What's News around Kircher Electric?



	What’s News around Kircher Electric?! • MediPendant™ - The perfect Personal Emergency Response System (PERS)! • PA's Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act • Exterior Lighting • PECO Rates Soar PA’s Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act Pennsylvania recently enacted the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (HICPA), which requires contractors to register with the Bureau of Consumer Protection of the Pennsylvania Attorney General (the Bureau) and mandates the form and content of contracts. Back to top Exterior Lighting - As important as what's inside. Exterior lighting might not sound as necessary as interior lighting, but in fact, it is very much needed. When we think of light and lighting fixtures, most of us would immediately think of those found inside the house, whether they are lamps used for reading or fluorescent bulbs to light up the living room. I guess this is because lights are always associated with necessity, and when we think of activities necessary to be done, they are always those that happen inside the house. What many neglect to think about, however, is that while most activities that need illumination happen inside, the first step towards getting in is through outside. Thus, choosing for lights outside is equally important as choosing for what to put inside. As we could already gather from their names, interior lights are all light fixtures we use and install inside our homes. In contrast, exterior lights are those fixtures that we put inside. Let us explore the latter. You might wonder how important is the installation of lights outside our home? When anyway, it is not like you would spend much time outside enough for them to be of any use? The most important function of outside lights is that they provide for your safety. Take for instance if your house is on a lot that requires you to walk some distance towards it even after you have entered the gate. If this is the case, you probably have a pathway for it. If you come home late at night, you would not want to stumble around and fumble with wherever the entrance is because you could not see things clearly. Besides, the darkness is hardly something you can boast of to your visitors. Thus, you need lights that can light the pathway and even overhead, on the entrance. The latter assures you that you would be able to fit in your key through the doorknob without any unnecessary delay caused by darkness. Another function of these outer lights is for security. When someone, say, knocks at you front door at night or rings the doorbell, you cannot immediately ascertain the person’s identity if you have not seen who he or she is yet. If you do not have lights, you would not see the persons face clearly. Thus, proper illumination is needed and good outdoor lighting provides this. We have talked about outdoor lights in terms of illuminating the entryways of your homes, but there are many types of these lights. There are even garden lights. If you have a garden, it would be shame if you only allow view of it during the day. Garden lights make sure that your flowers are still visible for the appreciation of passers-by at night. There are truly many types of outdoor lights, and all of them have a specific function. They are not those borne out of luxury, for in fact, they perpetuate towards better safety and security for your home. If interior lights help you with your activities at home, outdoor lights certainly make sure you are safe and secure as you do this. Even though we usually fail to put much importance in them, exterior lighting is certainly one significant aspect for the home. Article Source: EzineArticles.com Back to top PECO rates to soar POTTSTOWN -- Contrary to earlier projections, PECO customers can expect rate hikes of 19 to 20 percent when artificial price caps on utilities expire over... Friday, August 1, 2008 • By MICHAEL HAYS, POTTSTOWN -- Contrary to earlier projections, PECO customers can expect rate hikes of 19 to 20 percent when artificial price caps on utilities expire over the next few years, a company official revealed. Until now, PECO held the somewhat envious position among Pennsylvania utilities as the only provider expected to raise electricity rates by single digits come January 2011. Those figures were according to estimates released by the state's utility consumer advocate in May. Other companies such as Allegheny Power and PPL are expected to hike rates by 63 percent and 37 percent —respectively — when the Pennsylvania price caps expire. Lisa Crutchfield, a senior vice president with PECO, said Wednesday that the previous, widely circulated figure of 8 percent is lower than the company's projections, which she pegged at 19 to 20 percent. That news comes on top of natural gas increases of 11 percent. Crutchfield testified in Pottstown before the state House of Representatives' Republican policy committee. During questioning by Rep. Doug Reichley (134th District), Crutchfield defended the $10 million salary earned by PECO's chief executive officer. She also opposed continuing the rate caps for several more years, a policy supported by Rep. Jay Moyer of the 70th District. Addressing a representative of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, Moyer said, "My people just can't afford that." He further stated that customers were being "penalized" for using energy-efficient appliances in their homes. Natural gas revenues have declined about 13 percent since 1992 as people purchased efficient heaters and appliances while insulating their homes to further cut consumption. Robert Powelson, one of five commissioners with the the state's Public Utility Commission, responded, "There's no free lunch for customers." Powelson, former head of the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry, later said, "We need to understand and trust the marketplace." If costs are capped in other areas, such as transmission and distribution, some power companies will go bankrupt, he said. "I am more concerned about bankrupting my residents and business owners," said Moyer, who represents a portion of Montgomery County. The caps at the center of Wednesday's hearing froze electric rates at 1990s levels. These limits were imposed on utilities as part of a 1996 deregulation law designed to deliver lower bills in a competitive marketplace. Once those caps expire, utilities can bill customers for the true price of the power they buy. Powelson said the state needs more nuclear power. "We've mastered nuclear technology. It is time to make it part of our portfolio," he said. "We're not building enough generation in Pennsylvania." All the Republican representatives who spoke during this hearing echoed Powelson's views on nuclear energy. Rep. RoseMarie Swanger of the 102nd District asked about the issue of spent fuel storage. Powelson said "all eggs are in the basket of getting Yucca Mountain solved." The mountain, located in Nevada, has been highly controversial since the concept was first introduced. Nuclear fuel storage at Yucca Mountain is opposed by many Democrats in Congress, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and a list of environmental groups. Crutchfield said PECO plans to gradually phase in the 20 percent increase over three years. Budget programs will be available, she added. URL: http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2008/08/01/business/19882543.prt © 2009 dailylocal.com, a Journal Register Property Back to top

What’s News around Kircher Electric?!

