technology

When it comes to adopting new technology, electric cooperatives are David beating Goliath.

“The smaller size of co-ops allows us to be more nimble because we have fewer consumers,” says Pat O’Loughlin, president and CEO of Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, the wholesale power supplier and trade association for the 24 co-ops serving the state. “We can try new things and deploy them faster than some big utilities.”

One of the things that makes our family of electric cooperatives so unique within the utility arena is our ability to stay on the leading edge of technical advancements that can make our service safer, more reliable, and more affordable for our members.

Middletown was once a bustling steel and paper manufacturing hub along the banks of the Great Miami River in southwest Ohio. The majority of manufacturing jobs disappeared in the downsizing waves of the 1980s and 1990s, leaving behind an older population — including many elderly on fixed incomes and government assistance.

Whenever Cyclone Hobbies manager Kyle Belman fires up a mini-drone, Harley, the shop’s friendly Yorkshire Terrier, immediately jumps to her feet. As soon as the drone is airborne, Harley gives chase, excitedly scampering after the radio-controlled (RC) vehicle as he deftly maneuvers it around the shop. “Harley gets a lot more exercise chasing drones than she ever gets running after a ball,” says Belman.

About 3:30 in the afternoon last December 23, o

Destination known or unknown, there’s an inherent feeling of freedom driving off into the big blue yonder. No long-term parking fees, airport security checks, or missed connecting flights. It’s all about you and your destination.

All too often, though, there’s a bump in the road, whether it’s your safety, comfort, or lack of organization. This year, plan wisely, keep your cool, and conquer the open road. These gadgets just might be a key element to a triumphant road trip.

Road trip activities are often tedious and predictable — the license plate game, 10-minute pit stops, mounds of munchies, and the occasional snooze. But there are ways to break up the monotony, get a little exercise, and have fun.

How’s this for a job description? A bit of Sherlock Holmes, plus number-cruncher, technology wizard, problem-solver, with a cheerful outlook and the ability to work well with others — that’s just a partial list of what it takes to become a co-op energy advisor.

All that expertise is just a phone call or mouse click away to get reliable, trustworthy answers to your energy questions.

What happened in Vegas won’t stay in Vegas, not if it concerns CES® 2016, the world’s largest tradeshow for consumer electronic technology and the biggest U.S. trade show of any kind.

Held Jan. 6-9 in Las Vegas, the 49th CES — formerly known as the International Consumer Electronics Show — introduced innovative items and electronic technologies affecting most every walk of life, including many powered by the electricity your cooperative provides.

The Black Edison. Such was the nickname bestowed upon Granville T. Woods, an African-American inventor who held more than 50 patents. Born in Columbus in 1856, he attended school only to age 10, leaving due to family poverty and the necessity of work.