Power Lines Newsletter - June 2007

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In this issue

• PUD Electric Rates are Not Increasing
• Wind Power Creates a Cleaner Future
• Send your great shots in for the Calendar Photo Contest
• Sign up for Choice Energy, go see Beauty and the Beast
• Come visit us at the fair
• Free CFLs!
  
• Heat Pumps offer year-round comfort & energy savings

PUD Electric Rates are Not Increasing

Recent news stories have said that electricity rates in the Oregon will increase as much as 13%.  Your rates are not increasing.

These stories are referring to the electric rates of PGE, Pacific Power and other investor-owned utilities.  Since 2002 these companies have been receiving payments from BPA through the “Residential Exchange” program. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled against the methodology used to calculate these payments, so BPA has suspended them.

Wind Power Creates a Cleaner Future

By choosing Choice Energy wind power you cast your vote for the development of more renewable energy resources, which will help reduce our reliance on power plants that burn fossil fuels to generate electricity.

Plans start at $2 a month

There are two Choice Energy wind power plans available:

• Columbia Waves: Buy 100 kWh “blocks” of wind power for $2 each per month
• Chinook Breeze: Buy all your electricity from wind farms for an additional 1.5¢ per kilowatt-hour per month.

Sign up today

To sign up for a Choice Energy wind power plan, call Customer Accounts at (503) 397-0590 or sign up online.

Send in your great shots for the PUD Calendar Photo Contest

Each year we produce a calendar for our customers that features scenic photographs taken in Columbia County.  To enter this year's contest, send us your favorite photos by August 31st. 

See complete contest details & entry form.

For more information, contact Libby Calnon at (503) 366-3264 or lca@crpud.org.

Come visit us at the fair

The Columbia County Fair and Rodeo will be held July 18-22 at the fairgrounds in St. Helens.  The PUD is sponsoring a few different events this year:

Wednesday is Senior Day, and we’re sponsoring the My Fair Lady Pageant, which honors senior women from throughout the county for their volunteer service.  The fair is offering free admission to seniors and the PUD is providing free transportation for seniors from each senior center in the county on that day. 

Thursday is Kids Day. We’re  sponsoring the Junior Rodeo and the Just for Fun Rodeo.  There are free events for kids age 9 & under and paid events for kids age 18 & under.

On Sunday the PUD is sponsoring the Chili Cook-Off. Enter your best pot of chili or come taste all the entries and vote for your favorite.

For more information about the fair, visit www.columbiacountyeventcomplex.com.

Free CFLs!

We’ll be handing out free CFLs at the fair on Wednesday, July 18th.  Look for us by the main gate. (Limit one per person, while supplies last.)

Sign up for Choice Energy, go see Beauty and the Beast!

Between now and July 15, when you sign up for Choice Energy wind power we’ll give you a free ticket to the ShoeString Community Players’ presentation of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

This show is the original Broadway version of Beauty and the Beast with music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Howard Ashman & Bill Rice, book by Linda Woolverton.  It is being produced by special arrangement with Music Theatre International.

Performances:

Olmscheid Auditorium in St. Helens
July 12-14 and 19-21
$10 adults •  $8 seniors & children
More information & online ticket reservations: www.sscpmusicals.com.

Sponsored by

• Michael Curry Design
• Columbia River PUD
• Columbia County Cultural Coalition

Heat Pumps offer year-round comfort & energy savings

A heat pump system is the most energy-efficient, cost effective way you can heat and cool your home.  If you are planning to purchase a heating or cooling system, we encourage you to consider a heat pump system.

A heat pump provides both winter heating and summer cooling by moving heat from one place to another.  In the summer, it acts as an air conditioner, removing heat from the air inside the house and transferring it outside. In the winter, the heat pump operates in reverse, removing heat from the outside air or ground, and transferring it inside the house.

Heat pumps are highly efficient and can provide very low-cost heating and cooling for your home. They can also increase your home’s value.

We offer rebates of up to $1,300 and 6% financing on the installation of qualified heat pump systems.  Learn more.