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Presents and ‘presence’Combine the two to show loved ones you care SOMETIMES IT’S THE SIMPLE THINGS we appreciate most. Visiting friends and family during the holidays is the greatest gift. But remember the economy still needs a boost, so do your part by shopping with local merchants. That said, here are some ideas to give loved ones, especially the elderly. A comforting gift. Know someone who lives in a drafty, older house? Invest in a caulking gun, caulk and weather stripping and pay them a visit. Find weatherization tips at Aiken Co-op’s web siteaikenco-op.org and at TogetherWeSave.com. Though inexpensive, weatherization reduces heating bills by 32 percent and overall energy bills by about $400 a year, the Energy Department says.Brighten their day – and nights. Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), like the ones your co-op has distributed through its Do The Light Switch program, are getting cheaper. Lighting accounts for about 10 percent of a typical home electric bill, making CFLs a “gift that keeps giving” -- especially for those who still find the up-front cost out of reach. Remember, changing bulbs can be tricky for elderly folks, so grab a ladder and install the CFLs for them.A hand up, not a hand-out. Some folks hesitate to ask for help. But with winter coming, this trait can be dangerous. If you suspect a loved one might run the risk of getting behind on their co-op bill, ask about our third-party notification policy. You can sign up to be notified if a loved one’s account becomes overdue. If so, we’ll notify you and, if possible, make arrangements to keep their lights on. Make a change. If you would like to help your community in addition to family members, sign up for our Operation Round-Up program. By simply rounding up your statement to the nearest dollar, Aiken Electric Cooperative can use that change to help the less fortunate in our service areas throughout the entire year. Aiken Electric Cooperative will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 26 and 27, in observance of Thanksgiving. We’ll also close at 1 p.m. Christmas Eve, which falls on a Thursday, and on Christmas Day as well as Monday, December 28. And we’ll be closed on New Year’s Day, a Friday. Emergency crews will be on standby. Please also note that this issue of South Carolina Living is a combined issue for November and December. We’ll return with a new issue in January. Until then, happy holidays from Aiken Electric Cooperative! Gary |