Southern : Energy audit improves living conditions for one Gulf Power customer by removing hazardous appliance

Energy audit improves living conditions for one Gulf Power customer by removing hazardous appliance

By Kimberly Blair

Deborah Samuel Green of Fort Walton Beach giggled and said she felt like a kid with a new toy as she played with a new directional, low-flow faucet head for her kitchen sink.

She also smiled and raved about a new shower head saying: 'Taking a shower now is wonderful. I don't have to stand all the way in the corner because the water shot straight out. I feel cleaner.'

But what thrilled her the most? She doesn't have to buy diapers anymore. She used them, lots of them, to soak up the water leaking from her decades-old natural gas water heater

Green thanks Gulf Power employee Carl Jackson, a Residential Energy consultant, for bringing these simple joys into her troubled life. Jackson went above and beyond to help Green out because of her extremely dire situation.

Shifting from smiles to tears, Green enthused: 'Oh my, yes, I'm so thankful.'

Green requested and scheduled an energy audit for her home. However, she canceled and rescheduled the assessment multiple times.

Jackson's persistence in encouraging her to keep the appointment had an incredibly positive impact. He discovered she was living in a dangerous situation and took action to correct it, at no cost to Green.

'When I went to do the audit, she didn't want me to go into the home because it wasn't in a presentable state,' Jackson said. 'I told her, I'm not looking at your home to judge you. I'm here to see where we can assist you in saving money on your energy bill.'

Jackson had known Green and her family for most of his life, having grown up in Fort Walton Beach. She and her family were active in church and the community, but had experienced a series of tragedies over the last few years. Green, who is seeking help to recover from decades of domestic violence, is now financially struggling to make ends meet.

'She used to be a highly optimistic person and a servant in the community. These circumstances have crushed her spirit. She is having difficulties getting back up,' Jackson said.

Green's dismal living conditions in her 1950s home reflect her downward spiral. Jackson knew if he could save her any money on her energy bill through an energy audit, it would be helpful.

While Jackson is transitioning from existing home energy audits to new home construction, Adam Clause, also a Residential Energy consultant, is transitioning to take over the Fort Walton Beach area's existing home audits. They worked together to convince Green to forget about the appearance of her home and allow them do the audit.

'When I asked to see the water heater, we found it in a cramped closet. It was a gas unit and had improper ventilation,' Jackson said. 'It was leaking and dangerous. Water was on the floor and she was using baby diapers to try and absorb the water. It was a very bad situation.'

Through Gulf Power's gas-to-electric conversion program, Green qualified for a free electric water heater. However, she still needed work done to have it installed. Through a business relationship with Mark Bush of Bush & Sons Heating and AC of Fort Walton Beach, Jackson was able to get the services donated.

Bush said when he heard about Green's situation, he didn't hesitate.

'I have a soft place in my heart for elderly people and people who are in bad situations,' he said. 'I had help in my life. So I help where I can.'

Jackson said while Gulf Power was able to assist his customer out of a hazardous situation, it didn't solve all of Green's energy problems. 'That house needs a lot of love,' he said. 'She's looking into an assistance program to get windows done. She also needs a roof and wall repair.'

But Jackson said he did a cost comparison and Green is saving money by eliminating her gas bill, reducing her water bill caused by the leaking water heater, and is living in a much safer environment.

Also, through Gulf Power's Community Energy Saver program - available to eligible, low income customers - she qualified to receive a year's worth of AC filters and compact fluorescent light bulbs and low-flow shower head and faucet heads, all of which will help reduce her energy bill.

Jackson's supervisor, Regina Carter, Residential Sales team leader, said Jackson and Bush have reputations for going above and beyond when it comes to helping out in their community.

'Carl's willingness, his helpfulness towards each customer, both internal and external, is equivalent to his dedication to thoroughly performing each work task,' she said. 'Carl puts his heart into every aspect of his job responsibilities.'

Developing good working relationships with contractors like Bush has been beneficial for customers on both ends, Carter said.

When Gulf Power has a special situation with a customer in need, contractors often rush in to help out, oftentimes pro bono, she said. Carter said Gulf Power will also rush to help a contractor with something like a load calculation for a customer in dire need of a new AC/Heating unit.

'We work hand in hand,' Carter said. 'It's not just about gas-to-electric conversion; it's absolutely about helping out in the community.'

Or to simply make one customer's fractured life a little brighter.

###

Power is an investor-owned energy provider with all of its common stock owned by Atlanta-based Southern Company. Gulf Power serves more than 447,000 customers in eight counties throughout Northwest Florida. The company's mission is to safely provide exceptional customer value by delivering reliable, affordable and environmentally responsible electricity while strengthening our communities. Visit online at MyGulfPower.com or on the company'sFacebook page. News information can be found atGulfPowerNews.com.

Media Contacts:

Jeff Rogers
Corporate Communications Manager
850-444-6243, cell 850-572-5511

Rick DelaHaya
Media Relations Supervisor
850-444-6433, cell 318-294-2338

Natalie Smith
Media Relations
850-444-6784, cell 850-375-6123