Fireworks, Memories & Future Plans

By Justin Lee

As a young boy growing up in Baldwin, Cullman County, July was always a special time, especially July 4th. My brother and I would wait with anticipation for the day to come. We knew mom and dad would both be off work, and we would be cooking out with our family. But most importantly, we knew a trip to see Mr. Tom Moore at the 278 Quick Stop and Firework Stand was all but guaranteed.

Mr. Tom, as we called him, was always the highlight of our day. We never knew how much we could spend, but he was always sure to throw in a few extras. I can still remember the genuine smile on his face as he saw our eyes light up while he filled our paper bag full of tiny explosives.

Fast forward many years, and July took on a whole new, — and much more special— meaning. My wife and I had our first child on July 3, 2014. What better way to celebrate a birthday than with a fireworks show every year! Each year on his birthday, I flash back to my childhood days and my son and I both have bigger smiles than anyone in the room. I can’t sneak in the M80 explosions like my dad used to, but there is still plenty of fun to be had. I vividly remember his 3rd birthday: grilling hamburgers on the back porch and trying not to let anyone know that the heat was about to kill me. It didn’t help that my cheap frozen hamburger patties had so much grease dripping down that one may have thought I started a bonfire instead.

I remember thinking there was no better feeling than the rush of cool air from the heat pump as I walked into the house. It had no doubt been valiantly running wide open all day thanks to the high heat, leading to a much higher power bill for the month. But the relief it provided was worth its weight in gold.

The extreme heat of summer is something our cooperative has dealt with for decades. Just like extreme cold in the winter, these two times of the year test our system more than any other. While most people commonly refer to their home electricity in kilowatt hours (KWH), at Cullman Electric and other utility engineering offices around the world, Kilowatt (KW) Demand is the key driver of the entire system and determines the cost.

During the peak heat of summer, Cullman EC may experience a KW Demand that is more than double the normal capacity carried by the system. This often aligns perfectly with July 4th, when everyone is at home, lake houses are full, and tens of thousands of heat pumps are churning to keep up with the day’s heat. It’s during these times that we study the needs of the system and prepare for the future.

The results of these studies can be seen system wide. Ryan Creek Substation built in 2018 is relieving load growth from 24th Street. In Trade, a brand new substation is very close to completion to keep up with some of the growth on Smith Lake. Additionally, we anticipate the completion of the new substation in Berlin by the end of this year. Looking further ahead, expansions are planned for Jones Chapel, Hanceville Industrial and Holly Pond. At the same time, line crews are working hard, performing voltage conversions and upgrading our primary lines from 12kV to 25kV, which will double our carrying capacity for whatever may lie ahead. Whether it’s continued housing growth, electric vehicles or industrial expansions, Cullman Electric is committed to providing our members with the reliable and efficient system they need.

I hope you all have a blessed July 4th full of many memories. We will be standing by to help power them. n