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Today in Mississippi n September 2013
September 2013 n Today in Mississippi
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Attendees learn how to grow a business at co-op workshop
From the manager
We support balanced solution to environmental issues
It is so easy to take electricity for granted. Normally, other greenhouse gases. The
president issued a Presidential
it is only when our service is temporarily interrupted
Memorandum directing the
that we take notice. Another time you might think of
Environmental Protection
electricity is when you pay your monthly power bill.
We at Southern Pine strive to provide our members Agency to complete carbon
emission standards for both
the most affordable and reliable electricity we possibly
new and existing power plants.
can.
Mississippi electric cooperaSouthern Pine purchases electricity from South Mistives are working hard to consissippi Electric, which uses a mix of coal, natural gas,
tinue to be good stewards of
nuclear energy and hydroelectric power to produce
By Donald L. Jordan
the environment. We want our General Manager
electric energy. Currently, 38 percent of the fuel that
SME uses to produce electric
energy is coal.
To help us in the fight to keep your monthly bills from increasing dramatically,
SME generates electricity
we hope you will log on to www.action.coop, a website launched recently by
in power plants and then
the National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (NRECA), and sign up to
transmits it over high-voltage
receive updates on this vitally important issue.
transmission lines to substations. From the substations,
our network of local distribution lines then delivers the children and grandchildren to inherit a world with a
clean environment. But, while seeking to use more
electricity to your home, farm or business. The entire
electric grid is massive, sophisticated and complex, and renewable energy—such as solar or wind—is desirable,
is currently being faced with challenges that are guaran- prohibiting the use of fossil fuels such as coal will only
hurt the economy and place a much greater financial
teed to affect you and your monthly power bill.
strain on the consumer.
On June 25, President Obama introduced his cliWe, along with other co-ops throughout the counmate change action plan to cut carbon emissions and
try, are encouraging Congress to have a national discussion to find a balanced solution, one that addresses
environmental issues but does so in a way that keeps
energy costs affordable.
Our political leaders are being placed in the difficult
position of having to understand a complex and confusing issue that will significantly impact our economy.
The climate change debate has been a hot-button topic
in the media, political and public utility arenas for a
long time. There are many sides to the debate, the
stakes are high and the outcome will certainly affect
electricity rates in the United States. That is why we
want our members to be informed about this vital
issue.
The bulk electric system is not an inexhaustible
resource. Power providers will need to not only meet
new demand over the next few years but also replace
expiring contracts or shut down generation. It is necessary to have an adequate opportunity to plan, study
and build the right generation options to keep electric
service reliable, affordable and sustainable. If decisions
are made more difficult by regulatory uncertainty, then
there will be a risk of being subjected to rising market
prices, or worse, not having sufficient generation to
meet demand.
Auditing energy: Small measures, real savings
No matter the age of your home, it could benefit from
an energy audit. Southern Pine Electric Power Association offers free home energy audits. But you can get started on your own in finding low-cost solutions that could
save money on your monthly electric bill.
First, ask yourself a simple question: Does my home
feel drafty and cold in the winter, or stuffy and hot in
the summer? If yes, then it probably experiences air leakage.
To track down where those spots are, start with the
usual suspects—like damaged seals around doors and
windows. If you see daylight or feel air, then apply caulk
and weather stripping to keep outdoor air outdoors.
But don’t forget spots you might not immediately
think of, like recessed canister lights and electrical outlets.
Outlet insulation kits can be purchased for as little as $2,
and you can fix up your canister lights with some caulk
around the edges.
Also look where walls meet the ceiling. Cobwebs
mean you have drafts.
Next, peek into the attic and inspect the crawl space
for sufficient insulation—how much you need depends
on your climate. Check out the insulation calculator from
the Oak Ridge National Laboratory at
www.ornl.gov/~roofs/Zip/ZipHome.html. Keep in mind
insulation won’t do its job well if you don’t have a proper
air barrier working in tandem. All joints and cracks must
be sealed between your living space and insulation.
Finally, look to your light fixtures. Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) are up to 75 percent more efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs, and they’ve
come a long way in light quality, design, and affordability. You can purchase CFLs in a variety of shapes and
hues. They cost more upfront, but you’ll make your
money back in less than nine months and, after that, they
start saving money.
