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News and Press Releases
Media contact:
Cathryn W. Gibson
Vice President, Member Services and Economic Development
859-885-2107
cathryng@bgenergy.com
BGEnergy partners with CURRENT Group and Beckwith Electric to reduce system load - Feb. 11, 2010
BGEnergy linemen aid West Virginia co-op in power restoration - Feb. 8, 2010
BGEnergy scores 96% on safety accreditation - Jan. 21, 2010
BGEnergy offers Washington trip for high school juniors, scholarships for seniors - Jan. 15, 2010
BGEnergy crews are ready to respond to power outages during snow storm - Jan. 7, 2010
12 Days of Giving provides hundreds of pounds of food, 200 toys for local families - Dec. 29, 2009
NEVER touch a downed power line and other storm safety tips - Dec. 8, 2009
BGEnergy hosts food, toy drive Dec. 1-Dec. 16 - Nov. 17, 2009
Lineman's rodeo team places second at international event - Oct. 19, 2009
October is Member Appreciation Month - Sept. 22, 2009
Planned outage for Sept. 2 affects about 30 Franklin Co. members - Sept. 1, 2009
BGEnergy teams with WKYT-27 on powerful new weather radar - Aug. 31, 2009
Members should ask to see photo IDs of BGEnergy workers - Aug. 20, 2009
BGEnergy no longer offers ETS program - Aug. 12, 2009
Jessamine County trailer fire leaves 150 without power - July 30, 2009
EPA recognizes BGEnergy with national Energy Star award - July 27, 2009
Herbicide spraying begins today - July 27, 2009
Members learn affects of climate change legislation at Annual Meeting - June 12, 2009
Food, prizes, entertainment, business of your co-op - at Annual Meeting June 11 - June 4, 2009
Go green with BGEnergy and the Lexington Legends on May 29 - May 22, 2009
BGEnergy helps low-income members improve energy efficiency - April 14, 2009
BGEnergy announces sponsorship, partnership with Lexington Legends - April 7, 2009
PSC approves pass-through to BGEnergy members for EKPC rate increase - April 1, 2009
BGEnergy offers scholarships for high school seniors - March 20, 2009
BGEnergy participates in national study on PHEVs - March 19, 2009
BGEnergy does not estimate bills - Feb. 23, 2009
BGEnergy workers return from aid trips - Feb. 18, 2009
Eleventh-graders can win trip to Washington, D.C. - Feb. 13, 2009
About 3,700 lose power during high winds - Feb. 12, 2009
POWER RESTORATION UPDATE, 6 p.m.: Restoration is complete - Feb. 6, 2009
Crews work through ice, snow to restore power to 29,000 - Jan. 28, 2009
BGEnergy activates emergency response plan for expected ice storm - Jan. 27, 2009
Members are using energy wisely with SimpleSaver - Jan. 19, 2009
BGEnergy to co-sponsor Bill's Weather 101 - Jan. 14, 2009
Touchstone Energy All "A" Classic basketball begins Jan. 30 at EKU - Jan. 12, 2009
PSC approves EKPC's request for regulatory asset, orders management audit - Dec. 29, 2008
BGEnergy helps members take control of their energy usage - Dec. 16, 2008
Blue Grass Energy is prepared for winter weather outages - Dec. 15, 200
BGEnergy appoints Energy Solutions Manager - Dec. 4, 2008
EKPC requests rate increase - Nov. 3, 2008
BGEnergy donates pine seedlings to area schools - Oct. 24, 2008
BGEnergy helps local schools teach energy efficiency - Oct. 17, 2008
BGEnergy promotes environmental stewardship - Sept. 29, 2008
BGEnergy crew heads to Louisville to aid power restoration - Sept. 22, 2008
BGEnergy crews head to Louisiana for post-hurricane power restoration - Sept. 3, 2008
PSC approves BGEnergy rate increase - Aug. 29, 2008
Lineman's rodeo teams prep for international event - Aug. 26, 2008
PSC expected to approve BGEnergy rate increase - Aug. 14, 2008
PSC set to hear BGEnergy's rate increase request - Aug. 4, 2008
Energy efficiency tips equal Simple Savings for members - July 25, 2008
Employee becomes certified energy rater - June 15, 2008
11 area high school graduates win BGEnergy scholarships - June 13, 2008
Members learn at Annual Meeting how they can affect energy prices - June 13, 2008
Nicholasville manager named Jessamine Businessman of the Year - May 1, 2008
BGEnergy officially files for rate increase - April 11, 2008
Board of directors approves proposed rate adjustments - March 31, 2008
Crews restore power after storms - Feb. 8, 2008
BGEnergy invests in area high school students - Jan. 11, 2008
Schools were closed, but BGEnergy was on - Jan. 3, 2008
BGEnergy employee selected for HBAL board of directors - Dec. 28, 2007
Linemen saves family by extinguishing burning home - Dec. 20, 2007
BGEnergy donates to Big Brothers Big Sisters - Dec. 17, 2007
Energy advisor's 'burnt' gourd wins art competition - Dec. 11, 2007
BGEnergy announces managerial appointments - Dec. 1, 2007
Co-op Power Plus credit card program ends Dec. 31 - Nov. 21, 2007
2,421 CFLs given away during Fluorescent Fridays event - Nov. 2, 2007
Get a free CFL on Fluorescent Fridays - Oct. 1, 2007
Co-op Connections Card gets new national deals - Sept. 4, 2007
BGEnergy helps to raise $4,000 for charity at Touchstone Energy motorcycle run - Aug. 26, 2007
3 BGEnergy members win state scholarships - Aug. 22, 2007
Co-op Connections Card saves at Barnes & Noble.com through Aug. 31 - Aug. 17, 2007
BGEnergy helps home builders become energy efficient - Aug. 9, 2007
BGEnergy invites the public to participate in Touchstone Energy benefit motorcycle run - Aug. 7, 2007
Employee volunteers open hearts - and toolboxes - for worthy charities - Aug. 3, 2007
BGEnergy continues to win big at linemen's rodeos - July 27, 2007
Nicholasville office Relay for Life team raises $1,018 - June 24, 2007
Blue Grass Energy Annual Meeting sees near-record numbers - June 15, 2007
Lexington student selected for national leadership council - June 15, 2007
Students return from Washington Youth Tour - June 15, 2007
Blue Grass Energy awards $10,000 in scholarships - June 14, 2007
BGEnergy linemen take top spots at rodeo - June 10, 2007
Students get ready for Washington Youth Tour - June 1, 2007
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
BGEnergy partners with CURRENT Group and Beckwith Electric to reduce system load
Blue Grass Energy announced today that we have selected smart grid technology partners CURRENT and Beckwith Electric to engage in a pilot project that will enable Blue Grass Energy to reduce technical losses and reduce system load by 3 percent to 5 percent.
CURRENT and Beckwith are leading technology providers that will help BGEnergy unlock the full operational and economic power of a smart electric grid.
Blue Grass Energy is a member of the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC), which is also sponsoring the project by providing funding and technical resources.
CURRENT will provide its intelligent grid sensors and its OpenGrid software platform.
The CURRENT applications will use Beckwith Electric's industry-leading regulator controls and capacitor bank controls to enable command and control of distribution system devices.
"Blue Grass Energy is looking forward to working with CURRENT Group, Beckwith Electric, and NRTC as we develop our Smart Grid infrastructure," said Dan Brewer, BGEnergy president and CEO.
"They are leading providers in their respective domains and have come together to deliver Blue Grass Energy an integrated solution that meets our business requirements for affordability, easy deployment, fast payback and demonstrable results surrounding the true benefits for distribution smart grid investments."
NRTC will monitor the project and share results with member co-ops throughout the country.
"Grid efficiency through reduced losses and voltage regulation can create significant value for our member electric cooperatives and their consumer members," said NRTC President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Phillips.
BGEnergy linemen aid West Virginia co-op in power restoration
Two Blue Grass Energy linemen are in West Virginia to aid an electric co-op with power restoration after the state was hit with another round of heavy snow.
Brad Wiglesworth and Larry Lovelace, employees at BGEnergy's Cynthiana office, went to Clarksburg, W.Va., on Sunday to help Harrison Rural Electrification Association. They are expected to return by Wednesday.
Loyalty and helping friends in need are two ideals that cooperatives are built upon, which means that the Blue Grass Energy linemen readily volunteered for the trip south.
"If somebody's in trouble, they're ready to go," said Rad Combs, BGEnergy's safety coordinator. "Their first loyalty is to help get the lights back on, no matter how far away."
Wiglesworth and Lovelace join crews from Fleming-Mason Energy in Flemingsburg, Ky., at Harrison REA.
BGEnergy scores 96% on safety accreditation
Blue Grass Energy scored among the top electric cooperatives in the country in its 2009 safety accreditation through the Rural Electric Safety Accreditation Program, with an overall score of 96 percent out of 100 percent.
Scores are based on a site inspection, documentation of safety practices and the accreditation application, which asks a range of questions about safety practices. Co-ops are accredited every three years.
BGEnergy's scores have improved
steadily over the past decade. In 2003, the co-op scored 94 percent, and in 2006 scored 95 percent.
"I'm extremely proud of Blue Grass Energy's employees," said Rad Combs, safety coordinator.
"This is proof of their dedication and commitment to safe practices and having a safe place to work every day."
The goal of the Safety Accreditation Program, coordinated by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, is to preserve life and to prevent injuries; to establish electric utility safety and loss control standards; and to recognize co-ops and their employees who work every day to maintain a safe work environment.
BGEnergy offers Washington trip for high school juniors, scholarships for seniors
High school juniors served by Blue Grass Energy can win an all-expenses-paid, weeklong trip to Washington, D.C., where they will see the historic sites, meet with their congressional representatives, and make friends with students from across the state and the nation.
The Kentucky Association of Electric Co-ops' (KAEC) Washington Youth Tour is June 11-18. Deadline to apply to Blue Grass Energy is Monday, March 1.
The KAEC youth tour has resulted in lifelong friendships, college roommates, even marriages. The positive effect of this program on Kentucky's youth cannot be underestimated, said Magen Howard, BGEnergy's WYT coordinator.
"The Washington Youth Tour was one of the best things that has happened to me," said Brittany Cox, a 2009 alumna who is now a senior at Anderson County High School in Lawrenceburg.
"I had the opportunity to meet so many amazing people and to experience so many new and exciting things."
Charlie Crowe, a 2008 WYT alumnus from Western Hills High School in Franklin County, says the peer connections were the best thing about the youth tour.
"For the one week that I was there, I saw more, experienced more, and learned more than I had ever expected," Crowe said. "I visited Jefferson's home. I saw the Magna Carta. I marveled at the architecture of the city's monuments.
'But, most importantly, I made friends."
Blue Grass Energy's students also spend a day in Frankfort, where they tour the capitol building, the veterans' memorial and the history museum.
To get a better idea of what goes on during the Washington Youth Tour, students can visit http://youthtour.coop to check out pictures and videos of past trips.
Blue Grass Energy encourages any high school junior who lives with a parent or guardian served by Blue Grass Energy to apply for the Washington Youth Tour.
The trip is at no cost to the student - it is co-sponsored by the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives and Blue Grass Energy. Find applications at www.bgenergy.com, or ask your guidance counselor. Deadline is Monday, March 1.
Scholarships
Blue Grass Energy also offers 10 scholarships for graduating high school seniors. Candidates must live with a parent or guardian who is a member of Blue Grass Energy, and applications are judged based on financial need, academic achievement and extracurricular activities.
Scholarship applications are also at www.bgenergy.com or in your guidance counselor's office. Deadline is Thursday, April 1. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
BGEnergy crews are ready to respond to power outages during snow storm
Blue Grass Energy has activated its emergency response plan after a winter storm warning was issued by the National Weather Service, effective through Thursday evening, for all of Blue Grass Energy's service area.
"Our crews are ready to respond should heavy snow lead to outages," said Cathryn Gibson, vice president of member services. "We encourage everyone to be safe and stay indoors, and members should call our outage number at 888-655-4243 in the event of a power outage or a fallen power line."
Blue Grass Energy works hard to eliminate potential causes of outages by right-of-way clearing and other maintenance, but heavy snow buildup on trees can lead to outages. Blue Grass Energy members should call 888-655-4243 to report an outage, using the phone number that is on their account. That way, the automated system recognizes the account, and the outage is reported quickly and efficiently.
Blue Grass Energy also reminds its members to never touch a downed power line - call 888-655-4243 to report it, and BGEnergy personnel will repair it.
12 Days of Giving provides hundreds of pounds of food, 200 toys for local families
Blue Grass Energy's first year of the 12 Days of Giving food and toy drive provided about 200 toys and several hundred pounds of food for local families.
The 12 Days of Giving ran the first 12 business days in December, with the four BGEnergy offices -- Nicholasville, Cynthiana, Lawrenceburg and Richmond -- serving as drop-off points.
The public was invited to donate non-perishable food items for local food banks affiliated with God's Pantry in Lexington and new toys to benefit the U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots program.
"We're so pleased with the response from our communities -- the generosity was truly inspiring," said Cathryn Gibson, vice president of member services and economic development.
"Our employees stepped up and made this new venture a real success, and we thank LM Communications for their support in partnering with us."
BGEnergy plans to make the 12 Days of Giving an annual event.
"Blue Grass Energy strives to be a real team player in the communities we serve," Gibson said. "We're here to provide reliable electric service, but we're also here to help our neighbors in need.
"It's the cooperative spirit - and the holiday spirit."
