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News and Press Releases
AMR project nears completion - Apr. 30, 2007
Pendleton County power plant celebrates opening with ribbon-cutting ceremony - Apr. 25, 2007
Cynthiana Relay for Life team raises $333 - Apr. 19, 2007
Blue Grass Energy Assists Missouri Co-op In Power Restoration - Jan. 22, 2007
Blue Grass Energy Opens New District Office Facility - Dec. 12, 2006
Blue Grass Energy Wins Trailblazer Award- Nov. 28, 2006
Blue Grass Energy Provides Farm Safety Demonstration- Sept. 29, 2006
Blue Grass Energy Trains Linemen for Rescues- Sept. 29, 2006
Environmental Grants Now Available- Aug. 9, 2006
BGE Supports Big Brothers/Big Sister with Local Golf Camp- July 13, 2006
Blue Grass Energy Opens New District Office- June 12, 2006
Crunching Numbers - Energy Cost Breakdown- Jan. 23, 2006
Value: It's in There- Jan. 16, 2006
Blue Grass Energy Alerts Customers of High Energy Costs- Jan. 4, 2006
AMR project nears completion
Blue Grass Energy’s automated meter reading system is scheduled to be up and running by early summer, eliminating reading charges and resulting in more efficient service for you.
The system will take a reading from your new digital meter every day. That up-to-date information helps us to diagnose problems at your home more quickly and accurately, and it also helps us to better monitor outages and voltage problems, and improve system maintenance.
Your billing cycle also will be more consistent because snow, ice, dogs and locked gates won’t keep meters from read on a consistent number of days each cycle. And if you change residences on a Blue Grass Energy line, a serviceman doesn’t have to come out to your new home – it’s all automatic.
The new system also streamlines BGE’s operations and saves money because the co-op will no longer have to pay to contract meter readers.
Completion was initially scheduled for 2008, but the projected benefits for members were so great that the timeline was pushed up six months. The Lawrenceburg district was the first to have new meters installed in 2005, followed by Cynthiana, Nicholasville and then Richmond.
If you have any questions about AMR, please call any of our offices for more information.
Pendleton County power plant celebrates opening with ribbon-cutting ceremony
East Kentucky Power Cooperative celebrated the opening of the fifth renewable energy power plant in Pendleton County today with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The Pendleton County plant, along with plants in Boone, Laurel and Greenup counties and Elizabethtown, produce electricity from landfill methane gas, which is produced as waste decays. The energy generated from these five plants is about 15 megawatts of power, or enough to supply energy to 9,000 Kentucky homes.
The output from the plants is sold to retail customers through a program called EnviroWatts. Members pay an additional $2.75 per month for each 100 kilowatt-hour block of green power. Members have the option to enroll for all or just part of their electric bill.
Buying just one block of EnviroWatts has the same environmental impact as taking the family car off the road for three months, reducing foreign oil imports by two barrels, planting an acre and a half of trees or offsetting the use of 1,200 pounds of coal.
East Kentucky Power has been using landfill methane gas power for the past four years and is considered a leader in the development of renewable energy for the entire Southeastern United States.
Cynthiana Relay for Life team raises $333
Blue Grass Energy employees at our district offices in Cynthiana and Nicholasville have formed Relay for Life teams. The Cynthiana team recently raised $333 at a lunch fundraiser at the office.
A minimum $5 donation bought you a delicious lunch cooked by customer service representatives’ supervisor Kathy Livingood. She had homemade barbecue beef sandwiches, cole slaw, chips and brownies. She went through 66 sandwiches, nearly all that she had prepared, with employees bustling in and out of the break room, and even special orders going out to co-workers’ family members.
The team is planning more lunches like Kathy’s and have already started their next fundraiser, selling Home Interior scented candles.
Blue Grass Energy Assists Missouri Co-op In Power Restoration
(Nicholasville KY) – Four Blue Grass Energy linemen left Saturday morning for Lebanon, Missouri, to assist Laclede Electric Cooperative in its power restoration efforts following the ice storm that crippled the state and most of the mid-western United States last week. Ben Coffey, Nicholasville, Larry Lovelace, Cynthiana, Paul Proctor, Lawrenceburg, and Randy Gillis, Lawrenceburg, are helping restore power the to co-op’s more than 30,000 members.
