MEMBER SERVICES
AUTOMATIC MONTHLY PAYMENT PLAN Allows your monthly electric bill payment to be automatically deducted from your bank account on the due date. Sign up online (clayelectric.com) or call your local district office. ONLINE ACCOUNT INFORMATION Visit the Clay Electric web site (clayelectric.com) and access your account information: - View your bill statement - Make a one-time payment online - View current charges - View account balance - View billing history - View estimated meter reading dates - Request emailed bill statements (Clay eBill). PROJECT SHARE - Help others by designating a tax-deductible amount to be added to your electric bill or make a one-time donation. REMOTE METER READING (RMR) - Enables a co-op meter reader to obtain the meter reading without entering the homeowners property. The monthly charge is $3.95. ENERGY SMART REBATE PROGRAM - Offers rebates for members who install additional insulation in their homes, or who install a high efficiency heat pump or solar water heating system. ENERGY EFFICIENCY LOANS - Available for the purpose of installing certain energy efficiency measures, including metal roofing and solar water heaters. SURGEBLASTER - High quality surge protection equipment at a low monthly lease. MARATHON WATER HEATERS - Marathon water heaters are the most energy efficient electric resistance water heater on the market and are offered in an array of sizes (15 to 105 gallons). LONG DISTANCE PHONE SERVICE - Clay has contracted with TransWorld Network Corp. (TWN) to offer members competitively priced long distance phone service. Call (877) 877-CLAY (2529) for more information. PAYMENT STATIONS - Clay has contracted with Fidelity Express to offer payment stations for paying your electric bill at various businesses in the co-ops service area. Fidelity Express charges $1 for each transaction. A list of payment locations is available online (clayelectric.com) and at your local district office.
Unit 3 delayed due to delays in certification
eminole Electric Co-op, which provides wholesale power to Clay Electric and nine other electric co-ops in the state, reports that its Unit 3 clean coal generating project will be delayed to 2014 or later due to the states delay in issuing site certification. After a lengthy court appeal process, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) issued the certification on Aug. 18. We have not yet made a decision about the timing of Unit 3, said Seminole spokesman Jeff Fela. Were continuing to obtain updates on project costs but we expect the project will be delayed to 2014 or later. Another significant step in the overall licensing process for Unit 3 occurred on Sept. 5 when the FDEP issued an air permit for the project. Because of a change in the law during the appeal, there is another air permit required and Seminole is preparing an application for that approval. A water discharge permit is still pending.

Power Line

Clay Electrics cost of power among lowest in the state

October 2008

The Clay Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Clays cost of power for 09 looks favorable
From the cover panel barring any changes or unforeseen events, Maxwell said.
Power Line is an informational publication of Clay Electric Cooperative, Inc. It is distributed monthly with members billing statements. If you have questions or comments about the Power Line publication, contact Editor Wayne Mattox at P. O. Box 308, Keystone Heights, FL 32656; e-mail: WMattox@clayelectric.com. Clay Electric also publishes the Kilowatt four times a year (January, March, July and October). The Kilowatt is the official voice of Clay Electric and has been published continuously since 1948 as an informational and educational service for co-op members. Clay Electrics web site (http://www.clayelectric.com) offers lots of online services such as payments, and information about the co-ops programs and services. Members can also write their own ads online to be published on the web sites Trading Post. To enter your ad on the Trading Post, you must use your Clay Electric customer number which is printed on your electric bill statement. Clay Electrics Board of Trustees will meet on Oct. 23 and Nov. 25 beginning at 12:30 p.m. in Keystone Heights.
lay Electric members who read the Gainesville Sun may have seen a front page story in the Sept. 26 edition that compared the August 2008 cost of 1,000 kWh of Progress Energy, Ocala Electric Utility and the Gainesville Regional Utility (GRU). Although Clay Electric has about 20,000 members in Alachua County, the co-ops low rate of $105.70 for 1,000 kWh wasnt included in the comparison. Clays rate places it below the three other utilities. The Gainesville Sun reported the cost for 1,000 kWh (August 2008 ) among the three utilities was: $107.83 for Progress Energy; $173.01 for Ocala; and $131.54 for GRU. Clay Electrics residential cost for 1,000 kWh continues to be among the lowest in the state, said Bill Phillips, GM/CEO. Plus, many of our members benefited from a Capital Credits refund of $6.25 million in March. Mark Maxwell, Clays Finance director, said the co-op isnt expecting any big changes in its power cost adjustment the rest of this year. The power cost adjustment reflects changes (increases and decreases) in the wholesale cost of power from its supplier (Seminole Electric). Next years cost for 1,000 kWh looks very favorable and could average below $114 per 1,000 kilowatt hours, Continued at left