NEVER touch a downed power line and other storm safety tips
The weather today is cold, wet and windy, and downed power lines are a possibility. Remember the following tips to stay safe and warm should you find yourself in the dark after a severe weather event:
- Never touch a fallen power line, and assume all wires on the ground are electrically charged. Call Blue Grass Energy at 888-546-4243 to report it immediately. Avoid contact with overhead lines during cleanup and other activities.
- In the event of an outage, an alternate heating source -- such as a fireplace, propane space heater, or wood stove -- may be used. Extreme caution should be taken.
- Plan to stay in an area of the home where the alternate heat source is located.
- Fuel- and wood-buring heating sources should be vented. Be sure to follow manufacturer's directions.
- Make sure carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors are working properly.
- Do not use a gas-powered oven for heating. A gas oven may go out or burn inefficiently, leading to carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Do not use a gas or charcoal grill inside the home. Do not use charcoal briquettes in the fireplace.
- If you use a portable generator to power a heating source, be sure the generator is located outside your house for proper ventilation. Do not use a generator in an attached garage. Follow manufacturer's directions for operating the generator.
- Take special care not to overload a generator. Use appropriately sized extension cords to carry the electric load. Make sure the cords have a grounded, three-pronged plug and are in good condition.
- Never run cords under rugs or carpets.
- Never connect generators to power lines. The reverse flow of electricity can electrocute an unsuspecting utility worker.
Sources: Consumer Product Safety Commission; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Ag Safety Database)
BGEnergy hosts food, toy drive Dec. 1-Dec. 16
Join Blue Grass Energy this holiday season in the 12 Days of Giving, a new food and toy drive that benefits families in need in your community.
From Dec. 1 through Dec. 16 -- the first 12 business days of the month -- members of the public are invited to bring new toys and non-perishable food items to any BGEnergy office from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:
- 327 Sea Biscuit Way, Cynthiana
- 1200 Versailles Road, Lawrenceburg
- 1201 Lexington Road, Nicholasville
- 1099 Berea Road, Richmond
From there, items will go to food banks throughout our service area that are affiliated with Lexington-based God's Pantry Food Bank, and toys will go to Toys for Tots.
Help families in your community have a brighter holiday season with the 12 Days of Giving.
Lineman's rodeo team places second at international event
Congratulations to the journeyman team of Eugene Neeley, Miles Shumaker and Brad Wiglesworth, who placed second in the mystery event at the International Lineman's Rodeo in Kansas City, Kan., on Oct. 17.
The team, along with fellow participants Shawn Sowder, Thomas Walton, Jamie Conn, Dathan Lane and Chris Johnson, competed against more than 500 linemen from seven countries.
A lineman's rodeo is one venue that reinforces the importance of safety in the workplace -- especially at an electric utility, where the difference between a safe and unsafe practice could be a life or death matter.
Teams of journeymen and individual apprentices compete in "hurt-man" rescues, when they climb poles to safely bring down an "injured" dummy, and events that test everyday skills and tasks.
Speed is crucial, but safety always comes first -- points are deducted for unsafe procedures.
October is Member Appreciation Month
Blue Grass Energy has declared October as its Member Appreciation Month, in conjunction with National Co-op Month.
Every Friday in October is a "Fluorescent Friday." Members who visit the BGEnergy offices in Nicholasville, Cynthiana, Lawrenceburg or Richmond to pay their bills will receive a free compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL).
While at the office, members who update their contact information will be entered to win a $100 Visa card.
Up-to-date contact info helps Blue Grass Energy serve its members better and faster, especially during widespread outages.
BGEnergy is a not-for-profit cooperative, which means that anyone served by the co-op owns a share. Membership provides additional benefits, such as savings with the Co-op Connections Card and free energy audits, scholarships for graduates and a free trip to Washington, D.C., for high school juniors.
Members also have democratic participation in the business of their cooperative, and when BGEnergy has profits above operating costs, that money is returned to members in the form of capital credits.
So stop by your local Blue Grass Energy office in October to celebrate your cooperative -- and your ownership.
Planned outage for Sept. 2 affects about 30 Franklin Co. members
About 30 Franklin County members will experience a brief interruption in service tomorrow, Sept. 2, for maintenance work on a service line.
The outage should begin about 1:30 p.m. and will last about an hour. The affected areas include parts of Evergreen Road, Easy Street and Schofield Lane.
These members will be notified by phone today of the outage.
Please call BGEnergy at 888-546-4243 if you have questions about this planned outage.
BGEnergy teams with WKYT-27 on powerful new weather radar
Blue Grass Energy is among a group of Kentucky cooperatives that are partnering with WKYT-TV, Channel 27 in Lexington, to bring one of the most advanced weather-forecasting tools in the world to our area, while also promoting energy efficiency.
In September, WKYT will begin airing data from its new one-million-watt First Alert Defender Doppler radar. The radar features powerful, state-of-the-art technology to help meteorologists track developing weather, as well as distinguish between different types of precipitation, such as rain, sleet and snow.
"From extreme temperatures to ice and wind storms, the weather profoundly affects our electric cooperative and the service we provide," said Cathryn Gibson, vice president of member services and economic development. "This partnership between Blue Grass Energy and WKYT-TV will benefit our cooperative and all our members."
Through the partnership, BGEnergy will have access to real-time weather data from WKYT's First Alert Defender radar. With that data, the cooperative will be better able to track developing storms, and pinpoint and respond to outages caused by severe weather.
This sponsorship also provides an opportunity for BGEnergy to promote energy efficiency.
"A lot of home- and business-owners can make a big difference in their power usage and monthly bill by taking a few easy steps to improve energy efficiency," Gibson said. "Through our partnership with WKYT, we are working to improve awareness of the value of efficiency, and to educate the public about ways they can improve efficiency."
WKYT's web site, wkyt.com, receives nearly 7 million page views per month. The site features energy information tips, streaming how-to videos of easy projects, and links to www.simplesavings.coop.
Members should ask to see photo IDs of BGEnergy workers
As police in Lexington and Sadieville search for suspects who are posing as utility workers, Blue Grass Energy reminds its members that they should ask to see BGEnergy photo IDs of workers, and to call the co-op at 888-546-4243 if they are concerned.
"Safety is our number one priority, and we urge our members to use precautions if they are worried about a worker on their property," said Cathryn Gibson, vice president of member services and economic development.
"We want our members to ask for photo IDs, and we want them to call us if they have doubts about someone at their home. We can tell them right away if we do have someone working there."
All BGEnergy workers in the field carry photo ID cards bearing the toll-free number 888-546-4243. Contractors for Blue Grass Energy also carry ID cards.
Field workers such as line technicians and right-of-way tree trimming crews have no reason to enter a member's home. When possible, they notify the homeowner before working on the grounds.
BGEnergy no longer offers ETS program
Blue Grass Energy has discontinued its Off-Peak Retail Marketing Rate (ETS) and ETS maintenance program. If you paid ETS maintenance fees, those have been eliminated effective Aug. 1. This will be reflected in your August bill.
Blue Grass Energy's ETS rate and maintenance program are no longer available and supported by East Kentucky Power Cooperative, our wholesale power provider.
With the elimination of the ETS program, BGEnergy must convert your ETS account to our standard residential rate or to our time-of-use rate.
A Blue Grass Energy representative will visit your home in the next few months to make the necessary changes to your ETS meter.
As an alternative to our standard residential rate, you may be interested in our Residential & Farm Time-of-Day Rate (TOD), designed to help you lower your energy bill by shifting your energy usage to off-peak hours. The TOD rate is based on your energy usage during off-peak hours.
If you sign up for the TOD rate and then decide it's not right for you, you can switch back to the standard residential and farm rate after a minimum of one year. You will need to contact Blue Grass Energy to make the change.
An energy advisor from Blue Grass Energy will contact you by the end of September to discuss these changes and answer your questions.
Jessamine County trailer fire leaves 150 without power
Power has been restored to 150 members after a trailer fire on Union Mill Road in Jessamine County knocked out power beginning about 7:30 a.m. today.
The state fire marshal gave Blue Grass Energy the go-ahead to begin repair work on a three-phase that was damaged in the fire line shortly after 3 p.m.
EPA recognizes BGEnergy with national Energy Star award
Blue Grass Energy announced today that it has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with a 2009 ENERGY STAR Leadership in Housing Award.
This award recognizes Blue Grass Energy's efforts to promote energy-efficient construction and environmental protection by sponsoring an ENERGY STAR for New Homes program in its service area last year.
Blue Grass Energy first began using Energy Star guidelines for its Touchstone Energy Home program in 2005. BGEnergy members get a free home energy rating (HERS), valued at $500.
Since then, Residential Services Coordinator Roy Honican has worked to develop relationships with local builders and experts on the national level.
BGEnergy brought Sam Rashkin, the national director of ENERGY STAR for Homes, to Lexington in 2008 to educate builders and realtors on the Energy Star program and again this year to talk about the 2011 Energy Star standards.
"Blue Grass Energy is proud to be a front runner in promoting energy-efficient construction of new homes and teaching members to use energy wisely in their existing homes," said President & CEO Dan Brewer.
"We're honored to receive this award, and we'll continue to bring our members and our communities the energy solutions they need."
To earn the Energy Star rating, a home must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the EPA. These homes are at least 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built to local code and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20 percent to 30 percent more efficient than standard homes.
Energy Star qualified homes offer homebuyers energy-saving features like effective insulation systems, high performance windows, tight construction and ducts, properly sized and installed efficient heating and cooling equipment, efficient products, and third-party verification.
For information on building a Touchstone Energy Home with Energy Star standards or general energy-efficiency tips, visit www.bgenergy.com/savingcenter.aspx.
Herbicide spraying begins today
Progressive Solutions, a contractor for Blue Grass Energy, will begin herbicide spraying today.
Over the next several weeks, Progressive Solutions will spray in all four of BGEnergy's districts.
BGenergy uses an integrated appraoch that targets specific species growing in right-of-way zones.
Members learn affects of climate change legislation at Annual Meeting
Despite strong storms and driving rain early in the morning, Blue Grass Energy members enjoyed sunshine over Keeneland at the co-op's annual membership meeting Thursday, June 11.
Members gathered for food, entertainment by jugglers The Dazzling Mills Family and singer Brad Burchett, safety demonstrations and informational exhibits before the business meeting.
BGEnergy's board of directors gave the co-op's financial reports for the previous year and announced the re-election of two board members: Zeb Blankenship, Nicholasville, District 1, and vice-chairman Gary Keller, Harrodsburg, District 4.
President & CEO Dan Brewer briefed members on the effects that climate change legislation will have on electric co-op members and electric utilities in general.
"True leadership on climate change will require balancing competing goals. It requires a level playing field, with the end result fair to all," Brewer said. "I believe that keeping electricity affordable and reliable should be just as much in the public interest as mitigating climate change."
Brewer asked members to let their legislators know that they are concerned about the future of affordable, reliable electricity by visiting www.ourenergy.coop. The Web site automatically sends a letter to members two senators and their representative in Congress.
Board chairman Jody Hughes thanked members for their patience, understanding and kind words during the ice storm that swept through western and central Kentucky in January.
"Many of you experienced outages, and we realize that it was a difficult time for you," Hughes said. "Our highest number of outages was just under 30,000. That's more than half our system. On behalf of our employees, I want to thank you for your support and patience during those long cold days."
After the business meeting, names were drawn for prizes, including a a John Deere riding lawnmower, sponsored by Bevins Motor Company, and a Frigidaire washer and dryer set, sponsored by Hogg Enterprises.
Other prizes included gasoline and retail store gift cards, chain saws sponsored by BGEnergy's right-of-way clearance contractors, and bicycles and a laptop computer for kids 17 and under.
Food, prizes, entertainment, business of your co-op - at Annual Meeting June 11
Blue Grass Energy invites all member-owners to its annual membership meeting Thursday, June 11, at the Keeneland Entertainment Center in Lexington.
Anyone served by Blue Grass Energy is welcome at the meeting, where they can participate in the business meeting, enjoy a free meal, and visit exhibits with information on how to save energy and money.
The children also have a special fair with activities and games.
Grand prizes are a John Deere riding lawnmower, sponsored by Bevins Motor Company, and a Frigidaire washer and dryer set, sponsored by Hogg Enterprises. Door prizes include gasoline and retail store gift cards.
Children's grand prizes are a laptop computer for ages 10 to 17, and one boy and one girl age 9 or younger will win a bicycle.
Registration begins at 4:30 p.m., and the welcome and invocation is at 6:30, followed by the business meeting.
During the business meeting, members will hear reports from cooperative officials and vote for two spots on the board of directors. Ten scholarship recipients also will be honored during the business meeting.
The entrance to the Keeneland Entertainment Center is directly across from Man o War Boulevard, at 4201 Versailles Road, Lexington.
Go Green with BGEnergy and the Lexington Legends on May 29
Lexington Legends fans will get free compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and can learn how to better manage their energy usage on Blue Grass Energy Night at Applebee's Park on May 29.
On Blue Grass Energy Night, co-op employees will give away CFLs and toys for kids at the gate while quantities last, and BGEnergy's plug-in hybrid electric Toyota Prius will be on display. Kids can also meet CFL Charlie, Touchstone Energy's energy-efficiency mascot, and Oscar the Robot, who loves to chat with people.
Energy-efficiency tips will be given over the loudspeaker throughout the game. Blue Grass Energy is the Lexington Legends' energy partner and is advising the organization -- and its fans -- on how to become more energy efficient.
