H2O Plus Program Brings Wiser Energy Use to WFEC Members

H2O Plus is an innovative program from West Florida Electric that puts technology to work to save energy. At the heart of the program is a load control device installed on your water heater that allows our power supplier, PowerSouth, to control your unit during those times of day when the demand for power is greatest (and when it is most expensive).

“When a member enrolls, we’ll send a certified electrician to their home to install the load control device on their water heater,” explains Rhonda Byrd, WFEC Manager of Energy Services. “There’s no cost to the homeowner for the device or its installation.”

Once the device is installed, WFEC’s power supplier will be able to send a signal that instructs the device to cycle your water heater. The elements will power down for a short period of time – usually between two and four hours – and restart in time to maintain plenty of hot water for your home. If their water heater stores 50 gallons or more of water, members do not need to worry about running out of hot water when they enroll in H2O Plus.

“You’ll have plenty of hot water in your tank to handle showers, chores and other household tasks,” says Byrd. “In fact, you should notice very little difference in the amount of hot water available.”

This is not a program from which members will see instant results. In fact, H2O Plus will not trim a noticeable dollar amount from monthly power bills. But when combined with thousands of other participating members across the region, the impact on future costs can be significant.

“H2O Plus is all about helping us manage peak demand,” explains Gary Clark, Vice President, Member Services for WFEC. “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.”

The period when members are using the most electricity each day only lasts three to four hours, but WFEC must have the energy available to meet the demands of all its members during that time. By enabling better management of the system’s peak demand, the H2O Plus program will help us avoid purchasing power during those times when it is most expensive.

“In addition to serving our members today, we are constantly planning for the power needs of tomorrow, says Clark. “H2O Plus will be an important tool in that process.”

As a local cooperative, WFEC is concerned about more than the bottom line. We have a real concern for the communities we serve, and we are committed to providing service at the most reasonable rates possible. The H2O Plus program will help us continue toward that goal.

“We encourage all our members to enroll in the H2O Plus program,” says Byrd. “It’s what being a cooperative is all about, members working together to keep costs low and value high for everyone involved.”

Contact a member services representative today to enroll in the H2O Plus program.