Ooo La Latte

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A report on activities of interest to SUB customers Volume 12 Issue 3 Autumn 2013 SUB reports I n a decades-long tradition, SUB celebrates Customer Appreciation Week each year by brewing up free coffee drinks and giving away energy-saving light bulbs to its customer- owners. The fun begins Monday, October 7 th , and continues through Saturday the 12 th . Just drop by SUB’s Board room (across from our main office at 250 A Street) during the week from 8:30 to 1:30, or on Saturday from 9:00 to noon, and our barista will warm up your day by whipping up a culinary coffee confection of your choice. And while the latte might be gone in minutes, our Conservation Connection staff will be on hand to make sure you walk away with something that lasts – three FREE compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)*. A twisted way to save CFLs might be better known as “those twisty bulbs.” When used correctly, CFLs last for years and consume just 25 percent of the energy guzzled by regular incandescent light bulbs. “Our area has long winter nights, so the way we choose to light our homes can make a difference when the electricity bill comes,” says Keith Lockhart, who manages SUB’s Conservation Connection. “Using CFLs where you can is a smart choice.” He adds that CFL technology has come a long way in recent years, with the light bulbs now available in a variety of wattages and lighting colors. And unlike previous generations of fluorescent lighting, CFLs don’t need to warm up, so they come right on when you flip the light switch. Another bonus? CFLs don’t have the hum many people associate with fluorescent lighting. So come visit SUB during Customer Appreciation Week and pick up your free coffee and CFLs. You’ll leave with a smile, and the only buzz you’ll get is from the latte. *Limit one three-pack of CFLs per SUB customer. Driver’s license or other proof of Springfield address is required to receive CFLs. Residential customers only please. Ooo La Latte Here’s the skinny on landing free lattes and light bulbs! Customer Appreciation Week October 7 – 12 Monday to Friday, 8:30 – 1:30 Saturday, 9:00 – noon

Transcript of Ooo La Latte

A report on activities of interest to SUB customers

Volume 12 Issue 3 Autumn 2013

SUBreports

In a decades-long tradition, SUB celebrates Customer Appreciation Week each year by

brewing up free coffee drinks and giving away energy-saving light bulbs to its customer- owners.

The fun begins Monday, October 7th, and continues through Saturday the 12th.

Just drop by SUB’s Board room (across from our main office at 250 A Street) during the week from 8:30 to 1:30, or on Saturday from 9:00 to noon, and our barista will warm up your day by whipping up a culinary coffee confection of your choice.

And while the latte might be gone in minutes, our Conservation Connection staff will be on hand to make sure you walk away with something that lasts – three FREE compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)*.

A twisted way to save

CFLs might be better known as “those twisty bulbs.” When used correctly, CFLs last for years and consume just 25 percent of the

energy guzzled by regular incandescent light bulbs.

“Our area has long winter nights, so the way we choose to light our homes can make a difference when the electricity bill comes,” says Keith Lockhart, who manages SUB’s Conservation Connection. “Using CFLs where you can is a smart choice.”

He adds that CFL technology has come a long way in recent years, with the light bulbs now available in a variety of wattages and lighting colors. And unlike previous generations of fluorescent lighting, CFLs don’t need to warm up, so they come right on when you flip the light switch.

Another bonus? CFLs don’t have the hum many people associate with fluorescent lighting.

So come visit SUB during Customer Appreciation Week and pick up your free coffee and CFLs. You’ll leave with a smile, and the only buzz you’ll get is from the latte.

*Limit one three-pack of CFLs per SUB customer. Driver’s license or other proof of Springfield address is required to receive CFLs. Residential customers only please.

Ooo La LatteHere’s the skinny on landing free lattes and light bulbs!

Customer Appreciation WeekOctober 7 – 12

Monday to Friday, 8:30 – 1:30Saturday, 9:00 – noon

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Ken BoystVice-Chair, Position 4Term exp. 12/31/14

Virginia LauritsenChair, Position 2Term exp. 12/31/14

Pat Riggs-HensonPosition 5Term exp. 12/31/16

Tom DraggooPosition 3Term exp. 12/31/14

Joe MathieuPosition 1Term exp. 12/31/16

SUB’s water and electricity services are provided under the direction of SUB’s Board of Directors, five Springfield citizens who are elected to four-year terms, and who serve at-large and without pay. The Board meets on the second Wednesday of each month. The public is invited and encouraged to participate in these meetings, at which SUB policies and procedures are formulated and adopted.

MEET the Board

Be Prepared: It’s the wisdom of the ages, passed down by grandparents, pledged by Scouts, eschewed by kids. It’s great advice, probably some of the best never taken.

That’s understandable. Time is precious, and spending it planning for something that may not happen can feel like a waste. Until, of course, something happens. And when winter weather hits, things can happen.

An abundance of rain coupled with strong win-ter winds can topple trees into power lines. Exceptionally cold temperatures can cause ice to form on power lines. Unpredictable road conditions can cause cars to slide into power poles.

When that happens, power can be disrupted. Usually, outages are short, lasting minutes or a few hours, and resulting in not much more than an annoying blink on your microwave when you get home. But now and again, strong weather systems can blow

through our region, knocking out power for hours or even days.

Being prepared for short outages, and understand-ing the particular challenges caused by longer disruptions in power, is always a good idea. And it’s really simple: Keep your home well supplied in case of an emergency. Have on hand and easily accessible:• water (a gallon per person)• non-perishable, easy to eat food (think power bars

and jerky and fruit leather)• flashlight with extra batteries (candles are a fire

hazard!)

