Your PUD News Release
Conservation programs help customers save energy and money
Chelan County PUD
News Release
2/1/2010
PUD commissioners Monday received an update on three new programs to help customers save energy and money on their home power bills.
Susan Gillin, Customer Service administrator, said more than 100 customers have contacted the PUD about the program started Jan. 1 to pay incentives for adding insulation and replacing old windows and glass doors. Details about the program are on the PUD Web site. In addition, the PUD will continue to provide a $65,000 annual grant to support Chelan-Douglas Community Action’s program to help low-income homeowners add insulation and energy efficient windows.
Next Monday, Feb. 8, the PUD launches a program to get 41,000 compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) into the hands of its customers in the next two months to use in their homes. The 13-watt CFLs provide the same light as a 60-watt standard bulb.
Up to 20 free bulbs per household will be given away at PUD offices, through Community Action, to assisted living facilities and at future public events, Gillin said. The PUD and Home Depot will also offer free recycling of household CFLs.
Chelan PUD is also joining the regional Change a Light program to reduce the cost for customers who need specialty CFL bulbs such as dimmable, 3-way, candelabra or flood lamps.
Conservation is an energy resource that helps the District keep rates low and meet conservation goals required under Initiative 937, the state Energy Independence Act. The energy savings from the three programs equal about 17 percent of the PUD’s conservation targets.
Still in the works for residential customers is a possible rebate program for refrigerators or clothes washers. Gillin added that Conservation staff will be back soon to update commissioners on energy-saving programs for commercial and industrial customers.
In other business, commissioners:
- Made several changes to their meeting schedule. They set a special meeting in executive session for 8 a.m. on Feb. 17 in the boardroom at 327 N. Wenatchee Ave. to discuss the evaluation of a public employee. They canceled the March 1 board meeting and rescheduled their board retreat for 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 17 at a location to be determined.
- Learned that General Manager Rich Riazzi was elected to the National Hydropower Association board of directors and will begin a three-year term in April.
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The next regular PUD commission meeting is at 1 p.m. on Feb. 8, 2010, in the PUD boardroom at 327 N. Wenatchee Ave.
Most PUD commission meetings are recorded, and a link to the audio is available on the PUD’s home page at www.chelanpud.org.
Kimberlee Craig
Public information officer
Chelan County PUD
Wenatchee, WA
(509) 661-4320, office
(509) 679-6858, mobile
kimberlee.craig@chelanpud.org