VIDEO: Power Hungry in the Golden Triangle

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s no surprise our high temperatures are causing residents to turn up the AC, but that’s not necessarily where all of that power is being used.

In fact, every year Mississippi ranks among the top electric consuming states.

It powers nearly everything we use in… Electricity.

And weather generally determines the price of the bill.

“Temperature drives energy use. So, when you have those extreme temperatures on either end, hot like it is now or cold like it is in the winter, that really peaks energy use.”

Heat is the main reason for use right now, but a large percentage comes from every day items in your house.

“Everything you’ve got plugged up, all of your appliances all of your cable boxes all of your game consoles, stereos, phone chargers, we have a lot of stuff that we run off of electricity.”

While there are some alternative energy sources in the area, for most people there’s only one option.

“electricity is really the only way you’re going to cool your home. All the air conditioning units that I know, whether it’s a heat pump or whatever, run off electricity, so of course you’re going to do that in the summertime, whether you’re using a window unit, a heat pump, a fan, it all uses electricity.”

Companies like Synergetics in Starkville are bringing some alternative energy to the Golden Triangle and they’re seeing progress.

“It benefited us quite a bit. We’ve been interested in solar for many years, and in 2011 I think all the pieces came together with incentives, tax credits, price of the solar equipment aligned where it was cost effective and feasible.”

And it’s to the point where they will be doubling the size of their panels in the next few months.

This renewable source is gaining momentum, but it’s unlikely Mississippians will be pulling the plug on electricity any time soon.

“you’re doing laundry, you’re cooking supper, you’re doing everything. Most of that stuff requires power, and we just use a lot of power here in Mississippi.”

A lot of power doesn’t necessarily mean spending a lot of money.

Mississippi’s electric prices are actually below the national average, eleven cents every kilowatt an hour.

However, because we use so much of this electricity, it results in Mississippi having some of the highest monthly electric bills in the nation, averaging around one hundred and forty dollars…