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Fairhope Public Utilities
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Mission Statement
The Fairhope Public Utilities Electric Department is committed to providing safe and reliable services. Our goal is to deliver these essential services in a manner that is efficient, cost effective, prompt, and sensitive to the needs of our customers. We strive to be the leading public utility by being committed to our number one priority, 100% customer satisfaction!
The Electric department is widely known for restoring power to the citizens of Fairhope as quickly as possible. Our purpose is to ensure the safety of our employees and the public during our daily operations. As a whole this is achieved in part by the electric departments’ valuable employees, which is staffed with talented men that appreciate, enjoy and take pride in the job they perform to the highest degree.
Background
The Fairhope Electric Department has come a long way since the days the city produced its own electricity with a generator at a building on Section Street (now the city's official Welcome Center), which at one time housed the city's power plant, police station, fire station, and administrative offices.
Most of the growth has come within the past 30 years, according to Electrical Superintendent Aaron Norris, who came to work for the city in 1973, when there were only about 1,400 electricity customers and a city population of around 4,000.
Today, the Fairhope Electric Department serves a customer base of nearly 6,500 residences and businesses within the corporate city limits. Power is provided via five substations that have an incoming capacity of 70MVM, well above the average use and almost twice last year's peak usage of 38 MVM.
The city has purchased its electricity from Alabama Power for more than 30 years, although in recent years the purchases have been made through AMEA, the Alabama Municipal Electric Association, an organization of municipal-owned electric companies.
The City of Fairhope is continuing to move all utility services underground, with short-range plans to complete that work throughout the downtown area. By city ordinance, all new subdivisions and developments are required to have underground services. Norris says the city encourages and will work with residents in the older part of town who would like to have their service lines buried.
The Fairhope Electric Department also lends important support to the charm of downtown Fairhope by stringing over a million white lights on the downtown trees every fall. Dubbed "seasonal lights," they twinkle brightly from mid-November through mid-March, adding a festive air to the holidays, as well as Mardi Gras and the annual Arts & Crafts Festival.
For more information on electrical service for the City of Fairhope, call Public Works at 251-928-8003.
Fairhope tops list of AMEA 2007 Customer Satisfaction Survey
According to a survey conducted by the Alabama Municipal Electric Authority (AMEA), residential customers of Fairhope Electric reported high overall satisfaction with service, problem resolution, and the cost of electricity. Questions in the phone survey covered a variety of topics, and asked respondents to rate their utility from one to ten, with one being unfavorable and ten being highly favorable.
“Fairhope received more ratings of 9 or 10 when compared to other cities in the survey,” said Aaron Norris, electric superintendent. “For example, when asked to give their overall opinion, 69.2 percent of the respondents in Fairhope gave our service a 9 or a 10.”
Mayor Tim Kant, who also serves as a board member for AMEA, said credit is due to the coordinated efforts of many city employees. “Aaron Norris and his crew do a great job, but others contribute to make the system work efficiently, including the meter readers and those in revenue who handle the billing. Fairhope Electric runs well on all levels, and I’m happy that the survey indicates that our customers are pleased with the job we’re doing.”
Customers gave Fairhope Electric high ratings for the value of service versus price. “Overall in the 11 cities surveyed, the results shows that customers would like to see lower bills, which is always understandable, but just over half of the customers surveyed in Fairhope (50.6 percent) gave us a 9 or 10 on our service and value,” Norris said.
“According to the survey, 75.3 percent of the Fairhope respondents said that what they pay for electricity was about the same or lower compared to other electric utilities in Alabama,” Kant said, noting the survey results. “The City Council deserves thanks for working to keep our rates as low as possible.”
Fairhope also received high marks for minimizing power outages and its response to outages. “More than 80 percent of the respondents gave Fairhope Electric a 9 or 10 when asked to describe their satisfaction in our performance in restoring power,” Norris said, adding that under normal circumstances, residents should expect service within 15 minutes of calling in an outage during working hours and within 30 minutes after hours.
Tom Bartels, director of marketing and special projects for AMEA, said he appreciated Mayor Kant’s support of the survey. “We conduct a survey every two or three years, and Mayor Kant has always recognized the importance of getting this vital feedback from our customers.” In addition to being one of our board members, Kant also serves on the AMEA budget committee.
