Friday, May 1, 2015
What the Smart Energy Technology Solution Project Award to Glasgow Means
1:51 PM | 
Posted by
Billy Ray |
By
now we hope you have heard that Glasgow EPB’s proposed Smart Energy Technology
Solution (SETS) was chosen for funding. That immediately means that money will come to our community, but it also means that our community will
reap long term benefits. Our proposed demonstration of what the next generation
of electric utility should look like was judged to be the most likely to
provide really new ideas for all local power companies. We are excited as a
team, and we are ecstatic that the community is working together to bring these
research dollars into the local economy. In
the history of our community, this direct injection of capital exceeds nearly
every other grant that has ever landed here. But perhaps now it is time to fill
the community in on more of just what this money is going to buy us.
This research was announced several years ago. From the very
beginning, the EPB team felt our community was perfectly situated to
demonstrate smart energy technology. The EPB mission statement dictates that we
provide our services “at costs that make them practical and improve the
standard of living for all of the people of Glasgow.” We take that mission
statement to heart in everything we do. Glasgow’s municipally owned broadband
network, and all of the other advanced technology deployed by EPB, flow from
our determination to accomplish that mission. Now the SETS will add to our
process of innovation in support of our mission.
The
basis for our move to build a broadband network in 1988 flowed from our
“infotricity” theory. Simply put, infotricity is the combination of broadband
networks (information) and electricity to produce a system that manages
energy - minute by minute. The goal is to contain consumption to the generation
capacity that can be operated most efficiently. This idea is a complete change
from the way we have operated electric power systems for the last century.
Since the beginning, we have allowed the random demand for electricity to
dictate the construction of a constantly growing set of generation plants. As
those plants grew, so did the cost of electric power to pay for the additional
plants. Even worse, we have really never paid for all of the costs (which
include healthcare, depletion of fresh water, and environmental impact of
acquiring the fuel necessary to run the plants) associated with our increasing
demand for electricity during only a few hours of some days.
We
proposed a project that connects infotricity theory, new infotricity retail
rates, and several elements of research already performed here in Glasgow, to
even newer technology ideas that are evolving presently. Glasgow EPB customers
will get the opportunity to apply for extreme energy make-overs to their homes,
ecobee Wifi enabled thermostats, GE Geospring heat pump water heaters, as well as
very new home battery systems that will store off-peak energy and supply that
energy to home energy needs during on-peak hours. We think we can install these
technologies, control them with new software that builds upon everything we
have already learned about predicting Glasgow’s monthly peak demand using the
best available weather prediction and load prediction tools, to prove that
Glasgow’s total electric demand can be reshaped to better fit within the
capacity of generation plants - with a much lower impact on our economy and our
environment. If we are right, Glasgow residents will benefit greatly and the
utility industry as a whole will have a model for each of them to follow for
their respective communities.
All
of this work is on a very tight schedule. After we get contracts with our
vendors executed, we will evaluate customers who indicate an interest in this
project. They will be asked to provide extensive data so that we can evaluate
what technologies, or ultra-efficient improvements, might work to reshape their
daily demand. Those customers determined to be a good match for the project
will be offered contracts that will cover the details of participation in SETS,
and those that choose to sign, will be receiving some or all of the
technologies we want to study.
Here
is how we think all of the elements of our SETS project will work together.
Every day Glasgow EPB will use weather forecasts and load projections to
attempt to predict the likely days and times for Glasgow’s monthly peak hour
demand. Using those predictions, we will help customers who agree to be a part
of the research reduce their demand during the predicted peak times by
instructing the water heater to heat water the night before, the thermostat to
pre-warm (or pre-cool) the house before the predicted peak, and the battery
system to charge with off-peak energy and discharge energy to the home during
peak hours. All of these functions should work together, using Glasgow’s
broadband network and EPB’s internet-connected electric meters, to dramatically
reduce the Coincident Peak Demand charge that is an element of the new
Infotricity Retail Rates.
