Tough economic times and rising power bills understandably motivate consumers to explore money-saving options.  It’s no wonder that unscrupulous marketers seize the moment by offering deceptive and ineffective products that claim to lower power bills 25 to 40 percent.  Accordingly, Pee Dee Electric Cooperative cautions consumers to beware of energy saving products that sound too good to be true.

They go by many different names but most of these “magic box” energy devices generally promise to “fix up” a consumer’s power by improving power factor.  Power factor is simply a measure of efficiency with which the power is being delivered.  Residential consumers are not billed for power factor. 

“Because Pee Dee Electric and other electric utilities bill for kilowatt-hours used, and do not penalize for poor power factor, homeowners see no direct savings from these devices,” said Rob Ardis, Chief Operating Officer for Pee Dee Electric Cooperative and a Professional Engineer.  “Not only would they see little savings, they could be spending up to $1,200 for these bogus products.” 

Saving energy is not as simple as plugging a device into an outlet or a meter. Electric co-ops invest millions of dollars every year into researching the latest energy efficient and renewable energy options on the market. Many co-ops offer energy audits, weatherization programs, rebates and other assistance to members seeking answers about energy efficiency.

“It’s important for consumers to be skeptical,” said Ardis.  “They really should check in with their electric utility before making any purchase.  Just because someone with a logoed golf shirt tells you their device ‘recycles electricity’ doesn’t mean it actually works.  Call the professionals and get the facts. We all know there is no diet pill on the market that allows one to eat all they want and lose weight.  The only way to achieve that goal is to take in fewer calories.  The same holds true for electricity. The only way to save on a residential electric bill in South Carolina is to reduce the number of kilowatt-hours used.”