The Blue Grass Energy crew will join hundreds of co-op linemen and contract crews traveling from other states to assist in the restoration efforts. BGE linemen were on standby and completed extensive safety, equipment and inventory checklists prior to their departure Saturday. They will follow standard utility practice in repairing and energizing its lines.
“We are all too familiar with ice storms here in central Kentucky, and know how it feels to be hit by an ice storm of this magnitude,” says Dan Brewer, President and CEO of Blue Grass Energy. “These employees demonstrate the cooperative difference as they volunteer time away from their families to assist others in need.”
During the past several years, Blue Grass Energy has provided support personnel, equipment and supplies to electric cooperatives throughout the United States in emergency situations. Most recently, BGE crews were dispatched to Jackson, Alabama, north of mobile following the devastation caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.
Blue Grass Energy Opens New District Office Facility
(Nicholasville, KY) – Blue Grass Energy (BGE) recently celebrated the grand opening of its new Harrison District Office in Cynthiana, Kentucky.
The new building in the Cynthiana-Harrison County Business Park is the culmination of years of planning, development, and construction and replaces the cooperative’s former office building that was constructed in the late 1950s.
“The old building was about 50 years old and was no longer meeting our needs,” says Dan Brewer, Blue Grass Energy President and CEO. “Our board of directors felt locating a new facility in the Business Park was a way to enhance our role in the communities we serve. It’s a sign we are making a long-term commitment to our members and the area.
Land was purchased for the new district office from the Cynthiana-Harrison County Economic Development Authority in 2003. Now, the 11-acre site houses the district’s customer service, operations, and warehouse functions. The 27,706 square foot office also includes the cooperative’s billing center.
An advantage of the move is having the office and operations personnel all under one roof. Formerly, the operations personnel were located off-site. “Having all of the employees together makes communicating easier and faster,” says District Manager Carol Higdon.
“This new addition to the community shows our commitment to stay in Harrison County and provide local service to Blue Grass Energy members in the surrounding counties,” adds Brewer. “While other utilities close their district offices, BGE will continue to be a proud neighbor in this area.”
New Blue Grass Energy Harrison District office.
Blue Grass Energy Wins Trailblazer Award
(Nicholasville, KY) – Blue Grass Energy (BGE) is the recipient of the prestigious Trailblazer Award presented by the Cynthiana-Harrison County Economic Development Authority. The award was presented to Carol Higdon, BGE district manager in Harrison County, at the annual industry appreciation luncheon in Cynthiana.
Tom Preston, manager of the local EDA, told luncheon attendees that Blue Grass Energy is to be commended for its corporate presence, leadership, commitment to community, and allegiance to Cynthiana and Harrison County.
“Blue Grass Energy is committed to its members and the areas it serves,” said Preston. “Blue Grass Energy has demonstrated its commitment to the business park and surrounding areas.”
Blue Grass Energy was the first occupant in the Cynthiana-Harrison County Business Park with its new Harrison district office, which opened earlier this year.
“While many utilities are closing district offices, we have made a commitment to keep an office in the north central part of our service area,” says BGE President and CEO Dan Brewer.
In 2005, Blue Grass Energy began construction on a 22,000 square foot office and warehouse facility in the business park. The new building replaced an outdated office and combined a main office and construction facilities under one roof.
“Blue Grass Energy is honored to be part of this community, and we are committed to growing this area,” said Higdon.
Blue Grass Energy Provides Farm Safety Demonstration
(Nicholasville KY) – Blue Grass Energy (BGE) provided a live line electric safety demonstration at the recent Agriculture Field Day at the Jeff Core farm on Goodlett Road.
The demonstration provided a visual portrayal of the hazards of contact with live electric wires. Situations included contact with trees limbs, grain elevators, water, and metal. Each year, several hundred people in the U.S. are killed or injured by electrical contact. Most recently, several people in Kentucky have died while trying to retrieve copper wire from live electric lines and substations.