• battery-operated radio • first aid kit with important medications• phone that USES a cord and plugs into the wall

(these often work when cordless phones won’t)• Turn a light on outside your home so SUB will

know your power has been restored, but turn off all major appliances. This will prevent overloads when your power comes back on.

Along with keeping yourself well supplied, also keep these cautions in mind:• Keep a flashlight in your car. Coming home to

a dark house can make finding what you need much more difficult.

• Don’t open your refrigerator or freezer more than necessary. According to the American Red Cross, an unopened fridge will keep food cold for about 4 hours. Food in a full, unopened freezer should remain frozen for 48 hours (or 24 hours if it’s half full).

• If it seems the power will be out for more than a day, prepare a cooler with ice for your perishables, and eat perishable foods first before dipping into your non-perishable supply.

• Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other such device inside a home or any partially enclosed area. This could lead to carbon monox-ide poisoning.

• Never approach a downed power line. Even if it looks dead, electricity could be flowing to it!

Remember, when an outage occurs, SUB dispatches crews immediately, and looks for ways to re-route power and get service restored to as many people as possible as quickly as possible. But even short out-ages can feel long when you don’t have what you need, so do as your grandparents suggested, and be prepared!

Strong weather systems can knock

out power for hours or even days

Ready. Set. Prepare!

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It’s almost here – Springfield’s wintertime heating season. And with colder temperatures comes higher

utility bills. That’s because the biggest part of the average customer’s winter electricity use results from heating the spaces in our homes.

Luckily, there are lots of free or nearly-free things you can do right now to save money on your bill, most of them centered on making the air you’ve just paid to heat stay inside your home!

Use whatever sun we get to its fullest advantage:• Open curtains on south-facing windows during the

day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home.• Close them at night to reduce the chill that can

come from cold windows.

Work your thermostat smarter: • When you’re awake, set your thermostat as low as is

comfortable.• When you’re asleep or away from the house, turn

the thermostat back 10° to 15°. Do that for eight hours and you could save around 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills, according to the US Department of Energy.

• A programmable thermostat makes this easy to accomplish, but you can do it manually as well.

Survey your space with winter in mind:• Block off rooms not in use. Close the door and turn

off the vents – don’t waste money heating areas of the house you don’t use!

• Arrange furniture so that heating vents and registers are unobstructed and so seating areas are not against windows or walls. Depending on your insulation, these areas can be considerably cooler than the inte-rior of your home.

• If you have ceiling fans, make sure the blades turn clockwise. At low speeds, this creates a gentle updraft that circulates the warm air that naturally rises to the ceiling with the cool air that sinks to the floor.

Seal leaks:• Look for air leaks – common places include cut-

through for pipes, gaps around chimneys and recessed lights in insulated ceiling, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets.

• Install foam gaskets, found at any hardware store, between outlets and their covers.

• If you aren’t using your fireplace, close the dampers. Otherwise, it’s like leaving a window wide open.

Looking to make a more dramatic dent in your bill? Remember that SUB offers weatherization programs to help with the cost of energy efficient windows and upgrades in your insulation. These options generally require an upfront investment, so they aren’t right for everyone, but they can pay off big in the long run. And our Conservation staff is on hand to help you figure out if the program makes sense for your particular situation. For example, some cus-tomers, depending on income and other factors, may qualify for insulation upgrades absolutely free!

Why not call our Conservation Connection today at 541-746-0963? There is absolutely nothing SUB loves more than saving customers money!

Give Old Man Winter the Cold Shoulder(While keeping yourself nice and toasty)

Independent spirit. Low rates.

The Springfield Utility Board is a customer-owned municipal utility operated independently from the city and responsible only to its ratepayers. We deliver exceptional service, and some of the very lowest utility rates in Oregon!

SUBreports is a regular publication of SUB’s Community Relations Department. We welcome your feedback. If you have questions, comments or story ideas, please call 541-744-3794.Springfield Utility Board

P.O. Box 300250 A StreetSpringfield, OR 97477

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Watts Happening

SUB rates are low Our average residential customer pays nearly $430 less annually for electricity than other consumer-owned utility customers in Lane County!

$10 $30 $50 $70 $90 $110 $130 $150 $170

$87.45SUB

$143.92Local Utility Average

(without SUB)

$178.50NationalAverage

Electric Rate ComparisonBased on 1,500 kWh

Point-in-time September, 2013(national average from June, 2013)

Holiday Parade – ‘Santa’s Utility Board’ Parade preview! Join SUB (Santa’s Utility Board) as we ferry Santa Claus down the streets of Springfield during the community’s 61st annual Christmas Parade. The parade begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday, December 7th, with former Springfield School District superintendent and Springfield supporter Nancy Golden serving as the Grand Marshal. This year’s theme is “A Storybook Christmas.” For details and parade routes, check out the parade website at www.springfieldchristmasparade.org.

Public Hearing SUB’s Board of Directors will hold a public hearing at its December 11th Board meeting to receive testimony regarding a proposed 9.5% water rate increase to fund state-mandated capital projects. Information and details about the proposed new water rates will be available on SUB’s website beginning December 2nd, and also can be reviewed by visiting SUB’s main office at 250 A Street.

Saving water now saves you money then Did you know that your water use during the winter is used to calculate your summer sewer bills? The City records a customer’s water use from December through April and uses that average to calculate that household’s summer sewer bill. So, save money by conserving water in winter. You’ll save money on your water bill now, and you’ll save money on your sewer bill later!

Note: To save money and to keep Springfielders from receiving separate bills, SUB serves as a billing agent for City of Springfield sewer fees. If you have questions about your sewer bill, please contact the City at 541-726-3696.