"The Lexington Legends draw an audience that includes a great deal of our membership, and this is an excellent way to reach them and the community at large with vital information about smart energy usage," said Dan Brewer, Blue Grass Energy's president and CEO. "By partnering with the Legends, we can work together to educate their fans -- our members -- to help them use energy more efficiently and lower their energy bills."
Blue Grass Energy recently conducted an energy audit on Applebee's Park to identify ways to save money and reduce the ballpark's carbon footprint. Based on the results, BGEnergy will give the Legends organization a list of specific actions it can take to better manage its energy usage.
The Legends play the Augusta (Georgia) GreenJackets on Blue Grass Energy Night. Game time is 7:05 p.m.
BGEnergy helps low-income members improve energy efficiency
Blue Grass Energy is part of an innovative pilot project to dramatically improve the energy efficiency of low-income members' homes in an effort to lower their power bills while reducing the overall demand for power.
"These are low-cost weatherization projects that can dramatically lower power consumption," said Cathryn Gibson, vice president of member services and economic development. "We'll use this pilot to study the cost-effectiveness of investing in reduced energy consumption compared to adding expensive new generating units. Plus, this project will help some of our members who need it the most."
Blue Grass Energy will work with local community action groups to identify low-income members whose homes use large amounts of energy because of inefficiency.
BGEnergy's professional energy advisors will conduct tests to identify opportunities to improve efficiency. Based on the test results, the homes' insulation and ductwork may be improved, reducing leaks and increasing energy efficiency.
Dr. Robert Fehr, a researcher from the University of Kentucky, will study the affect on each home's energy usage to analyze the cost-effectiveness of the improvements.
BGEnergy is participating in the pilot project along with four more not-for-profit distribution cooperatives that are part of Kentucky's Touchstone Energy Cooperatives. Together, the co-ops have made improvements to 21 homes so far and plan to complete improvements to 30 homes by Earth Day, April 22, 2009, as part of the pilot project.
Blue Grass Energy is working in partnership with Gov. Steve Beshear's Clean Energy Corps, a broad-based coalition of public and private sector partners that recently launched an ambitious statewide program of energy efficiency improvement for modest-income Kentucky homes. As part of this pilot program with EKPC, the Clean Energy Corps will pay for the replacement of resistance heat with energy efficient heat pumps or dual-fuel systems.
"We appreciate Blue Grass Energy's willingness to take meaningful steps to save these families money, protect the environment, and create good-paying, green-collar jobs," said Kentucky Finance and Administration Secretary Jonathan Miller, who is overseeing the Clean Energy Corps program. "It is the mark of true corporate responsibility."
This program is another way Blue Grass Energy is helping members deal with high energy costs. The cooperative also offers Simple Savings information bulletins to educate homeowners and business owners about inexpensive steps they can take to improve efficiency and save money.
BGEnergy announces sponsorship, partnership with Lexington Legends
At the Lexington Legends media day today, Blue Grass Energy was announced as the sponsor of the new time and temperature sign at Applebee's Park - flashing a chilly 36 degrees amid snow flurries - and the Legends' partner in energy-efficiency education through 2011.
"The Lexington Legends draw an audience that includes a great deal of our membership, and this is an excellent way to reach them and the community at large with vital information about smart energy usage," said Dan Brewer, Blue Grass Energy's president and CEO. "By partnering with the Legends, we can work together to educate their fans -- our members -- to help them use energy more efficiently and lower their energy bills."
The Lexington Legends ball club is the Single A affiliate of the Houston Astros.
One of the founding principles of the Lexington Legends - a principle shared by Blue Grass Energy - is a commitment to making Lexington and Central Kentucky a better place to live, raise a family and work, and partnering with Blue Grass Energy is another way the Legends are honoring that commitment, said Alan Stein, the Lexington Legends' president and COO.
"Throughout the season, Blue Grass Energy will teach us how we can better ourselves with energy efficiency and being environmentally friendly," Stein said. "Thank you to Blue Grass Energy for making a long-term commitment to being our energy partner."
On Blue Grass Energy night at the ballpark, May 29, co-op employees will give away CFLs, along with information on energy efficiency and simple ways to save energy and money. The co-op's plug-in hybrid electric Toyota Prius will be on display as well.
In addition to educating Legends fans, Blue Grass Energy will help the Legends assess their "green footprint," conducting energy audits and advising ways Applebee's Park and the Legends organization can use energy more wisely.
Opening day at the ballpark is Monday, April 13.
PSC approves pass-through to BGEnergy members for EKPC rate increase
The Kentucky Public Service Commission approved March 31 a request by Blue Grass Energy to pass along to its members a rate increase from its wholesale power provider East Kentucky Power Cooperative.
The rate increase is effective April 1.
The average monthly residential power bill will increase by about $6.75, which is approximately 6 percent.
The rate increase was necessary for EKPC to recover costs from a new $528 million generating unit and to ensure that the cooperative continues to meet its financial obligations.
The new power plant is needed to meet increasing demand for power among the members of Kentucky's cooperatives.
Blue Grass Energy and EKPC are both not-for-profit, member-owned cooperatives.
The rates of both cooperatives are regulated by the PSC, a government agency that oversees utilities in Kentucky.
Blue Grass Energy offers a number of programs to help our members manage their power usage and their monthly bill:
- Levelized Budget Billing - eliminates large jumps in bills from month to month, allowing for better budgeting.
- Simple Savings information bulletins - provide step-by-step instructions for easy, affordable projects that can substantially improve efficiency and lower power bills.
- Touchstone Energy Living programs ( rebates for sealing ductwork, adding insulation, replacing windows, air sealing, and/or making insulation more effective).
BGEnergy offers scholarships for high school seniors
Ten high school seniors served by Blue Grass Energy can win a $1,000 scholarship to aid them in furthering their education.
Scholarship awards are based on financial need, academic achievement and extracurricular activities. Applications must be postmarked or brought to any BGEnergy office by Wednesday, April 1. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
Graduating seniors who live with a parent or guardian served by Blue Grass Energy are eligible to apply. The scholarships are one-time grants made directly to the student's accredited college, university or trade school.
Find applications at www.bgenergy.com/forstudents.aspx or in your guidance counselor's office.
BGEnergy participates in national study on PHEVs
Blue Grass Energy's Toyota Prius, which was recently converted to a plug-in electric hybrid (PHEV), is part of a national study by the Cooperative Research Network to test PHEVs in real-world environments.
"We're excited to be part of CRN's study and a leader in exploring this technology," said Denise Myers, energy solutions manager. "PHEVs could be greatly beneficial to co-ops and their members, and CRN's research will determine how to best take advantage of them."
The BGEnergy PHEV's every move is monitored by a computer installed at the same time as the plug-in kit. It records exactly when, where and for how long the car is driven, speeds, miles-per-gallon readings, how often the engine switches from battery power to gasoline - and the list goes on. PHEVs have the ability to get more than 100 mpg, which is achievable on short trips if the car is regularly plugged in.
BGEnergy's Prius was converted in October and is already being shown at expos and other meetings.
"We're using our PHEV to educate our members and community groups about advancing technologies," Myers said. "It's a great teaching tool to show that the capability is already here - it's just a matter of working out the kinks to mass marketability."
According to CRN, the biggest technical barrier to widespread use of PHEVs is developing a long-lasting battery that is dependable and affordable. PHEV conversion kits now use hundreds of small lithium ion cells run in parallel. The cost is still very high.
But the advantage is the batteries plug into conventional 120-volt outlets and charge in about six hours at a low amperage, so PHEVs are not projected to cause additional strain on the electrical systems of individual houses and the aging distribution grid, according to CRN.
Another advantage is the national carbon emissions profile will improve with a 30 percent penetration of PHEVs, even with our current generation portfolio, according to a 2007 joint study by the Electric Power Research Institute and the Natural Resources Defense Council. Local emissions would vary.
"Participating in the PHEV study is just one more way Blue Grass Energy demonstrates its commitment to both environmental stewardship and being on the edge of new technologies," Myers said.
BGEnergy does not estimate bills
Thanks to Blue Grass Energy's automated meter reading technology, BGEnergy does not need to estimate bill readings.
AMR technology allows your meter to be read at any time of the day or night.
Having AMR also helps energy advisors identify jumps or dips in your energy usage, which can help you make your home more energy efficient.
BGEnergy workers return from aid trips
Blue Grass Energy workers who went to central western Kentucky electric co-ops to help with power restoration efforts have returned safely.
Ben Coffey, Jamie Conn, Bryant Watkins, Mike Rainey and Chris Johnson went to Kenergy, based in Henderson, and Gary Allen and Dathan Lane went to Inter-County Energy in Danville, to help restore power.
Mike Compton, Lawrenceburg's materials and facilities specialist, also went to Kenergy to help handle materials in their warehouse.
When the employees left on Feb. 8, Kenergy has about 14,000 members in 13 counties without power.The co-op's system sustained more than 2,500 broken poles.
More than 1,000 linemen and right-of-way workers from Michigan, Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Ohio and Illinois electric co-ops were already working at Kenergy to restore power when BGEnergy employees headed west.
As of yesterday, Feb. 17, fewer than 600 Kenergy members were without power.
Eleventh-graders can win trip to Washington, D.C.
High school juniors served by Blue Grass Energy can win an all-expenses-paid, weeklong trip to Washington, D.C., where they will see the sights, meet with their congressional representatives, learn about the inner workings of the national government, and make friends with students from across the state and the nation.
The Kentucky Association of Electric Co-ops' Washington Youth Tour has resulted in lifelong friendships, college roommates, even marriages. The positive effect of this program on Kentucky's youth cannot be underestimated, said Magen Howard, BGEnergy's WYT coordinator.
"I wish I could tell future Youth Tour students how amazing it's going to be, and what they're going to experience," said Logan Meek, a 2007 Blue Grass Energy Youth Tour participant from Dunbar High School in Lexington. "But I can't possibly. They just have to see for themselves."
Charlie Crowe, a 2008 BGEnergy WYT alumnus from Western Hills High School in Franklin County, echoed Meek's sentiments.
"For the one week that I was there, I saw more, experienced more, and learned more than I had ever expected," Crowe said. "I visited Jefferson's home. I saw the Magna Carta. I marveled at the architecture of the city's monuments. But, most importantly, I made friends."
The national Youth Tour is sponsored by the nation's rural electric cooperatives. Blue Grass Energy's students also spend a day in Frankfort, learning about state government and visiting state monuments.
To get a better idea of what goes on during the Youth Tour, students can visit http://youthtour.coop to check out pictures and videos of past trips.
Blue Grass Energy urges any high school junior who lives with a parent or guardian served by Blue Grass Energy to apply for the Washington Youth Tour. The trip is at no cost to the student - it is co-sponsored by the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives and Blue Grass Energy. Find applications at www.bgenergy.com/forStudents.aspx, or ask your guidance counselor. Deadline is March 2.
Blue Grass Energy also offers 10 scholarships for graduating high school seniors. Candidates must live with a parent or guardian who is a member of Blue Grass Energy, and applications are judged based on financial need, academic achievement and extracurricular activities. Scholarship applications are also at www.bgenergy.com/forstudents.aspx or in your guidance counselor's office. Deadline is April 1.
About 3,700 lose power during high winds
Outages began yesterday about 2 p.m. from high winds that only got worse as the evening went on.
At peak, about 3,700 members lost power.
All but a handful of members were restored by 2 a.m.
Trees still damaged from the Jan. 27 ice storm were vulnerable to wind speeds that reached about 60 mph. BGEnergy's system sustained 10 broken poles.
As always during a weather emergency, BGEnergy urges its members to be safe, never touching a fallen power line and using caution when traveling.
To report a fallen power line or a power outage, members should call BGEnergy's automated outage system at 888-655-4243.
POWER RESTORATION UPDATE, 6 p.m. Feb.6: Restoration is complete
Shortly before 6 p.m. today, the final outages from last week's ice storm were restored.
We appreciate our members' patience, understanding, kindess and encouragement as Blue Grass Energy employees worked nonstop to restore your power.
Crews restored about 30,000 members in 10 days. At peak, more than 300 workers were in the field, clearing right-of-way and restoring electricity.
Nearly 200,000 Kentuckians, mostly in the western part of the state, remain without power after the devestating ice storm that caused what Gov. Steve Beshear called "the worst interruption of essential services on record in Kentucky."
President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster in Kentucky, allowing state utilities and other agencies to apply for federal aid.
Damages are estimated to be nearly $70 million.
Crews work through ice, snow to restore power to 29,000
About 50 crews continue to work through ice and snow to restore power to Blue Grass Energy members, with additional crews on their way.
As of 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, nearly 29,000 Blue Grass Energy members were without power. Madison, Fayette, Jessamine, Anderson and Harrison counties are experiencing the greatest outages, with more scattered around the system.
All 23 counties in Blue Grass Energy's service territory are reporting outages.
Line crews and customer service representatives worked through the night on Tuesday and Wednesday morning, but ice accumulation and now snow are slowing the restoration process.
"We're working as quickly and as safely as possible to restore power to our members, but the weather is working against us," said Cathryn Gibson, Blue Grass Energy's vice president of member services.
"We're still assessing damage throughout our system, so we're not sure when we'll have power completely restored, but it will probably take several days. "
Early reports show about 20 poles are broken and at least 50 spans of wire must be replaced.
Safety remains a priority for Blue Grass Energy employees and members. BGEnergy members should call 888-655-4243 to report an outage or a downed power line, using the phone number that is on their account. That way, the automated system recognizes the account, and the outage is reported quickly and efficiently.
