East Central Energy: News

A message from ECE President/CEO Steve Shurts

I've been thinking about what we get for our money when it comes to electricity and how the cost compares with other necessities of life.

Each morning, after a quick shave and shower, I head to the kitchen, make some toast, and check my computer for email and the latest news and weather forecast. I put my cellphone on the charger to get ready for my day. The motion light outside comes on as I close the garage door to leave for work. I've done all that, it's not even 7 a.m., and I've only spent a few cents for the electricity that made it happen.

Not all that long ago, I went about my daily routine without a cellphone in my pocket. Technology advanced, and suddenly I needed the phone to stay connected with work. It was nice that Leila, my wife, could call me any time when there was a change in the family schedule. It wasn't long before nice became necessary, and we were on a family cellphone plan.

Today, our idea of staying connected has gone far beyond talking on a cellphone. Not only do many of us text more than we talk, we use our cellphones to access the Internet, check emails, send photos and more. Families can spend more than $1,800 per year on their cellphone package and accept the cost as a necessity. Many of us also spend a similar amount on our Internet and TV packages and we think nothing of it.

Electricity is the engine that keeps our lives running. It powers our homes, our cellphones, the Internet, and many devices that make our lives easier. It is an excellent value for the work it performs. For every dollar we spend on electricity, we can power our cellphone for 1.5 years, watch 58 hours of TV, or browse the Internet for about two days.

In the past decade, the price for 500 kilowatt hours of electricity has increased just 3.7 percent a year nationally. A gallon of gasoline has risen 10.9 percent on average every single year, and even grocery staples, like bread and eggs, have exceeded electricity in their average annual price increase.

I've written about the industry challenges and economic pressures that are causing the price of electricity to rise and the fact that ECE will charge more for electric service in 2012. We're committed to maintaining the value of electricity even though our industry is changing and higher costs seem to be the norm. We will do our best to control costs without compromising reliability and safety and that means setting affordable rates with an eye toward long-term stability. Most of all, it means looking out for you.

Steve Shurts
President/CEO