Climbing Up, Fixing Up, Trading Up
Climbing up, fixing up, trading up
PLUM SPRINGS
Nearly 100 line workers from 20 electric cooperatives showed off their skills at the Kentucky Lineman’s Rodeo this year. Emphasizing safety, the two-day competition also added fun. Instead of just climbing a pole safely and quickly, for instance, competitors had to carry a basket containing an egg up the pole, switch the basket, and descend with the egg in their mouth.
“The KAEC Lineman’s Rodeo is a laboratory for performing a job safely, correctly, and competitively, and it also builds employee unity and family pride,” says Gary Dillard, president/CEO of Warren Rural Electric Cooperative. “The total of these elements helps build skill and professionalism, enabling linemen to better serve the membership when they return home.”
Tips for Ms. Fix-It
LEXINGTON
Electric cooperatives have long been a source of advice about energy-saving home repairs. That tradition continued at the Ms. Fix-It Fair with a new focus—women. The event proved a good place for Blue Grass Energy Cooperative staff to distribute free supplies and tips. “We are always looking for ways to help our members,” says Denise Myers, energy solutions manager at Blue Grass Energy.
Trading up with light bulbs
WEST LIBERTY
If the result was identical, would you rather spend 67 cents or 17 cents?
That’s the difference between using an incandescent bulb (67 cents) and a compact fluorescent light bulb, or CFL (17 cents), for three hours a day for 30 days. It’s also the reason Licking Valley Rural Electric Cooperative gives away CFLs. Recently, the Licking Valley co-op partnered with the Magoffin County Career & Tech Center Skills USA Team to replace 1,000 incandescent bulbs.
“We felt that the students would learn how saving now will impact future electric rates and that students could also teach their parents about energy conservation,” says Kerry K. Howard, general manager/CEO of Licking Valley RECC.
By the way, those bulb operating costs are based on a 75-watt incandescent bulb and a 19.5-watt CFL bulb. Each was used three hours a day for 30 days at a cost of 10 cents per kilowatt-hour.