Members should never attempt to move a power line themselves - report it to the automated system, and Blue Grass Energy personnel will repair it as soon as possible.
BGEnergy activates emergency response plan for expected ice storm
Blue Grass Energy has activated its emergency response plan after freezing rain and sleet began early Tuesday morning throughout Central Kentucky.
"Our crews are ready to respond should the freezing rain and sleet lead to outages," said Cathryn Gibson, vice president of member services. "We encourage everyone to be safe, stay indoors, and members should call our outage number at 888-655-4243 in the event of a power outage or a fallen power line."
Blue Grass Energy works hard to eliminate potential causes of outages by right-of-way clearing and other maintenance, but ice build-up on trees, poles and power lines can lead to outages.
Blue Grass Energy members should call 888-655-4243 to report an outage, using the phone number that is on their account. That way, the automated system recognizes the account, and the outage is reported quickly and efficiently.
Blue Grass Energy also reminds its members to never touch a downed power line - call 888-655-4243 to report it, and BGEnergy personnel will repair it.
Freezing rain and sleet are expected to continue throughout the day on Tuesday. Check www.bgenergy.com for updates.
Members use energy wisely with SimpleSaver
Members of Blue Grass Energy are taking steps to use energy more wisely in outstanding numbers by enrolling in the SimpleSaver program.
Introduced to Madison County members with great success in November, Simple Saver is an innovative program that puts technology to work to use energy wisely.
Remote control switches are installed on water heaters and central air conditioning units. That allows BGEnergy's power supplier to cycle the units on and off during times of peak demand.
SimpleSaver saves everyone money in the long run. By managing the appliances in a small percentage of households across its system, East Kentucky Power Cooperative, BGEnergy's power supplier, can avoid purchasing power on the costly open market and delay or avoid building new generating units.
"SimpleSaver is all about helping us manage peak demand," said Cathryn Gibson, BGEnergy's vice president of member services.
"We must be able to not only generate the average amount of power needed on any given day, but also to meet consumers' power needs when demand is at its highest."
Members who sign up for the program get bill credits or a programmable thermostat, and there is no cost for the installation.
Blue Grass Energy participated in EKPC's pilot direct load control program in 2006, which was implemented in Anderson County.
BGEnergy is looking into expanding the program to members throughout its system in the coming months.
BGEnergy to sponsor Bill's Weather 101
Blue Grass Energy announced today that it will co-sponsor Bill's Weather 101, an educational program for elementary school students by WLEX chief meteorologist Bill Meck.
"Not only does this program support the enrichment of our local schoolchildren, many of whom live in our service territory, but it also is a great opportunity to warn about the dangers of downed power lines and promote electrical safety," said Cathryn Gibson, BGEnergy's vice president of member services and economic development.
Meck will travel to about 70 schools in the Central Kentucky region this school year, teaching second- through fourth-graders the basics about weather. This is the tenth year for Bill's Weather 101.
Touchstone Energy All "A" Classic basketball begins Jan. 30 at EKU
Get basketball fever early this season and head to Richmond for the Touchstone Energy All "A" Classic championships, Jan. 28 through Feb. 1 at Eastern Kentucky University's McBrayer Arena.
The All "A" Classic basketball tournament is an opportunity for students in smaller schools who may not have a chance to take center stage on the basketball court in the Sweet 16.
Other All "A" Classic competitions include academics, cheerleading, ROTC drill squads and art.
Kentucky's Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, including Blue Grass Energy, sponsor the All "A" Classic annually.
"The All 'A' Classic is an important organization because it gives students a chance to shine -- on the state level," said Cathryn Gibson, Blue Grass Energy's vice president of member services.
"We're proud to support and be a part of that, year after year."
The All "A" Classic sponsors activities in athletics, academics, citizenship and fellowship for 125 Class "A" high schools -- those with enrollments of 425 students or less.
The organization provides tens of thousands of dollars in award and scholarship money for the statewide Academic Competition and Class "A" seniors for use at a Kentucky post-secondary school of their choice.
Other Classic events to look forward in the spring include the state baseball tournament, May 1 and 2, and the state fast-pitch softball tournament, May 8 and 9.
Don't miss all the fun and action in Richmond during this year's All "A" Classic.
For information, go to www.allaclassic.org.
PSC approves EKPC's request for regulatory asset, orders management audit
The Kentucky Public Service Commission approved on Dec. 23 a regulatory asset for East Kentucky Power Cooperative, Blue Grass Energy's power supplier.
The regulatory asset will allow EKPC to reclassify $12.3 million, which the co-op was forced to use to purchase power during unexpected generation outages in 2008. Shifting the money enables EKPC to recoup the costs at a later date and meet financial requirements.
The PSC also ordered that EKPC undergo a management audit, to focus on the role of the board of directors.
EKPC welcomes the review of an independent auditor and is no stranger to procedure -- the co-op underwent a similar audit in 2007 by the National Consulting Group.
EKPC remains committed to cutting costs while increasing operating revenue. EKPC has reduced its 2008 cost structure by $30 million compared to cost projections made in 2006.
Last year, at the direction of the board and management, EKPC requested a base rate increase of $43 million. The PSC approved less than half that amount.
EKPC filed a request with the PSC again in 2008 for another base rate increase. PSC ruling for that case is pending.
Blue Grass Energy and 15 more not-for-profit distribution cooperatives in central and Eastern Kentucky are member-owners of EKPC. In total, EKPC serves more than 500,000 consumers in the region.
EKPC officials are confident that the co-op is taking the proper steps to build equity and meet the challenges ahead, and the co-op will continue to provide members with reliable, affordable power for many years to come.
BGEnergy helps members take control of their energy usage
In the midst of tough economic times, Blue Grass Energy is ready to help its members and their communities to save money and energy.
From adding weatherstripping to doors to building a new home with the highest standards of efficiency, Blue Grass Energy has the resources to help its members take control their energy usage and save money on their monthly bills.
Blue Grass Energy has a presence on Touchstone Energy's new national Residential Energy Advisory Committee, which focuses on energy-efficiency services for residential members. The committee will manage TouchstoneEnergySavers.com, the Touchstone Energy Home program and the CFL Charlie campaign, Touchstone Energy's energy-efficiency mascot for children. It also will develop new programs for residential members.
All of Blue Grass Energy's energy advisors are certified Home Energy Raters by the Residential Services Energy Network (RESNET), which means they can rate homes for Energy Star and Touchstone Energy home standards.
These qualified employees can help members decide which BGEnergy programs and services are best for them.
Some of the programs and services we offer are:
CFL giveaways/Fluorescent Fridays: Compact fluorescent bulbs use one-third the energy of incandescents, and if you switch out your most-used bulbs, they really can make a difference on your energy bill. Blue Grass Energy gives away CFL bulbs at its Annual Meeting, held every year in June, and during Fluorescent Fridays in October. This year, BGEnergy gave away 3,176 CFLs during Fluorescent Fridays to members who visited our offices to pay their bills any Friday in October. Kentucky's Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, as a whole, have given away more than 440,000 CFLs since 2003.
Home energy audit: Our energy advisors will come to your home to perform an energy audit, inspecting insulation, windows, ductwork, water heater or any other place you think might be troublesome. Then they'll offer suggestions on how you can make a few changes that will make your home more comfortable and your energy bill lower. Most of the time, these are inexpensive solutions that you can do yourself and will save you money in the long run. Audits are free to members.
Energy Efficiency Improvements (EEI): This program identifies concerns within the thermal envelope of your home and provides you with recommendations for energy efficiency improvements, including adding insulation, replacing windows, air sealing and/or making insulation more effective. An energy advisor will come to your home and make recommendations that may qualify you for rebates. Blue Grass Energy members may receive up to $200 for making these improvements (for homes heated with electric only). Members can also receive a $150 rebate for sealing ductwork.
Touchstone Energy Home: Combine the efficiency of electric heating and cooling with high insulation standards when building a new home, and you have the basis for the Touchstone Energy Home. The home, which meets Energy Star® standards, exceeds the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code by more than 15 percent. Blue Grass Energy provides home testing and computer analysis at no charge to the member -- a $500 value.
Surge Protection: Blue Grass Energy offers surge equipment that is installed at the base of your electric meter and protects your major appliances from a power surge.
Our online tools include:
Simple Savings tips: Download these how-to guides in PDF format to learn easy ways to not only save money and energy, but also to create a more comfortable, healthy place to live. Find out how to seal your attic hatch to keep the extreme temperatures of your attic from seeping into your living space, or how to seal your ductwork so your HVAC equipment runs more efficiently. Check out these tips and 11 more.
Home Energy Calculator: Conduct your own energy audit with our online calculator. Enter information about your appliances and lighting, and the calculator will factor in the weather. Play with the settings to find out how altering your habits can save you money.
CFL calculator: How much money can you save annually by switching your incandescent light bulbs to CFLs? Use our calculator to find out.
- Also look for the Energy Consumption Guide, Touchstone Energy Savings Guide and Energy Library, which offers a wealth of information on energy use in existing homes, new construction and outdoor living.
BGEnergy is also involved with innovative programs that support renewable energy and conservation, including:
EnviroWatts: This program supports electricity generated by landfill methane gas. East Kentucky Power Cooperative, BGEnergy's power supplier, operates five gas-to-power plants and has begun construction on a sixth in Maysville, Ky.
SimpleSaver direct load control: EKPC cycles air conditioning units and water heaters on and off during times of peak demand. By managing these units for a few minutes each day, EKPC can save substantial megawatts, which will help the co-op avoid purchasing power on the costly open market and, in the long run, delay building new generating units.
CRN plug-in hybrid electric vehicle research: BGEnergy is one of several electric co-ops across the country to partner with the Cooperative Research Network on a project monitoring use of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or PHEV. CRN converted BGEnergy's Toyota Prius to an electric plug-in and studies its mileage and electricity use.
"We take energy efficiency and conservation seriously," said Cathryn Gibson, vice president of member services. "If we can help our members use energy more wisely, then they can save on their power bills and we can delay or avoid building expensive new power plants.
"And that helps everybody save."
Blue Grass Energy is prepared for winter weather outages
Blue Grass Energy has activated its emergency response plan after tracking a winter storm since early this morning.
Blue Grass Energy and contract line crews are on standby as freezing rain and sleet are predicted for Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning.
"Our crews have inventoried supplies and fueled their trucks - they're ready to go as soon as our members need them," said Cathryn Gibson, BGEnergy's spokeswoman.
"Also, employees in our operations center monitor our system at all times for outages, and they're tracking the storm in real time. We're ready."
Blue Grass Energy members should call 888-655-4243, the automated outage reporting number, if their power goes out. BGEnergy also reminds its members to never touch a downed power line - call the automated reporting line, and a crew will repair it.
Check back at www.bgenergy.com for updates during extended outages.
BGEnergy appoints Energy Solutions Manager
Blue Grass Energy announced Thursday the appointment of Denise Myers as the cooperative's energy solutions manager.
Myers, as energy solutions manager, will evaluate Blue Grass Energy's current energy solutions services.
She'll also researchand develop renewable energy opportunities and energy-efficiency programs that support BGEnergy's overall strategic mission of providing reliable energy to its members.
"Energy-efficiency and renewable energy opportunities are no longer just a trend -- they are a way of life," says Cathryn Gibson, vice president of member services and key accounts.
"Denise will be a tremendous asset to Blue Grass Energy and our members as we define tactical solutions and cost-effective programs to better serve our members."
Myers earned a bachelor's degree in general communications from the University of Kentucky and, in 1994, joined Blue Grass Energy as a member services assistant. She was promoted to energy advisor in 1997 and was named manager of purchasing in 2001.
EKPC requests rate increase
East Kentucky Power Cooperative, Blue Grass Energy's wholesale power provider, filed on Oct. 31 a request with the Kentucky Public Service Commission for a base rate increase of 7.6 percent.
As a not-for-profit distribution cooperative, Blue Grass Energy must pass the increase along to its members. The co-op filed a request with the PSC on Oct. 31 for a pass-through increase.
If the request is approved, it would increase Blue Grass Energy's rates to its members by about 6 to 7 percent, or about $6 on the average monthly residential power bill.
EKPC is asking that the rate increase become effective in late spring or early summer 2009.
The increased cost of wholesale power from EKPC will raise Blue Grass Energy's costs by $7.4 million annually, and so the co-op has no choice but to file for a pass-through increase, said Cathryn Gibson, BGEnergy's vice president of member services.
"We truly regret that we have to pass this on to our members," Gibson said. "We know that times are tough right now, and folks are seeing higher prices everywhere. But unfortunately, Blue Grass Energy is facing rising costs, too.
We are doing all we can keep those costs in check while continuing to provide safe, reliable service."
EKPC is seeking a wholesale rate increase to meet financial obligations and to recover the costs of a new $528 million generating unit that is coming online in April 2009.
The new power plant is needed to meet rising demand for power among Kentucky's cooperatives.
Electricity demand is projected to rise 30 percent by 2030, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Demand for electric co-ops is expected to increase by more than twice the rate of other utilities in that time.
"Because of increased energy use around the world, energy costs in the U.S. have risen sharply and are expected to keep going up," Gibson said.
"We can't control global energy prices, but we can take steps to better manage our energy usage."
Blue Grass Energy offers options to increase energy efficiency, such as home energy audits and Simple Savings tips, which show homeowners how minor fixes can result in big savings. Learn more about these and a variety of other energy-savings tips at www.bgenergy.com/savingscenter.aspx.
