The Greencastle-Antrim Chamber of Commerce provides the framework for member prosperity and thereby contributes to the quality of life in our community. This is accomplished through networking, education, community development, member services and special events.


Chamber Hours:
Mon-Fri: 9am-12pm  1pm-4pm

 The Cost of Electricity
 

The clock is ticking! Currently, utility companies, transmission and power plants are all regulated. On January 1, 2011 the remaining power plants are being de-regulated which will have an impact on rates for electricity. This article is meant to be educational and informative to members of ways our chamber can respond to this development.
The media has reported deregulation could impact electrical cost increases by thirty percent. Some utility companies are projecting an increase of 9 percent. This is dependent on what rates the utility companies have negotiated with power plants per kilowatt in their buying patterns. Utility companies purchase power in two ways which will impact the price per kilowatt hour.
When a utility company purchases power it is typically at a wholesale price point. It is looking ahead based on assessing the need for electrical power in the future. The wholesale price is a fixed price based on the amount of power purchased. The wholesale price can and does change as frequently as twelve times during an hour. The price is based on weather, long term supply and demand, global and economic conditions and other factors.
When a utility company falls short of needed power they purchase power through the index market. This is in real time, on the spot, or perhaps a day ahead. We have all seen television or radio advertisements concerning energy alerts. These alerts occur when weather conditions are extremely warm and the use of air conditioning is high. Utilities may be forced to buy additional power in real time to handle the load. Typically they pay a

premium price based on the law of supply and demand. The opposite is also true. If the supply on the index is in excess, a utility could actually get power without paying a power plant any money, or they actually could be paid money to take power. Granted this may not happen on a frequent basis, but it does occur.
Utility companies primarily use wholesale purchases in a seeding process. Meaning they buy power at different wholesale prices to get the best price possible over an extended time period. Consultants are beginning to contact businesses offering their services to shop around and find the most competitive rate among utility companies as a means to curb the expected increases in electrical rates. In effect, a small business pays someone for due diligence work to find the most cost effective utility supplier. The chamber already has access to a company called APPI. There is an alternative our chamber is considering that could be of greater benefit to our members. The On Demand Energy Solution has partnered with Chamber Choice to offer a program that allows individual businesses to pool their need for electrical power together resulting in the buying power of large industrials. Their strategy is to utilize a blended approach to the purchase of power by leveraging both wholesale and the index to reduce or limit the cost of electricity. I am told by one company official they have purchased over 4 billion kilowatt hours in their pool purchases thus far in Pennsylvania.
The Greencastle-Antrim Chamber Board of Directors will make a decision in January regarding whether we will actively become involved in promoting On Demand through meetings and presentations to our membership, or utilize APPI. If the On Demand option is approved, then I would ask you to attend educational meetings that will be set up. If your business can benefit by saving hundreds or
thousands of dollars a year in electricity then it merits your time to evaluate the potential impact on your business.
Recently I had the opportunity to talk with Robert S. Carl Jr., Executive Director of Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce. He reported that nearly 300 of his members (40%) are already involved in the program. Boroughs, townships, school cooperatives are benefitting from the On Demand program since their area was deregulated last year. His chamber has added 191 members in 2009. The Greater Waynesboro Area Chamber and Chambersburg Chamber have started and will continue to roll out the On Demand program to their membership in 2010 in preparation for deregulation in 2011. (By Joel Fridgen)



 

2010 Greencastle-Antrim Chamber of Commerce and
Community Calendar of Events

January 19
Chamber Breakfast
7:30 a.m.
Home of Hank Guarriello
373 Craig Road, Greencastle
Sponsor: Henry Guarriello
Speaker: Andrew Sussman, Executive Director of the Cumberland Valley School of Music
Topic: The Cumberland Valley School of Music
Contact: Chamber 717-597-4610;
info@greencastlepachamber.org

January 26
Women to Women
Antrim House Retaurant
104 E. Baltimore St., Greencastle
Chocolate & Wine
Cost: $10 at the door includes appetizers, beverage and wine
Time: from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
RSVP to: greencastlewomen2women@gmail.com

January 29-31
Camp Joy El Jumpstart Connection Weekend
Grades 6-9
Camp Joy El
3741 Joy-El Drive, Greencastle
Contact: Camp Joy El, 717-369-4539

February 19
Legislative Breakfast (held in cooperation with the Greater Waynesboro and Mercersburg Area Chambers of Commerce)
7:00 a.m. – buffet line opens
7:30 a.m. – program begins
Antrim House Restaurant
104 E. Baltimore St., Greencastle
Sponsor: First National Bank of Mercersburg
Speakers: Sen. Richard Alloway & Gene Barr, Vice President, Government and Public Affairs, PA Chamber of Business & Industry
Contact: Chamber 717-597-4610;
info@greencastlepachamber.org

February 19-21
Camp Joy El Surge Connection Weekend
Grades 9-12
Camp Joy El
3741 Joy-El Drive, Greencastle
Contact: Camp Joy El, 717-369-4539

February 25
Chamber Event
After 5 Business Card Exchange
Contact: Chamber 717-597-4610
info@greencastlepachamber.org

March 5-7
Camp Joy El Energizer Connection Weekend
Grades 2-5
Camp Joy El
3741 Joy-El Drive, Greencastle
Contact: Camp Joy El, 717-369-4539


March 15-21
American Cancer Society Daffodil Days
Contact: American Cancer Society,
717-264-6266

March 16
Chamber Breakfast
7:30 a.m.
Antrim House Restaurant
104 East Baltimore St., Greencastle
Sponsor: Mother Martins Coupons
Speaker: Dr. Greg Hoover, Greencastle-Antrim Superintendent
Topic: “Responding to Growth in our School District”
Contact: Chamber 717-597-4610;
info@greencastlepachamber.org

March 24
Business Education Partnership
Greencastle-Antrim High School
300 S. Ridge Ave., Greencastle
Contact: Chamber 717-597-4610
info@greencastlepachamber.org

March 25
Chamber Event
After 5 Business Card Exchange
Contact: Chamber 717-597-4610
info@greencastlepachamber.org

April 2
First Friday
5:00 -8:00 p.m.
Downtown Greencastle
Contact: Chamber, 717-597-4610;
info@greencastlepachamber.org

April 20
Chamber Breakfast
7:30 a.m.
Antrim House Restaurant
104 East Baltimore St., Greencastle
Sponsor: F & M Trust
Speaker: Roger Bennett, Director of Industrial Development, Norfolk Southern
Contact: Chamber 717-597-4610;
info@greencastlepachamber.org




Complete Event Listing