Wise Investments In Energy Efficiency Electric Monthly

Wise Investments inEnergy EfficiencyThe economic uncertaintywe’re facing these days hasmany of us putting money intosomething we feel comfortablewith: our homes. Making a fewupgrades around the house generally pays big dividends. Andwhen boosting energy efficiencyis one of them, the decision becomes a no-brainer.For any energy efficiencywork made at your residenceduring the coming year, UncleSam will foot 30 percent of thebill - not a bad deal! Throughthe 2009 American Recoveryand Reinvestment Act—betterknown as the stimulus bill—theInternal Revenue Service (IRS)offers a personal tax credit of upto 1,500 for energy efficiencyimprovements made to existinghomes during 2009 and 2010.The credit covers 30 percentof the cost of adding insulationmaterials and exterior doors,windows, and roofs designedto help reduce a home’s heatloss or gain. It also includes efficient central air conditioners,air-source heat pumps, hot waterboilers and biomass stoves.For weatherization-relatedwork the credit covers only thecost of materials. With heating,ventilation, and air conditioning systems, as well as biomassstoves, installation costs alsocount toward the credit.So how does the math workout? If you spend 1,000 on newinsulation, you would get 300back in the form of a tax credit.If you spend 3,000 to purchasea new HVAC system and have itinstalled, you’d have a 900 taxcredit to show for it.To take advantage of the program, a home improvement musthave taken place after Feb. 17,4 JANUARY 2010 Alabama Living2009 (the day the stimulus billwas signed into law), and products must meet specific energyefficiency criteria. A few rules ofthumb will help you determinethose criteria.For exterior windows andskylights, rely on the EnergyStar label. For other efficiencyupgrades, request what’s calleda “Manufacturer CertificationStatement” that the product orcomponent qualifies for the taxcredit. Many manufacturers postthese on their Web sites, butbe sure to verify that the product does qualify before makinga purchase. You can also visitwww.irs.gov/recovery to reviewguidelines for eligible purchases.Energy tax credits reduce taxesowed, dollar for dollar, and canbe carried forward to followingyears. While they can help boostany refund you receive, youwon’t receive a check directlyfor the credit amount. You canfile for energy tax credits using IRS Form 5695, with a totalmaximum value of 1,500 forimprovements made in 2009 and2010.For suggestions on how youmay make your home more energy efficient while taking advantage of these tax credits, pleasevisit our Web site - www.southaec.com - or call our office.Max Davis isGeneral Managerof South AlabamaElectricCooperativeSouth AlabamaElectric MonthlyOperating ReportKWH Sold. . . . . . . 22,470,828Avg. Utility Bill. . . . . . 179.13Average Use. . . . . . . . . 1,379Total AccountsBilled . . . . . . . . . . . 16,289Total Miles of Line. . . . . 2,601Consumers permile of line. . . . . . . . . . 6.26Information from October 2009South AlabamaElectric CooperativeBoard of TrusteesBill Hixon . . . . . . . . District 1James Shaver. . . . . . District 2Leo Williams. . . . . . District 3Ben Norman. . . . . . District 4DeLaney Kervin . . . District 5Norman D. Green. . District 6Glenn Reeder. . . . . District 7James May. . . . . . . . . At LargeUse OurTOLL-FREEOutage Hotline1-800-556-2060Visit our web site atwww.southaec.com

ScholarshipOpportunityfor Graduating Seniors!Are you a high school senior who isgraduating this spring?Are you a dependent of a memberof our local cooperative?If so, you are eligible to apply for a scholarshipfrom the Electric Cooperative Foundation. Yourlocal cooperative has joined other cooperativesthroughout the state of Alabama to create theElectric Cooperative Foundation. This spring thefoundation will be awarding scholarships acrossAlabama for students to continue their educationat post-secondary and vocational schools.For more details about these scholarships, obtaina copy of an Electric Cooperative scholarshipapplication from your high school guidancecounselor or call:Chellie PhillipsSouth Alabama Electric t wait; applications withall required attachmentsmust be received no laterthan March 12, 2010.Application forms available in local high school guidanceoffices and in our office located on Hwy 231 Troy.Alabama Living JANUARY 2010 5

