Annual

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Today in Mississippi ■ April 2011
April 2011 ■ Today in Mississippi
Power Association
A tradition of dependable, hometown service since 1937
www.centralepa.com
74th Membership Meeting
Carthage 601-267-5671 • Philadelphia 601-656-2601 • Rankin 601-829-1201 • Sebastopol 601-625-7422
Annual
Jimmy Wallace of Carthage welcomed the crowd
and complimented Long and the board of directors
for the wonderful job they do for the community.
Tim Weston, of the Tennessee Valley Authority
(TVA), spoke about the promise to always provide
reliable power at an affordable price. He also mentioned how much TVA values their partnership
with Central Electric Power Association and of the
hard work that has been accomplished throughout
the years.
Long reported that by the end of 2010, the
Paul Long, general
manager of Centra
l
Electric, welcomes
members to the an
nual
membership meetin
g.
ns.
Central Electric
Central Electic members
enjoy donuts and hot cof
fee while waiting for
the annual membership
meeting to begin.
er
members regist
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TVA changes rate structure April 1
Central Electric
Over 500 people attended the 74th Annual
Meeting of the Membership of Central Electric
Power Association March 15 at the coliseum in
Carthage.
The crowd was entertained by Higher Ground, a
gospel group based out of Carthage. Members
enjoyed a hint of contemporary gospel with a touch
of old convention-style singing.
General Manager Paul D. Long opened the meeting followed by the invocation given by Phillip
Crosby, a member of the board of directors. Mayor
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association had 35,030 members in central
Mississippi and 4,157 miles of underground and
overhead distribution and transmission lines. Long
also praised his staff for working hard, being safe,
and keeping the lights on.
To conclude the meeting, dozens of prizes,
including an electric grill, were given away to lucky
members. The grand prize given away was a 2003
Chevrolet C-1500 pick-up truck to Mr. Paul
Moore of the Ebenezer community in Leake
County.
Sta-Home Health and Hospice nurses offer services to members, checking their blood pressure and offering helpful information.
al meeting begi
before the annu
Paul Moore is this year’s lucky winner of a 2003 Chevrolet C-1500
pick-up truck.
nt of coopRon Stewart, senior vice preside
Power
erative services for the Electric
aks to memspe
i,
ipp
siss
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Associations of
t co-ops
bers about the different ways tha
ers.
mb
me
ir
the
e
can better serv
economical price. Should you have any questions
little more for power when TVA’s costs are higher
and a little less when TVA’s costs are lower. If conabout these changes or if we can be of service to you,
sumers lower their electric use during these high
please contact your local Central Electric Power
costs periods, TVA can
avoid significant costs of
Annual breakdown for a typical, all-electric household
operating expensive power
plants for only a few
hours a day. They can also
Kitchen 21%
defer building new generHeating 19%
ation facilities that can
cost billions.
Cooling 19%
Over the course of
Water Heating 20%
twelve months, TVA
Laundry 6%
states that Central’s consumers will see little difOutlets 9%
ference in their bills.
Lighting 4%
General Manager of
Other 2%
Central Electric Power
Association, Paul D.
Long, says, “Beginning in
Percentages will vary based on the local climate,
April there will be slightly
the
weatherization
your home
and your household.
energy-use habits.
The chart above shows an annual breakdown for a of
typical,
all-electric
differing rates for the summer months, winter months, and for the spring and
Association office.
fall months. However, the biggest change involves
Even with this new rate structure, Central Electric
the wholesale billing between TVA and still encourages consumers to practice efficient use of
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its 155 power distributors.”
electricity to assist in peak power reduction. Turning
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Central Electric has closely monithe lights off when leaving the house or adjusting the
tored these changes in order to contin- thermostat a couple of degrees is still important. Visit
ue to provide reliable electric service to www.energyright.com for more energy saving tips!
Appliance
Typical use
Monthly cost
our member-consumers at the most
Effective April 1, Central Electric Power
Association member-consumers will experience
changes in their retail electrical rates. The Tennessee
Valley Authority (TVA) is driving this change as it
continues its effort to reduce peak power use in the
Tennessee Valley.
TVA is the wholesale power provider that generates power and sells it to local power distributors like
Central Electric. TVA’s costs to
provide power vary significantly, based on when customers are
using electricity-both the times
of year and times of day. The
new rates will better reflect
those cost differences. In the
summer months, the demand
for power is higher in the afternoon when the temperatures rise because consumers are running air conditioning at full power to keep cool. In the winter,
the demand for power is higher in the morning
because consumers begin turning on lights and heating systems and businesses start up operations.
