Atchinson and Copel Project

The Project

Brad Atchinson and Nicole Copel have been San Isabel Electric Association member-owners for 20 years, but it was not until a year ago that he finally felt like one.

After seeing San Isabel Electric’s electrification of the La Veta Public Library, of which Atchinson is on the board, he came to us wanting similar work done on his 105-year-old home. Atchinson spoke to us and learned we could help him with this project in ways he had not previously realized.

“I knew you offered some services such as selling appliances or helping upgrade from propane to electric. I wasn’t aware that you would help with contract management.”

Because of the services he knew we offered, and benefits he was only recently aware of, Atchinson wanted our help with a large-scale overhaul of his home energy system. This included the addition of an ETS heater with wiring and construction primed for the addition of another sometime in the future. The home was also entirely rewired, replacing the knob and tube wiring. Finally, the home received a plug for the use of an electric vehicle.

Throughout the project, Atchinson was impressed with our dedication to making the transition from propane to electric a painless one “I was surprised how hard SIEA worked to make this transition easy for us.”

In the project’s aftermath, Atchinson noticed the benefits of a fully electrified home. He discussed the burden of maintaining a wood burning stove and the costs of a propane heater. In contrast, he was pleased with the ease of use that came with a fully electric system,including cost.

The couple reported their electric bill was surprisingly low considering the additions. He also cited cost consistency as a welcomed change, “[Our] Propane bill was pretty inconsistent, having a predictable electric bill is so much more convenient.”

Member-owners who have an ETS heater are eligible for SIEA’s Time of Day rate, which benefits members because electricity is nearly half-price during off-peak times,14 hours per day in the winter, and eight hours per day in the summer.

Atchinson talked about how he and his wife have optimized their costs by utilizing their electricity during off-peak hours. For example, his wife fires the kilns in her pottery studio in those off-peak hours.

The combination of service, cost-effectiveness, and quality of life improvement left Atchinson and Copel satisfied with the project. “This was the first time that I felt like a member,” Atchinson said.

Details

Completed : November, 2023

Goals:

• More efficient
• Hassle-free heating
• Consistent comfortable temperatures
• Improve safety