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The Truth About Power Factor Devices
A down economy 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 up to 25 percent. Arkansas Valley Electric 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 by the utility. Residential consumers are not billed for power factor.
Arkansas cooperatives bill residential members for kilowatts used, and do not penalize for poor power factor, the homeowner would likely see no direct savings from these devices. 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 constantly research the latest energy-efficient and renewable-energy options on the market. Certified Energy Auditor, Kevin Baskin says “It’s so important for consumers to be skeptical. They really should check in with their electric cooperative before making any purchase.”
Your co-op offers assistance to members seeking answers about energy efficiency. From in home energy audits to online effiency tools we are constantly seeking new and improved tools and methods to save members on your home energy bill.