BGEnergy donates pine seedlings to schools, senior center
Blue Grass Energy will distribute 100 white pine seedlings to schools located in Harrison, Jessamine, Madison and Anderson counties.
The Anderson County senior center also will receive some of the seedlings.
Trees can help conserve energy and boost the environment, said Cathryn Gibson, BGEnergy's vice president of member services.
"When they are planted close to homes and buildings, trees provide shade, which cuts down on the amount of energy needed for cooling in the summer," Gibson said. "Plus, trees capture and store carbon dioxide, which helps to reduce carbon impact."
Each seedling will be distributed in a plastic tube with planting instructions. After each seedling is planted, the tubes can be converted to bird feeders.
The seedling distribution is part of Blue Grass Energy's ongoing commitment to being a good steward of Kentucky's environment, Gibson said.
"As a locally owned and operated cooperative, we care about our environment, and this is just one more way Blue Grass Energy is making a difference," Gibson said.
Blue Grass Energy also contributes to environmental stewardship by offering its members EnviroWatts, a program that offsets power usage with electricity made by landfill methane gas.
BGEnergy and East Kentucky Power Cooperative, its power supplier, are exploring other sources of renewable energy, including wind, solar and biomass from wood flour and switchgrass.
In addition, the co-op regularly sponsors environmental presentations to schools and civic groups.
BGEnergy helps local schools teach energy efficiency
Blue Grass Energy is helping kids -- and their parents -- learn about ways they can increase efficiency, conserve energy and save on their power bills.
BGEnergy provided 25 local schools with 3 Super Energy Saver kits each to use in classroom curriculums.
The kits include activity sheets, light switch plates featuring reminders to turn off lights when not in use and take-home checklists designed to walk kids and parents through the home and identify energy-saving practices.
Cathryn Gibson, BGEnergy's vice president of member services, said she hopes students will take the checklists home and lead their parents on an energy-efficiency tour of their home, identifying opportunities to save.
"This is a quick, fun way to get kids actively involved in making their homes more energy efficient," Gibson said.
"Plus, parents will find that this information really can make a difference in their energy use and power bills."
The kits are designed for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. They feature CFL Charlie, Touchstone Energy's mascot for promoting energy efficiency among school children.
"It's fitting that CFL Charlie is the mascot for this initiative because Kentucky's Touchstone Energy Cooperatives have handed out more than 440,000 compact fluorescent bulbs to our members since 2003," Gibson said.
"This is just another example of how Blue Grass Energy is committed to helping our members use energy as wisely as possible."
Blue Grass Energy also partners with other Touchstone Energy Cooperatives to offer the Touchstone Kids Zone Web site, which is a fun way to learn about electricity, energy efficiency and electrical safety with games, videos and other fun activities. To visit Touchstone Kids Zone, go to ww.touchstoneenergykids.com.
BGEnergy promotes environmental stewardship
In the past decade, Blue Grass Energy and Kentucky's Touchstone Energy Cooperatives have established a strong record of promoting the environment and educating the public about the world around us.
"Kentucky is one of the most beautiful places on earth," said Cathryn Gibson, BGEnergy's spokeswoman. "The people at Blue Grass Energy live in Kentucky, we work here, and we play here, so we are serious about being good stewards of the environment."
Since 1999, the cooperative's biologists have presented environmental programs to more than 285,000 people across Kentucky, including more than 175,000 school children. These programs include an opportunity for the audience to see and handle native wildlife.
"BGEnergy and Kentucky's Touchstone Energy Cooperatives are teaching a generation of Kentucky kids about the environment," Gibson said.
In addition, cooperatives have distributed more than 300,000 full-color posters featuring photos and information about native species of reptiles, insects and wildflowers.
Kentucky's Touchstone Energy Cooperatives also take a hands-on approach to helping the environment.
Since 2003, Kentucky's Touchstone Energy Cooperatives have established five power plants fueled by methane gas from landfills. These plants prevent methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, from escaping into the atmosphere. At the same time, they generate enough clean, renewable electricity to power 8,000 Kentucky homes.
In recent years, cooperatives have partnered with local, state and federal officials to establish wildlife habitats on electric power line rights of way, including 160 wetland habitats and about 70 acres of native grasses.
In the spring of 2008, the cooperatives planted nearly 6,500 tree saplings at two power plants in Kentucky. Besides boosting tree populations, these trees will help to provide screening, and reduce maintenance costs.
"We're not just talking about being good stewards of the environment. We're doing it," Gibson said. "It's just another way we are providing cleaner, smarter energy that is affordable, reliable and works for our members."
BGEnergy crew heads to Louisville to aid power restoration
Blue Grass Energy sent a line crew on Thursday, Sept. 18, to help restore power to tens of thousands of Louisville residents after the gusty remnants of Hurricane Ike uprooted trees and downed power lines across the metro area on Sunday, Sept. 14.
"After sending a crew to Louisiana for restoration following Hurricane Gustav, hundreds of miles away, we're glad we're able to help our neighbors, too," said Dan Brewer, Blue Grass Energy's president and CEO. "The cooperative spirit is all about helping those in need. When they're asked, our guys are ready to go."
At the height of the storm, about 301,000 LG&E customers and 75,000 KU customers were without power. Line crews from Kentucky and nearby states began pouring into Louisville as early as Monday, Sept. 15.
E.ON U.S., the parent company of LG&E and KU, requested further assistance from Kentucky's electric co-ops later in the week. Officials estimated the total restoration could take up to two weeks.
As of Monday, Sept. 22, less than 19,000 LG&E customers remained without power.
Gary Allen of Nicholasville, Russ Drury of Lawrenceburg, Miles Shumaker of Richmond, and Brad Wiglesworth and Billy Allen of Cynthiana are prepared to spend two weeks aiding LG&E, if necessary.
Blue Grass Energy is one of 10 electric co-ops in Kentucky to send crews to Louisville, an effort coordinated by the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives that will add 77 more linemen to the hundreds that are working as quickly and safely as possible to restore the city's power.
BGEnergy crews head to Louisiana for post-hurricane power restoration
Blue Grass Energy has dispatched five of its linemen and four contracted crews to Louisiana to aid electric cooperatives there with restoring power in the wake of Hurricane Gustav.
Early this morning, the BGEnergy crew left for Greenwell Springs, La., to help Dixie Electric Membership Corporation restore its system.
Of the co-op's 95,000 members, 94,000 were without power as of Tuesday evening, according to DEMCO's Web site.
Two of BGEnergy's contracted crews left Sunday, and two more left this morning.
Thomas Walton of Nicholasville, Travis Long of Lawrenceburg, Mike Worrell of Cynthiana, and Eugene Neeley and Vernon Sowers of Richmond are traveling to Greenwell Springs in three trucks loaded with extra supplies, socks, rain suits, bug spray, water - essentials that crews already there have no other way of getting.
Loyalty and helping friends in need are two ideals that cooperatives are built upon, which means that the Blue Grass Energy linemen readily volunteered for the trip south.
"If somebody's in trouble, they're ready to go," said Rad Combs, BGEnergy's safety coordinator. "Their first loyalty is to help get the lights back on, no matter how far away."
Blue Grass Energy is one of 14 electric co-ops in Kentucky to send crews to DEMCO, totaling more than 110 Kentucky linemen aiding the co-op that serves seven parishes near Baton Rouge.
Disaster aid is coordinated among state associations, and crews are assigned to specific cooperatives.
Already, crews from Kentucky, Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri and Tennessee are in Louisiana or are on their way. The BGEnergy crew is prepared to stay for two weeks, if necessary.
Power outages from Hurricane Gustav reached 1 million on Monday, mostly in Louisiana, according to the Associated Press.
Blue Grass Energy is a not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative serving more than 54,000 members in 23 central and north central Kentucky counties. A Touchstone Energy Cooperative, Blue Grass Energy is headquartered in Nicholasville, with offices in Cynthiana, Lawrenceburg and Richmond.
PSC approves BGEnergy rate increase
The Kentucky Public Service Commission approved on Thursday Blue Grass Energy's rate increase request, to be effective Sept. 1.
That means that any bill members receive in September will reflect the increase, which is about 8.5 percent on average across all rate classes.
Actual percentages depend upon individual rate classes, such as residential, small commercial or large industrial.
The commission granted 94.5 percent of BGEnergy's original request, which will generate about $7.4 million in additional revenue needed to continue quality operations.
This is the first time Blue Grass Energy has raised its base rates since 1983.
"We avoided an increase for as long as we could, but after 25 years, the cost of doing business has risen dramatically, just like anything else," said Cathryn Gibson, Blue Grass Energy's spokeswoman. "We have a responsibility to provide our member-owners with reliable service, and this rate increase makes it possible to continue quality operations and enhance reliability."
Blue Grass Energy is not alone in increasing its rates. Utilities across the country are battling skyrocketing costs for fuel and building materials, as world demand increases but supply remains the same.
Stringent environmental regulations, which are poised to become even tighter, also are driving costs higher.
As a member-owned utility, Blue Grass Energy does not raise its rates to create excess profits for investors. BGEnergy keeps its costs as low as possible while still providing the best service.
"Times are tough right now for everyone, so we want to help our members learn to manage their energy usage better," Gibson said. "Blue Grass Energy has a number of programs that can help members to lower their usage, lower their bills and make payment more convenient."
Levelized budget billing eliminates large jumps in energy costs from month to month, keeping bills relatively similar and allowing for better budgeting. Home energy audits are a great way to learn about quick, easy fixes that homeowners can do themselves to increase energy efficiency.
For more information about all of Blue Grass Energy's programs and services, visit the "at home" section of www.bgenergy.com or call 888-546-4243.
Lineman's rodeo teams prep for international event
Blue Grass Energy's lineman's rodeo teams are gearing up for the big show: the Inernational Lineman's Rodeo in Kansas City, Kan.
Two teams of journeymen and one individual apprentice will make the trip to Kansas City to compete with more than 200 linemen from around the world on Sept. 13.
Lineman's rodeos test skills and practices routinely used on the job, with the main focus on safety. Speed is crucial, but safety comes first -- points are deducted for unsafe practices.
Blue Grass Energy has established itself among electric cooperatives and investor-owned utilities alike as a national leader in safety practices, thanks in part to rodeos.
Last year, BGEnergy's two teams of journeymen swept the top spots at two rodeos, including the Mountain State Rodeo sponsored by American Electric Power.
At the Kentucky Lineman's Rodeo in July, Dathan Lane of the Nicholasville office won first place overall in the apprentice division, and Gary Allen, also of the Nicholasville office, placed second overall in the individual journeyman's competition.
PSC expected to approve BGEnergy rate increase
After meeting with Blue Grass Energy officials at a public hearing on Aug. 12, the Kentucky Public Service Commission is expected to give final approval to the co-op's rate increase request in September.
The increase will generate about $7.4 million in additional revenue, or 95 percent of the original requested increase, that is necessary to continue quality operations.
If approved, members could see the increase reflected on the October bills.
The average increase across all rate classes, originally estimated to be 9.01 percent, was lowered to about 8.5 percent after the PSC hearing. But actual percentages will depend on rate class -- such as residential, small commercial or large industrial.
PSC set to hear BGEnergy's rate increase request
The Kentucky Public Service Commission has set a hearing date for Blue Grass Energy's rate increase request.
The public hearing will be at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 12, in Hearing Room 1 at the PSC offices, 211 Sower Blvd., Frankfort. At the hearing, Blue Grass Energy witnesses and intervenors of the case will be cross examined.
Blue Grass Energy officially filed the request on April 11. The case number is 2008-00011.
All Kentucky utilities are regulated by the PSC, meaning that the oversight body sets rates and approves or denies all requests for rate adjustments.
Most cooperatives in Kentucky have already received or have requested rate adjustments. Increased fuel costs, loan interest and depreciation of equipment are the main reasons Blue Grass Energy has requested the increase.
If the request is approved, members will see the change reflected on their bills in October.
Blue Grass Energy's last base rate increase was in 1983.
Energy efficiency tips equal Simple Savings for members
Blue Grass Energy unveiled today "Simple Savings" information bulletins to educate homeowners about inexpensive steps to seal leaks that are commonplace in houses across Kentucky.
"The Simple Savings bulletins teach people how to fix problems that our energy advisors find every day during audits in the field," said Cathryn Gibson, Blue Grass Energy's spokeswoman.
"These bulletins show how easy it is for people to fix energy leaks at little expense and to avoid wasting money on their monthly heating and cooling bills."
John Davies, director for Kentucky's Division of Energy Efficiency and Conservation, praised the Simple Savings bulletins.
"With increasing energy prices, Kentuckians are finding that energy efficiency is a great value," Davies said. "The Simple Savings program is a proven, common-sense approach that can help homeowners increase the energy efficiency and comfort of their existing homes."
Thirteen different Simple Savings bulletins are being distributed by co-op energy advisors during home energy audits.
The copyrighted materials can also be downloaded by going to the co-op web site at www.bgenergy.com/energysavingstips.aspx.
Issues addressed by the Simple Savings bulletins include fixing the leaks that are common in ductwork, attic hatches and attic pull-down stairs. There are also bulletins on everything from insulating an attic properly to sealing the leaks that often exist in basements, crawlspaces and attic knee walls.
"Kentucky ranks second in the nation in per-capita use of electricity, but we know from field visits that many homes could be made much more energy efficient without spending a lot of money," Gibson said.
"With energy costs rising all across the world, it's more important than ever to find ways to save."
