Public Power - September/October 2007 - (Page 18)

Public Power (Every) Week Columbia River People’s Utility District In Oregon hosts a community spaghetti dinner each year during Public Power Week. Photo courtesy Columbia River PUD. More than 450 customers signed up for the challenge last year, and almost 400 of those met the challenge, said Paula Heitzler, the utility’s office manager. During last year’s challenge, which ran from mid-August to mid-September, participants reduced their energy use by 270,000 kilowatt-hours compared with the same period in 2005, the equivalent of a $6 reduction on each customer’s bill. In addition, participants who used 15 percent less power received a $15 credit on their electricity bill. Before the challenge begins, Jefferson Utilities provides energy saving tips in the local newspaper and on its Web site. An added impetus for the Power Challenge, which the utility is sponsoring again this year, is a 2006 law that requires Wisconsin utilities to spend 1.2 percent of revenue from annual electricity sales on energy efficiency programs. The utility is introducing a variation on the challenge this year, asking families or households to challenge one another. The winner of each two-way competition will be entered in a 18 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2007 drawing for an Energy Star washing machine or refrigerator. In a number of cases, joint action agencies do some of the heavy lifting during Public Power Week. Wisconsin Public Power Inc., for example, coordinates the joint purchase of give-away items for its 48 member utilities. Examples include everything from an electric grill to a conservation give-away bag, from a rubber CFL stress reliever to a pedometer. “And through our Community Relations Program, members can use up to $1,000 in funding from WPPI to pay for Public Power Week activities and promotions,” said Anne Rodriguez, WPPI manager of media relations. Grand River Dam Authority, a wholesale power provider in Oklahoma, purchased 10x10-foot easy pop-up tents and co-branded them with GRDA’s logo and that of the municipalities that buy its power. GRDA municipal customers use the tents for events year-round, said Justin Alberty, director of corporate communications. “It’s free advertising for them,” he added. “We’ll do anything we can to promote public power.” Getting the word out—Word of mouth helps to generate buzz about Public Power Week activities. But utilities use a wide range of communication channels—some tried and true, some more unusual—to reach their customers. Among the tested means are bill stuffers, newsletters, newspaper and radio ads and Web site announcements. For something a little different, Kissimmee Utility Authority arranges for the insertion of 11x17 inch “spirit cards” in the local newspaper. The cards carry the logo of one of the area’s two high school football teams on one side, and promote KUA and Public Power Week on the other. “People take the cards to football games and hold them up to cheer on their team,” said Gent. Braintree Electric Light Department runs messages at the bottom of local reports on The Weather Channel to inform the community about Public Power Week activities. Bryan Texas Utilities hangs banPUBLIC POWER

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Public Power - September/October 2007

Contents Washington Focus 10 Questions Public Power (Every) Week Training Tomorrow’s Work Force What’s in Your Wallet? U.S. Lags in Broadband Deployment Now What? For Engineers Safety Community Broadband For Governing Boards Human Resources Hometown Connections Customer Service DEED Index to Advertisers Advertisers by Category Parting Shot

Public Power - September/October 2007

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