Beginning in January 2008, members of South Alabama Electric Cooperative will be able to participate in an innovative new program - H2O Plus- that puts technology to work to save energy. At the heart of the program is a device installed on your water heater that allows our power supplier to cycle your unit during those times of day when the demand for power is greatest (and when it is most expensive).

“When a member agrees to participate, we’ll send a certified electrician to their home to install a cycling device on their water heater,” explains Max Davis, General Manager of SAEC. “There’s no cost to the homeowner for the device or for its installation.”

Once the device is installed, SAEC’s power supplier will be able to send a signal that instructs the device to cycle your water heater. The elements will power down for a short period – usually between two and four hours – and restart in time to maintain plenty of hot water for your home.

Members need not worry about running out of hot water when they enroll in H2O Plus.

“You’ll have plenty of hot water in your tank to handle showers, chores and other household tasks,” says Davis. “In fact, you should notice no difference at all in the amount of hot water available.”

This is not a program from which members will see instant results. In fact, H2O Plus will not trim a noticeable dollar amount from your monthly power bill. But when combined with thousands of other participating members across the region, the impact on future costs can be significant.

“H2O Plus is all about helping us manage peak demand,” explains Davis.  “We must be able to not only generate the average amount of power needed on any given day, but also to meet consumers’ power needs when demand is at its highest.”

The period when members are using the most electricity each day only lasts three or four hours, but SAEC must have the energy available to meet the demands of all its members during that time. By enabling better management of the system’s peak demand, the H2O Plus program will help us avoid purchasing power during those times when it is most expensive.

 “In addition to serving our members today, we are constantly planning for the power needs of tomorrow,” says Davis. “H2O Plus will be an important tool in that process.”

As a cooperative, South Alabama Electric is concerned about more than the bottom line. We have a real concern for the communities we serve, and we are committed to providing service at the most reasonable rates possible. The H2O Plus program will help us continue toward that goal.

“We encourage all our members to participate in the H2O Plus program,” says Davis. “It’s what being a cooperative is all about, members working together to keep costs low and value high for everyone involved.”

Contact a member service representative today to learn more about the in H2O Plus program. You can reach us toll-free at 1-800-556-2060.