Your SenatorsSenator Jimmy HolleySen. Holley has served in the Alabama House of Representatives for 20 years and is now serving his secondterm in the Senate. He holds a master’s degree from EastTennessee State in School Administration and a bachelor’s degree from the same school in political science. Heand his wife, Mary, have been married for 33 years andhave two sons.South AlabamaElectric CooperativeSenate DistrictsCounties:Address:Telephone:Senator Wendell MitchellSen. Mitchell is a native of Luverne with more than 30years of political experience. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and a law degree from theUniversity of Alabama. He is currently the Dean of theJones School of Law in Montgomery. He is a member ofthe Luverne Rotary Club, the Alabama Bar Associationand the American Bar Association. He attends the Churchof Christ, where he has been an adult Sunday Schoolteacher for more than 25 years. He and his wife, Rosalind, have three children and one grandchild.ElmoreAutaugaSenate District 30Counties:Butler, Crenshaw, Pike, Autauga,Elmore and LowndesAddress:P.O. Box 225Luverne, AL 36049Telephone:334-244-1877334-242-7883 (Senate ngtonHouston6 January 2010 Alabama LivingSenate District 31Coffee, Covington, Dale and HoustonRR 2 Box 254-EElba, AL 36323334-242-7845 (Senate office)334-897-5181 (Residence)

Your RepresentativesRepresentative Charles NewtonRep. Newton is a resident of Greenville and a graduate of the University of Alabama. He is the ownerand operator of the Newton Oil Company. He andhis wife, Jan, have three children.Telephone:South AlabamaElectric CooperativeCongressional DistrictsHouse District 90Counties:Butler, Crenshaw, ConecuhAddress:1216 South Conecuh St.Greenville, AL 36037334-382-8700334-242-4460 (House office)Representative Alan BootheRep. Boothe has served as director of governmentrelations for Troy State University and has been chiefof the University Police. He has served three termson the Troy City Council and attends First BaptistChurch. Rep. Boothe and his wife, Anne, have twochildren.Address:Telephone:House District 89Counties:Pike and DaleP.O. Box 561, 209 Monticello DriveTroy, AL 36081334-670-3203334-242-7710 (House office)Representative Terry SpicerRep. Spicer graduated from Elba High School andMcArthur Technical College. He received a bachelor’s degree in technical education from AthensState. He received his master’s in public administration from Auburn University at Montgomery. He andhis wife, Ciena, have two sons.Address:Telephone:House District 91Counties:Coffee2665 Taylor Mills RoadElba, AL 36323334-897-3862334-242-7773 (House abama Living January 2010 7

The Only Thing MissingFrom This Picture is You!Do you know a high school junior wholoves to make new friends and travel? Ifso, tell them about our Montgomery andWashington Youth Tours.This once in a lifetime experience provides opportunities for students to learnabout the history of Alabama and the United States. They also learn about the cooperative form of business and the legislativeprocess, not to mention they make lifelongfriends! The best thing of all is that all thetrips are FREE!In order to be eligible, students must livein one of the counties served by South Alabama Electric Cooperative - or have parents who are members of the cooperative.To see the fun and excitement of theYouth Tour for yourself, check out ouryouth tour section on our Web site - www.southaec.com!The 2010 Montgomery Youth Tour willbe held March 2-4, 2010. At this event,more than 150 students and chaperones8 January 2010 Alabama Livingwill tour many sites around Montgomeryand will participate in a variety of leadership programs.The 2010 Washington Youth Tour issponsored in conjunction with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Youth Tour that is held everyJune. This week long, annual event willbring more than 1,500 high school students across the nation to Washington, DCto tour various sites and meet members ofthe legislature. The Washington Youth Tourwill be held June 11-17, 2010.Applications are available on our Website and at area guidance counselor offices.The application deadline is January 18,2010 at 5 p.m.If you would like more information aboutthis program, please contact Chellie Phillips, by e-mail at chelliep@southaec.com,or give her a call at 800-556-2060.

34 January 2010 Alabama Living

Alabama Living January 2010 35

boilers and biomass stoves. For weatherization-related work the credit covers only the cost of materials. With heating, ventilation, and air condition-ing systems, as well as biomass stoves, installation costs also cou