Bartels said the survey indicated that AMEA customers continue to expect more from their electric service. In Fairhope, the newly installed Reverse 911 system will help meet those expectations. “Nearly half of Fairhope’s respondents said that they would like to be updated by phone about progress during an extended outage, like after a hurricane,” said Norris. “With Reverse 911, the capability is there to send out updates by neighborhood to let people know when their power will be restored.”
The AMEA survey was conducted during February and March 2007. AMEA member cities include Lanett, Sylacauga, Lafayette, Opelika, Fairhope, Piedmont, Dothan, Luverne, Alexander City, Tuskegee, and Foley (Riviera).
Fairhope is a member of Alabama Municipal Electrical Authority
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Power Outages
ENERGY CONSERVATION TIPS (pdf)
Questions and Answers
Scott Sligh, Electric Superintendent answers some frequently asked questions.
Q: If I see an electrical line on the ground what should I do and whom should I contact?
A: You should stay clear of the line and report the problem to 251-928-8003.
Q: If I am driving on the road and a Utility pole or line falls across the road and is on my car what should I do?
A: If your car is not on fire, you should stay in your car and do not touch anything. To assists you with not touching anything, cross your arms over your chest. After this just sit and wait patiently until help arrives. If this happens in the City of Fairhope, help will be there rather quickly.
Q: First the basics – who provides electricity for Fairhope?
A: There are three providers of electricity in Alabama, Investor Owned Utilities, Electric Cooperatives, and Municipally Owned Systems. Originally, electricity was available only to users who could afford rates that were profitable to Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs). This type of company must earn a profit to share dividends with stockholders who may or may not be customers. Providing service to rural areas was not as profitable, and so Cooperatives were formed to serve rural customers. Cooperatives operate on a not-for-profit basis.
Fairhope’s electric system has been city-owned right from the start, just like our water, sewer, and natural gas systems. In 1978, the nation was on the edge of a depression, but Fairhope was growing fast, and we were spending a lot of money on utilities, building substations and putting in new lines to keep up with the growth. That same year, Alabama Power approached the City to buy our electric system, and it came close, but the City Council voted down the sale. The Mayor then negotiated better rates with Alabama Power, but we knew we needed something more than that.
Before 1981,state law prohibited cities in Alabama from joining together to control their electric supply. But after that law was changed, eleven Alabama cities joined together to form the AMEA – Alabama Municipal Electric Authority. In 1986, the cities signed contracts giving AMEA the right to negotiate rates, and with the combined buying power of eleven cities, AMEA is able to obtain reliable, cost-effective electricity.
Q: Does AMEA buy from more than one source?
A: AMEA purchases power under contract from various sources, utilities across the U.S. AMEA is active in the ‘next hour’ energy market, including the Automated Interchange Matching System developed by AMEA and other utilities in the Southeast. This combination allows Ameba’s members to be competitive.
Q: Are prices ever re-negotiated?
A: If feasible, reductions in price are negotiated in current contracts. As those contracts expire, AMEA representatives go to the market to seek new, economical sources of electricity. Flexibility is important. In the earlier years of Ameba’s existence, the electric market was such that it was more economical to purchase blocks of firm power by contract. Building generation is often a long process that requires large capital outlay before electricity is available for sale to customers. Ameba’s Board and staff constantly explore the market to detect trends in supply.
Two years ago, AMEA had the opportunity to purchase two 47.5 MW peaking units at very favorable prices. Those units went into service in May 2004 and are Ameba’s first generation plant.
Q: Does AMEA do anything other than provide power?
A: The Board considers a three-point criterion to decide whether to add a service. 1) The service can’t hinder Ameba’s principal purpose, 2) it must be needed and used by all members, and 3) it can be provided at a cost lower than a member could obtain if acting alone.
For example: A few years ago, several members were interested in installing or upgrading Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems. They asked AMEA to see if money could be saved if AMEA purchased the systems for the members. Combining the needs proved to be so cost effective that all eleven members now have SCADA systems with a hub in the AMEA office. Combining the need for this cutting edge technology made it affordable for all member cities.
