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Control
power costs through wise use
June is weeks away, but already
weather forecasters are predicting temperatures may reach
90 this weekend in central Mississippi. Well, spring was nice
while it lasted!
Thank
goodness we can fight back with air conditioning. But we must
remember that when air conditioners crank up, so does electricity
use. Power bills will reflect that increased use.
Americans
are using more electricity than ever, and not just in summer.
Given larger homes with greater energy needs and an increasing
number of consumer electronics, residential energy use is
projected to increase by 25 percent between 2002 and 2025,
according to the Annual Energy Outlook 2004 released by the
Energy Information Administration.
Most of the projected growth is related to increased use of
electricity. More stringent building codes and appliance standards
actually have reduced residential energy use per square foot.
But new homes are 26 percent larger on average than existing
homes, with greater needs for heating, cooling and lighting.
Also, Americans are using electricity in more ways than ever.
We are installing more outdoor lighting, home office and entertainment
equipment, swimming pools, spas and security systems—all
users of electricity.
In
fact, electricity does so much more for us today than we could
have ever imagined. When electric power associations built
the first electric lines to Mississippi farms in the 1930s,
an electric water pump was a wonder, electric lights a blessing.
Yesterday's farmers would be dazzled by modern producers'
use of electricity to power massive poultry operations with
computer-controlled ventilation, lighting and feeding systems.
We
pay more for electricity today, but that's because we use
more. The rate you pay for electricity reflects various factors,
including wholesale power and utility maintenance costs. But
in the end you control the price you pay by the amount of
electricity you use.
Your
electric power association wants you to use as much electricity
as you need to live, work and stay comfortable. But we encourage
you to use it efficiently. There is a great deal you can do
to prevent wasteful use, from raising your thermostat to 78
degrees (or higher) in hot weather to adding insulation to
your attic.
Have
your air conditioning system inspected by a repair person
now, before temperatures soar. And don't forget to clean or
change air conditioner filters. A little preventive maintenance
now can head off break-downs later—and higher power bills.
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