The BGE demonstration to about 200 area farmers and business leaders was provided at no charge. BGE offers the safety demonstration to area schools, police and fire departments, and community organizations. The Agriculture Field Day was part of a grazing land demonstration at the Core farm.
The event was sponsored by the Mercer County Conservation District, Mercer County Extension Office, Mercer County Farm Bureau Federation, Ag Credit, and Farm Credit Services.
Blue Grass Energy Trains Linemen for Rescues
(Nicholasville KY) – Blue Grass Energy emphasized its commitment to safety in September as linemen and technicians participated in an eight-hour training program, practicing the skills necessary to conduct pole-top rescues and bucket-truck rescues.
As part of the annual qualification requirement for pole-top rescue, a life-size mannequin is used to simulate a co-worker. Training participants are required to climb a utility pole, secure themselves, and lower the “worker” safely to the ground.
Employees are also trained to rescue a worker from an elevated bucket and maneuver themselves from a disabled bucket.
“Timing is critical when helping an injured lineman,” says Rad Combs, BGE Safety Coordinator. “Fortunately, we have never had to use these procedures in our daily operations, but the potential for injury is multiplied when working with electricity. We want to be prepared.
“We take our obligation to safety very seriously,” says Combs. A safe work environment and safe working conditions are only as successful as the employees behind the program. Our employees support our safety program – for themselves and their co-workers.”
Blue Grass Energy employees attend monthly safety meetings, complete an annual on-line safety course, and are evaluated on safety knowledge and skills. Additionally, linemen have a daily safety briefing and evaluate every job for safety issues before engaging the task.
Environmental Grants Now Available
Because of its commitment to education and the environment, Blue Grass Energy is offering $3000 in grants for the 2006-2007 school year.
Twelve $250 mini grants will be awarded for projects in central Kentucky schools.
Teachers interested in applying for the funds should submit a one-page summary indicating the 1) nature of the project, 2) project goals, 3) how the funds will be used, and 4) number of students it will impact.
School must serve a significant number of Blue Grass Energy students.
Money must be used for an environmental project.
Blue Grass Energy personnel will be available to support project if needed.
Funds must be expended during the 2005-2006 school year.
Deadline for applications is March 1, 2007.
Applications will be submitted to:
Attn: Tony Warren
Manager, Community & Public Relations
Blue Grass Energy
P.O. Box 990
Nicholasville, KY 40340-0990
For more information call (859) 885-2104
OR email tonyw@bgenergy.com
BGE Supports BigBrothers/Big Sister with Local Golf Camp
(Nicholasville, Ky.) – More than 40 young people from Bourbon, Scott, and Harrison counties participated in Junior Golf Camps July 12-13 at the Cherry Blossom Golf and Country Club in Georgetown and Shady Brook Golf Course in Paris. The golf camps are sponsored by Blue Grass Energy and Republic Bank.
Local teens from these counties who may not have an opportunity to learn and participate in the game of golf are recommended for attendance by Big Brothers/Big Sisters of central Kentucky and the Cynthiana Housing Authority. Additionally, both organizations provide transportation for the participants. Each camper receives instruction on the fundamentals of the game of golf. The camp is free to participants.
All participants receive one-on-one instruction from Professional Golf Association (PGA) golfers Peyton Tierney and Ron Zavits. Additionally, each participant receives a t-shirt, golf towel, hat, two free golf clubs, and a certificate of completion. Lunch is served both days.
“This is the fifth year we have sponsored this event, and it continues to grow every year,” says Dan Brewer, President & CEO of Blue Grass Energy. “This is an extremely worthwhile project, and it continues to have a positive impact in the lives of young people in our area. Blue Grass Energy is privileged to be part of this event.”
“Republic Bank and Blue Grass Energy provide this program free of charge for area youth and we expect it to continue to grow in coming years,” says Susan Smith, Georgetown Branch Manager of Republic Bank.