AMEA also awards yearly scholarships for high school seniors in all the member cities.
Q: How is AMEA operated and regulated?
A: AMEA is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors who serve staggered three-year terms. The boards oversee Ameba’s rates. Current Board members are: Don Clements, City of Dothan, D. Wayne Duke, City of Sylacauga, Donald McClellan, City of Alexander City, Morris Tate, City of Luverne, Tim Kant, City of Fairhope, Charles Ebert, Jr., City of Foley, Henry Osborne, City of Lanett, Gary Fuller, City of Opelika, and Bill Fann, City of Piedmont. Board members are not paid for their services.
Q: So what can we do to help keep our costs low?
A: There are many ways you can lower your costs by using electricity wisely. Let’s look at some specific questions and answers
Q: What is the most efficient thermostat setting for heating?
A: Keep your setting as low as you can while still maintaining comfort. For most people, this is 68 – 70 degrees. Heating costs increase by 1-2 percent for each degree higher than that.
Q: Do I save money by turning the thermostat low at night and then higher in the morning?
A: If you have a heat pump, you should set the thermostat at a comfortable temperature and leave it. With other heating systems, you can save by turning the thermostat back for four hours or more.
Q. How often do I need to change filters?
A: Check filters once a month and replace them whenever they appear dirty. A dirty filter blocks airflow through the system, making it work harder and increasing operating costs.
Q: Are energy efficient appliances worth the added cost?
A: Even though such appliances can cost more to purchase, consider how much money a more energy-efficient appliance might save over its lifetime of use. Read the appliance’s ‘energy guide label’ to compare the true costs of different makes and models. These labels, required by the federal government, identify the type of appliance, its make and model number, and estimated annual energy cost. The label also shows how that model compares with other models.
ENERGY CONSERVATION TIPS
Assessing the insulation in your home
Assessing the insulation level in your home’s attic and walls is a straightforward process that can help you decide whether more insulation would be a cost-effective improvement.
Your attic or ceiling insulation is the most important part of your home’s thermal boundary because it helps reduce heat gain in the summer as well as minimizing heat loss in the winter. To assess your attic insulation, locate the hatch or door that leads to your attic, and use a ladder if needed to get up where you can see the entire attic. Measure to see how many inches of insulation is installed, and decide what type of insulation you have. If you’re not familiar with the type of insulation, take a small sample to your local building supply store to ask for help in identifying it.
The effectiveness of insulation is measured in R-value per inch. The total R-value of your insulation depends both on its type and its depth. To determine the total R-value of your insulation, decide what type of insulation is installed, and multiply the R-value per inch times the number of inches installed. Cellulose loose-fill insulation, for example, which is common in this area, is rated at about R-3.5 per inch. If your attic has 4 inches of cellulose, that’s 3.5 x 4 = R-14. Your attic insulation should be at least R-30 – and in cold-winter climates many attics are insulated to at least R-40.
Type of Insulation And Its R-Value Per Inch
Fiberglass, blankets or loose-fill = 2.9 to 3.5
Cellulose, loose-fill = 3.5
Mineral wool, blankets of loose-fill = 3.0
Foam board, white = 3.8
Foam board, blue or pink = 5.0
Wall insulation is trickier to assess. Try looking around the edges of an electrical outlet box on an outside wall. First turn the power off at your main electrical panel, then remove the outlet’s cover plate. Use a flashlight to peek around the edges of the box. You can also cut an inspection hole through the drywall in the back of a closet or other hidden location that is on an outside wall. Wall insulation should completely fill the wall cavity. Walls with no insulation or partial insulation can be re-insulated with loose-fill material that is blown through a tube inserted into the wall. This is job for professionals.
Drying clothes the 'old fashioned' way saves energy
One of the best ways to control your utility bills is to dry your clothes the old-fashioned way: on a clothesline. And there are advantages to line drying besides just saving energy.
Your electric clothes dryer uses power to both produce heat and turn the drum. Most electric dryers consume between 800 to 1400 kilowatt-hours per year. Line drying can eliminate much of this usage and expense.