Employee becomes certified energy rater
Jeff Moberly, Blue Grass Energy's Lawrenceburg district energy advisor, has been certified as a HERS rater by the Residential Energy Services Network.
HERS is the Home Energy Rating System, and certified raters are trained by accredited home energy rating providers to inspect a home and prepare an energy-efficiency rating.
Raters advise builders how to select the best energy-efficient features for a home, and they also inspect and test the home during and after construction to verify that the home meets the Environmental Protection Agency's strict Energy Star guidelines.
Moberly, of Nicholasville, is the fourth Blue Grass Energy employee to earn HERS certification. Moberly and two other BGEnergy employees are also certified "green" home raters.
"The achievement of these certifications means that we're able to help our member-owners create the most energy-efficient home possible - saving them money and energy," said Roy Honican, Blue Grass Energy's residential services coordinator.
In 2007, the energy advisors of Blue Grass Energy completed 900 in-home energy audits for members. Thus far in 2008, they've completed more than 430.
11 area high school graduates win BGEnergy scholarships
Eleven area high school graduates who received Blue Grass Energy academic achievement scholarships were recognized at the co-op's annual meeting June 12 in Richmond.
They each receive a $1,000 scholarship, applied to their student account at an accredited university, college or trade school.
The 2008 winners are:
- Megan Renee Angel, daughter of Anthony and Fay Mann, is a graduate of Pendleton County High School in Falmouth and will attend Georgetown College.
- Jessica Carol Collins, daughter of Troy and Melony Stephenson, is a graduate of Western Hills High School in Frankfort and will attend the Frankfort State University.
- Amy Noel Gash, daughter of Mark and Shari Gash, is a graduate of Mercer County Senior High School in Harrodsburg and will attend Blue Grass Community and Technical College.
- Alaina Janelle Hammonds, daughter of Sandy Hammonds and Michael Hammonds, is a graduate of Madison Southern High School in Berea and will attend University of the Cumberlands.
- Sarah Jo Keller, daughter of Issac Ray and Carla Keller, is a graduate of Bourbon County High School in Paris and will attend Georgetown College.
- Laura Elizabeth Jackson, daughter of Herman and Louise Jackson, is a graduate of Harrison County High School in Cynthiana and will attend the University of Kentucky.
- Erica Jean McGaughey, daughter of Ronnie and Kay McGaughey, is a graduate of Spencer County High School inTaylorsville and will attend Lindsay Wilson College.
- Nathan Cole Ramsey, son of Keith and Bonnie Ramsey, is a graduate of Bracken County High School in and will attend Northern Kentucky University.
- Dustin Ray Robinson, son of Darren and Malinda Robinson, is a graduate of Nicholas County High School in Carlisle and will attend Northern Kentucky University.
- Stevie Nicole Sims, daughter of Robert and Lisa Sims, is a graduate of East Jessamine High School in Nicholasville and will attend Eastern Kentucky University.
- Matthew Straw, son of Mark and Carolyn Straw, is a graduate of Mercer County Senior High School in Harrodsburg and will attend Purdue University.
These recipients were chosen by BGEnergy's scholarship committee from nearly 50 applicants.
Blue Grass Energy traditionally gives ten $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors. This year, the co-op was very fortunate to award an additional eleventh scholarship thanks to funding from a private donor.
All graduating seniors who live with a parent or guardian who is served by Blue Grass Energy is encouraged to apply for one of our scholarships. Applications are graded based on academic achievement, extracurricular activities and financial need.
For more information, visit www.bgenergy.com/forStudents.aspx.
Members learn at Annual Meeting how they can affect energy prices
High heat and higher humidity didn't put a damper on Blue Grass Energy's annual membership meeting last week.
Nearly 1,000 people attended the meeting Thursday, June 12, at the Madison County Fairgrounds in Richmond.
Members conducted official business, including the re-election of Dennis Moneyhon, District 8, and Richard Crutcher, District 5, to the board of directors, and they heard reports from Blue Grass Energy officials.
Dan Brewer, Blue Grass Energy's president and CEO, spoke on the difficult future of the electric utility industry -- rising costs and impending legislation that will drive costs higher. Brewer encouraged all members to take action and let their elected representatives know that they are concerned about the future of affordable, reliable electricity.
"It is time for us to collectively assume a greater responsibility in the discussion of this issue," Brewer said. "We need you - our members - to help us start a conversation with the political decision-makers and elected officials in Washington, D.C. We need your help in asking our elected officials the tough questions and requiring straight answers."
Brewer urged members to visit www.ourenergy.coop to learn more about the Our Energy, Our Future campaign, which calls for co-op members across the nation to send e-mails to their representatives.
Jody Hughes, chairman of the board of directors, also reported on the challenges facing the electric utility industry, including ever-escalating costs associated with fuel and environmental regulations. Blue Grass Energy is not immune to these challenges, Hughes said, and the cooperative found it necessary to file with the Kentucky Public Service Commission for a rate increase in April.
This was the first time in 25 years that Blue Grass Energy had requested a rate increase, Hughes said.
"What else do you use on a day-to-day basis that hasn't increased in cost in 25 years?" he said. "I daresay, not much."
The PSC sets the rates of all Kentucky utilities. If the commission approves BGEnergy's request, members would see the changes reflected on their bills in September or October.
But even as costs continue to increase, Blue Grass Energy will stand by its members - the most important part of the cooperative, Hughes said.
"As we head into a rate increase, we at Blue Grass Energy will do everything we can to help you keep your costs as low as possible," he said. "Remember, we don't need to make a profit for investors - our main interest is serving our members."
Hughes also paid special tribute to United States service men and women and recognized all members in the audience who are currently serving or had served their country.
Also at the meeting, Blue Grass Energy's 11 scholarship recipients were recognized in a special ceremony. Each student will receive $1,000 for higher education at an accredited college, university or technical school.
Members also visited exhibits about energy efficiency, renewable energy resources and right-of-way clearance.
BGEnergy officially files for rate increase
Blue Grass Energy has officially filed a request for a rate increase with the Kentucky Public Service Commission.
The average requested increase across all rate classes is 9.01 percent, but the actual percentage will vary according to class, such as residential, commercial or industrial.
The request was officially filed April 11. If approved by the PSC, BGEnergy members will see the increase reflected on their bills in September or October.
The requested rate increase is necessary for Blue Grass Energy to generate more revenue required to continue operations.
For more information, visit www.bgenergy.com/ratecasefaq.aspx.
Nicholasville manager named Jessamine Businessman of the Year
Bill R. Hall, Blue Grass Energy's Nicholasville district manager, was named Jessamine County's Businessman of the Year at the chamber of commerce's annual awards dinner April 8.
"I can't describe what it means to me that the business leaders of Jessamine County felt I deserved the award," Hall said. "To know what that award means, you have to know what I came from."
Hall was a farm boy from Clays Ferry who cared nothing about school and barely graduated. With high school behind him, his only ambition was to be a musician in Nashville.
"But then that little 5-and-a-half-pound bundle arrived, and it changed everything," Hall said. "I knew I had to be a dad, not a musician."
Hall came to Blue Grass Energy 15 years ago to be the co-op's purchasing manager and won the prestigious Solon Bennett Award, the nation's highest honor for cooperative employees in purchasing. His purchasing procedures have been implemented at co-ops across the country.
Hall's latest honor, the businessman of the year award, is based on business and community presence -- someone who has been a vital member of and a business leader in the community, has served on the chamber's board of directors, and has demonstrated commitment to civic and charitable duties.
"Billy has all of those things," said Sandy McIntosh, the chamber coordinator. "He's a great community-oriented person."
Hall was a charter member of the Jessamine County Kiwanis Club, and he has lived in Jessamine County for 33 years with his wife, Anita. They have three children and six grandchildren.
He has been the manager of the Nicholasville district office since 2001, and before that was BGEnergy's purchasing manager for eight years. He also served for 22 years in the U.S. Army Reserves.
Hall was the president of the Jessamine County Chamber of Commerce for the 2005-06 year, and he currently serves as a member of the boards for the Jessamine County Economic Development Authority and the Jessamine County Ethics Commission.
"It's not just a plaque on the wall," Hall said. "It's validation."
Board of directors approves proposed rate adjustments
At a special meeting March 26, the Blue Grass Energy board of directors approved the proposed rate adjustments for all classes of members.
The average proposed increase across all rate classes and districts is 9.01 percent, but again, that is an average. The actual percentage could vary within district and by rate class (residential, commercial and industrial, etc).
Outdoor lighting, which previously had a separate rate for street lights, will be combined under one rate, according to the proposal. The average proposed increase is 34.2 percent, but individual rates would vary according to style of light and how long the light has been in operation.
We will officially file our request with the Kentucky Public Service Commission on or about March 31.
The proposed rate structure is subject to approval by the PSC. If the PSC approves Blue Grass Energy's request, members will see the change reflected on their bills in September or October.
The increase will create additional revenue required for Blue Grass Energy to continue quality operations.
This marks the first time in 15 to 25 years that BGEnergy members will see an increase. Rates in Nicholasville and Richmond districts last increased in 1983, Lawrenceburg District in 1986 and Cynthiana District in 1993.
Blue Grass Energy is not alone in requesting a rate increase. Most of the 24 electric cooperatives in Kentucky have implemented an increase in the past year or are in the process of requesting one now.
Crews restore power after storms
As of 9 p.m. Thursday, Blue Grass Energy line crews had restored power to all members, including those in Cynthiana District, where straight-line winds and severe thunderstorms uprooted trees and tore roofs off homes early Wednesday morning.
Cynthiana District alone had more than 30 broken poles, which were the source of many of the outages.
Power was restored to all members in Lawrenceburg, Nicholasville and Richmond districts by 9 p.m. Wednesday night, when the focus turned to Cynthiana District.
All Blue Grass Energy crews were in Cynthiana on Thursday to aid the regular workforce in the restoration efforts, in addition to several contractors.
In all, 90 field personnel worked as quickly as safety permitted on Thursday to replace poles, string new wire and set new transformers.
Besides the numerous broken poles, crews also had to contend with a mud mess.
Heavy rains that saturated the ground during the early-morning storms on Wednesday and in the days before created a mire for utility trucks, which had to be pulled in and out of jobs by bulldozers.
Despite the mud, crews steadily restored power throughout the day on Thursday, and by 9 p.m. that evening, the lights were back on for all members.
BGEnergy invests in area high school students
Blue Grass Energy has restructured its Washington Youth Tour and scholarship programs. Both programs are better than ever, and we urge our members to take advantage of them.
Applications for scholarships and the Youth Tour are now available.
Scholarships are open to graduating high school seniors who live with a parent or guardian who is a Blue Grass Energy member.
The Washington Youth Tour, a weeklong trip to the nation's capital, is open to high school juniors who live with a parent or guardian who is a Blue Grass Energy member.
To download applications and get more details, see BGEnergy's scholarships/Youth Tour site.
Schools were closed, but BGEnergy was on
Snowy, slushy roads closed schools through Blue Grass Energy's service area Wednesday, but the co-op's weather-related outages were minimal.
Wind caused one outage affecting 170 members yesterday in the Lawrenceburg district, and less than 30 in Cynthiana were affected by ice and snow. High loads caused an outage affecting 60 more in Cynthiana yesterday.
High loads aren't unusual in severe cold, which can be problematic even when precipitation causes little damage. When temperatures plummet, thermostats skyrocket, causing higher loads.
Highs Wednesday were in the teens throughout BGEnergy's service area, with temperatures predicted to climb through the next several days. By Sunday, high temperatures in the 60s are predicted for our region.
BGEnergy employee selected for HBAL board of directors
Roy Honican, Blue Grass Energy's residential services coordinator, has been elected to the Home Builders Association of Lexington's board of directors.
Honican, of Lexington, was installed on Dec. 6 and will serve for two years. Honican also received the prestigious Rookie of the Year award at the ceremony.
As residential services coordinator, Honican is in charge of energy efficiency for Blue Grass Energy. He and the
co-op's four energy advisors have worked closely with HBAL, consulting on the green-built Home of Excellence and conducting energy-efficiency education workshops.
The association has more than a thousand members and serves the housing and residential construction industry in Lexington and surrounding counties.
Linemen saves family by extinguishing burning home
Cynthiana lineman Larry Lovelace is hailed as a hero, but he takes no credit for saving the lives of a family from their burning home.
"I was glad we could do something good for our community and our customers, other than what we do every day, that we were able to go above and beyond," Lovelace said. "I'm just happy that God put me in the right place at the right time."
About 2:30 a.m., Lovelace was out looking for a downed power line in Brooksville, in rural northern Kentucky. He discovered the woodpile next to a home had caught fire from the outdoor furnace.
Lovelace woke the residents and told them to get out of the house, then he went back to his truck to grab two small fire extinguishers and to tell dispatcher Jim Smith to call 9-1-1.
When the fire extinguishers were empty, Lovelace began hauling water out of the home's cistern with a rope and bucket. The fire department arrived about 20 minutes after the call.
"One resident said to me, 'If it wasn't for you, I know we would have burned up in the house," Lovelace said.
Soon after the fire department arrived, Lovelace went back to work with fellow lineman Mike Rainey, restoring service in the area.
"I know our guys in the field are always willing to help people -- and they do, whether it's changing a tire, calling for help, giving directions, or saving lives," said Carol Higdon, Cynthiana district manager.
"Larry's quick action is a testament to the calibre of BGEnergy employees, as well as the co-op's safety training. It gives me great pride to hear of deeds like Larry's."
