make your home as energy efficient as possible this winter
CURRENTS
Published monthly for the customer-owners of Clark Public Utilities
October 2015
LIGHT LINES 311 FOR NON-EMERGENCY LAW ENFORCEMENT Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA) recently introduced a new number for the community to use to report non-emergency law enforcement issues – 311.
MAKE YOUR HOME AS ENERGY EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE THIS WINTER
W
inter is coming. With temperatures on the decline, now is the
time to make sure your home is in tip-top energy shape and we have some low cost ways you can cut energy waste around your home. 1. Replacing older incandescent light bulbs with more efficient ones is a great place to start. Consider investing in CFL or LED bulbs, which will last many years and provide beautiful lighting using a fraction of the energy. Clark Public Utilities participates in the regional Simple Steps, Smart Savings program - to provide every customer with an in-store discount when purchasing Energy Star® qualified
CFLs, showerheads and light fixtures at participating local retailers. Also, remember to turn off lights you aren’t using! 2. Install an Energy Star® programmable thermostat. These allow
Historically, Clark County has had one number – 911 – to call to connect with local law enforcement. This meant that if you had a non-emergency complaint, you had no choice but to call 911 to report the concern. Using the 311 line will help prioritize incoming calls at the 911 center and keep 911 open for lifethreatening emergencies. Please remember that 911 should be used for any fire or medical call and any situation involving a weapon or imminent injury or property damage. Unless there is a fire or injury, report downed power lines to us by calling PowerLine at 360-992-8000.
you to program lower temperatures while you are out of the house and while sleeping, which cuts energy waste. Programmable thermostats are a convenient way to use energy wisely while maintaining a comfortable home. 3. Make sure no warm air is escaping your home. Caulk small holes and cracks around plumbing pipes, recessed lighting, exhaust fans,
CONTACT US
sink and bathtub drains. Check weather stripping on exterior doors
PHONE . . . . . . . . . . .360-992-3000
and replace if needed. Check caulking around the windows on the
QUICK PAY . . . . . . . .360-992-3400 REPORT POWER OUTAGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .360-992-8000
exterior of your home and remove and replace any caulking showing cracks or voids. If you are interested in more ideas on reducing wasted energy and lowering your electric bill, visit our website for information and to download free brochures. Or stop in at one of our service centers and pick up some free resources.
EMAIL . . . . [email protected] WEBSITE . . . clarkpublicutilities.com
WARD OFF ENERGY VAMPIRES IN YOUR HOME!
While turning off your TV does save energy, many TVs are still using a small amount of electricity in standby mode. Same goes for your stereo, coffee maker, microwave, laptop and other electronics. A “phantom, ghost, or vampire load” is found in any appliance that has an LED clock, LED indicator light, chargers, and any device that can be turned on with a remote, whether that device has an indicator light or not. Some of the worst culprits are chargers for batterypowered gadgets or power tools. In use or not, when plugged in they are constantly sucking energy. How can you vanquish energy vampires? • Get rid of energy vampires by using a power strip. Plug all components of a computer or home entertainment system into a power strip. Then turn off the power strip with a single switch. A smart power strip is more expensive,
MAKE SURE YOUR GENERATOR IS USED SAFELY!
but contains circuitry for monitoring and controlling the outlets. Take a media center as an example. You would have your TV as the primary user on the smart strip. When you turn off the TV, the smart strip will turn off the secondary users associated with the TV that are also plugged into the smart strip: cable box, Blu-ray, gaming consoles, surround sound systems, etc. Some smart strips can also provide protection from surges, but be sure to choose a power strip that has the amount of surge protection your devices need. • Unplug “vampire” appliances that aren’t used daily. The same goes for chargers that aren’t in use. Unplug as many devices and appliances as possible before you leave on vacation, especially those that have an LED clock or indicator light. If it’s not plugged in, it can’t suck energy.
If you use a backup generator, please be sure it is installed and operated properly to ensure your safety and the safety of our lineworkers. Never plug a backup power generator into an outlet. Use it outdoors to power individual appliances only, using an extension cord. If you don’t take precautions, the power from the generator can flow backward into our system, creating extremely dangerous and hazardous conditions for repair crews working on the lines. For more information, visit our website, or contact us at 360-992-3000.
If keeping our earth green interests you, consider participating in our Green Lights program. For just $1 per 100 kWh block per month, you can help support the development of wind, solar and geothermal power in our region. For more information on Green Lights, visit our website!
green
lights “Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Midsize Utilities in the West, Eight Years in a Row”
Clark Public Utilities received the highest numerical score among midsize utilities in the West in the proprietary J.D. Power 2008-2015 Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction StudiesSM. 2015 study based on a total of 102,525 online interviews ranking 14 providers in the West (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, OR, SD, TX, WA). Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed in July 2014-May 2015. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
INVEST IN GREEN LIGHTS, HELP THE ENVIRONMENT!
