Community CALENDAR

Visit our community calendar at www.penlight.org for other events not listed here.ONGOING EVENTS & MEETINGS

DON’T FORGET THOSE HIDDEN NUMBERS!

Every month, 5 randomly chosen account numbers are hidden in Lights. If

you spot yours, call Vicki at 253.857.1527 and receive a

$50 credit on your next bill.

Supervising Editor: Jonathan White 253.857.1514 | Produced by: North Woods Productions www.northwoodsproductions.com

is published monthly by

www.penlight.org

253.857.5950

July 4th - Independence Day

HOLIDAY CLOSURES:

Paperless Billing

Fun Run Results

Relay for Life

Ductless Heat Pumps

Matthew’s Meals

Nothing is more energy efficient for cooking

than your microwave. It uses two-thirds less

energy than your stove.

P o w e r S a v i n g T i p !

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P e n i n s u l a L i g h t C o m p a n y N e w s l e t t e r July

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www.penlight.org

NORTHWEST Energy Update

Peninsula Light Company is proud of its heritage providing reliable power to its member-owners since 1925. That commitment - made over eight decades ago - to local residents and business owners - remains unchanged. However, the Bonneville Power Aministration, (BPA), the industry that supplies PenLight with the majority of power that we deliver to you, continues to transform.

While you see PenLight’s service trucks and transmission lines bringing power to you, the BPA is responsible for generating that power and delivering it to our system. BPA serves many public power utilities in the Northwest region over a vast transmission system that is connected to the national grid.

Because we are connected regionally, an issue hundreds of miles away could affect our utility’s ability to provide reliable, affordable power.

Discussions and legal battles are ongoing about how BPA manages the hydroelectric dams and power production, as well as how to allocate that low-cost power benefit to the people in the Northwest.

Out of Washington DC, policy directives are under consideration to be handed down to BPA in an effort to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency measures.

All of these issues have the potential to impact the bottom line in the future on power that PenLight receives from BPA for its members.

PenLight is involved in regional discussions and policy development protecting the interests of our member-owned utility. Also, a big “Thanks!” to PenLight’s Electric Ambassadors, a grassroots team of PenLight members who get out and “bang the drum” when needed.

Community Spotlight

Matthew’s Meals

MultiCare CanCer Support Group Meeting the second and fourth Friday of every month from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. For more information, call 253.403.3169.

HoMeSCHoolinG parentSMeeting monthly at the YMCA on a Tuesday and/or Wednesday at 2:00 p.m., usually the second week of the month. Concurrent activities are available for children. Find more information at http://home.comcast.net/~gigharborhomeschoolers/site/.

GiG Harbor lionS Club Bi-monthly meetings on the second & fourth Mondays at 7:30 a.m., Madrona Links Golf Course. For more information, please call Sandy Bradley at 253.858.8823.

CatHoliC CoMMunity ServiCeS Senior lunCH proGraMMeeting at noon every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at the Jim and Carolyn Milgard Family HOPE Center. Come early to socialize or play cards. For more information and to make reservations, call 253.474.1200.

St. antHony CanCer Support GroupOn the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Jane Thompson Russell Cancer Care Center, survivors and caregivers learn about topics related to survivorship, share experiences and gain strength from one another through the facilitated discussion by our cancer nurse navigator and other professionals. For more information, call 253.530.2642 or email jennalewis@fhshealth.org.

GiG Harbor KiWaniS Helping children in our community. Meetings are held every Wednesday at 7:00 a.m. at Harbor Place at Cottesmore. For more information, visit www.gigharborkiwanis.org or call 253.691.7085.

MattHeW’S MealS – a plaCe Set for everyoneFree dinner is served from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of every month at King of Glory Lutheran Church, 6411 154th St. NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98332. For more information, call 253.857.4574.

Gifted HandSSocial knitting and crocheting for cancer patients of all ages and other special needs; meetings one day each month at Peninsula Library on Point Fosdick. For more information, please call Bettie at 253.235.2001 or email bmuggeridge@centurytel.net.

GiG Harbor aMeriCan leGionPost 236 meets the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Gig Harbor Eagles Hall. For more information, email billmsgt@centurytel.net or call 253.265.2277.

tHe open table Free food, good friends. Everyone is welcome the third Monday of every month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Gig Harbor Methodist Church. For more information, call 253.851.2625.

freedoM froM tobaCCoFranciscan offers a FREE support group at St. Anthony Hospital on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Please call to confirm location before you attend your first group. For more information, call 253.223.7538 or email barefootheidi@mindspring.com.

aarp drivinG CourSeDrivers over the age of 55 may qualify for lower auto insurance rates by taking the AARP Driver Safety Program. The 8-hour course is $12 for members and $14 for non-members. For more information, call 253.858.3393.

penliGHt offiCe: 13315 GoodnouGH dr nW | GiG Harbor, Wa 98332

King of Glory Lutheran is the home of Matthew's Meals - a place Set for everyone. Matthew's Meals is a free-to-anyone hot meal served the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month at 6:00pm. Everyone is welcome!

for more information, call 253.857.4574.