BGEnergy donates to Big Brothers Big Sisters
Blue Grass Energy recently made a company contribution to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bluegrass, in addition to separate fundraisers throughout the year, to aid the organization in its mission to foster positive relationships for children.
Blue Grass Energy made a corporate donation in December, and the cooperative donated money raised at a golf outing in the fall. Employees also participate annually in Bowl for Kids' Sake.
"We're so pleased that we're able to help such a worthy organization as Big Brothers Big Sisters," said Cathryn Gibson, Blue Grass Energy spokeswoman. "Blue Grass Energy and its employees are dedicated to the enrichment of our communities' children, which will lead to the betterment of the places where we live and work."
Energy advisor's 'burnt' gourd wins art competition
The unique artistic talent of an energy advisor at Blue Grass Energy in Nicholasville, Ky., has garnered statewide recognition.
One of Steve Rose's famous "burnt gourds" won a county-wide contest that challenged local artists to create an ornament for the Kentucky Christmas Tree.
Rose's ornament depicts the Harrison County courthouse. He first burns a picture onto a gourd, then colors it using a combination of materials - a process that he keeps closely under wraps.
"You don't find gourds like mine," Rose says. "I do my own thing, and a lot of people wonder how I do what I do."
Rose, of Cynthiana in Harrison County, also paints and draws, and he uses computer animation for energy-efficiency presentations.
His ornament will be on display through Jan. 4 on the Kentucky Christmas Tree, which is housed in the state capitol building. The tree is decorated with ornaments made by local artists from each of the state's 120 counties.
BGEnergy announces managerial appointments
Blue Grass Energy announces today three organizational changes, effective Dec. 1. Mike Williams, senior vice president, has been named chief operating officer; Donald Smothers, vice president of financial services, has been named chief financial officer; and Beonka Stockton, manager of human resources, has been appointed vice president of corporate services.
As chief operating officer, Williams' responsibilities will focus on operations. Williams joined Blue Grass Energy in 1992 as a system engineer and was named manager of application engineering in 1997. He was named senior vice president in 2004.
As chief financial officer, Smothers maintains oversight of accounting, billing and payment processing, which includes budgeting, loans and tariffs. Smothers joined Blue Grass Energy in 1980 as a staff accountant and became office manager in 1985. In 1996, Smothers was named vice president of financial services.
As vice president of corporate services, Stockton is responsible for human resources, safety and environmental compliance issues. Stockton began her career at Blue Grass Energy in 1989 as a staff secretary and became benefits specialist in 1998. In 2001, Stockton was appointed manager of human resources.
"We're pleased to have these individuals and their expertise as we work to streamline our processes to save significant dollars and become a stronger, more efficient cooperative," said Dan Brewer, Blue Grass Energy president and CEO.
Co-op Power Plus credit card program ends Dec. 31
Notice to Co-op Power Plus credit card holders:
Blue Grass Energy has officially ended its relationship with its existing credit card issuer. You will receive a letter from the issuer to notify you of this change shortly. The current rebate program will end on Dec. 31, 2007. Until that time, there will be no interruption in service and you may continue to use your credit card as usual.
If you are in the rebate program and are eligible, you will receive a final $50 rebate check along with a future monthly billing statement. The final rebate check will be based on purchases made prior to Dec. 31, 2007.
If you have questions about your Co-op Power Plus credit card, please contact Rachel Settles, Blue Grass Energy's marketing services advisor.
2,421 CFLs given away during Fluorescent Fridays event
Each Friday in October, members who came to any office to pay their bill in person received a free CFL.
Since 2003, Blue Grass Energy and other Kentucky Touchstone Energy cooperatives have distributed more than 432,000 CFLs to co-op members.
"If every Kentuckian replaced five incandescent bulbs with five compact fluorescent bulbs, the environmental benefit would be huge," said Blue Grass Energy spokeswoman Cathryn Gibson, who is the vice president of Member Services and Economic Development
"That's like taking 154,000 cars off the road," she said.
CFL bulbs typically last five to seven years and use up to two-thirds less energy than incandescent. Using CFLs also lowers power-plant emissions and lowers electric bills.
CFLs are just one way members can save money and conserve energy. Blue Grass Energy offers a number of energy saving programs and ideas to help our members.
For more Simple Savings energy tips or information on Touchstone Energy Living conservation programs, visit www.bgenergy.com or call us toll-free at 888-546-4243.
Get a free CFL on Fluorescent Fridays
Blue Grass Energy members who come to the office any Friday in October will receive one free CFL.
The giveaway, called "Fluorescent Fridays," is in celebration of National Co-op Month.
CFLs are extremely efficient. They use between one-fifth and one-quarter of the power provided by a traditional incandescent light bulb and have a longer lifespan -- seven years, on average.
And the life cycle savings of just one CFL over an incandescent bulb is $77, according to energystar.gov.
Fluorescent Fridays is also the kick-off event of Energy Star's yearlong Change a Light, Change the World campaign. When members get their free CFL, they're encouraged to sign a pledge saying they'll change at least one light bulb in their home to an Energy Star qualified CFL.
Since 2003, Kentucky's Touchstone Energy cooperatives have distributed more than 325,000 CFLs to co-op members.
Co-op Connections Card gets new national deals
Your Co-op Connections Card isn't just for local merchants and restaurants. You can also get great deals from national chains. Check back often for updates.
New Deals
No Haggles
Offer: Complete car-buying service for 50% off the $199 full-service fee.
No Haggles helps customers purchase and finance new and used vehicles. www.nohaggles.com
Original Rug Company
Offer: 10% discount on all area rugs at www.originalrugs.com. Use coupon code TYI20071.
Original Rug Company designs, manufactures, imports and distributes accent and area rugs in natural fibers using the same techniques and skills used for thousands of years. Collection includes ancient patterns and new designs. www.originalrugs.com
Sherwin-Williams
Offer: 20% off any regular priced item or 10% off any sale item when you present your Sherwin-Williams discount card at any store nationwide. Excludes duration coating, spray equipment and sales to existing accounts.
To get your personalized Sherwin-Williams discount card, visit www2.sherwin-williams.com/registration/card/touchstone.
www.sherwin.com
Vehicle Advantage
Offer: Complete car-buying service at no additional cost, a savings of $99 off the regular service fee.
Vehicle Advantage is a private vehicle discount-buying-and-leasing service, which assists in purchasing and leasing all types of new or used vehicles at large discounted or fleet prices through local dealerships. www.vehicleadvantage.com
Changed Deals
Costco Wholesale
Change: Members receive a gift package instead of a $10 cash card when they sign up for membership. The value of the package has increased, and registration forms for members have been updated. Costco has also added an online sign-up code.
Offer: Join Costco Wholesale and receive free products valued at more than $30. Fill out the forms below and take it to the membership counter at your local Costco or apply online and use awareness code 22019.
Gold membership: http://www.connections.coop/Connections/Files/CostcoWholesaleGoldStar.pdf
Business membership: http://www.connections.coop/Connections/Files/CostcoWholesaleBusiness.pdf
Best Western Hotels
Change: MVP program has been discontinued for the leisure traveler. Discounts for business travel are still offered.
TiVo®, Inc.
Change: Save on hardware purchases instead of discounts on monthly service.
Offer: 30% savings on Series2™ Dual Tuner DVR 80-hour when you sign up for 1-year TiVo® service. Over $150 instant savings off MSRP.
http://www.tivo.com/promo/touchstone.html
Hertz
Change: A branded home page automatically enters the coupon code for members linking from www.connections.coop. This page also offers more special offers to members.
Offer: Use discount CDP 1694664 each time you place a reservation to instantly qualify for member discounts in the United States and around the world.
http://link.hertz.com/link.html?id=11385&ret_url=www.connections.coop
Red Roof Inn
Change: Coupon code has been updated.
Offer: *10% discount off the rate of the day. Member must quote CP529370 when making reservations.
*TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Guests may book through the
toll-free 800 number, online or directly with the inn. Not valid with any other offer, promotion, group rate or discounted rates. Not valid during special events. Second person charges apply.
Discontinued Deals
Discovery Channel Stores
Next Day Blinds
Gear Direct and GolfBargains.com
Marriott GiftCardsDeals
BGEnergy helps to raise $4,000 for charity at Touchstone Energy motorcycle run
Sixty riders on the Touchstone Energy Kentucky Motorcycle Charity Run rumbled into the parking lot behind Blue Grass Energy's Lawrenceburg office on Saturday, Aug. 25.
They were looking for a snack, a drink and the next card of their poker hand.
Oh, and they also helped to raise more than $4,000 for a charity that benefits Kentucky children.
About 20 Blue Grass Energy employees and their spouses either rode in or volunteered at the run.
The East leg began at Inter-County Energy in Danville. BGEnergy's Lawrenceburg office was one of several stops on the East leg to Elizabethtown -- where the East and West leg met at the end.
With the East leg's 60 riders, and more than 100 on the West leg -- which began at Warren RECC in Bowling Green -- about 180 bikes total ended the day together at Central Hardin High School in Elizabethtown.
Along the way, riders drew a card at every stop, and the best poker hand at the end won a prize.
In the past eight years, the motorcycle run has raised more than $31,000 for WHAS Crusade for Children.
The organization raises money for schools, hospitals and agencies to help special needs children in Kentucky and southern Indiana to overcome physical, mental, emotional and medical problems.
3 BGEnergy members win state scholarships
Three Blue Grass Energy members received scholarships this summer from Women in Rural Electrification, an organization of women associated with Kentucky's electric co-ops.
Shannon Wade and Shelley Wade of Cynthiana and Tina West of Nicholasville will receive $1,000 each to help with their pursuits of higher education.
WIRE awarded 10 scholarships of $1,000 each and selected its winners from a pool of 124 applicants.
Shannon and Shelley attend the University of Kentucky, both majoring in agriculture, specifically animal science and cattle breeding.
Tina also attends UK, majoring in human resources, business management.
WIRE awards at least three scholarships every year. Eligible applicants are served by a Kentucky rural electric cooperative, are juniors or seniors with at least 60 credit hours, and attend Kentucky colleges or universities
WIRE members are primarily the wives of electric co-op employees, managers and directors.
The group's mission is:
- to foster friendships and encourage understanding and appreciation of electric co-ops;
- to keep women in co-op areas informed on energy issues;
- to contribute to a positive image for electric co-ops
- to support electric co-op projects; and
- to contribute to the education of young people in co-op service territories.
Co-op Connections Card saves at Barnes & Noble.com through Aug. 31
Just in time for the back to school rush, Blue Grass Energy members can save 10 percent on any order at Barnes & Noble.com, now through Aug. 31, with their Co-op Connections Card.
This special offer even includes textbooks, and you'll also get free shipping on orders of at least $25.
Shop now at www.bn.com/connections.
BGEnergy helps home builders become energy efficient
There's a new mark of efficiency in Lexington, thanks to the partnership between Blue Grass Energy and the Home Builders Association of Lexington.
The theme of HBAL's 2007 Grand Tour of Homes is "green building," and Blue Grass Energy has helped the association's model Home of Excellence attain an Energy Star rating.
Energy Star is a Department of Energy-approved label signifying the home is significantly more energy efficient than a standard home, which saves both money and energy.
"Blue Grass Energy made a commitment five years ago to provide the necessary training for its energy advisors to be the energy-efficiency leaders in their industry," said Roy Honican, Blue Grass Energy's Residential Services coordinator.
"That commitment has allowed us to help the home builders association with its goal of educating the building community -- and average consumers -- about the benefits of making homes energy efficient from the basement on up."
Blue Grass Energy's energy advisors have acted as energy-efficiency consultants during the design and building process, and when the home is finished, they will certify the home as Energy Star. To perform Energy Star ratings, the energy advisors had to achieve Department of Energy certifications.
The Home of Excellence will be used as a training center for builders and subcontractors, and also for people who are planning to build new homes.
Every aspect of the home -- from insulation to heating and cooling to windows -- has been analyzed and designed with the utmost efficiency in mind.
By building with Energy Star in mind, the utility costs for the Home of Excellence will be just half as much as the costs for a home of the same size but without the energy-efficient components, Honican said.
And money isn't the only thing home-owners would save.
Because Energy Star homes use less energy, builders are helping to keep the environment clean, too.
The Home of Excellence emits far less carbon dioxide than the standard home of the same size -- more than 11,000 pounds less every year. For comparison, driving the popular hybrid Toyota Prius saves 600 pounds of carbon dioxide annually, according to www.toyota.com.
The Home of Excellence will be open to the public for the Grand Tour of Homes, when model homes are open from noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 15-16, Sept. 22- 23 and Sept. 29-30.
The tour, HBAL's biggest fundraiser of the year, plays matchmaker between professional builders and consumers. Builders pay a fee to have their homes placed on the tour and descriptions in a program. Consumers use the program to decide which homes they want to tour.
BGEnergy invites the public to participate in Touchstone Energy benefit motorcycle run
Blue Grass Energy invites you to join its employees at the Touchstone Energy Kentucky Motorcycle Charity Run VIII on Saturday, Aug. 25.
The run benefits WHAS Crusade for Children, which raises money for schools, hospitals and agencies to help special needs children overcome physical, mental, emotional and medical problems.
Entry fees are $10 for a bike and rider, and $5 for a co-rider. An extra hand is $5, and an extra card is $1. There will be a 50/50 raffle, cash awards and door prizes.
The East leg begins at Inter-County Energy in Danville and finishes at Central Hardin High School in Elizabethtown.