TVA states the new rates are designed to be revenue neutral for TVA. Consumers will be charged a
Monitor your appliance use
Clothes dryer
4 loads per week
$3.12
Clothes washer
4 loads per week
$2.85
Dishwasher
5 loads per week
$4.74
Computer
4 hours per day
$1.62
LCD TV
4 hours per day
$2.01
Freezer
24 hours per day
$3.27
Refrigerator
24 hours per day
$5.28
Range
1 hour per day
$2.37
Oven
1 hour per day
$5.43
Microwave
15 minutes per day
$0.90
Toaster
6 minutes per day
$0.27
Coffee maker
15 minutes per day
$0.90
Hair dryer
10 minutes per day
$0.27
Space heater
3 hours per day
$10.65
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Industry terms to know
Base Load Generation: The power plants used to make
the electricity generally needed at any time of day.
Base Rate: The portion of the total electric rate covering the
general cost of doing business, excluding fuel costs. Central
Electric’s rates through TVA are divided into base rate and fuel
cost components.
Capacity: The total amount of electricity that can be produced
by a given power plant.The term is also used to mean the
amount that all of a system’s power plants can produce in total.
Demand: The rate at which electricity is delivered to or by a
utility, it is usually measured in kilowatts at a given instant or
over a designated period of time. Peak demand refers to the
periods of highest electricity use, typically late afternoon to
early evening in summer and early to mid morning in winter.
Energy: The kilowatt-hours supplied to consumers, the measured use of which makes up the majority of a customer’s bill.
Fuel Cost Adjustment: Known as the FCA, it is a fluctuating monthly charge TVA uses to recover the costs associated
with buying the fuel such as coal and natural gas used to
make electricity and to purchase extra power from outside
sources as needed to meet demand.
Kilowatt (kW): a unit of electrical power, a kilowatt is
equal to 1,000 watts.
Kilowatt-Hour (kWh): The basic unit of electricity TVA
sells. It is measured as 1 kilowatt of power expended for 1
hour. The measurement of kilowatt-hours by a meter is how
customers are charged for their electric use.
Off Peak: Energy consumed during times when generation
costs are low. Off peak times vary with season.
On Peak: Energy consumed during times when generation
costs are high. On peak times also vary with season.
Seasonal Energy Rates: A rate structure where energy
charges vary by season: Summer is June-September, winter is
December-March and transition season is April, May, October
and November. Typically rates are highest in summer and
lowest during the transition months. This is the rate structure
Central Electric will begin offering in April.
Time of Use: a rate structure that prices electricity at different rates for use at different times of day. As with seasonal
energy rates, the cost for electricity would be highest at the
times of greatest demand. This is a rate structure that many
utilities including TVA are moving towards.
For more information on rate changes,
www.tva.com. The cooperative will continue to provide
information on rate changes and other topics of interest
in Today in Mississippi.
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central electric
Strengthen their leadership abilities
Central Electric Power Association recently sponsored
four high school juniors for the 25th annual Youth
Leadership Workshop.
Brittney Coleman, Cole Gressett, Erica McCoy and
Krissy Winstead were selected by Central Electric to
attend the event. The purpose of the three-day workshop is to bring young people together, strengthening
their leadership abilities for the future.
This year, 66 students from different areas of the state
attended the workshop, which is coordinated by the
Electric Power Associations of Mississippi. The event took
place March 2-4 in Jackson. The students are given the
unique opportunity to take a closer look at our state
government as well as participate in activities that
greatly enhance their leadership skills. The workshop
also emphasizes teamwork and good communication.
“The workshop is designed to develop young people as
they prepare for the future. It is a great opportunity for
these students,”said Paul Long, general manager of
Central Electric. “The workshop is a great resource that
can sharpen their leadership abilities. We commend
these outstanding students who will one day be the
leaders in our communities and state.”
The program involves students who are in leadership
roles in their school and community. It is the overall goal
of the workshop to equip them with the tools necessary
to further enhance their skills and encourage them to
take a more active leadership role upon completion of
the program.
After a breakfast with their state legislators, the students visited the Capitol, where they got an up-close
view of our state legislation at work. After being introduced in the Senate chamber, students heard discussions
on House Bill 999, which would allow the teaching of
sex education in schools, an issue that would directly
affect high school students.
During one of the workshop sessions, the students’
critical thinking skills were put to the test when they
weighed the pros and cons of many pressing issues their
generation is facing.
An inspiring presentation by Michael Callahan, CEO of
Electric Power Associations of Mississippi, outlined the
true characteristics of a leader. He reminded the students of the responsibilities that come with being a
leader. “Leadership is not an easy task and is not for
everyone. It takes a special person to be a leader, one
who is not afraid to be out in front, making decisions
and taking responsibility for their actions,” said Callahan.
“You must have a passion for helping others and know
that your actions affect the lives of others.”