Beyond
just helping Glasgow customers reduce their bills under the new rates,
reshaping a community’s total energy demand will help our energy supplier run fewer generation
plants to supply our needs. When other communities replicate our work, the
reduction in generation needs should come down dramatically. As fewer
generation plants are needed to supply our energy needs, the door will swing
open for the installation of more generation that uses renewable energy
sources, like solar and wind. Since Glasgow’s new Infotricity Rates will free
Glasgow EPB from the need to sell more energy to produce the revenue necessary
to support the maintenance of our infrastructure, Glasgow EPB will become a
resource for helping all of its customers explore these new technologies and
how they might be used for Glasgow homes and businesses.
Glasgow
EPB’s mission statement provided the basis for our ongoing interest in our
infotricity theories. This SETS project will provide us the funding necessary
to prove those theories and, in doing so, provide that improved standard of
living that our team is committed to accomplish. The SETS will not be the end
of our efforts in that regard, it is only our latest initiative. More of these
projects will surely follow, and we will continue to search for all
opportunities to make our community a better place to live.
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Wednesday, April 29, 2015
This is a Really Big Deal!
We have exciting news! Glasgow has been awarded a large grant to the
Glasgow EPB and our partners, University of Louisville, Billstron, Move
the Peak, and Strata G through the Smart Energy Technology Project.
This award is the culmination of several months of collaboration among
our partners and intense competition with other distributors, and
will provide many new opportunities to explore innovative methods of
energy savings, sustainability, and the ways our customers interact with new retail rates and technology. We expect that this research will be replicated across not only the TVA
region, but the entire country. We thank TVA, our Board of Directors,
Mayor Doty, and our customers who provide endless support and
willingness to participate in continuing research efforts. More
information will be provided on this project in the near future.
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Rates and Rewards
Over the past
couple of years, you have likely heard Glasgow EPB issue requests to curtail when
we predict peak electric usage. Many of our customers have responded and helped
us reduce community usage, but there is
a constant question of “Why should I make the effort?” Hopefully this blog post will shed some light
on that subject, and let you know how reducing peak energy usage will finally begin to deliver rewards.
Glasgow EPB generates no electricity.
All of Glasgow’s power is purchased from TVA, and TVA also sets our wholesale
rates. The rate we pay fluctuates each month due to varying factors relative to
TVA’s cost for production of electricity. For 2014, those rates averaged around
7 cents per kWh. That is true but for the one hour each month when Glasgow’s
electric power demand peaks. During that
one hour, TVA charges Glasgow EPB nearly $10.00 per kWh! However, Glasgow EPB charges our customers about
10 cents per kWh, and that rate presently does not vary. This follows the
general pattern used by all electric utilities before more capable metering
became available. As you can see, 3 cents is the average retail markup during
the majority of the month, however on the heaviest usage hour the Glasgow EPB
loses $9.90 per kWh sold. We doubt any business person would agree that this is
a viable business model.
TVA has now approved an innovative new
rate for Glasgow, and for those who are listening to our requests and
predictions, you will finally be rewarded for your assistance. Later this year, when we actually implement
the new rate, the energy rate will become nearly identical to the rate TVA charges the EPB, without the 3 cent
markup. All EPB electric customers
therefore will see a large reduction in the kWh rate portion of their bill.
However, for that one hour per month, you will see an increase to the
roughly $10.00 per kWh (depending on the TVA rate for the month). In order to
replace the revenue we will lose due to no longer appreciably marking up kWh, a
separate charge will be assessed for the cost of maintaining each customer’s connection
to Glasgow’s electric grid. This charge will provide the revenue necessary to pay for the poles, lines, transformers,
etc., necessary to provide service to each residence and business – no matter
how much energy a customer may use.
Over the last few years, our intense
research revealed that our existing rates resulted in many customers using
energy, and paying costs, that simply did not cover the costs associated with
serving them. Imagine pulling into the
service station behind a massive RV whose owner decided to fill it completely
full while gas was at the rate of $5.00 per gallon, then pulling off and
informing the attendant that you, in your economically efficient car, would be
paying his bill also. That is exactly what has happened during the entire past
history of electric usage across this country. We don’t believe it is fair, TVA
agreed, and we believe our customers will also resoundingly agree.
