 2017. The technology offers many advantages including remote connect and disconnect, which reduces the amount of time co-op vehicles spend on the road. The meters detect and pinpoint electricity theft, and gather more data than ever before to help us work with members on their individual service issues and actual consumption. The meters also provide data that aid in the power restoration process, and in performing preventative maintenance. We’ll now be using this technology to better communicate with members through a bill redesign.

A group of employees from engineering, member services and communications studied and analyzed various electric bills. Then, they identified and set goals for their redesign: A simple and easy to follow bill, a pleasing modern design, larger text, and incorporation of information to help members understand the weather/kWh usage relationship to help with energy efficiency goals.

Then, they identified and set goals for their redesign: A simple and easy to follow bill, a pleasing modern design, larger text, and incorporation of information to help members understand the weather/kWh usage relationship to help with energy efficiency goals.

From start to finish, the new bill design took about a year to achieve, but we think it was worth the time and effort, and we hope you like it.

ext Link

November 18^th is the deadline to apply for one of three $1,000 Power Upward scholarships. Adult students who are continuing their education must be active WCEC members to apply. Applications can be found at wcec.org under Programs & Sponsorships .

In keeping with the season, and in observance of the holiday, our office will be closed Thursday, November 26 & Friday, November 27. As always, members will be able to access accounts 24/7 via www.wcec.org. And you can report outages any time via the hotline at 1-866-415-2951, the My WCEC App, or outage texting.

Generator Safety

Portable generators provide relief during a prolonged electrical outage—just be sure to use extreme caution while operating them.

Never try to power the house by plugging the generator into a wall outlet. This dangerous practice, known as “backfeeding,” reverses the electricity flow and sends it out of your house, endangering electric workers and your neighbors. If you must connect the generator to the house wiring, have a qualified electrician install a transfer switch.
Plug appliances directly into the generator or use an ex- tension cord that is rated (in watts or amps) at least equal to the sum of the connected appliance loads. Check that the entire cord is free of damage and that the plug has all its prongs.
Keep the generator dry and do not use it indoors, in a garage, near open doors or windows, or in rainy or wet conditions.

Don’t Gobble Up Energy

This Thanksgiving

At Thanksgiving we look forward to a delicious meal shared with loved ones. What we don’t look forward to are high energy bills. Follow these tips from the Edison Electric Institute to keep your energy bill looking as good as Thanksgiving dinner.

1. Allow hot foods and liquids to cool oﬀ before placing them in the fridge. A short cooling-oﬀ period should not aﬀect the taste of the food or allow bacterial growth and will reduce the load on the refrigerator.

2. Use a “lids-on” approach to cooking. Tightly ﬁtted lids on pots and pans help keep heat in, enabling you to lower the temperature settings and shorten cooking times.

3. Use a microwave instead of your oven whenever possible. Microwave ovens draw less than half the power of a conventional oven, and they require much shorter cooking periods.

4. When roasting or baking, avoid making frequent progress checks that involve opening your oven door. Each time the door is opened, a considerable portion of the oven’s heat escapes.

5. When using an electric oven, cook as much of your meal as possible at one time. Foods with different cooking temperatures often can be cooked simultaneously at one temperature; variations of 25 degrees in either direction still produce good results and save energy.