• MediPendant™ - The perfect Personal Emergency Response System (PERS)!

• PA's Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act

• Exterior Lighting

• PECO Rates Soar

PA’s Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act
Pennsylvania recently enacted the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (HICPA), which requires contractors to register with the Bureau of Consumer Protection of the Pennsylvania Attorney General (the Bureau) and mandates the form and content of contracts.

Exterior Lighting - As important as what's inside.

Exterior lighting might not sound as necessary as interior lighting, but in fact, it is very much needed. When we think of light and lighting fixtures, most of us would immediately think of those found inside the house, whether they are lamps used for reading or fluorescent bulbs to light up the living room.

I guess this is because lights are always associated with necessity, and when we think of activities necessary to be done, they are always those that happen inside the house. What many neglect to think about, however, is that while most activities that need illumination happen inside, the first step towards getting in is through outside. Thus, choosing for lights outside is equally important as choosing for what to put inside.

As we could already gather from their names, interior lights are all light fixtures we use and install inside our homes. In contrast, exterior lights are those fixtures that we put inside. Let us explore the latter.

You might wonder how important is the installation of lights outside our home? When anyway, it is not like you would spend much time outside enough for them to be of any use? The most important function of outside lights is that they provide for your safety. Take for instance if your house is on a lot that requires you to walk some distance towards it even after you have entered the gate. If this is the case, you probably have a pathway for it.

If you come home late at night, you would not want to stumble around and fumble with wherever the entrance is because you could not see things clearly. Besides, the darkness is hardly something you can boast of to your visitors. Thus, you need lights that can light the pathway and even overhead, on the entrance. The latter assures you that you would be able to fit in your key through the doorknob without any unnecessary delay caused by darkness.

Another function of these outer lights is for security. When someone, say, knocks at you front door at night or rings the doorbell, you cannot immediately ascertain the person’s identity if you have not seen who he or she is yet. If you do not have lights, you would not see the persons face clearly. Thus, proper illumination is needed and good outdoor lighting provides this.

We have talked about outdoor lights in terms of illuminating the entryways of your homes, but there are many types of these lights. There are even garden lights. If you have a garden, it would be shame if you only allow view of it during the day. Garden lights make sure that your flowers are still visible for the appreciation of passers-by at night.

There are truly many types of outdoor lights, and all of them have a specific function. They are not those borne out of luxury, for in fact, they perpetuate towards better safety and security for your home. If interior lights help you with your activities at home, outdoor lights certainly make sure you are safe and secure as you do this.

Even though we usually fail to put much importance in them, exterior lighting is certainly one significant aspect for the home.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

PECO rates to soar

POTTSTOWN -- Contrary to earlier projections, PECO customers can expect rate hikes of 19 to 20 percent when artificial price caps on utilities expire over...

Friday, August 1, 2008 • By MICHAEL HAYS,

POTTSTOWN -- Contrary to earlier projections, PECO customers can expect rate hikes of 19 to 20 percent when artificial price caps on utilities expire over the next few years, a company official revealed.

Until now, PECO held the somewhat envious position among Pennsylvania utilities as the only provider expected to raise electricity rates by single digits come January 2011. Those figures were according to estimates released by the state's utility consumer advocate in May.

Other companies such as Allegheny Power and PPL are expected to hike rates by 63 percent and 37 percent —respectively — when the Pennsylvania price caps expire.

Lisa Crutchfield, a senior vice president with PECO, said Wednesday that the previous, widely circulated figure of 8 percent is lower than the company's projections, which she pegged at 19 to 20 percent.

That news comes on top of natural gas increases of 11 percent.

Crutchfield testified in Pottstown before the state House of Representatives' Republican policy committee. During questioning by Rep. Doug Reichley (134th District), Crutchfield defended the $10 million salary earned by PECO's chief executive officer.

She also opposed continuing the rate caps for several more years, a policy supported by Rep. Jay Moyer of the 70th District. Addressing a representative of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, Moyer said, "My people just can't afford that."

He further stated that customers were being "penalized" for using energy-efficient appliances in their homes. Natural gas revenues have declined about 13 percent since 1992 as people purchased efficient heaters and appliances while insulating their homes to further cut consumption.

Robert Powelson, one of five commissioners with the the state's Public Utility Commission, responded, "There's no free lunch for customers."

Powelson, former head of the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry, later said, "We need to understand and trust the marketplace."

If costs are capped in other areas, such as transmission and distribution, some power companies will go bankrupt, he said.

"I am more concerned about bankrupting my residents and business owners," said Moyer, who represents a portion of Montgomery County.

The caps at the center of Wednesday's hearing froze electric rates at 1990s levels. These limits were imposed on utilities as part of a 1996 deregulation law designed to deliver lower bills in a competitive marketplace. Once those caps expire, utilities can bill customers for the true price of the power they buy.

Powelson said the state needs more nuclear power.

"We've mastered nuclear technology. It is time to make it part of our portfolio," he said. "We're not building enough generation in Pennsylvania."

All the Republican representatives who spoke during this hearing echoed Powelson's views on nuclear energy. Rep. RoseMarie Swanger of the 102nd District asked about the issue of spent fuel storage.

Powelson said "all eggs are in the basket of getting Yucca Mountain solved." The mountain, located in Nevada, has been highly controversial since the concept was first introduced. Nuclear fuel storage at Yucca Mountain is opposed by many Democrats in Congress, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and a list of environmental groups.

Crutchfield said PECO plans to gradually phase in the 20 percent increase over three years. Budget programs will be available, she added.
URL: http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2008/08/01/business/19882543.prt
© 2009 dailylocal.com, a Journal Register Property