DURANGO, Colo. – La Plata Electric Association has posed the question: Would customers use less electricity if they could actually see what it cost as they used it?

While LPEA officials anecdotally suspect consumption would decrease, the cooperative has organized a power cost monitor study to gather official data. LPEA is currently seeking volunteers in La Plata and Archuleta counties interested in participating and willing to place a display monitor in their homes for a year.

“They’re actually very interesting little pieces of equipment,” said Ron Meier, LPEA manager of engineering who is overseeing the project. “Once installed, homeowners can literally watch the pennies tick away as they consume electricity.”

Ron Meier points to the tiny sensor that remotely reads a home’s electricity meter and transmits the usage to the display unit.

With forecasts of energy shortages looming, LPEA is exploring a number of ideas for electric energy efficiency, including demand side management, renewable energy projects and more. The power cost monitor study is the most recent.

“It’s about empowering the customer – no pun intended,” said Greg Munro, LPEA CEO. “The more we, individual consumers, understand and can manage, the more confident we feel that we have some control in our lives.”

Munro also noted that while conservation cannot completely do away with the need for construction of additional power generation, it can help, and is indeed one of the pieces in the management of electrical power going forward.

The monitors will be distributed to members beginning in October. Those who participate must have lived in their current residence and been LPEA customers for at least one year, to ensure that historical data can be included in the study. Participants must also agree to regular conversations with LPEA advisors to discuss their opinion of the monitor and program, their energy consumption practices and changes in the household that might affect electric usage.

“If someone installs a hot tub during the year, their electrical usage is going to rise,” said Meier, noting that such changes must be part of the final equations. “By the same token, if they’ve replaced the insulation in their home, or changed out all their incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescents, we may see a significant drop in energy consumption. Having all the pieces will allow us to present an accurate report at the end of the study.”

Meier holds the electronic display that indicates electricity usage in real time.

The initial study will involve 100 year-round households currently on the regular LPEA residential rate. Those signed up for the WattWatcher® Time-of-Use program who are already practicing demand-side management, are not eligible to participate at this time. LPEA also hopes to attract a broad demographic, not only geographically throughout the service territory (with varying weather patterns), but also a variety of residence size and occupancy – both number and ages.

“If this study shows a definite trend toward increased conservation, we will explore an expanded power cost monitor program within the cooperative,” said Munro, noting that options exist for rebates, discounted monitor purchase for members and more. “We’re looking forward to the community’s participation.”

To volunteer for the program, sign up on-line at www.lpea.coop, in person at either the Durango or Pagosa Springs LPEA offices, or by phone, 970.247.5786. Volunteers will be qualified on a first-come, first-served basis.

LPEA, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative established in 1939, provides to its nearly 30,000 members with more than 40,000 meters, safe, reliable electricity at the lowest reasonable cost, while being environmentally responsible. For further information, visit www.lpea.coop.   

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