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MORNING STAR ✳ MAY 31 - JUNE 6, 2007
DPI members save on bills
LAUREL GRAD EARNS SCHOLARSHIP - Heather O' Day, a first-year student at Beebe School of Nursing, has earned the Joanna Speicher Scholarship. Mr. and Mrs. Daryl Speicher of Laurel initiated the scholarship in memory of their daughter. To be eligible for the scholarship, the Beebe School of Nursing student must have a B average and be a graduate of Laurel High School. Pictured here, The Honorable Eugene Bookhammer, chair of the Beebe Medical Foundation Board, presents the scholarship to Heather O' Day.
Pepco to use hybrids and alternative fuels Pepco Holdings, Inc.,will transform its 2,000-vehicle fleet to more environmentally friendly technologies by using electric hybrids and alternatively fueled vehicles to reduce its fuel bill and curb greenhouse gas emissions. "The way we do business has a direct impact on our community and the environment, and the public concern about global warming can no longer be ignored," said Dennis R. Wraase, PHI's chairman, president and chief executive officer. PHI now has a mix of more than 80 alternative-fueled trucks, including a 42foot-hybrid electric bucket truck, and several hybrid cars and SUVs. Thirty additional hybrid cars and SUVs will join the fleet this year, with about half already ordered. PHI also plans to convert all of its truck fueling facilities in four Mid-Atlantic States to emission-reducing biodiesel fuel, which is a blend of 20 percent soybean oil and 80 percent low-sulfur diesel. Fueling facilities in the Pepco service area have already converted to biodiesel. Wraase said the fleet will be transformed over time as vehicles wear out, initially replacing the equipment with hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles, and later with even newer technology as it becomes available commercially. He noted that the company will continue to participate in several pilot programs to evaluate the potential for new vehicle technologies to reduce costs, make more efficient use of off-peak power and reduce emissions. The evaluation will also consider other
alternative fuels such as natural gas and E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Existing hybrids use both an electric motor and a standard gasoline engine. The developing technologies still in the pilot stage include all-electric vehicles that run on batteries charged by plugging into household current and by regenerative braking; plug-in hybrid electrics that are recharged overnight when power is cheaper, and fuel cell vehicles that run on hydrogen fuel. Although the purchase price of hybrid vehicles is greater than that of conventional vehicles, PHI expects the investment in these vehicles to pay off in reduced fuel costs and lower carbon emissions. The hybrid bucket truck entered the Pepco fleet earlier this year as part of a year-long pilot program to assess its performance and reliability under typical working conditions. Its fuel economy is estimated in the range of 40 percent to 60 percent better than conventional bucket trucks. Delmarva Power will begin using electric hybrid vehicles later this year. Pepco Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Washington, D.C., delivers electricity and natural gas to about 1.9 million customers in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia. Through its subsidiaries Pepco, Delmarva Power and Atlantic City Electric, PHI delivers regulated electricity and natural gas service. PHI provides competitive wholesale generation services through Conectiv Energy and retail energy products and services through Pepco Energy Services.
Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc. (DPI), the trade association for the Peninsula's broiler chicken industry, has executed a one-year contract for its members with Horizon Power & Light for electric purchases at the rate of 10.5 cents/kwhr. The new contract will start on members' June meter read date, which is also when the contract with Washington Gas Energy Services (WGES) ends if they were enrolled in the DPI Electric Buying Group created in December 2006. Participants should receive a copy of the signed contract with Horizon P & L within two to three weeks. While DPI had hoped for a lower rate, all members that have been enrolled in the buying group this year will save as compared to Delmarva Power's default tariff supply rates. 225 DPI members, representing more than 420 accounts, were part of this year's buying group. In the December Electric Buying group, there were 215 members with 350 electric meters. A typical chicken farmer will save approximately $450 over the term of the contract. Some participants in the first pool are not in the newly formed pool because the this term’s higher rate was not an advantage for them. Altogether, the 225 members over the 12-month life of the contract will save approximately $125,000; fewer savings than the first buying pool due to the rise in electric rates, but still significant savings for DPI members and another monetary benefit of being a DPI member. DPI President Roger Marino noted that
these savings are the direct result of companies and growers being part of DPI. "This is just one tangible benefit of membership in DPI; one that has immediate financial implications." DPI members buying electricity from WGES in the existing electricity buying pool should receive a form letter from Delmarva Power before the end of May confirming that WGES is ending its contract with them for electricity supply effective with their June meter read.
Chief of Media Relations hired John R. Painter has been hired as the New Department of Correction chief of media relations. Painter replaces Beth Welch who left the agency in April of 2006. "We are pleased to have John Painter join our executive team. He has a solid media relations background and a great deal of experience working in a fast-pace, demanding environment," Commissioner Danberg said. John Painter came to this agency from Special Olympics of Delaware where he served as the director of communications. Prior to that, John worked in a series of media relations positions including the management of an intensive sport media unit. He has more than 10 years of media relations and Public Relations experience. John Painter is a native of Seaford. He currently resides in Smyrna with his wife. In this post, John Painter will serve as the agency's lead on media inquiries and the chief press spokesperson.
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