Hurricane Sandy Emergency Info-Updated!

Friends, As Hurricane Sandy (aka) comes barreling down on us there are a few things to remember that help keep us all safer.

1. If you're in an area prone to flooding, leave before it floods.  Don't risk your family and the lives of rescue workers.  Emergency shelter information can be found HERE  (SEE BELOW for updated list!!!)  I'm also hearing most shelters are accepting pets at this time.  
2. Move cars off the street if possible.  This allows emergency vehicles to easily navigate the streets if they need to go out for emergencies.  
3. Secure trash cans, chairs and if possible leaves....the less stuff flying around the better!
4. Keep Emergency Information handy & write it down before the power goes out! 
1. PECO Energy Customer Service: 1-800-494-4000.
2. AQUA America: 1-877-987-2782.
3. Chester Water Authority: 1-800-793-2323
4. Red Cross 1-800-RED-CROSS
5. Sign up for Delco Alerts on your phone HERE.

Stay home, safe & calm.  Keep in mind that the emergency workers for PECO, Comcast, the local fire companies & police departments aren't home with their families, so be nice when dealing with them.-


Thanks to Phil Heron from the Daily Times for sharing the below list: 

The following three (3) regional Red Cross shelters will open at 9 am on Monday October 29, 2012.
Showalter School, 10th & Lloyd Streets, Chester, PA 19013

Alternate: To be determined

-Ridley Middle School, 400 Free Street, Ridley Park, PA 19078.

Alternate: To be determined

The school district has also committed buses for transportation and use of their kitchen.

-East Lansdowne Elementary School, Hirst & Emerson Aves. East Lansdowne, PA 19050

Alternate: To be determined.

Use of the gym and classrooms are authorized.

-The Aston Community Center, 3270 Concord Road, Aston, PA 19014 will NOT be opened as a regional Red Cross shelter center at this time. It will be a municipal shelter site.

-Darby will have a municipal shelter at their Community Center for Darby, Colwyn, & Collingdale Boroughs.

-Trainer advised that their municipal shelter will be at the fire station.

-Upper Chichester Twp advised that they will have a municipal shelter at the Upper Chichester Middle School for Upper Chichester, Lower Chichester, and Marcus Hook.

-Yeadon will be sending any displaced residents to the regional Red Cross shelter in East Lansdowne.

Peco Rate Increase Info

Of course I put off finding out much about this rate increase but decided last night was a good time to start some research! Here are some helpful sites I found that I wanted to share with you!

The first one is PA Powerswitch , where you can input your current monthly kWhs usage and compare what you're paying now to an estimate of what you'll pay in 2011 with PECO and over half a dozen other suppliers available for your area.

One piece of advice I read from a few consumer advocates....check to see if the the rates are fixed or variable, and if they contain cancellation fees. You can also choose a renewable energy power company as well. When I compared the rates, the most I saved by switching was about $10 per month at a fixed rate. That may not seem like much, but over the course of a year this could result in a savings of $120...that's a nice little chunk of change.

For more info, check out these articles I found helpful at the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Energy companies getting ready to go after Peco customers
and
PECO sets its Price

“Bringing Green Energy Home”

I am hoping to make it to this workshop because my electric bill has been crazy!!! I am afraid of what might happen in a few months when PECO's rates increase!

“Bringing Green Energy Home”
The “Bringing Green Energy Home” series aims to educate homeowners and renters on alternative energy technologies, which include compact fluorescent light bulbs, solar-powered water heaters, hybrid vehicles and more. There will be six workshops this September through December and four additional workshops in the spring. All workshops are 7-8:30 p.m.
The fall “Bringing Green Energy Home” workshops are scheduled for: Thursday, Sept. 16 at the 20th Century Club, 84 S. Lansdowne Ave., Lansdowne; Wednesday, Oct. 6, at the Pennsylvania Resources Council, 3606 Providence Road, Newtown Square; Monday, Oct.18 at Watkins Senior Center, 326 Watkins Ave., Upper Darby; Tuesday, Nov. 9, at Chester City Hall, 1 Fourth St., Chester; Thursday, Dec. 2, at Morton Borough Hall, Sycamore and Highland avenues, Morton; and Tuesday, Dec. 14, at the Pennsylvania Resources Council.

During the program, the Pennsylvania Resource Council’s trained environmental educators will present 90-minute multimedia and interactive presentations discussing all aspects of energy use in the home. Both traditional and non-traditional household energy conservation methods will be discussed.

This workshop will benefit homeowners as well as business owners and landlords.

Residents can learn about Energy Star appliances, insulation, low-e windows, and computerized regulation of thermostats and lighting. Environmental educators will be available to answer questions after every workshop.
Up to 80 participants per workshop will return home with a complimentary compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL,) and course materials to help establish energy conservation efforts. One lucky participant per workshop will also win a home energy audit worth $250.

To register click HERE.

For information about the program, residents can call the Delaware County Conservation District at (610) 892-9484 or visit www.delcocd.org.

PECO Rate Increase

So I'm sure most of you saw my Facebook post about my electric bill being much more than an I had anticipated so I decided to investigate. PECO is saying my actual usage is twice what it was last year at this time...infact, every month this year it has been twice what it was the year before. My husband and I are now checking our home to find out what the cause might be. While I was at PECO's website, I decided to check up on the rate increase scheduled for January of 2011. Here is what it says on their site.

"PECO has requested Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission approval to increase electric delivery rates and natural gas delivery rates beginning January 1, 2011. The first electric delivery rate request since 1989 and only the second natural gas delivery rate request in 20 years, the increases will ensure PECO is able to continue to meet customer demand and ensure the safe and reliable delivery of electricity and natural gas."

Here is a stat they give as well "In the average home, 75 percent of electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off. Many appliances continue to draw a small amount of power when they are switched off. These “phantom” loads occur in most appliances that use electricity, such as VCR’s, televisions, stereos, computers, and kitchen appliances."

While we are still looking into the specific cause of our power being so high. There were a few tips, an e-engery audit you can do on your house and a few other resources that you might want to check into before January of 2011. Let me know how it works for you!!!PECO Customer Education for locations.

PECO Smart Appliance Recycling Overview

If you were thinking about getting a new refrigerator, etc. This is worth looking into...not much money but a few dollars is better than nothing. Make sure you call the phone number at the bottom for more info. Also, the bottom of the PECO page it states: Program funding is limited. Participation will be on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted.

PECO Smart Appliance Recycling Overview

The PECO Smart Appliance Recycling program launches March 2010. The program removes older refrigerators and freezers from operation as secondary units in homes. In addition, room air conditioners are eligible but only when PECO picks up a refrigerator or freezer.
The program offers free pickup of functioning units and customer incentives as follows : (Emphasize that appliance MUST work.)
$35 for refrigerator or freezer
$25 for window air conditioner, only with refrigerator or freezer pickup
the number of appliances picked up is to two per customer per year

Call the PECO Smart Ideas toll free number 888-573-2672 select option#1 then option #1 for Appliance Recycling program.

PECO