By Ron Salyer, President & CEO

I'm excited because all of us are a part of Pioneer Electric Cooperative and we all have the capability to influence how our electricity is produced, distributed and used in our homes and businesses.  Pioneer is an independent, locally-controlled cooperative owned by its members. This gives us great latitude to determine how your electricity is produced, how to control the costs associated with that electricity, how to meet and exceed the level of service our membership desires, and how to keep the organization's focus on safety.  All of these items are controlled by members of Pioneer as a whole through elections of fellow members to the Board of Trustees. Every month the trustees meet to set policy directions for the cooperative and to monitor operations to ensure we are meeting your expectations.  The great part is this local control allows Pioneer to tailor its service offerings and to control costs to the people of Champaign, Miami, Shelby and eight additional counties in West Central Ohio. Local people know what's best for local folks like us, so it just makes sense to operate as a cooperative. This form of business is founded on democratic member control and produces benefits to flow back to the people it serves. Click here to read the full story.

Did you know you're sharing your home with "energy vampires"--electronic and electrical devices that continue to suck electricity even when turned off? On average, these items are responsible for an estimated 10 percent of the electricity you use every month.

Here's a tip that can help you drive a stake through the heart of these vampires, saving energy and money. One way to identify energy vampires is to look for devices with remote controls-TVs, DVRs, and audio equipment, for example. Then target gaming consoles, computers, monitors and printers. Finally, unplug fully charged battery-operated devices such as cells phones, iPods, small DVD players, laptops and power tools. Chargers draw energy even when they're not charging anything.

An easy way to seal the coffin on energy vampires is to plug components of your computer or home entertainment system into a power strip. With a single flip of a switch, you can fully cut power to them. In addition, don't forget to unplug any appliances with digital clocks--such as coffee makers and toaster ovens--when you aren't using them.

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