Outside temperature and thermostat setting determine run time of home heating systems
Time to prepare your home for colder temperatures
inter time electric bills may be higher than normal because heating systems are weather sensitive. The weather dictates how often your heating system will operate based on your desired level of comfort. The colder the outdoor temperature, the greater the heat loss from inside the home, and the longer your heating system must operate to maintain your level of comfort. Sherman Phillips, manager of the co-op's Energy Services Division, said, "To maintain a basic comfort level of 68 degrees inside the home when the outside temperature is 60 degrees, a heating system's run time is minimal and probably Phillips none." "As it gets colder outside, the heating system will increase its run time proportionately to the heat loss from the home. The more efficient the home, the slower the heat transfer that will occur and the less run time required to maintain an inside temperature of 68 degrees," Phillips said. "By lowering the thermostat setting, energy savings can be realized. For every degree the thermostat is set below 68, a savings of about 5 percent can be achieved." Phillips said a person's lifestyle changes little just because it's cold outside. "You still use about the same amount of electricity for cooking, laundry, bathing, lighting and entertainment, no matter what the temperature is outside. What does change is the amount of run time on your home's heating system," Phillips said.
his is the time of year when Clay Electric customers should start thinking about preparing their homes for cooler weather. Its a good time to have your heating system inspected for winter use, said Steve Hollingsworth, member relations representative for the Orange Park District. Its much easier to have trained personnel service the system now than when colder temperatures actually arrive. Hollingsworth says its important to make sure your homes ductwork is inspected for leaks and to have them sealed if any are present. Leaking ductwork allows heated air to escape to the outdoors and lets cold outside air enter your home. He also recommends that heating system filters be inspected on a monthly basis and changed when dirty. Hollingsworth also recommends that if you currently heat with an electric resistance furnace, you should consider having the unit replaced with an energy efficient heat pump. The cost of operating a heat pump is approximately one-third that of an electric furnace, Hollingsworth said. If you have a conventional fireplace or a wood-burning stove make sure the damper is closed except when in use. Leaving the damper open is like having an eight-inch hole in the ceiling that allows warm air to escape, and cold air to enter the home. It can add as much as eight percent to your heating cost. On cold nights close the drapes to keep heat in the home. On sunny days open the blinds/

drapes to let the suns radiant heat enter the home. If your home has central heating, all interior doors should be kept open to allow proper air circulation within the home. Check for air leakage around windows and exterior doors. If there is air leakage, seal the cracks with caulk or weatherHollingsworth stripping. Attic insulation is the cheapest energy conservation measure that can be implemented in a home. If your attic doesnt have at least 6 inches of insulation, consider adding more, Hollingsworth said. R30 is recommended, but the minimum allowed by the current Florida Energy Code is R19. The cost of additional insulation is usually recovered within two to three years. Lowering the thermostat by 5 degrees during sleeping hours and while away from home will also save energy. For every degree the thermostat is set above 69 degrees, the cost of operation will increase by 4 percent! Also, consider using an electric blanket or throw on extra covers for additional warmth while sleeping. Heres some additional tips: For those folks who have hot tubs, keep them covered except when in use and keep the thermostat turned as low as possible. Swimming pool timers should be adjusted to 4-6 hours of operation per day.
CO-OP OFFERS EMAIL BILLING PROGRAM - With Clay eBill, co-op members can receive electric bill statements via email instead of getting a paper bill statement in the mail. The monthly email includes the bill statement as a PDF attachment and links to important information from the co-op, such as the monthly Power Line newsletter. Clay eBill participants can pay the bill online by clicking the pay my bill link in the email, or utilize any of the co-ops other payment options. To become a Clay eBill participant, visit the co-ops web site at clayelectric.com, log on to my account, and click on send me my bill by email. For more information, contact your local district office or visit clayelectric.com.