About Inter-County Energy
PO Box 87
Danville KY 40423-0087
Office number: 1-888-266-7322
Website: intercountyenergy.net
Inter-County Energy is a Touchstone Energy® Cooperative, which is a national network of electric cooperatives that provides resources and leverages partnerships to help our member cooperatives and their employees better engage and serve their members. By working together, Touchstone Energy cooperatives in 46 states supply reliable, affordable and safe energy to 32 million member-owners every day.
Our History
In 1935 only 10% of American farms were receiving electricity. In fact, smaller nations of the world were significantly ahead of the U.S. in rural electrification. For example, Sweden had 65%; Denmark 85%; Japan 90%; France 98%; and the Netherlands 100%.
To help rural Americans get electricity, the Rural Electrification Administration, referred to as R.E.A., (currently referred to as RUS, Rural Utilities Service), was created on May 11, 1935 by an Executive Order of the President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
The purpose of the Rural Electrification Administration was to make long term, low interest loans to utility companies to construct electric lines in the rural areas. Even though the long term, low interest rate loans were available through R.E.A., the existing electric companies turn a deaf ear to rural America when they requested electric service.
The Electric Co-op Turns On
Since no one else was willing to serve the sparsely populated rural areas with electric power, rural people organized their own businesses and served themselves by forming electric cooperatives. With borrowed monies from the Rural Electrification Administration, the cooperative constructed lines into rural areas.
On June 14, 1937, a small group of people from Boyle, Garrard, and Marion counties met in the Farm Bureau Office in Danville, Kentucky and officially organized Inter-County Energy. The first lines in Inter-County Energy’s service areas were energized from the Perryville Substation on June 10, 1938. The Garrard Substation was energized on August 24, 1938, and the Marion county Substation was energized in September, 1938. From this humble beginning, Inter-County Energy had grown tremendously.
A Surge In Power
People in adjoining counties contacted Inter-County Energy in an effort to get electric power into their areas. As a result, Inter-County Energy now serves in twelve (12) counties. The counties are Boyle, Lincoln, Marion, Garrard, Mercer, and Casey, Nelson, Washington, Larue, Taylor, Madison and Rockcastle.
As of December 31, 2022, Inter-County Energy served 27,720 members on 3,988 miles of line.
Past history of Inter-County Energy’s members indicate that they double their kilowatt-hour usage, or electric power consumption about every seven to nine years. In recent years, the growth rate has slowed down due to conservation and consumers using more efficient equipment. As of December 31, 2022, the average monthly kilowatt-hour consumption per consumer was 1,137.
Due to members requiring more power, the system must continually be improved. That’s why each year the cooperative is required to replace miles and miles of single-phase lines with multi-phase lines, plus we increase the capacity of the system by re-insulating lines that were carrying 7,200 volts and make them capable of carrying 14,400 volts. This is a costly process, but is necessary in order that the cooperative may continue to provide the quality of electric power that our members are used to.
Programs & Rebates
Heat Pumps
Upgrading your existing heat pump?
If upgrading your existing heat pump to a higher-efficiency model is in your budget, consider upgrading to an ENERGY STAR® certified heat pump. If it qualifies, we’ll pay you a $500 rebate.
Want to save even more? We offer a $1,000 rebate for upgrading to an ENERGY STAR ® certified cold-climate heat pump. Cold climate heat pumps are among the highest efficiency heat pumps available. Plus, they get their name because they do a great job even on the most extreme winter days. To find qualifying models visit the ENERGY STAR ® product finder here.
Replacing an electric furnace or baseboard heat?
We offer a rebate for members who replace an existing heat source (either an electric furnace, baseboard heat, electric thermal storage, or ceiling cable heat) with a high-efficiency heat pump. The heat pump must be rated at least 14.3 SEER2/7.5 HSPF2 or higher. This program is for existing homes that are at least two years old and replacing electric resistance heat. New manufactured homes also apply. Qualifying members will receive up to a $1,000 rebate.
All rebates for electrically-heated, residential homes only.
Water Heaters
Replacing your water heater?
ENERGY STAR® certified heat pump water heaters (also known as hybrid water heaters) are one of the highest efficiency ways to produce hot water. This means they can help you save big on your energy bill. If it’s time to replace your existing water heater, consider installing an ENERGY STAR ® certified heat pump water heater and we’ll provide a $250 rebate. Find more information about ENERGY STAR ® certified heat pump water heaters here.
Button-Up
Increase your home’s efficiency and your comfort through simple upgrades like air sealing or improving the insulation in your home. Your local co-op can help you identify areas where improvements need to be made and suggest weatherization techniques to reduce heat loss in your home with the Button-Up program. You may receive up to a $1,875 rebate for making these improvements!
To qualify, your home must be at least two years old and electrically heated. A home energy review is required before and after the weatherization work is performed. So, it is important to contact your local co-op before you begin.
Touchstone Energy Home
Make your dream home a Touchstone Energy Home for superior comfort and energy savings. By meeting a set of energy-efficiency standards, we can certify that your home qualifies as a Touchstone Energy Home. These homes typically use 30 percent less energy than the same home built to typical construction standards.
Simple Saver
The SimpleSaver program is another way that we are working to keep your electricity affordable and our environment healthy. We will pay you up to $20 annually for each central air conditioner you enroll. And you will receive those bill credits each and every year you remain in the program.
Plus you may receive a sign-on bonus of up to $20.
Why are we willing to pay you? Because limiting electric use at peak times during the summer and winter delays the construction of expensive new power plants and helps keep your energy costs affordable. Managing peak load also decreases Kentucky’s carbon footprint and gives all of us more time to explore affordable sources of renewable energy.
CARES
The Community Assistance Resources for Energy Savings (CARES) program provides an incentive to enhance the weatherization and energy-efficiency services provided to members by the Kentucky Community Action Agencies (CAA) network. Co-ops provide an incentive to the CAA implementing the project on behalf of the member. This program is available to members who qualify for weatherization and energy-efficiency services through their local CAA in all service territories of participating cooperatives. The maximum incentive possible per household is $3,000.
For Businesses
Commercial Advanced Lighting
Ready to make your commercial shop really shine?
Our Commercial Advanced Lighting program encourages small businesses to retrofit their inefficient lighting with high-efficiency LEDs. Qualifying facilities could be eligible for up to a $5,000 rebate. The incentive is available to facilities that are open at least 50 hours per week and use less than 3,000,000 kWh per year. Reach out to your cooperative’s key accounts representative for more details, as a pre and post inspection is required for any rebate.
Commercial and Industrial Thermostat
Want to save energy at your place of business?
The Commercial & Industrial Thermostat program encourages you to reduce energy usage at your facility by upgrading to “learning” thermostats. Learning thermostats can evaluate temperature patterns and occupant habits, and use that information to operate your heating system in the most efficient manner. Upgrade to qualifying “learning” thermostats and receive a $100 rebate per thermostat.