FIRELANDS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES GM’S REPORT GEAR UP for winter savings WITH YOUR COOP’S ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS Before we know it, Old Man Winter will be here and electricity, thus lowering heating systems across the state will be working tirelessly its overall cost. And as a to keep our homes and businesses comfortable. In fact, co-op, we pass these the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that % of savings directly on to you! the average home’s winter energy bill comes from home There are lots of ways to heating — making it the largest portion of your annual reduce your electricity utility costs. consumption. For instance, Firelands Electric wants to make sure that you get the basic energy e ciency maximum value out of your electricity. We also want practices, like caulking to help you use only what you need. As a member, around windows and you are in a special position to take advantage of doors, regularly changing energy e ciency programs and services off ered by the furnace fi lter, and the cooperative. Because we are a not-for-profi t using a programmable organization, our goal is to provide our members with thermostat, are great ways safe, reliable power at the most aff ordable price possible. to start. Dan McNaull In short, we want to help you save money on your You can monitor your GENERAL MANAGER monthly electric bills. energy use online or on So, how does practicing good energy e ciency habits your smartphone through the SmartHub app. This free save you money? For starters, if you use less electricity, service can help you keep tabs on your electricity use, to your bill will inevitably be lower. But there’s more to help determine which appliances or systems are using it than that. Firelands Electric Cooperative purchases the most power, and then make adjustments accordingly. electricity from Buckeye Power, the generation and Firelands Electric Cooperative also off ers its members transmission cooperative for the distribution free home energy consultations. Our energy advisors can co-ops in Ohio. Each month, the co-op pays assess your home for air leaks, insulation gaps, and other transmission common problems that cause excess energy use. They can charges based on tell you more about the latest technologies for heating, our peak demand cooling, and lighting, including heat pumps, LED lights, for the electricity and more. Co-op members may also be eligible to receive we purchase. rebates for the installation of qualifying energy e cient Even in times of water heaters, HVAC equipment, and appliances. See the low demand, the chart on the next page for a list of requirements for the co-op is billed co-op’s current rebate programs. based on this peak transmission There are many ways to save energy and money this demand. By winter. To fi nd out more about energy e ciency incorporating member programs and tips, contact Firelands Electric energy e ciency Cooperative at --- or visit www.fi relandsec. into your daily com. Your co-op off ers these energy e ciency programs routine, you are exclusively for you, our members — and we’re happy to helping to reduce be your trusted energy resource. the demand for NOVEMBER 2020 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 19 11-20--November.indd 1 10/6/2020 12:22:53 PM FIRELANDS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES 2020-21 MEMBER PROGRAMS Firelands ElectricEFFECTIVE Co-op: JULY 2020-2021 1, 2020 – JUNE 15 ,Member 2021 Programs PROGRAM TYPE AMOUNT GENERAL REQUIREMENTS HVAC SYSTEM & LOAD MANAGEMENT REBATES All-Electric geothermal $800* rebate Installation of a new or replacement all-electric geothermal systems or heat pump system with a Cool Returns load management device installed. Communicating systems that All-Electric heat pump $500* rebate are incompatible with the load management device will systems receive the rebate, less $100*. Dual fuel geothermal and $300* rebate New or replacement geothermal or air-source heat pump air-source heat pump unit added to any fossil fuel furnace. Communicating systems systems that are incompatible with the load management device will receive a $200* rebate. All-Electric ductless or $300* rebate New or replacement all-electric ductless or mini-split heat mini-split heat pumps pump system. Limit of 3 outdoor unit installs/program year. LOAD MANAGEMENT INCENTIVES Central air-conditioning $100* bill credit Installation of a Cool Returns load management device on systems a new or existing central cooling unit that does not qualify for other member program incentives. ELECTRIC WATER HEATER INCENTIVES New standard electric $300* bill credit Installation of a new or replacement electric water heater water heaters (no existing that has a 50-gallon or larger tank capacity, with an E.F. of switch) 0.91 or higher that does not already have a load switch. Replacement electric water $150* bill credit Same as above, except tank has an existing load heaters (existing switch) management switch installed. Electric heat pump or $150* bill credit Installation of a new or