Resources

Commercial & Residential Electric Utility Services

SUB provides electric utility services in Sylacauga, AL, and the surrounding areas. We proudly serve 6,360 customers in our city, as well as in Mignon, Walco, and Oldfield. SUB owns, operates, and maintains electric transmission and distribution facilities within and adjacent to the Electric Department in the city limits of Sylacauga in Talladega County, AL. We currently employ 10 technicians experienced in the electrical field who are trained to inspect and deliver electrical system maintenance for the community.

AMEA

We purchase 75% of our power from the Alabama Municipal Electric Authority (AMEA), which is a public corporation of the state incorporated in 1981. AMEA is comprised of 11 members, consisting of municipalities and utility boards located in the State of Alabama, each of which owns and operates an electric distribution system. As a result of purchasing power from AMEA, we have reduced this type of cost by more than 10%, which will increase our savings in the future.

SEPA

The Southeastern Power Administration (SEPA), a power marketing agency of the Department of Energy, provides 25% of our power. SEPA was established to market hydroelectric power from Federal flood control projects, giving preference in the sale of such power to public bodies and rural electric cooperatives. SUB’s recent residential rate comparisons show that our electric rates are 8% below those charged by neighboring investor-owned utility companies and 14% below the rates of the nearest rural electric cooperative.

The Electric Department Board & the SCADA System

The Electric Department Board was one of the first electric utilities in Alabama to install a computer-controlled load management system to control peak demand. This system has successfully reduced the cost of the power we purchase, allowing us to expand the scope of our load management activities.
We are upgrading our Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition ("SCADA") system, allowing us to monitor power usage and curtail load during high system usage. For this process, we utilize our load management system, which will be tied to SCADA, saving our customers money. In addition, the SCADA system allows for the fast determination of abnormal system conditions, such as outages, sags, or swells, resulting in quick remediation.

Our Recent Voltage Conversion

As a leading electricity service provider, we have successfully completed a 4 KV to 12 KV voltage conversion. Originally, downtown was served by two 4 KV substations, but our conversion increased it to 12 KV equipment, giving us flexibility with more interties. As a result, the conversion is saving us approximately $90,000 per year in reduced electric losses. In addition, the conversion has increased system reliability by having all our substations operating at the same voltage.