James A. Goodson,Chairman of the BoardJames A. Goodson,

Your Co-op NewsInformation formembers ofPee Dee Electric Cooperative

Office Hours8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Friday

Corporate Headquarters1355 East McIver Road

PO Box 491Darlington, SC 29540

District Office 1811 North 501 Bypass

PO Box 683Marion, SC 29571

Business and Power Outage (843) 665-4070

Toll-Free (866) 747-0060

Web sitewww.peedeeelectric.com

President and CEOE. LeRoy “Toy” Nettles, Jr.

Chairman, Board of TrusteesJames A. Goodson

Co-op News Editor Tom Kinard

20 living in south carolina JANuARy 2009 livinginsc.coop Pee Dee Electric Cooperative, Inc.

By now, members of Pee Dee Electric Cooperative know about the rate increase in their power bills

that took effect January 1. Your Board of Trustees held off raising the rates as long as we possibly could, but the time had come when we had no other choice. Pee Dee Electric Cooperative understands that you have concerns and want to know more about the rising cost of electricity. We hope this Question and Answer informational letter will give you the facts you need.

Q. Why are electric bills increasing?

A. Wholesale power costs paid by the co-op have risen 15 percent in 2008 alone. That translates to an increase of more than $4 million. This rise is due to the rapidly escalating cost of fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas, the cost of future power generation and increased global demand. Coal prices on the spot market rose more than 270 percent from October 2007 to October 2008 and the forecast is that the prices are going even higher. South Carolina’s co-ops get 80 percent of their energy from coal.

Q. What is the co-op doing to help members with the rising costs?

A. Pee Dee Electric Cooperative has always had programs and services to help members manage their energy use. These include home energy audits by the Energy Experts, an online residential energy audit feature on our Web site, www.PeeDeeElectric.com, and the “Do the Light Switch” campaign, providing CFLs to members. There are more energy-saving tips to come in Living in South Carolina Magazine and more programs to help you save money on your power bill.

Q. What can I do to help with the rising cost of my electricity?

A. The most important thing you can do is practice conservation. Simply turning things off or down, you can reduce your electric bill. Set your water heater to

Understanding the Rate Increase

120 degrees and your thermostat to 68 degrees or below in the winter and 78 degrees or higher in the summer. Turn TVs, computers, DVD players, etc. completely off overnight.

Q. When will a decrease begin?

A. Although some softening of coal prices was predicted in October for the short term, wholesale power costs are projected to increase overall in 2009. The price of gasoline for our automobiles does not directly affect the cost of generating electricity.

Remember, conservation and energy efficiency are more important than ever. In a cooperative, all costs are shared by the members. In order to maintain dependable service and to protect the integrity and financial stability of the co-op, Pee Dee Electric Cooperative has to pass along these power cost increases. Be confident that we’re doing our best to hold the line on power costs and to help you get the best value for your energy dollar.

It seems that uncertain economic times in America’s past have tended to bring families closer together. As members of Pee Dee Electric Cooperative, we are all members of the electric cooperative family that stretches from “sea to shining sea” and encompasses millions of members and the majority of the land mass of the United States. We’ve faced hard times before and, together, we’ll get through these crucial days. With those thoughts in mind, the Board of Trustees wishes you, your family and friends all the Best for 2009.

James A. Goodson

livinginsc.coop JANuARy 2009 living in south carolina Pee Dee Electric Cooperative, Inc. 20A

Former PDEC Board

Chairman Passes at 84

The co-op family was saddened at the death

of William B. Howell of Darlington County on November 21. Mr. Howell was the longest serving board member of Pee Dee Electric Cooperative, with 33 years of

service and was past Chairman. He also served on several statewide cooperative boards and commissions.

Mr. Howell was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and Korea earning the coveted Combat Infantrymen’s Badge. He received the Farmer of the Year Award, was elected to the Darlington County School Board for 27 years, also serving as its Chairman, and taught Sunday school at Mt. Elon Baptist Church.

Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Olivia, two sons, two daughters, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

PDEC President and CEO, Toy Nettles, said, “Mr. William left an indelible mark on Pee Dee Electric, his community and the entire state. His counsel and friendship will be sorely missed.”

this month, i’m back in a home improvement store. My wife calls it the grown-up toy store and it is fun to browse, but you can also find many things that can

be used to save you a lot of money on your power bill. i’m standing in front of a large selection of storm doors. these doors cover the entry doors, protecting them from the elements and adding r-value. Windows and doors are among the most important considerations for making your home more energy efficient. Drafty doors leading to the outside can account for as much as 40 percent of total air leaks in a home. though newer homes are built tighter, often with insulated entry doors, energy savings can still be enhanced significantly with a well-insulated storm door that is installed correctly in front of the entry door. the installation of a storm door is fairly simple and suitable for a do-it-

yourselfer. Most doors come with a complete set of installation instructions. steps in the process will vary according to model. read and follow any directions and diagrams that come with the door you’ve selected. if you don’t feel comfortable putting it up yourself, usually the store offers an installation service or you could ask a friend or relative to help. if you already have storm doors or if you’re installing new ones, be sure to apply weatherstripping where it’s needed. next month, in addition to a new Energy tip in this column, make sure you find the booklet containing “101 low-cost/no-cost home Energy-saving Measures.” there will be one booklet in each living in south carolina Magazine. if you have questions or would like a tip on a specific way to save energy, call me at (843) 665-4070.

Jef f ’s Energy Tip By Jeff Singletary, PDEC Energy Expert

Extra Energy Efficiency Tips•  Wash clothes in cold water. You’ll save up to 85 percent 

of your water-heating energy costs each month.

•  Insulate the pull-down attic stairway. Warm air rises and a lot can get through that big hole cut in your ceiling.

•  Let hot food cool before storing it in the refrigerator.using the fridge’s compressor to cool food costs $$.

•  Turn large-screen TV’s completely off when not in use. they can use as much power as a refrigerator.

•  Open draperies and shades of south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to enter and assist in heating your home. close them at night to help reduce the chill of cold windows.

Look for “101 Low-Cost/No-Cost Home Energy-Saving Measures”

coming next month.

File

File

File

leaders, electric co-ops can provide lawmakers with expertise on what programs are affordable, sustainable, and technologically feasible.

All of this must be grounded in goals and public policy that put consumers first. This is no time for policymakers to ignore our needs with a wink and a nod to special-interest groups. Now, more than ever, Main Street must come before Wall Street.

You can help in this effort and make a real impact by telling members of Congress your story — why affordable electricity is important to you and your family. Tens of thousands of electric co-op members have done so already, and as a result, we’ve sent more than 1.5 million messages to Congress, calling attention to our nation’s impending electricity crisis.

Please visit www.ourenergy.coop today. Make your voice heard and help guide national policymakers toward a smart, affordable energy future.

The South Carolina Legislature has returned to the Statehouse in Columbia and energy matters will be a priority of this first year of a new biennial session. You’ll find your Representative and Senator in this month’s Living in South Carolina Magazine. As residents of the Palmetto State, employees of Pee Dee Electric stand ready to answer questions posed by our elected officials about the effect certain legislation would have on the co-op’s members, but, there’s still nothing like the one-on-one contact of a single voter to a single member of the legislature. Whether you send a post card, a letter, a phone call, an e-mail or a text message, your representatives want to know how you feel. Let them know. Join in the Dialogue With South Carolina.

Pee Dee Electric Cooperative

20B living in south carolina JANuARy 2009 livinginsc.coopPee Dee Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Smart Solutionsfor

Our Energy Future

The dust has settled from the fall election, and this month we turn our eyes to Washington, D.C., as Barack Obama takes office as the 44th president of the United States. The economic

crisis will remain a major focus for elected officials over coming years, and the Obama Administration also promises an increased focus on energy policy. As all of us paying electric bills every month can attest to, the two go hand-in-hand. It is crucial that any energy policy discussed in Washington comes with a price tag that won’t leave consumers in the dark.

Through the nationwide grassroots awareness campaign called Our Energy, Our Future, co-op consumers have contacted their elected officials with three critical energy policy questions focused on capacity, technology, and affordability. With a new president and a new Congress taking office, electric cooperatives will need to continue pressing for answers.