Headquartered in Nicholasville, Blue Grass Energy has district offices in Cynthiana, Lawrenceburg and Richmond. Blue Grass Energy provides electric power to more than 53,000 members in central and north-central Kentucky.
Republic Bank, member FDIC, serves Kentucky with a full line of banking services.
Blue Grass Energy Opens New District Office
(Nicholasville, KY) - Blue Grass Energy has opened its new Harrison District Office in Cynthiana.
The new 27,706 square foot facility is located on eleven acres in the new Cynthiana-Harrison County Business Park off US 62 west of Cynthiana and will serve the north-central district of Blue Grass Energy.
Begun in the spring of 2005, the new facility features an 8,800 square foot main office area, warehouse, enclosed truck docks, covered equipment storage, and a storage building. The main office has customer service areas, a drive-up window for paying bills, and a night deposit for making payments after closing. The building will also serve as an alternate emergency operations center if the main office in Nicholasville becomes inoperative.
The former location in downtown Cynthiana was more than fifty years old and beyond repair. Financially, it was less expensive to build a new facility than to restore and remodel the old building. Additionally, the operations center and warehouse were located several miles from the main office. All facilities will be under one roof now.
“This new facility represents our commitment to operate a district office for our members in this area and a contribution to the business community and economy of Cynthiana and Harrison County,” says Dan Brewer, President and CEO of Blue Grass Energy.
The electric cooperative utility has a main office and four district offices that serve its members.
To visit the new office, follow US 127south/US 62 in Cynthiana to the junction of US 62 west toward Georgetown. Travel US 62 west 1.1 miles and the Cynthiana-Harrison County Business Park is on the right. From Georgetown, follow US 62 east to near Cynthiana. The business park is on the left.
Blue Grass Energy, with headquarters in Nicholasville, serves more than 53,000 consumers in twenty three central and north-central Kentucky counties.
Crunching Numbers – Energy Cost Breakdown
by Dan Brewer, President and CEO, Blue Grass Energy
We’ve all heard the news predicting higher energy costs this winter and announcing record-high trading in the energy markets. As a result, I’ve been hearing questions from family, members, employees, and neighbors, “What do the numbers mean? I just want to know how the winter is going to affect my budget for the next few months.”
The answer is, unfortunately, it’s hard to tell. And it depends on what your main energy source is.
All sources of fuel that are used for energy are traded and sold on indices that can experience major fluctuations in cost over the course of a day—sometimes in the course of an hour. If you can manage to keep up with all that, the challenge remains to make the connections and comparisons between sources of energy whose costs are calculated in barrels, tons or kilowatt-hours. How do they match up? And, what does all this mean for the average consumer in dollars and cents?
Coal and natural gas are two main sources for Kentucky’s electricity generation. In fact, coal is the number one source, which is why we have some of the lowest rates in the nation.
Think of power generation as being similar to a heating system generating energy for your home. You have a few basic sources of energy—electricity generated from coal and fossil fuels like oil, propane and natural gas. So first, let’s look only at the basics: an electric furnace versus a gas furnace.
To heat an 1,800 sq. ft. home with electric resistance heat—the oldest and least efficient electric heating technology—it would cost about $1,160. Heating the same home with natural gas would cost $1,705. Already, you’re a winner using electricity generated from coal in that electric furnace. Now factor in the efficiency of different types of heating systems—since modern generation equipment makes better use of the energy it burns.
By going to a high efficiency furnace, your costs would be reduced to $1,190 for natural gas. Obviously, a significant savings. Propane is another heating fuel commonly used in rural areas. A high efficiency propane furnace would cost about $1,281. But by using a high-efficiency heat pump, your electric costs would be reduced to $464 for an air-source system and $290 for geothermal. Clearly, the costs of energy consumption are significantly less with the coal/electricity systems.
Even if you don’t currently have an electric heating system, you still rely on electricity for other needs. Thankfully, Blue Grass Energy’s generation source, East Kentucky Power Cooperative, uses Kentucky coal to generate most of our electricity. That means that Blue Grass members have access to affordable power. And since the latest technology is used at every turn, the coal can be burned cleaner than ever.