“We want to challenge these young people to go out
and make a difference in the lives of others, exemplifying true leadership,” said Ron Stewart, statewide program coordinator. “Realizing the obstacles they may
face, the workshop offers team-building exercises and
other activities which will enable students to overcome
the most difficult tasks. It increases their confidence,
providing them with the tools required to be leaders in
their schools and communities.” According to Stewart,
the program was developed to help young leaders
determine their strengths and weaknesses while showing them ways to become better leaders. “Then we
encourage them to return home and put their skills to
use.”
In addition to the workshop, the students will travel to
the nation’s capital in June. This seven-day trip features
visits to the popular monuments and memorials as well
as meetings with Mississippi’s congressional delegation.
Four students were selected by
Central Electric Power Association to
participate in the 2011 Youth
Leadership Workshop.
Below, from left to right, are Erica McCoy, Brittney
Coleman, Krissy Winstead and Cole Gressett.
During the workshop, the students participate in teambuilding activities (above) designed to sharpen leadership skills, and also hold discussions about
pressing issues their generation is facing.
Cole (right) meets with Rep. Mark Baker.
Sen. Giles Ward (left) me
ets with Erica, Krissy an
Brittney (left) and Krissy
visit wi
th Rep. C. Scott Bounds.
d Brittney.
The students receive certificates from Ron Stewart, program
coordinator, after completing the workshop.
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Today in Mississippi ■ April 2011
April 2011 ■ Today in Mississippi
Old refrigerators eat energy and money
Does this sound familiar? You bought a
new refrigerator and moved your old fridge
to a garage or basement to keep a few drinks
and some surplus food items cold. Here’s a
tip from Central Electric Power Association
that can help you save energy and money.
Old refrigerators, especially those bought
before 1993, use more than twice as much
electricity as a new ENERGY STAR model.
What’s more, refrigerants in these older
appliances weaken over time and door seals
start to leak, causing a decline in the performance.
If you have moved your old refrigerator to
an uninsulated location, such as a garage, it
TVA Fuel Cost
Adjustment to
decrease April 1
The Tennessee Valley Authority will
decrease the fuel cost adjustment effective
April 1, 2011.
The total amount Central Electric members
will decrease depends on their energy use
because fuel cost adjustments are charged
per kilowatt hour. A typical residence using
1,250 kWh per month will see a $1.81
decrease in their power bill. Residential
members will see decreases on their monthly
power bill depending upon use.
The FCA is calculated monthly as generation fuel costs and the cost of power TVA
puchases from other suppliers rise and fall.
The FCA calculation works by capturing the
difference between the amount that TVA
forecasts to pay for fuel during a given month
and the amount that is collected through
rates. This formula has two main components: The first is a forecast of anticipated
fuel and purchased power costs; the second is
a reconciliation of any fuel costs TVA under or
over collected. The FCA is used to determine
energy charges that are shown on members’
bills.
will use even more energy during hot weather. A fridge in a 90 degree environment, for
example, uses nearly 50 percent more power
than one in a 70 degree environment. And if
the temperature falls below about 40 degrees
in winter, the refrigerator’s thermostat may
not run its cooling and defrost cycles for the
appropriate amount of time.
By pulling the plug on that old refrigerator, you can save $146 a year. For other tips
on how to save energy—and money—visit
www.energyright.com.
Is your old refrigerator wasting your money and energy? It
may be time to pull the plug.
Keep up the good work
Central Electric Power Association General Manager, Paul D. Long, would like to express his congratulations to the Rankin District
Office for five years of no lost time accidents. Keep up the good work!
DID YOU KNOW?
Central Electric Power
Association is 1 of 25
electric power
association distribution
systems in Mississippi
serving more than
1.8 million Mississippians
with 751,961 electric meters.
Easter Coloring Contest
NAME: _________________________________________
AGE: __________________________________________
SCHOOL: _________________________
GRADE: __________________________
PARENTSʼ NAME: _______________________________
DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER: ______________________
ADDRESS: _____________________________________
_______________________________________________
PARENTSʼ SIGNATURE: __________________________
Central EPA would like to thank Halley Jordan Brooks for her illustration used for the coloring contest. Halley
is 11 years-old and attends Edinburg Attendance Center. She is the daughter of Todd and Kim Brooks.
Children of Central EPA members are eligible to compete
in the following age groups:
K-5 and 1st grade • 2nd and 3rd grade • 4th and 5th grade
All entries must be postmarked or dropped off at your local CEPA office
by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 8, 2011. One winner will be selected in each
category and will receive a prize package! Please be sure to include all
contact information. Please note that parents of contest winners will be
notified and the winners will be photographed at their school for the May
issue of Today in Mississippi.
Entries may be dropped off at your local Central
EPA office or mailed to:
Central Electric Power Association
Attn: Coloring Contest
P.O. Box 477
Carthage, MS 39051
Deadline for entries: Friday, April 8, 2011
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