LCEC – Lee County Electric Cooperative

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Staying cool without breaking the bank

June 25, 2019 – When the outside temperature is 99+ degrees, it is tempting to crank down the AC and stay indoors. Remember that when cooling your home, every degree does count…or should we say cost! LCEC recommends setting your thermostat at 78 degrees Fahrenheit when home. Each degree below adds 8 to 12 percent to your cooling costs (which accounts for 50 to 60 percent of your electric bill during summer months). While away from your home for more than two hours, LCEC recommends setting the thermostat at 83 degrees Fahrenheit. If these recommendations send chills down your spine (and not cool, refreshing chills), consider the following tips to beat the heat without breaking the bank:

• Drink lots of water. Being hydrated helps you feel at your best.
• Dress wisely. Tank tops, shorts, flip flops. Tis the season to dress lightly!
• Battery powered fans. Power these puppies up to stay cool without affecting your energy usage.
• Take cool showers and baths. Cool water makes a world of difference when you are hot!
• Hit the pool. Jump in, cool off and burn some calories while beating the heat.
• Head for cool spots. Visit the mall, movie theater or museum for an outing in air conditioning that you are not paying for!

For more ways to save on your electric bill, visit lcec.net.

Blinking lights demystified

June 18, 2019 – Annoying as it can be, blinking lights or a series of momentary outages is actually a good thing! Blinking lights or momentary outages are the result of some type of disturbance that is detected on the electric system. The cause can range from an automobile accident to a squirrel, bird or tree branch. When lights blink, it is an indication that LCEC protective devices are operating properly. When something contacts an energized line, it creates a fault or short circuit. If the fault or short circuit is temporary, power is restored in the blink of an eye. Although it is a very quick process, it may cause lights to flicker and digital clocks to reset. The protective device will sometimes operate more than once to clear the line of the disturbance and avoid a prolonged outage. If the line is not cleared, it will be de-energized to protect equipment from damage and ensure safety. As much as we wish that we could control the environment and the weather, we can’t. However, we can and do work diligently to ensure reliable electricity for our customers. If these momentary blinks are driving you momentarily crazy, you might consider using electric devices that have battery backups. To learn more about LCEC’s focus on reliability, visit lcec.net.

Trimming now can help prevent prolonged power outages

June 11, 2019 – We have had a very wet start to storm season. Although we all have our fingers (and toes) crossed for a calm storm season, there is no telling what might come our way. While LCEC is prepared for anything Mother Nature has to bring, we urge all residents to trim overgrown trees and branches growing near power lines. Vegetation poses a serious risk to power lines during high-wind storms. As a guideline, there should be an 8- to 10-foot clearance on either side between tree branches and power lines, and there should be a 10-foot clearance between the top of trees and the primary power line. Any branches within this range near power lines should be pruned or removed. Keep the following in mind when trimming vegetation:

• Do not remove or trim branches that are touching power lines. Touching a tree that is in contact with a power line can lead to serious injuries or death. If a tree touching a power line is burning or sparking, please contact LCEC immediately at 239-656-2300.
• When trimming or cutting trees, be sure they fall away from power lines.
• Trim dead or weak branches from the trees around the home even if they are far away from power lines. Strong winds could make these branches deadly projectiles.

If you feel uneasy trimming vegetation around your home, residents are urged to hire a licensed tree trimming company that is certified to work around power lines. At LCEC, we too utilize professional trimmers, trained in safety practices to trim trees in utility easements or trees contacting power lines. They trim trees along power lines on a regular maintenance cycle. We also respond to specific customer requests if trees in the area pose an immediate threat to safety or to the reliability of electric service. We thank all residents in advance for their vegetation efforts. Every bit of preplanning helps when it comes to storm season!

Storm season tips for those with special needs

June 4, 2019 – When Mother Nature strikes, power outages can and do happen. If you or a loved one have special needs such as life support, now is the time to prepare for temporary power outages that may happen this storm season:

• Have a plan in place to ensure the continuity of any life-support needs. This may include making special arrangements to spend time with a friend or relative during an outage or using a back-up generator.
• If you use a back-up generator, please be responsible for the safe installation, use, and maintenance of any back-up power.
• Keep phone numbers of emergency response agencies, such as the hospital, fire department and police, in a convenient location, in the event emergency assistance is needed.
• Ensure that you have a back-up telephone if you use a cordless or other telephone that is dependent on electricity.
• Have a battery-powered radio on hand and a supply of fresh batteries to remain aware of news and other information.
• Keep a flashlight and extra batteries handy.

If preferred, those needing assistance can apply for special needs programs which provide shelter and transportation free of charge during Tropical Storms and/or Hurricanes. Applications can be found online according to what county you live in.

For more information on storm season safety, visit www.lcec.net.

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