Knowledge Is Power

Texts Help Members Track Their Usage

South Alabama Electric Cooperative (SAEC) wants members to have as much information as possible to manage their home’s energy use.

So, earlier this year, the cooperative began sending members a daily text notification about their kilowatt-hour electricity use for the day. Like e-billing and online bill pay, text notifications are the latest digital tool SAEC provides in response to members’ requests.

“It’s helping members manage their accounts better,” SAEC Vice President of Member Services Andy Kimbro says. “We are offering the tools that have been requested heavily by our members. Information is critical in helping members make decisions that can affect their bills.”

The text notifications on daily electricity use come from the same system SAEC uses for outage notifications. Not only can members get notifications on usage, but they can also receive notifications when their e-bill is ready or when their bill is due in two days. The due-date reminder is not sent to members who have already paid their bills. Members can also specify the time of day they want to receive texts. Notification settings can be adjusted through the cooperative’s mobile app or online on the SAEC website.

Kimbro says the text notifications on energy use can throw up red flags for members. Use that suddenly spikes could indicate problems with a heating and cooling unit or a water heater leak, causing the appliance to run excessively.

“You catch those things if you see them daily versus getting it at the end of the month,” Kimbro says.

Members who don’t want daily texts about their energy use can set a threshold to receive notifications if their use surpasses a certain kWh benchmark. Since the text notifications started going out, members have been surprised by their daily use, Kimbro says. Members can also opt out of text notifications completely. But, Kimbro says, when they see their daily use, members can make more informed decisions about how to conserve and save on their energy costs.

“Our membership has requested this, and we’re trying to respond to our members in a positive way,” he says. “We’re trying to give them power by giving them information.”