Registration and refreshments is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Fliers with more details are available at any Blue Grass Energy office.
The WHAS Crusade for Children gives 100 percent of the donations it receives to community organizations that serve special needs children in all 120 Kentucky counties and more than 50 southern Indiana counties.
Since its inception in 1954, the Crusade has raised more than $118 million.
Employee volunteers open hearts - and toolboxes - for worthy charities
Blue Grass Energy employees have volunteered their time and skills recently to Habitat for Humanity, doing some of the electrical work at a Habitat house in Nicholasville, Ky.
John Allender, Ben Coffey, Harold Cornett, Billy G. Hall, Bobby McCoun and Thomas Walton all worked at the house in July, running wire to the places where they'll put the outlets.
The wiring has to be inspected before drywall can go up and the plugs put in place. After the inspection, the guys returned to install the plugs and put on the covers.
Blue Grass Energy's commitment to the communities it serves is personified by these dedicated workers, many of whom take the time to make a difference in the places they live and work.
In addition to Habitat for Humanity, this summer employees raised nearly $2,000 for Relay for Life, walked for the March of Dimes, and donated about $500 worth of items that went in care packages for United States soldiers serving overseas.
BGEnergy continues to win big at linemen's rodeos
Blue Grass Energy continued its winning season as the linemen's rodeo teams placed first at the third annual Kentucky Lineman's Rodeo, Friday, July 27, at East Kentucky Power Cooperative in Winchester, Ky.
2007 rodeo team members are Ben Coffey, Jamie Conn, Kenny Little, Eugene Neeley, Miles Shumaker, Shawn Sowder, Lonnie Tolson and Brad Wiglesworth.
Electric cooperatives from across the state sent teams of journeymen and individual apprentice competitors to the training grounds at EKPC.
The persistent morning rain did not deter the linemen from their events -- making it all the more realistic, as linemen work in the elements on a regular basis.
Safety is one of Blue Grass Energy's top priorities for its employees, and the rodeos give the linemen the chance to show the skills they've learned on the job and in training.
Teams of journeymen and individual apprentices compete in "hurt-man" rescues, when they climb poles to safely bring down an "injured" dummy, and events that test everyday skills and tasks.
Speed is crucial, but safety always comes first -- points are deducted for unsafe procedures.
At the Mountain State Rodeo, June 8-9 in Charleston, W.Va., the two Blue Grass Energy teams placed first and second overall -- beating even the competition's sponsor, American Electric Power.
Their times were only five seconds apart, and their win marked the first time in the rodeo's six-year history that teams from the same co-op not only took the top two spots, but also finished with times so close together.
Nicholasville office Relay for Life team raises $1,018
Blue Grass Energy's Nicholasville district office has raised more than $1,018 for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.
The Nicholasville team walked all night long in the Relay for Life of Jessamine County on June 22-23 at West Jessamine Middle School.
Team members raised money by selling Home Interiors candles, lotions and soaps, and asking for individual donations.
The team also organized fundraisers at the office. A hot dog lunch and cinnamon roll breakfast were big hits with employees.
The Jessamine County Relay for Life is a 12-hour event, beginning with a gospel concert. Opening ceremonies included a reading of participating cancer survivors and their celebratory lap around the track, and the luminary ceremony was later in the evening.
New events this year included a sunrise breakfast for those who took the early walking shift or dedicated themselves to staying the whole night. There also was a special tent for children's activities.
Blue Grass Energy's district office in Cynthiana also has organized a team with about 30 members for the Relay for Life of Harrison County. The team's successful fundraising has included Home Interiors sales, lunches and a booth at the recent Berry Festival in Harrison County.
The Relay for Life of Harrison County is tonight at Harrison County High School.
Blue Grass Energy Annual Meeting sees near-record numbers
The Blue Grass Energy 2007 annual meeting was considered a success after registering 692 members -- the second-highest turnout in the cooperative's history.
About 2,200 people attended the meeting Thursday, June 14, at Anderson-Dean Community Park in Harrodsburg.
Members conducted official business, including the re-election of Danny Britt, District 2, Jody Hughes, District 6, and Brad Marshall, District 10, to the board of directors, and they heard reports from Blue Grass Energy officials.
Jody Hughes, board of directors chairman, thanked the members for their support. He reported that the cooperative continued to grow and remained strong in the past year despite facing challenges, including East Kentucky Power Cooperative's wholesale power increase and escalating environmental costs.
"As fuel costs and energy rates continue to increase, Blue Grass Energy will remain diligent in working to keep your costs as low as possible," Hughes said. "We're not out to make a profit -- we want to serve our members. You are the most important part of Blue Grass Energy."
Hughes paid special tribute to United States service men and women and recognized all members who are currently serving or had served their country.
Dan Brewer, Blue Grass Energy president and CEO, also commented on the challenges that all cooperatives face in the future, but he emphasized that Blue Grass Energy will do everything it can to help its members.
"As we face new issues looming in the future -- whether it's rate increases, figuring out new ways to generate clean energy, and discovering new ways to be more energy efficient -- we will embrace these challenges, and turn them into opportunities to better serve you -- our member-owners," Brewer said.
Blue Grass Energy has set the bar for the state's cooperatives when it comes to straightforward communication at annual meetings, said Ron Sheets, president of the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives. He also noted that Blue Grass Energy was the first co-op in the state to use its annual meeting to showcase footage from the annual legislative conference of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
Scholarships were presented to 10 high school graduates from Blue Grass Energy's 23-county service area. Each student received $1,000.
Before the official business meeting, members enjoyed a meal and received a free bucket with compact fluorescent light bulbs and an extension cord.
The kids had a ball playing on the giant slide and castle bounce, getting their faces painted and checking out the reptiles and amphibians exhibit in the children's area.
The adults' exhibits included EnviroWatts, which allows Blue Grass Energy members to purchase electricity generated from landfill methane gas, and Touchstone Energy Living, programs that can help members save money and become more energy efficient.
Puncheon Creek, a regional band, and singer Brad Burchett provided the entertainment.
Lexington student selected for national leadership council
Logan Meek of Lexington has been selected as Kentucky's delegate to the 2007-2008 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association's Youth Leadership Council.
Logan, who will be a senior at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, was selected from 77 students to represent Kentucky on the national council.
He was chosen by Blue Grass Energy to attend the Kentucky Rural Electric Washington Youth Tour, which qualified him to apply for the council.
He will attend a leadership training session at NRECA, in Arlington, Va., in July, and he'll speak at the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives' annual meeting in Louisville this fall.
Logan also will assist with the NRECA annual meeting in California next year.
The Youth Leadership Council consists of one representative from each of the 41 states that participates in the annual Washington Youth Tour, a week-long trip to the nation's capital where students learn about the history of our country and the role electric cooperatives play in the national government.
Logan was on the tour in Washington, D.C., June 8-15 with nine other students from Blue Grass Energy's 23-county service area and students from across the country.
Students return from Washington Youth Tour
Late in the morning on Friday, June 15, nearly 80 17-year-olds rolled off the buses in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn North on Newtown Pike in Lexington.
They squinted in the sunlight, looking a bit bedraggled after spending the night on the road but still bouncing right out and hugging their newfound friends good-bye.
Thus concludes another Kentucky Rural Electric Washington Youth Tour.
Blue Grass Energy sent 10 students from its 23-county service area and two chaperones to this year's Washington Youth Tour, June 8-15.
The annual trip is a weeklong, all-expenses-paid trip for high school juniors sponsored by electric co-ops in 41 states. Of Kentucky's 25 co-ops, 21 participate in the tour.
The students from Kentucky travel together in a big pack and room together in hotels, but they also attend events with students from other states. In all, the youth tour has about 1,500 participants every year.
Their agenda is action packed. They sightsee, visit the offices of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) in Arlington, Va., tour the capitol building, and do a lot of walking. They go from 6 or 7 in the morning to 10 or 11 at night.
And the resounding consensus from Blue Grass Energy's 10 students was that it is a great experience, and everyone had a blast. The highlights were meeting students from all over the state and having a question-and-answer session with Kentucky's U.S. Sens. Mitch McConnell and Jim Bunning.
Thanks to the youth tour, the students said, they now have contacts statewide, building a social network for life after high school.
Cayce Collins, a customer service representative in the Cynthiana office, and Denise Myers, the purchasing manager at headquarters in Nicholasville, were chaperones.
The tour is coordinated on the state level by the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives, based in Louisville.
Blue Grass Energy is restructuring its youth tour program this summer. Check back in the fall to see how you or your child can apply for the 2008 Washington Youth Tour.
In the meantime, visit www.youthtour.kaec.org for more details.
Blue Grass Energy awards $10,000 in scholarships
Every year, Blue Grass Energy awards scholarships to graduating high school seniors in its 23-county service area. These scholarships are based on academic achievement, extracurricular activities and financial need.
Blue Grass Energy awarded 10 students $1,000 each this year and recognized the students at the annual meeting on June 14.
Blue Grass Energy is restructuring its scholarship program this summer, so check back in the fall to see how you or your child can apply for 2008 scholarships.
The 2007 scholarship recipients are:
- David Brown, son of Jim and Jennifer Brown, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, Lexington
- Spencer Evans, son of Glen and Rosemary Evans, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, Lexington
- Seth Tyler Hall, son of Ronnie and Andrea Hall, Harrison County High School, Cynthiana
- Joey Jackson, son of James and Elda Jackson, DRF Home School, Salvisa
- Angel Jones, daughter of Robert and Ruth Jones, Chirping Valley Academy home school, Harrodsburg
- Cory Kays, son of Joey and Alexis Kays, Madison Central High School, Richmond
- Stephanie Schlueter, daughter of Steven Schlueter and Jenny Schlueter, Pendleton County High School, Falmouth
- Sarah Slattery, daughter of Gary and Debbie Slattery, Western Hills High School, Frankfort
- Lucy Ann Snell, daughter of Will and Amy Snell, Bourbon County High School, Paris
- Jordan Yurt, son of Dennis and Karen Yurt, Tates Creek High School, Lexington
BGEnergy linemen take top spots at rodeo
Blue Grass Energy's two teams made history when they became the first company to take the top two spots at the annual Mountain States Rodeo for electric linemen in Charleston, W.Va., June 8-9.
The teams placed first and second in the non-American Electric Power division and first and second overall.
The team of Ben Coffey, Shawn Sowder and Jamie Conn finished with a perfect score of 400 and a time of 17:40. The team of Brad Wiglesworth, Miles Shumaker and Lonnie Tolson also finished with a perfect score of 400 and a time of 17:45 -- only 5 seconds after their teammates.
"It's not the fact that the guys won first place -- it's that they placed both first and second with only 5 seconds between times," said Rad Combs, Blue Grass Energy's safety coordinator. "This says a lot for our entire organization's work ethics, safety practices and desire to be the best."
The guys took home 18 trophies, belt buckles and $300 from the competition that included teams from as far as Oklahoma, Delaware and Florida.
Apprentice Kenneth Little also competed individually in his first linemen's rodeo.
Safety is one of Blue Grass Energy's top priorities for its employees, and the rodeos give the linemen the chance to show the skills they've learned on the job and in training. Teams of journeymen and individual apprentices compete in "hurt-man" rescues, when they climb poles to safely bring down an "injured" dummy, and events that test everyday skills and tasks. Speed is crucial, but safety always comes first -- points are deducted for unsafe procedures.
The rodeo was sponsored by American Electric Power. For more information on the rodeo, visit www.mslinemanrodeo.com.
Students get ready for Washington Youth Tour
They've spent a day in Frankfort learning about their state, and now they're getting ready for the Kentucky Rural Electric Washington Youth Tour.
The annual youth tour is June 8-15, and this year Blue Grass Energy is sending 10 high school juniors from all around our service area to join more than 1,300 of their peers on a weeklong trip to the nation's capital.
Electric cooperatives from 41 states sponsor the trip so students can learn about their country and the role cooperatives play in the national government. The trip also serves to build students' leadership skills and reward those who have achieved academic excellence and are involved in their communities.
Twenty-one of Kentucky's 24 distribution cooperatives participate in the youth tour, and also send their students to the Frankfort Youth Tour in April. The Frankfort tour gets the students acquainted with one another and teaches them about state government and cooperatives.
This year's winners are:
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Enoch Doyle, of Carlisle, attends Nicholas County High School. He is the son of Billy and Lisa Doyle.
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Dana Figgins, of Brooksville, attends Bracken County High School. She is the daughter of Randy and Kim Figgins.
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Graham Gray, of Lexington, attends Lexington Catholic High School. He is the son of Graham and Rhonda Gray.
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Jennifer Hamilton, of Richmond, attends Madison Central High School. She is the daughter of Ellen and Dale Hamilton.
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Jennifer Hoskins, of Lawrenceburg, attends Anderson County High School. She is the daughter of Joy and Kelly Hoskins.
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Haley Hubbard, of Paint Lick, attends Madison Southern High School. She is the daughter of Eddie and Sonya Hubbard.
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Matthew Liske, of Berea, attends Madison Southern High School. He is the son of Leo and Wendy Liske.
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Aaron McCollum, of Berea, attends Berea Community High School. He is the son of Richard and Lynn McCollum.
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Logan Meek, of Lexington, attends Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. He is the son of Alan Meek and Joy Meek.
- Mason Meredith, of Harrodsburg, attends Mercer County Senior High School. He is the son of Kevin Meredith.
Applicants must be high school juniors whose parents or guardians are members of Blue Grass Energy. If you know someone who would like to apply in the future, check back with us for more information in the fall.
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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