Make sure to purchase a CFL that’s rated by ENERGY STAR, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s
program that denotes products meeting specific energy
efficiency criteria. ENERGY STAR-rated CFLs will typically last 10 times longer than a traditional incandescent
bulb producing the same amount of light.
LEDs—light-emitting diodes—are in the next wave of
residential lighting. An ENERGY STAR-rated model is
estimated to use only a quarter of the electricity consumed by traditional bulbs and can last for 25 years. As
with many new technologies, the up-front cost for an
LED bulb is still much more than even a CFL, but prices
are expected to drop as new products are developed.
To learn more about ways to reduce your electric bill,
visit EnergySavers.gov, TogetherWeSave.com or Southern Pine’s website, spepa.com.
To schedule a home energy audit, call Mike Bryant at
601-785-2000, ext. 372.
One of the seven cooperative principles that guide Southern Pine is concern
for community. That principle states
that while focusing on member needs,
cooperatives work for the sustainable
development of their communities.
It was with that principle in mind
that Southern Pine recently offered a
workshop for entrepreneurs and new
business owners.
More than 30 residents of Smith,
Jasper and Covington counties participated in the “From Idea to Open” workshop at the Taylorsville headquarters.
The workshop was put on with the help
of the Electric Power Associations of
Mississippi and the Mississippi Development Authority.
“Today’s seminar is intended to help
you consider the risk and rewards of
your idea for a new business,” Southern
Pine General Manager Donald L. Jordan
told the group. “Some of you will decide
the risks exceed the potential rewards
and choose not to move forward—but
that is progress as
well.
“For those who
will continue
down the path of
business ownership, we want to
be sure you have
the tools and general information
necessary to build
a stable foundation to grow your
new business
David Parker, senior vice president of economic development for Electric Power Associations of Mississippi, speaks to participants in Southern
idea.”
Pine’s “From Idea to Open” workshop for entrepreneurs recently.
Participants
were given information on various topics • Financial statements
Larry Robinson, Southern Pine manand issues, including:
ager of Engineering Support Services,
• Employee benefits
said
he was pleased with the turnout for
• Marketing
• The legal forms of ownership
the workshop. He said more workshops
Professional economic developers
• How to develop a business plan
with more than 35 years of experience in will be held in the future in other areas
• Available small business loan
business development led the workshop. of Southern Pine’s service territory.
programs
• Securing a business loan
• Tax issues
Our payment options designed
with your convenience in mind
Southern Pine offers a variety of ways
to pay your monthly bill, some without
visiting one of our offices or even paying
postage.
The most convenient way is by bank
draft. Your bill is paid on time without
the hassle of mailing a check. It’s easy to
set up a bank draft and it’s free.
We also offer online payments. Members can pay their bill by credit card,
debit card or e-check through Paymentus, a third-party automated payment
service. Paymentus accepts Visa, Mastercard and Discover.
Online payments allow you to pay
your bill 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
To make an online payment, go to
www.spepa.com and click on the Paymentus logo under payment options. Or
call 1-866-283-7019 to pay by phone.
Have the following information
ready:
• Your Southern Pine account number,
which can be found on your bill, and the
last four digits of your Social Security
number.
• Name on your Southern Pine account,
including business contact name, if
applicable.
• Valid daytime phone number and email address.
• Your credit card or bank routing
information, including card holder
name and payment amount.
If you have any questions or are
experiencing problems paying a bill
online, you can call the Paymentus customer service number at 1-800-4201663.
Paymentus charges a $4.95 service fee
for each $300 increment. There is a
$2,000 payment maximum per transaction; however, multiple transactions are
allowed. Southern Pine does not receive
any part of this service fee.
You can also mail your payment to:
Southern Pine Electric Power Association, P.O. Box 60, Taylorsville MS
39168.
We also offer drive-through service at
our offices in Brandon, New Hebron,
Newton, and Hattiesburg. Drop boxes
are available at those offices and in Taylorsville.
To get details on any of these payment options, please visit our website,
www.spepa.com or call the nearest
Southern Pine office.
Co-op Connections
Business Spotlight
Every month, Southern Pine will spotlight local businesses that
participate in the Co-op Connections Program.
Play It Again Sports
Buying and selling quality new and used
sports and fitness equipment
$10 off any purchase of $50 or more
Turtle Creek Crossing
24 Cross Creek Parkway, Suite 88
Hours: Mon. - Sat. 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sun. 1 - 5 p.m.
601-268-8941