Berlin Young Farmers Hear About Deregulation Of Electricity
GAY BROWNLEE
Somerset Co. Correspondent
BERLIN (Somerset Co.)
The Berlin Young Fanners, after
thoughtfully listening to the un
biased presentation that Dennis
Buffington gave about the deregu
lation of electricity in Pennsylva
nia, as the meeting closed, gravi
tated into threesomes and four
somes for spontaneous and
low-voiced discussions!
Generally they seemed united,
agreeing that small guys like
themselves will profit far less
from the coming choices in a ros
ter of electrical suppliers than will
big commercial users, who they
expect to reap the greater good.
Nor is their breath being held in
anticipation of an increased cash
flow of their hard-earned bucks
once the three-year switchover is
said and done in 2001.
Buffington, who spent 11 years
heading up Penn State’s Agricul
tural and Biological Engineering
Program, and now is teaching re
search and extension activities,
however, expressed a firm belief
that deregulation will prove posi
tive.
Getting knowledge beforehand
is critically important
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“We must prepare. I’m con
vinced there are going to be bene
fits,” Buffington said.
"There’s no doubt everybody
will be affected by deregulation,
how we buy electricity and how
we use electricity,” he predicted.
“Enjoy youir supper while you
can,” he quipped.
Simply, that means the power
companies, will also do product
campaigning at family mealtimes
when deregulation of electricity is
in full swing. Don’t make any
spur-of-the-moment decisions.
Ask for printed material and think
about the information.
Many choices will be available,
resulting in a confusing maelstrom
of information for some Pennsyl
vanians.
“The Key is education. Know
how much electricity costs now so
you can compare,” the professor
said, advising the meeting at
tendees.
Farmers should be taking a hard
look at their current electrical
usage to determine per kilowatt
hour their cost of operating. Mak
ing some adjustments now is plain
good sense in order to shop the
competitive market later.
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To accomplish this, he/she first
must understand the utility bill
which lists generation, transmis
sion. distribution, local service
and tax on separate lines.
Know which machines and
equipment pieces in the operation
arc the primary users of electri
city. Vacuum pump, milk re
frigeration equipment and silo un
loader, for instance.
Start managing the electrical
demand by staggering the use of
these items, especially if you are
an “on-demand,” charge cus
tomer.
Calculate the cost of electricity
to produce 100 pounds of milk, a
dozen of eggs, a pound of meat, a
flat of bedding plants or a bushel
of fruit
Commercial business owners
would figure their cost per cus
tomer, Buffington said.
Additionally, know what’s hap
pening with developing tech
nology regarding the more effi
cient motors designed to reduce
electrical consumption.
Sometimes, because the savings
will be realized in daily usage seen
over the long haul, such an invest
ment is well worth the initial cash
SURGE,
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 14, 1998-A4l
outlay.
Think smart, however. Only a
thorough study of its potential val
ue to the operation should precipi
tate such an important investment
by those concerned with it
Doyle Paul who buys electricity
from his municipality wondered
how deregulation would affect the
arrangement
“Berlin borough has its own
electricity and sells out to cus
tomers,” he reported.
“Most municipal power sys
tems will be sticking with the sys
tems they have now,” Buffington
replied.
Some three representatives
from the Somerset Rural Electric
Cooperative one of the stale’s
13 rural cooperatives agreed
that the information Buffington
presented was neutral in content
Two rural cooperatives, with
eight electric companies are parti
cipating in the pilot program. The
Somerset REC, according to its
representatives, isn’t one of them.
“Your utility company wants to
keep you as a customer,” Buffing
ton said. “They will answer all
your questions.”
In fact the state Public Utilities
Commission has developed guide
lines for the deregulation process
that include universal service and
energy conservation programs;
consumer education; support to
low-income consumers and relia
bility of the electricity supply.
The deregulation phasing in
process by January 1, 2001, will
give choice to all customer classes
in Pennsylvania.
The pilot programs are provid
ing a deregulated environment in
which both utility companies and
some customers, before Jan. 1,
1999 are experiencing how it
operates.
One-third of the customers will
then make the choice of an electric
utility company official.
Local providers of electricity,
as now will continue to maintain
the systems in their areas, even if
the customer’s provider is in an
other state and each month pays
that company for the kilowatt
hours of electricity used.
The Cooperative extension of
fices and the Public Utilities Com
mission have fact sheets and de
tailed information for interested
persons.
Agronomy
School
March 4
POTTSVILLE
(Schuylkill Co.) The
1998 Tri-County Agro
nomy School will be
presented by Penn State
Cooperative Extension
from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.,
Wednesday, March 4, at
the elementary school/
community center in
Gratz.
Reservations ($5 per
person) are required and
can be made by contact
ing J. Allan Shoener at
the Schuylkill County/
Penn State Cooperative
Extension Office, 1202
Ag Center Drive, Potts
villc, PA 17901, (717)
622-4225, or Jerry Mar
tin at the Dauphin
County/Penn State Co
operative Extension Of
fice, 1451 Peters Moun
tain Road, Dauphin, PA
17018,(717)921-8803.
Reservations are due by
Monday, Feb. 23.
David S. King
Iron Worker
Manufacturer of
Church Bench
folding hinges.
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