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View photo/Mike SpenceJon Walker of the Pueblo City-County Library District (left) and Debbie Rose, a board member of the San Isabel Electric Association, pose with two of the 10 Kill A Watt electricity usage monitors that were donated by the SIEA to the Pueblo West Library on Jan. 8. Nine of 10 monitors were checked out within an hour of the demonstration.
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Electricity usage meter proves powerful point
By MIKE SPENCE
The Pueblo West View
The star of the show didn't disappoint.
Representatives of San Isabel Electric Association and the Pueblo City-County Library District held an informal session on Jan. 8 to announce the availability of 10 Kill A Watt electricity usage monitors at the Pueblo West Library.
The monitors, set to SIEA rates, measure the cost of electricity usage for 110-volt appliances. The 10 monitors donated by SIEA are available for checkout from the library, just like a library book.
"It's a creative idea because it allows people to measure their electricity usage," said Jon Walker, executive director of the library district.
With that knowledge, according to SIEA board member Debbie Rose, people can make determinations on whether or not an appliance needs to be replaced or how to reduce their electricity bill.
"The knowledge gives the electricity customer the power to make decisions on their energy use," Rose said.
Several demonstration units were set up for a microwave oven, a television set, a lamp and a small space heater. The one that drew the most attention was the monitor with the space heater plugged into it.
No doubt many people have used space heaters recently because of the cold snap. Jan. 8 was no different, with temperatures dipping below zero early in the day.
Based on the reading from the Kill A Watt, maybe those using space heaters should have found another way to get warm.
The meter showed that the small space heater was costing the consumer 28 cents per hour. That translates into $7 per day or nearly $210 per month if used on a full-time basis.
The reading was an eye-opener for those in attendance, many of whom figured using a space heater was much cheaper than turning up the thermostat or other heating options.
"Small space heaters are the most expensive way to heat your home," Rose said. "Some people use those types of heaters to heat a room and it takes hours."
Those hours of usage mean a significantly higher electricity bill.
The demonstration was powerful enough that nine of 10 of the Kill A Watt meters were checked out within an hour of the demonstration.
"This is a great service to the community," Walker said. "It's small and can be checked out like a library book."
The only difference is that on the meters, no advance reservations can be made. In addition, the meter can be checked out for two weeks, but are non-renewable and accrue the same overdue fees that are currently charged for other items (10 cents per day).
"People will be able to check all of their appliances in a day or two," Rose said. "The two-week time frame shouldn't be a problem."
Rose hopes local residents will take advantage of the program. The monitors can help them save money on their electric bills, save energy, calculate electric expenses by day, month or year; learn appliance kilowatt usage and help them determine if old appliances need to be replaced.
Another fact the monitors will demonstrate is that many appliances use electricity even when we don't think they are.
"This helps people learn the electric load of 'phantom products," such as TV sets, computers and DVD players that use power even when they are turned off."
Rose said the program was another in a long line of efforts by the SIEA to educate the consumer.
"San Isabel Electric wants to help its customers by educating them," Rose said. "We're proud of the customer service we have provided over the years."
While Pueblo West is a pilot program of sorts for the monitors, Rose said she hopes the SIEA will expand the program to other cities served by the SIEA.
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