This rate will not take effect until
in the fall to winter time frame of 2015, however we wanted to start the
discussion, and education, relative to this new rate as soon as possible so
everyone would be well informed when the time came. We will talk to you more here, on our FB page
(glasgowepb) and in numerous other ways, about this large change in the way we
do our business, over the coming months.
In the meantime, if you haven’t already, why not sign up for your
individualized EPB portal that will provide you with real time usage data about
your service, and in the near future will show you what your bill would be
under both the current rate and the coming new rate. Just grab your EPB account number and go to http://portal.glasgow-ky.com/ to
register today.
Friday, March 6, 2015
A Very Cold Day in Glasgow
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We have spent the last couple of decades pursuing an idea that we call "Infotricity". We think that electric
power, combined with broadband communications and an IP address such that all
major electric loads can addressed, combine to form a new energy product -- infotricity, and that
infotricity will have a much lighter impact on our environment and our
wallets than the 100 year old product, electricity.
At the core of infotricity theory is the belief that loads can be managed such that peak demands can be reduced, in turn, reducing the amount of fuel needed to supply our lifestyle. Further, we will all be paying for fewer generation plants in an infotricity world. Of course, nearly all of our peers are quite certain that the idea is wacko. Some days they nearly have us convinced of that. Today is not one of those days.
Above see my home, our office, and our community. Note what is possible when we are brave enough to challenge the status quo!
At the core of infotricity theory is the belief that loads can be managed such that peak demands can be reduced, in turn, reducing the amount of fuel needed to supply our lifestyle. Further, we will all be paying for fewer generation plants in an infotricity world. Of course, nearly all of our peers are quite certain that the idea is wacko. Some days they nearly have us convinced of that. Today is not one of those days.
Above see my home, our office, and our community. Note what is possible when we are brave enough to challenge the status quo!
Monday, December 15, 2014
There is a New Scam in Town
Attention EPB Customers - We have been notified that some of our
customers have received phone calls demanding immediate payment for past
due accounts via credit card. This is a scam. Please, do not give out
your information to anyone who calls requesting your credit card
information over the phone. Glasgow EPB does not, and will never do business this way. If you have any question about your account,
please call our office at 270-651.8341.
We recommend that these matters be treated like any other criminal activity. Report these matters to the Glasgow Police Department so that they can investigate these activities.
We recommend that these matters be treated like any other criminal activity. Report these matters to the Glasgow Police Department so that they can investigate these activities.
Monday, December 1, 2014
Broadcast Channel and Rate Changes Come Into Focus
As of 8:00 am on Monday, December 1 we are still in negotiation with some of the
channel providers listed below; however, to be in compliance with the
legal restrictions that we notify our customers 30 days in advance of
any cable lineup changes and/or rate changes we are issuing the
following notice:
Our staff, our Programming Committee and our Board of Directors have worked diligently over the past few weeks trying to negotiate a reasonable agreement with all of our ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and CW programmers. While we were able to reach an agreement with some, there are others who we have decided that, in the best interest of our customers, will be dropped from our service with all changes taking effect January 1, 2015.
First, WNKY, the CBS and NBC affiliate from Bowling Green demanded the largest increase at the rate of 1,000%. We simply could not accept this for our customers, and have decided to drop this channel, but fear not! We are replacing it with WSMV from Nashville and will continue our carriage of WTVF also from Nashville. You will have the same great CBS and NBC programming as always, along with quality news and weather coverage - both at a lesser rate than WNKY’s demand. You may see a message on their channels soon to contact us to demand we keep them on our service. But we believe the majority of our customers will agree we have found the better solution.
We will also be dropping WMYO and WDRB, due to the sizeable increases demanded by both channels. We are pleased to add WCZU, a new channel from Bowling Green that duplicates MyNetwork TV carried by WMYO, and also promises carriage of ACC sports, including U of L.
