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When it comes to electricity, each of us has the power to help control costs - we just have to make thoughtful choices to allow energy savings to pay off in dollars and cents. As a member-owned electric cooperative, WFEC wants to help its members conserve energy and has several tools available to help do just that.

One service WFEC provides to members is a free energy audit. If you're experiencing an unusually high bill or would like to see what can be done to improve your home's energy efficiency, request an energy audit. An energy advisor will perform a walk-through audit. The info gathered will allow him to pinpoint problem areas like air leaks or insufficient insulation and make recommendations about ways to improve your household’s efficiency.

The auditor will do a room-by-room inspection and careful examination of past utility bills. Once the energy audit is complete, the energy advisor will provide tips for efficiency upgrades to the home and pinpoint any concerns. To schedule an audit, please contact one of our district offices.

Something else members can do to save money and electricity is time-shift energy-intensive activities away from peak energy use periods. H20 Plus is a program that helps members and the co-op save during peak times of energy use. This is a strategy that shifts the times water heaters use electricity to times of lower demand when electricity is less expensive. To participate, you must be a qualifying member and agree to have a load control device installed on your water heater. This device allows WFEC to cycle the water heater off during peak hours when electricity is most expensive and turn it back on after critical hours have passed. This is usually between 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. during the months of May-September. Members who enroll in the H2O Plus program should not expect to see a reduction in their monthly power bills. The true benefit comes when you consider the impact of thousands of homeowners joining forces to better manage the region’s energy demands by reducing the amount of power needed during hours of peak use.

The co-op also provides three online tools to help save money and conserve energy. These tools are on the cooperative’s website and include a Home Energy Calculator, an Appliance Calculator and a Lighting Calculator. The Home Energy Calculator asks a series of questions about your home. Once you plug the information into the calculator, it will provide you with an energy analysis. Like the Home Energy Calculator, the Appliance Calculator will allow you to see how each of your appliances contributes to your electric bill. The Lighting Calculator will tabulate how much you could save on lighting by switching to different bulbs. 88011001

Visit our website for more details about the programs and tools that can help you conserve energy and save money today.