As the cost of warming homes climbs and the economy worsens, utility companies in The T&D Region are taking several different approaches to help their customers.

Orangeburg Department of Public Utilities Manager Fred Boatwright says the best way the utility can help out its 27,000 customers is to start with the basics.

"We do have some special programs to help people who are having difficulty paying their utility bill, but the main thing we always attempt to do is to keep our rates as low as possible. That's the first thing," Boatwright said.

For utility customers who have experienced some degree of sticker shock over higher energy bills, Boatwright says two factors have contributed to the situation.

"It's been colder this winter for longer than usual and the price of energy is higher," he said. "You have to understand that DPU is a trucking company of sorts. We move electricity from the point that we purchase it to the point that we sell it to the consumer. We do charge a rate for the movement of that power and that rate we charge has not changed since May 16, 2007. But the cost of the purchased power has risen significantly."

Tri-County Electric Cooperative Marketing and Government Relations Manager Chad Lowder said the colder weather has definitely been a factor in his customers' higher utility bills.

"Usually the colder weather doesn't start until around January but this year it kind of caught folks off guard, which resulted in increased electricity usage," Lowder said.

The ways local utilities are trying to lend a helping hand during a tight economy varies.

Bamberg Board of Public Works General Manager Bruce Ellis said his utility works with customers more than private utilities.

"Our customers are more than just a number here. We run into them every day," Ellis said. "If someone with an otherwise good payment record has a good reason for needing a few extra days or a week, we can work with that customer. That makes things easier for everyone."

Ellis added that the utility, prompted by BPW Commission Chairman Bob Clary, also made some recent policy changes to address the concerns of customers being pinched financially.

"Our board will be looking to pass a new round-off program at the next meeting that will allow our customers to round up to the next dollar," Ellis said. "That will be put into a pool administered by a community agency to help those that can't pay."

Another BPW policy change involved sending out bills on the 20th of the month to allow customers two full paychecks before service is cut off late in the month. The fee for interrupted service reconnection was reduced and customers are now allowed one late payment per year without being charged an increased deposit.

At DPU, "We allow customers in good standing to make partial payments when they can demonstrate a need," Boatwright said. "That means they can spread out three monthly bills over several payments. We had approximately 10,000 requests for that in 2008."

DPU has also offered "Project Good Neighbor" since 1995. Under the program, customers contribute a little more each month on their utility bills to help others who need assistance.

"The tax deductible program is administered by the Cooperative Church Ministries of Orangeburg and it's limited to people in this service area, but the assistance isn't limited to a DPU bill but any energy bill," Boatwright said. "Since the inception of the program, we have collected over $700,000.

"We are also preaching conserve, conserve, conserve because we realize that energy prices are going up at every point."

Tri-County will provide free energy audits for residential customers.

"We have allocated manpower to offer this service at no cost to our members and they do as many as five to six visits a day," Lowder said. "A lot of the times when we go to the house it's a mechanical problem in the house that is causing the excessive use of energy. Either the duct work has broken loose or it's a bad heat pump. We go in and identify the problems, which normally results in significant cost savings."

Edisto Electric Cooperative Member Services Manager Frank Furtick says his organization not only educates members on how to conserve, but also offers a billing program that helps customers in good standing level out their utility bills.

"We are also participating with other electric co-ops in the state in the 'Do The Light Switch' campaign, which is a joint project to get out over 7 million compact fluorescent light bulbs to customers over the next 10 years," Furtick said.

Area utility officials all noted that customers are having a harder time paying their energy bills and service cutoffs, while remaining fairly consistent, could go up in the near future.

"We realize that times are hard and our customers are having increasing difficulty in paying their bills, including their utility bills," Boatwright said. "We are asking our customer service agents to take the time with customers to explain the bill and how it works and steps they can take to minimize the cost.

"All we can do is offer the advice. If people understand more they can save more. We are all trying to take a little more time to explain these are things you can do to lower your cost."

T&D Staff Writer Phil Sarata can be reached at psarata@timesanddemocrat.com and 803-533-5540.

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