Even with all of our diligence and attempts to keep the rates as low as possible, sizeable increases were demanded, and with it must come a rate increase for the Glasgow EPB cable customers also. Effective January 1, 2015, you will see a new format on your bill as follows:
Basic Cable Service $11.50
Glasgow Classic Service $22.50
ABC, CBS, NBC, CW, FOX $ 5.50
Total “Basic Package” $39.50
When all of these changes are combined, you will see a $5 per month net increase in the cost of our basic + classic package. We sincerely regret this change, but with the demands of the broadcasters to continue the carriage of the programming for ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and CW we simply have no choice.
We sincerely appreciate, and value, the input from each of our customers as we struggle to determine the best course of action for all of our customers while maintaining the lowest cable rates in the entire United States.
Our staff, our Programming Committee and our Board of Directors have worked diligently over the past few weeks trying to negotiate a reasonable agreement with all of our ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and CW programmers. While we were able to reach an agreement with some, there are others who we have decided that, in the best interest of our customers, will be dropped from our service with all changes taking effect January 1, 2015.
First, WNKY, the CBS and NBC affiliate from Bowling Green demanded the largest increase at the rate of 1,000%. We simply could not accept this for our customers, and have decided to drop this channel, but fear not! We are replacing it with WSMV from Nashville and will continue our carriage of WTVF also from Nashville. You will have the same great CBS and NBC programming as always, along with quality news and weather coverage - both at a lesser rate than WNKY’s demand. You may see a message on their channels soon to contact us to demand we keep them on our service. But we believe the majority of our customers will agree we have found the better solution.
We will also be dropping WMYO and WDRB, due to the sizeable increases demanded by both channels. We are pleased to add WCZU, a new channel from Bowling Green that duplicates MyNetwork TV carried by WMYO, and also promises carriage of ACC sports, including U of L.
Even with all of our diligence and attempts to keep the rates as low as possible, sizeable increases were demanded, and with it must come a rate increase for the Glasgow EPB cable customers also. Effective January 1, 2015, you will see a new format on your bill as follows:
Basic Cable Service $11.50
Glasgow Classic Service $22.50
ABC, CBS, NBC, CW, FOX $ 5.50
Total “Basic Package” $39.50
When all of these changes are combined, you will see a $5 per month net increase in the cost of our basic + classic package. We sincerely regret this change, but with the demands of the broadcasters to continue the carriage of the programming for ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and CW we simply have no choice.
We sincerely appreciate, and value, the input from each of our customers as we struggle to determine the best course of action for all of our customers while maintaining the lowest cable rates in the entire United States.
Friday, November 21, 2014
The Broadcast Stations and Your Cable Bill
Gather
around Glasgow folks. We have some serious business to discuss
regarding your cable television service. Between now and the end of
2014, we must negotiate new agreements with the broadcast stations, like
WBKO, WNKY, WTVF, WHAS, WMYO, and WDRB .
These stations have all decided that we cannot continue carrying their
signal unless we pay them a sizable sum for permission. It is the size
of that sum that we need to discuss. They are asking for staggering
increases in the monthly licensing fees. Our Programming Committee,
consisting of 5 of your fellow citizens appointed by our Board of
Directors, is deeply involved in negotiating the lowest possible rates
and best option for our customers. Here’s our dilemma: We either pay
them or stop carrying their signals.
We have now received notices of rate increases ranging from 170% up to 1,000%. If we keep the channels as they currently stand, based upon these demands we would all see our rates increase approximately $7.60 per month just to pay for these channels. And make no mistake, this is not applicable to just Glasgow EPB customers, this applies to every cable company across the nation as they negotiate with the broadcast stations. We are proud to still offer the lowest cable rates in the United States (yes, you did read that correctly – Glasgow enjoys the lowest cable rates in the United States), and we will make every effort to continue to do so.