These answers won’t be clear-cut. Day to day, Pee Dee Electric Cooperative works hard to provide you with safe, affordable, and reliable electricity. When you come home at night, you can count on a well-lit home, and should outages occur, we’re on the job to restore power quickly.

Although electricity use across the United States is steadily climbing, relatively high costs for construction materials and uncertainty about climate change goals, which could place strict limits on carbon dioxide emitted by power plants, have stalled development of new baseload generation: the large, efficient stations that provide dependable and affordable electric power year-round.

So, here’s the important question: how can we keep power flowing and electric bills affordable? There’s simply no single answer, and electric co-ops know from experience that it will take a variety of new generation resources and technologies to ensure reliable and affordable electricity in the coming years. We must invest in renewable energy, clean coal technology, nuclear power, an updated transmission grid, and improvements in energy efficiency across the board.

Of course, implementing all of this on a large scale will require a massive investment of government resources and leadership — similar to putting a man on the moon. As consumer advocates and industry

Now, the talk is over our back fence

SAVE$

Keep your garage door(s) down all seasons of the year. A warmer garage in fall and winter and a cooler garage in spring and summer saves energy. To learn more, log on our Web site, PeeDeeElectric.com, or call the Energy Experts at (843) 665-4070 or toll-free (866) 747-0060. Do your part to save energy and save $$$$.

$ $ $$$

File

20Cliving in south carolina JANuARy 2009 livinginsc.coop livinginsc.coop JANuARy 2009 living in south carolina Pee Dee Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Monster Growth at Commerce CityMonster.com breaks ground, Heinz plant on schedule, Waffle House opens at park entrance

A familiar sight to many travelers, Waffle House opens soon and will join Zaxby’s at the entrance to Commerce City.

H.J. Heinz Co. chose Pee Dee Touchstone Energy Commerce City for its first new plant in 30 years. The international conglomerate will produce Weight Watcher’s Smart Ones frozen dinners and Boston Market frozen entrees. The 225,000-square-foot facility will employ 350 workers. The plant is scheduled to begin operations in August 2009.

Monster.com, an online job recruitment and careers resource, will invest $28 million and bring 750 jobs to their new location in Commerce City. Ground-breaking was held on the site December 2. Three hundred people are already employed by Monster.com in a temporary location in Florence. Completion of construction is scheduled for early fall of this year.

Shown turning the ceremonial shovels are many dignitaries, including Pee Dee Electric Cooperative President and CEO, Toy Nettles.

Monster.com asked for an American flag to be

flown during the ground-breaking ceremony.

Pee Dee Electric was proud to fly a 30’x60’

Old Glory made in Olanta using the mast of one of our bucket trucks. That’s

1,800 square feet!

Tom Kinard

20D living in south carolina JANuARy 2009 livinginsc.coop

Pee Dee Electric Cooperative

Pee Dee Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Board Elects Officers

The Pee Dee Electric Cooperative Board of Trustees elected officers at its November meeting. James A. Goodson, District 8, will serve as Chairman; Preston Gainey, District 5, Vice-Chairman; Louise Kelley, District 4, Secretary/

Treasurer; and Fred Riales, District 11, Chaplain.

Fred rialeschaplain

Preston gaineyvice-chairman

James a. goodsonchairman

louise Kelleysecretary/treasurer

21livinginsc.coop JANuARy 2009 living in south carolina living in south carolina JANuARy 2009 livinginsc.coop Pee Dee Electric Cooperative, Inc.

A programmable thermostat...

Why heat your home when you’re sleeping orwhen nobody’s there? A programmable thermostatregulates your home’s temperature automatically.

In winter, each degreeabove 68 degrees addsabout 5% to your heating bill.

In summer, cooling costs can be reduced by about 5% for every 2 degrees higher you set your thermostat.

✓

Pee Dee Electric Cooperative is committed to work with integrity and innovation to provide you with reliable power at the best possible price.

does the thinkingand saves you money!

Electricity is more valuable than ever.Don’t waste it.

.......................................

.......

✓ ✓

Visit PeeDeeElectric.com for more energy saving tips.

843-665-4070 866-747-0060 Toll Free

-