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DUCTLESS HEAT ING AND COOLING SYSTEM

At PenLight, one of our primary goals is to provide customers like you with great service and affordable electricity. We are continually looking for opportunities to help you lower your electric bill and improve the quality of your home.

A Ductless Heating and Cooling System is a highly efficient unit that is easily installed as a new primary heat source for electrically heated homes.

See www.penlight.org for details and quali�cations.

$1,500 REBATE

FOR INSTALLING A QUALIFIED DUCTLESS HEAT PUMP WHERE THERE IS PERMANENT

ELECTRIC RESISTANCE HEAT

Heating your home with Electric Baseboards or Wall Heaters? PenLight will help you pay for an upgrade!

CONTACT PENLIGHT 253.857.5950

energyspecialist@penlight.org

Find a trained installer for a quote at www.goingductless.com.

To Learn More:

WHAT IS GREEN?

Saving Trees.

B E C O M E P A R T O F T H E P E N L I G H T G R E E N T E A M

Join us in going green by signing up for Paperless Billing. You’ll save time and avoid late fees, help us reduce costs, and Mother Earth will thank you!

The average American discards about 2,400 pounds of paper each year. Join the PenLight Green Team and use Paperless Billing. You’ll conserve trees, water and reduce pressure on our landfills.

H E L P U S S A V E Y O U M O N E Y

Our goal is to have 15,000 members sign up for Paperless Billing. By reaching our goal, you’ll be helping us save thousands of dollars a year! And remember, as a member of the PenLight co-op, that’s your money.

B E P A R T O F T H E S O L U T I O N

Join our Green Team and sign up for Paperless Billing. It’s a fast, inexpensive, and effective way to be green.

We urge you to visit our website for the details and sign up for Paperless Billing. Simply go to www.penlight.org/billing. Or call Member Services.

Save money, time and your environment.

Go paperless.

Going

Members can go paperless regardless of how they choose to pay their bill - whether it’s in person, online, by phone or in the mail.

P A P E R L E S SLetting go of receiving

a monthly bill through the mail can be a difficult

decision for most of us. It’s not that we’re camped out next to the mail box anxiously anticipating the delivery of our monthly bills, but the notion of relying on the internet to notify us that our bill is ready to be viewed hasn’t become widely accepted. Some folks are openly embracing the idea of going paperless while other resist the change.

PenLight started its paperless billing in January 2009. Since then, over 3,500 or 11% of our members have opted out of receiving a monthly billing statement. On average about 80 members a month sign up for paperless billing.

From a utility perceptive, paperless billing means significant savings for postage, printing and processing costs, plus the opportunity to show our commitment to the environment. Members that choose paperless billing like the idea, because they feel it’s the right thing to do to reduce paper waste.

Online bill pay is quickly changing the dynamics of how we receive and pay our bills. In 2011, for the first time PenLight received more electronic payments than US mail payments. Members can go paperless regardless of how they choose to pay their bill - whether it’s in person, online, phone or mail. To sign up for paperless billing, visit www.penlight.org to set up a user name and password and opt

out of receiving a paper bill. We’ll send you an email notification every month when your bill is ready to be viewed. We store 13 months of billing history in a PDF file. If you need assistance, call our Member Services Dept. at 253.857.5950 and we’ll be happy to walk you through the process.

PenLight sponsored the inaugural Fun Run by Key Pen Parks on Saturday, June 16 at the 360 Park. The Fun Run is a fundraiser for the PTAs at local Key Peninsula elementary schools.

Jake Quincey of Fox Island won the 5K race, Skylar Lantz won the K thru 2nd grade 1K race, and Kara McKinney won the 3rd thru 6th grade 1k race. Vaughn Elementary won �rst place for the most students participating in the race. The event was a big success and hopefully it will continue to grow each year. For more information, visit www.keypenparks.com.

FUN RUN RESULTS

Above: Vaughn Elementary students, awarded 1st place for the most students running in the race. Top: Jake Quincey, 5K Fun Run winner.

RELAY FOR LIFEPenLight Power Walkers participated in Gig Harbor’s Relay for Life raising $14,794! The event was held at Goodman Middle School June 15th & 16th. The Power Walkers walked on the track for 18 hours to complete

the relay.

This was their 14th year raising funds for The American Cancer Society. The Gig Harbor Relay raised over $182,000. Way to go PenLight Power Walkers!

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