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In rural areas across the state, Aiken Electric and other not-for-profit cooperatives spend -thousands of dollars per year repairing equipment, power lines and fiber optic cables that have been struck by a stray shot. Repairs can be very costly, and we strive to keep operating expenses down for all members by making every effort to recover costs from any party responsible for facility damages. We need your help – please join us in this collaborative effort to keep “unplanned” maintenance and repair costs for our members as low as possible. Read More.
As part of our ongoing advancements and enhancements to our service system, Aiken Electric Cooperative has been upgrading electric power meters. We have completed the residential portion of this process and will be working to upgrade commercial meters for the next several months in an effort to improve our outage monitoring system and increase our responsiveness out in the field. All metering personnel will have Aiken Electric Cooperative uniforms and be in a truck clearly marked with our logo. They will also have official Aiken Electric Cooperative wallet identification. Thank you for your patience as we continue our efforts to better serve you, our members.
CEO's Message
We can help you save
IT’S NOT GOING to the grocery store that I’ve come to dislike. It’s leaving when I find out just how much it costs to purchase a few bags of essentials.
I don’t blame my grocer, though. Costs have risen for everything. We’re seeing it at Aiken Electric Cooperative, too. Inflation isn’t just driving up the price of eggs. For example, utility poles cost much more than they did a few years ago. The price of electric transformers has soared from $874 in 2019 to $1,360 today. The cost of other essential materials such
as pad mount transformers, wooden crossarms and primary cable has also increased dramatically in recent years.
Aiken Electric also carries some of the highest property tax burdens in the counties we serve. And, as you know, interest rates have risen significantly in recent years. In order to deliver the reliable power you have come to expect, we borrow money to make upgrades to our electrical systems. Those higher rates have caused our interest expenses to increase.
I think it’s important for members to be aware of these challenges and how we’ll respond. On page 5, you can get more details about the price, demand and wait challenges for materials Aiken Electric is facing.
Because Aiken Electric is a not for-profit organization, we aim to provide safe, reliable power at the most affordable price for our members. This means helping you save money on your electric bill and providing services to help make life easier.
Here are some of our innovative programs to help members save on their energy bills.
Smart Thermostat Members can receive a free smart thermostat, including installation, or enroll an eligible Smart Thermostat device for a $50 incentive. This program helps reduce wholesale power costs by allowing Aiken Electric to adjust your thermostat a few degrees during peak periods.
Help My House This program offers a home energy audit in which our experts assess air leaks, insulation gaps and other common problems that can make your home less energy efficient. Our experts will install the latest energy saving technologies for heating, cooling and lighting in your home through a low interest loan that you pay through your electric bill.
Beat The Peak You can become informed of how your electricity use varies during the day and across the seasons of the year. You’ll receive a notification at times when you can help reduce electricity use-that is when you can beat the peak need for electricity.
If you have questions about energy efficiency or any of our programs and services, feel free to call us. We’re here to serve you.
There are many more important questions still to be answered, but you have my promise that we will be transparent and proactive as we work to keep your power affordable.
Gary L. Stooksbury, Chief Executive Officer
Help hold down power costs! Join thousands of electric cooperative members in South Carolina in managing your energy use during peak times. Peaks occur on the coldest winter mornings and hottest summer afternoons, when the demand for electricity, and the cost for it, is the highest.
Together, we can keep rates affordable, delay the need for new power plants and make the future brighter.