If you are fortunate enough to have an outdoor clothesline, you already know that clothes dried outdoors smell fresher, and they carry less residual odor from detergents and bleach. And you can often do without bleach when line drying since the sun will tend to lighten most fabrics. Sunlight has a natural sanitizing effect, too.
Line-dried clothes tend to be stiffer than clothes that come out of the dryer. If you'd like some articles such as your towels to be softer, send them through the dryer after you take them off the line. Just five minutes on the air-only cycle will do the job, then hang them on the line.
You can also use an indoor drying rack instead of a clothesline. This will save you the trouble of carrying your clothes outside, and you can still dry your laundry during rainy weather. However, indoor drying may take longer than outside drying, and you won't receive the sanitizing benefits of drying in the sun.
Find your home’s drafts
Is your home drafty? Though some drafts may be caused gaps in your home’s exterior air barrier that allow cold outdoor air to enter your home, many apparent drafts are not caused by air leaks at all.
Air leakage that allows outdoor into your home can increase heating and cooling expense by 10 to 30 percent. The heated or cooled air in your home will easily travel through cracks that are hidden behind trim, under carpet, or around light fixtures. But these tiny openings don’t tend to add up to much real heat loss. It’s the big holes around chimneys, wires, and plumbing fixtures that sap your home’s energy efficiency, and the average home has lots of them.
Take a bright light into your attic, basement, or crawl space, and follow the paths of these utilities where they pass through walls, ceilings, and floors. Use foam sealant, sheet metal, or caulking to seal large openings that allow air to pass into hidden cavities. You’ll save energy in both summer and winter by sealing these large air leaks.
Windows may seem drafty, but they don’t usually leak that much air. What happens instead is that the cold window glass cools the air right next to the window. This cold, dense air then sinks to the floor, and flows out across the room. Warm air flows in at the top of the window to replace the cold air, and a circular pattern of airflow is established in the room. It’s tempting to blame all the small cracks around your windows, doors, and baseboards for these drafts, but caulking them up doesn’t usually save much energy. What is the solution to most cold window problems? Install heavy curtains, or install storm windows if your windows have only a single pane of glass.
You can save a lot of energy and be more comfortable if you seal up your home’s drafts. But don’t worry about the little stuff until you’ve found and sealed all the large hidden openings in your home’s air barrier.
Source: John Krigger, Saturn Resource Management
Install Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs)
Lighting accounts for almost one-fifth of all the electricity consumed in the United States. Common incandescent bulbs are very inefficient and waste 90 percent of their energy producing heat instead of light. This waste heat contributes to your cooling bill in the summer.
Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) are one solution. They use one-quarter to one-third the electricity of common incandescent bulbs, and screw into standard light sockets. CFLs can save 60 percent or more on lighting costs. They're available in a wide range of light output and in a pleasing range of colors.
A CFL will cost about 10 times the price of an incandescent bulb, but it will last about 10 times longer. This makes their long-term purchase cost about the same. The savings on your electric bill will begin immediately.
Start by installing CFLs in the rooms you use the most, like the kitchen, bathroom, and living room. Choose CFLs with a much lower wattage than the incandescent bulbs they replace. For example, replace 100-watt incandescents with 26–30-watt CFLs to get the same light output; replace 75-watt incandescents with 20–23-watt CFLs; and replace 60-watt incandescents with 15–20-watt CFLs. Using the higher wattage CFLs ensures that you won’t get complaints about loss of light.
Standard CFLs are slightly larger than incandescent light bulbs and may not fit in all fixtures. The smallest CFLs, called sub-compact fluorescent, may work in these cases. Check your fixtures before purchasing CFLs. Perhaps you want to purchase one and then see how it fits in various lamps and fixtures.
If you’re building a home, or plan to replace existing built-in fixtures, look for fixtures that are designed especially for CFLs. Recessed CFL fixtures—those that fit into the ceiling—are an especially good replacement for the recessed incandescent fixtures that allow large amounts of air to leak into the home.
Source: John Krigger, Saturn Resource Management
This message is brought to you by the City of Fairhope Electric Department and the Alabama Municipal Electric Association.