Published monthly for the customer-owners of Clark Public Utilities
October 2015
LIGHT LINES 311 FOR NON-EMERGENCY LAW ENFORCEMENT Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA) recently introduced a new number for the community to use to report non-emergency law enforcement issues – 311.
MAKE YOUR HOME AS ENERGY EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE THIS WINTER
W
inter is coming. With temperatures on the decline, now is the
time to make sure your home is in tip-top energy shape and we have some low cost ways you can cut energy waste around your home. 1. Replacing older incandescent light bulbs with more efficient ones is a great place to start. Consider investing in CFL or LED bulbs, which will last many years and provide beautiful lighting using a fraction of the energy. Clark Public Utilities participates in the regional Simple Steps, Smart Savings program - to provide every customer with an in-store discount when purchasing Energy Star® qualified
CFLs, showerheads and light fixtures at participating local retailers. Also, remember to turn off lights you aren’t using! 2. Install an Energy Star® programmable thermostat. These allow
Historically, Clark County has had one number – 911 – to call to connect with local law enforcement. This meant that if you had a non-emergency complaint, you had no choice but to call 911 to report the concern. Using the 311 line will help prioritize incoming calls at the 911 center and keep 911 open for lifethreatening emergencies. Please remember that 911 should be used for any fire or medical call and any situation involving a weapon or imminent injury or property damage. Unless there is a fire or injury, report downed power lines to us by calling PowerLine at 360-992-8000.
you to program lower temperatures while you are out of the house and while sleeping, which cuts energy waste. Programmable thermostats are a convenient way to use energy wisely while maintaining a comfortable home. 3. Make sure no warm air is escaping your home. Caulk small holes and cracks around plumbing pipes, recessed lighting, exhaust fans,
CONTACT US
sink and bathtub drains. Check weather stripping on exterior doors
PHONE . . . . . . . . . . .360-992-3000
and replace if needed. Check caulking around the windows on the
QUICK PAY . . . . . . . .360-992-3400 REPORT POWER OUTAGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .360-992-8000
exterior of your home and remove and replace any caulking showing cracks or voids. If you are interested in more ideas on reducing wasted energy and lowering your electric bill, visit our website for information and to download free brochures. Or stop in at one of our service centers and pick up some free resources.
EMAIL . . . . [email protected] WEBSITE . . . clarkpublicutilities.com
WARD OFF ENERGY VAMPIRES IN YOUR HOME!
While turning off your TV does save energy, many TVs are still using a small amount of electricity in standby mode. Same goes for your stereo, coffee maker, microwave, laptop and other electronics. A “phantom, ghost, or vampire load” is found in any appliance that has an LED clock, LED indicator light, chargers, and any device that can be turned on with a remote, whether that device has an indicator light or not. Some of the worst culprits are chargers for batterypowered gadgets or power tools. In use or not, when plugged in they are constantly sucking energy. How can you vanquish energy vampires? • Get rid of energy vampires by using a power strip. Plug all components of a computer or home entertainment system into a power strip. Then turn off the power strip with a single switch. A smart power strip is more expensive,
MAKE SURE YOUR GENERATOR IS USED SAFELY!
but contains circuitry for monitoring and controlling the outlets. Take a media center as an example. You would have your TV as the primary user on the smart strip. When you turn off the TV, the smart strip will turn off the secondary users associated with the TV that are also plugged into the smart strip: cable box, Blu-ray, gaming consoles, surround sound systems, etc. Some smart strips can also provide protection from surges, but be sure to choose a power strip that has the amount of surge protection your devices need. • Unplug “vampire” appliances that aren’t used daily. The same goes for chargers that aren’t in use. Unplug as many devices and appliances as possible before you leave on vacation, especially those that have an LED clock or indicator light. If it’s not plugged in, it can’t suck energy.
If you use a backup generator, please be sure it is installed and operated properly to ensure your safety and the safety of our lineworkers. Never plug a backup power generator into an outlet. Use it outdoors to power individual appliances only, using an extension cord. If you don’t take precautions, the power from the generator can flow backward into our system, creating extremely dangerous and hazardous conditions for repair crews working on the lines. For more information, visit our website, or contact us at 360-992-3000.
If keeping our earth green interests you, consider participating in our Green Lights program. For just $1 per 100 kWh block per month, you can help support the development of wind, solar and geothermal power in our region. For more information on Green Lights, visit our website!
green
lights “Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Midsize Utilities in the West, Eight Years in a Row”
Clark Public Utilities received the highest numerical score among midsize utilities in the West in the proprietary J.D. Power 2008-2015 Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction StudiesSM. 2015 study based on a total of 102,525 online interviews ranking 14 providers in the West (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, OR, SD, TX, WA). Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed in July 2014-May 2015. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
INVEST IN GREEN LIGHTS, HELP THE ENVIRONMENT!
