Vampire power is used by electronic and electrical appliances even when they are shut off. This elusive power use can account for as much as 20% of your monthly electricity bill. Because it often goes unnoticed, we also call it standby power or phantom load. The most common standby electrical vampire culprits that most of… Continue reading.

ACE Hardware, State Farm, REI, Land O’Lakes and Warren County REMC all share something in common: we’re all cooperatives.  We may be in different industries, but we all share a passion for serving our members and helping our communities to thrive. In fact, all cooperatives adhere to the same set of seven principles that reflect… Continue reading.

Agriculture is the backbone of our country, and our livelihood greatly depends on the crops provided by American farmers. In addition to being one of the most labor-intensive professions, farming is also considered one of the most dangerous jobs in the U.S.  The hard work and exhaustive labor are tough, but rushing the job to… Continue reading.

With storms always a possibility, weather emergencies are bound to happen — but they don’t have to reach crisis status in your household. If you prepare for power outages before they occur, you can minimize your worries, especially about food safety.  The most important tip to remember is to keep your refrigerator and freezer doors… Continue reading.

Most of us use electricity, either directly or indirectly, at almost all times. Because electricity is so abundant and available with the simple flip of a switch, it’s easy to take it for granted.  According to the Energy Information Agency (EIA), the typical U.S. household now uses more air conditioning, appliances and consumer electronics than… Continue reading.

Whenever a hurricane, wildfire, or other natural disaster causes a widespread power outage, people tend to ask a logical question: Why don’t they put the power lines underground? It’s one of those questions that seems to have an easy answer — until you start looking at the details. The debate over “undergrounding” power lines comes… Continue reading.

Have you ever noticed your lights blink during a thunderstorm? Or perhaps you’ve noticed a blinking microwave clock when you arrive home. When this happens, you’ve likely experienced a brief disruption to your electric service, which could result from a power surge or blink. While the symptoms of surges and blinks can appear similar, what’s… Continue reading.

No matter your job, a business owner lives in your house: you! As a member of your local electric cooperative, you are actually an owner (a member-consumer) of the organization! Electric cooperatives sprang up across the U.S. in the 1930s as towns and cities across the nation gained access to electricity. The Rural Electrification Act… Continue reading.

As I’ve noted before in my past columns, the energy industry is undergoing a dramatic transformation as consumer demand for more renewable energy sources grows, and innovation and technology continue to advance exponentially. You’re likely witnessing this energy evolution first-hand.  In driving across the region, you may have noticed fields of solar panels owned by… Continue reading.