There are occasions when East Kentucky will burn natural gas in peaking units to meet the temporary demand. This only happens when demand exceeds the capacity. During those rare instances, the cost of purchasing the more expensive fuel to heat and light our homes is shared across the membership in the form of the fuel adjustment clause.
No one likes the idea of paying more for bills, but members of Blue Grass Energy and the residents of the Commonwealth are in a good position to stay warm this winter, plus, members of Blue Grass Energy can register for budget billing that helps spread the costs of winter around the entire year, making bill paying that much easier!
Dan Brewer is President and CEO of Blue Grass Energy, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative, which serves more than 53,000 customers in 23 Central and North Central Kentucky counties.
Value: It’s in There
(Nicholasville, KY) – ‘Tis the season for post-holiday sales. The mailers and advertising sections scream out: “Value!” “Sale!”
Consumers head to stores—large and small. This winter has made everyone aware that the belts may have to tighten and people are searching for the best deal wherever they can get it.
Dan Brewer, President and CEO of Blue Grass Energy, believes that consumers may find the best deal at home – and he’s not talking about Internet shopping.
It’s delivered directly to you in the comfort of your home; it helps you cook, clean, and bond with family. It keeps your food cold and your home warm – and these are only a few things it does.
Inquiring consumers want to know, “How can I get it?”
“You’ve got it,” says Brewer. “Electricity is one of the most valuable assets we have – and I mean value in the true sense of the word. For your money, what you get as a member of Blue Grass Energy is one of the best deals around.”
According to the United States Department of Energy, Kentucky’s average residential electricity rate is 5.81 cents per kilowatt hour. To fully understand the impact of that statistic, consumers should remember that a kilowatt is 1,000 watts. This means that a common household appliance such as a lamp with a 50 watt light bulb would have to run for nearly an entire day (20 hours) before it cost the consumer 5.81 cents.
“When we flip the switch, it’s there, so it’s easy to take for granted. But when you think about it, it’s truly amazing how little it costs to run an entire household – computers, appliances, heating, cooling, lighting,” says Brewer. “That’s especially true when compared to other states. Our rates would have to double or triple before they reach the level of some other states like Wisconsin’s or Michigan’s rates.”
As budgets tighten for the year, it’s comforting to know that certain expenditures are a value—just as they have been for more than 50 years.
Blue Grass Energy is a Touchstone Energy Cooperative, which serves more than 53,000 customers in 23 Central and North Central Kentucky counties.
Blue Grass Energy Alerts Customers of High Energy Costs
Cold December Nights Fuel Unusually High Usage
Early in January Blue Grass Energy saw the price of an especially cold December and rising energy costs when the cooperative received its first bill of the year from power generator East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC).
"Blue Grass Energy’s bill for the electricity we distributed to customers in December was $7.2 million. That’s 16.7% higher than the largest bill we had ever received," Dan Brewer, Blue Grass Energy CEO, said.
Brewer added that the co-op is sharing this information with members so they can be prepared for higher than normal bills that will be sent out in January.
The main reason for the increase, according to Brewer, was the number of exceptionally cold temperatures in December. Based on Blue Grass Energy’s calculations, December was the coldest month recorded since January 2004.
Residential Services Coordinator, Roy Honican, said there were some extremely cold nights in December.
"There were several times during December that we recorded temperatures dipping down into the teens, which greatly increases the overall amount of electricity needed to heat homes,” Honican said. “The average high temperature for the month was 44-degrees and the average low was 27, which translates into a cold month."
Honican added that December was 28 percent colder than November and 9 percent colder than the previous December.
Members should be preparing themselves for these winter months and know that Blue Grass Energy has several programs to help members save electricity and keep their bills as low as possible. Blue Grass Energy's energy advisors are available in each office in the service area to assist members with free energy advice for existing homes or new construction.
Customers who have ques tions about their monthly bill, programs or services, or need advice on energy saving are invited to call or visit their local Blue Grass Energy office.
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