replacement electric heat pump or communicating water communicating water heater that meets the energy heaters (only available on units efficiency standards above. incompatible with RCS switch) $50* bill credit Installation of load management device on an electric water heater that doesn’t meet the cooperative’s energy efficiency standards. Solar and on-demand/tankless water heaters do not qualify for this incentive. ENERGY STAR APPLIANCE REBATES Refrigerator & freezer $100* bill credit Purchase of an ENERGY STAR®-certified appliance to replace an existing appliance. Purchase receipt, proof of Dishwasher & clothes $50* bill credit removal of old appliance, and proof of ENERGY STAR washer certification required. Dehumidifier $25* bill credit Installation of an ENERGY STAR®-certified dehumidifier with a minimum capacity of 70 pints/day. Purchase receipt for the new appliance and proof of ENERGY STAR certification required. WEATHERIZATION REBATES Air-sealing upgrades $400* Rebate Air sealing and insulation upgrades must be installed by a Insulation upgrades $800* Rebate licensed contractor. All qualifying upgrades must be installed in an electrically heated residential home and meet or exceed required energy specifications. ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) REBATES Electric Vehicle (EV) $250* Rebate Installation of a new, UL-listed electric vehicle (EV) Level 2 Level 2 Charger (240-volt) charger. Maximum of two rebates per residential member or six per commercial/industrial facility. *A complete listing of specific eligibility requirements for all incentives is available on Firelands Electric Cooperative’s website, www.firelandsec.com. 20 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • NOVEMBER 2020 11-20--November.indd 2 10/6/2020 12:22:54 PM integrity community commitment accountability innovation MEMBER TOOLS THE POWER OF Firelands Electric Cooperative’s SmartHub is more than months, days, or even hours. Members can compare the just a way to pay your electric bill. Members can sign up number of kilowatt-hours from two diff erent months to receive important account notifi cations via email, text and check out their average energy use. message, or a combination of both. SmartHub users have Put the power in your hands! Visit www.fi relandsec.com/ the ability to add multiple contact numbers and email smarthub- to fi nd out how to take charge of your addresses as well as choose which notifi cations are sent electric account. Download the free SmartHub app from to each contact. Selections can be changed at any time — Google Play or the Apple App Store to get started. giving members complete control. SmartHub also allows members to monitor their electricity consumption, viewing use from individual NOTIFICATIONS On Demand Alerts Billing Alerts • FEC Peak Alert — Load management is currently taking place for members enrolled in Firelands’ voluntary load • Payment Confirmation — A payment made through management program. SmartHub has been received. • FEC Peak Alert Possible — Conditions are such that a • Payment Posted — A payment was made to your account peak alert may occur today. through any method other than SmartHub. • FEC Peak Alert Ended — The current load management • Scheduled Payment Notification — An online payment to period has ended for members who participate. your account has been scheduled or canceled. Service Alerts USAGE TOOLS • Usage Explorer — Members can click through a series • Planned Power Outage of graphs to view usage by month, day, or hour. High, • Power Outage average, and low temperatures for each time period can also be viewed. • Power Restored • Usage Comparison — Select two different months to Usage Alerts compare how much electricity was used. • Power Usage Alert — Receive notifications when your kilowatt-hour (kWh) usage reaches a threshold that you • Average Usage — Members can view their average set. Thresholds can be set for hourly use, total daily use, electrical usage over a range of dates, which are selected or both. Notifications are sent each day around 4 p.m. by using the calendar at the top of the screen. Average if your usage meets or exceeds these levels. use can be viewed by the month, day of the week, or time of day. Miscellaneous Alerts • Usage Planning Tool — Members can add a “marker” to • Auto Pay — A change has been made to your Auto Pay their account (for example: “Shut off space heater”). This Program information. marker shows up on the Daily Usage screen in Usage • Contact — Confirmation that you have sent a message to Explorer to help members identify if the event causes a the co-op through SmartHub. change in electricity consumption. NOVEMBER 2020 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 20A 11-20--November.indd 3 10/6/2020 12:22:54 PM FIRELANDS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES CAPITAL CREDITS NOTICE OF UNCLAIMED FUNDS O cial notice is given that the following current or former patrons have cash retirements of capital credits or other payments from Firelands Electric Cooperative that have gone unclaimed for more than four years.