Electric Companies...At Your Service by K. Michael McGrath Executive Director, Retail Energy Services Edison Electric Institute (NAPSA)—Sincethefirst power company was formed by Thomas Alva Edison in 1882, electric com- panies have taken pridein supplying some of the most reliable and affordable electricity in the world. If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think about electricity too much. America’s electric companies take that as a compliment; it means we’re doing our job. What your electric company does hope you think about is how it can help you and your community save energy and protect the environment. Your electric company wants you to get the most value from every dollar you spend on electricity. This helps you, it helps the environment, and it helps us to generate and distribute power moreefficiently. Your electric company has energy-saving advice, and often, special programs with incentives to help you use their product moreefficiently. Your electric company’s Web site is a new method for saving energy. Many electric companies now have an “online energy audit” that customers can do over the Internet. This service helps customers understand where their home uses energy, and whereit might be wasting energy. Other options for helping you to save energy can include incentives to buy energy-efficient products, and programs where, in exchange for a credit on the monthly energybill, you agree to let the power company cycle the air conditioner on and off during peak-demandperiods. As with the production of any energy source, the production of Your electric company wants you to get the most value from every dollar you spend on elec- tricity, says Michael McGrath. electricity has an effect on the environment. To help reduce their impact, electric companies comply with hundreds of state and federal laws, and implement their own voluntary initiatives. And it’s paying off. The industry’s efforts have contributed to dramatic improvements in air quality. Electric companies also work with customers to help them reduce their effect on the environment. Someelectric companies are offering the option to buy someor all power from renewable resources such as the wind, water and the sun. Beyond the environmental benefits, these programs help to develop and expand the use of renewable energy sources. National surveys show that most people feel good about their electric company. For the next 100 years, your electric company wants to continue doing more for you than just making sure you haveall the power you need, when you need it. Contact your electric company or visit its Web site to find out what programs and services might be available to you.