We predict that most of our customers would say, “Drop them!” when seeing this huge increase based on the broadcasters’ demands. That would be fine with us; however, there is a very sharp hook in that bait. Dropping WHAS and WTVF would leave us without our long-enjoyed access to the Louisville and Nashville news sources that we have relied upon for years. Dropping WBKO might leave us with no ABC, no FOX, and no CW programming at all, as they have the legal right to refuse us access to other stations that duplicate their service.
By now you are likely shaking your head in amazement that these conditions exist in our country. After all, can’t we still put up an antenna and get these stations over the air for free? For the Bowling Green stations, that is largely still true. For the Louisville and Nashville broadcasters, that likely would not work anymore. The conversion to digital broadcast technology in 2009 rendered signal acquisition by a homeowner practically impossible if you live more than 50 miles from the transmitter. That makes Nashville and Louisville stations a big problem. These stations, who use the taxpayer-owned airwaves for free, are allowed to set their prices at whatever rate they desire, simply because a cable company puts up a very tall antenna, catches their broadcasts from the air and distributes them for the convenience of the cable customers and the benefit of the advertisers that pay the broadcaster for distributing their commercials.
What rights and protections do we have to address this outrage? Well, not a lot. In 1992, Congress gave broadcasters the right to demand compensation for their signals, and cable operators were granted few legal options to resist the station owners’ unreasonable pricing and exclusive carriage demands. As the cost of carrying broadcast stations reaches atmospheric levels, the only solution now is for Congress to update its outdated rules. There really is no way to avoid that fact.
While we are posting this to give you all a chance to weigh in on these matters, we know that all of our hands are tied due to the way our current laws are written. We want to hear from you; however, the broadcasters and our elected representatives should hear loudly from you as well, because this situation is blatantly unfair with the broadcasters holding all of the cards and you holding the bill.
We have now received notices of rate increases ranging from 170% up to 1,000%. If we keep the channels as they currently stand, based upon these demands we would all see our rates increase approximately $7.60 per month just to pay for these channels. And make no mistake, this is not applicable to just Glasgow EPB customers, this applies to every cable company across the nation as they negotiate with the broadcast stations. We are proud to still offer the lowest cable rates in the United States (yes, you did read that correctly – Glasgow enjoys the lowest cable rates in the United States), and we will make every effort to continue to do so.
We predict that most of our customers would say, “Drop them!” when seeing this huge increase based on the broadcasters’ demands. That would be fine with us; however, there is a very sharp hook in that bait. Dropping WHAS and WTVF would leave us without our long-enjoyed access to the Louisville and Nashville news sources that we have relied upon for years. Dropping WBKO might leave us with no ABC, no FOX, and no CW programming at all, as they have the legal right to refuse us access to other stations that duplicate their service.
By now you are likely shaking your head in amazement that these conditions exist in our country. After all, can’t we still put up an antenna and get these stations over the air for free? For the Bowling Green stations, that is largely still true. For the Louisville and Nashville broadcasters, that likely would not work anymore. The conversion to digital broadcast technology in 2009 rendered signal acquisition by a homeowner practically impossible if you live more than 50 miles from the transmitter. That makes Nashville and Louisville stations a big problem. These stations, who use the taxpayer-owned airwaves for free, are allowed to set their prices at whatever rate they desire, simply because a cable company puts up a very tall antenna, catches their broadcasts from the air and distributes them for the convenience of the cable customers and the benefit of the advertisers that pay the broadcaster for distributing their commercials.
What rights and protections do we have to address this outrage? Well, not a lot. In 1992, Congress gave broadcasters the right to demand compensation for their signals, and cable operators were granted few legal options to resist the station owners’ unreasonable pricing and exclusive carriage demands. As the cost of carrying broadcast stations reaches atmospheric levels, the only solution now is for Congress to update its outdated rules. There really is no way to avoid that fact.
While we are posting this to give you all a chance to weigh in on these matters, we know that all of our hands are tied due to the way our current laws are written. We want to hear from you; however, the broadcasters and our elected representatives should hear loudly from you as well, because this situation is blatantly unfair with the broadcasters holding all of the cards and you holding the bill.
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