February 2010
Contents
Monthly Newsletter of Emerald People’s Utility District
Scholarships, Job Shadows
FRONT:
Scholarships, Job Shadows
Energy Store Sale
BACK:
EPUD 2010 Budget
Underground vs. Overhead
Energy Saving Tip
Kill A Watt Monitor
Careers in the Utility Industry
Calling all future linemen, engineers, power resource
managers, accountants, and customer service representatives:
The utility industry will soon be in need of YOU! It’s estimated
that nearly half the USA’s 400,000 power industry workers,
largely Baby Boomers, are eligible to retire in the next five to
ten years. This will lead to a large worker shortage throughout
the nation and in our local area.
For the second year, EPUD is offering five $1,250
scholarships to Customer-Owners interested in
pursuing careers specifically in the utility
industry. Both high school seniors graduating
in June and adults seeking second-career
training in the field are eligible. For those not
sure what utility industry jobs entail, we offer
job shadow opportunities in operations,
engineering, energy management, power
resources, communications, finance, and
customer service. We hope to use these
avenues to raise awareness about careers
in the utility industry and encourage more
people to begin training.
Scholarship applicants must have a high
school GPA of at least 2.0 (if they are a high
school student currently) and must specify
which qualifying program
and institution they will
attend. We must receive completed scholarship
applications and supporting materials by April 15,
2010. Recipients will be announced on May 3. Details
and materials can be accessed online at www.epud.
org, My Community, Scholarships/Career Programs.
Utility Careers
Online Resources
Careers in Public Power
careersinpublicpower.com
VOLTA Training School
northwestlinejatc.org
Northwest Line College
lineman.edu
Northwest Internships
nwppa.org/web/internship.
shtml
Energy Management/
Engineering
lanecc.edu, uoregon.edu,
oregonstate.edu
Energy Store Remaining Inventory
The EPUD Energy Store closed, but we still have a few items remaining at 50% off
or less. Check out what’s left and get yours while you can!
Coby battery-operated radio $4­—portable AM/FM radio operates on AC
or DC power with a TV and a weather band.
LED holiday lights $5-10—a limited supply of types and colors are still
available. Save big on your holiday lighting next year by switching to LEDs!
Taylor digital food thermometer $5—easy-to-read digital display with a range
from -58° to 302°, on/off switch for long battery life, pocket case, and extra battery
included.
CFLs $1.25 each—20 or 23 watts (equivalent to 75 or 100 watts incandescent).
Energy-Saving Tip
Each degree you
lower your
thermostat
during the
winter months
will save you 3%
on your electric bill. For more
energy saving tips, visit www.
epud.org, Energy Efficiency,
Saving Money.
Happy
Valentines Day
February 14!
EPUD 2010 Budget
The EPUD Board approved the 2010 budget outlining EPUD’s
continued efforts to keep pace with rising costs at minimal impact to
you. Even with the use of $444K from cash reserves and nearly $650K
in cuts, the budget still requires a rate increase to offset rising costs.
Exact details of the rate increase will be developed when the Citizens
Advisory Committee on Rates convenes in the spring.
Our highest priority is to provide reliable, cost-effective service to
our Customer-Owners. The challenge is that reliable service requires
maintenance and upgrades, which cost more as prices rise. The cost
of power is also rising, so while we strive constantly to tighten our
belts and find the most cost-effective ways
to operate, rate increases are still necessary.
As a nonprofit public power entity, EPUD
provides power at cost, raising rates only
when necessary to cover the costs of
serving our District.
For more information on EPUD rates, visit www.epud.org/rates.aspx.
Underground vs. Overhead
Board of Directors
Bruce Pilling, President
We get a lot of questions at EPUD about why we don’t install more
underground line. Underground line CAN be more reliable, because it
isn't damaged by trees, winds, and other inclement weather. We've
converted some of the more problematic areas of our District to underground, in order to bring the best service possible to our CustomerOwners. Moving all lines underground, however, is cost-prohibitive
and not the correct action in all situations. Following is a ROUGH
estimate of the costs of building overhead and underground line:
942-5447 / [email protected]
Patti Chappel, Vice President
Installing an overhead
system costs about $25/foot
935-5021 / [email protected]
Katherine Schacht, Treasurer
344-0569 / [email protected]
Bill Tanner
736-0171 / [email protected]
Penny Jordan
933-2867 / [email protected]
Board meetings are 2nd Tuesdays at
5:30 pm, 4th Tuesdays at 3:00 pm, and
1st Mondays at noon, and are open to
the public. Join us!
CONTACT EPUD
33733 Seavey Loop
Eugene OR 97405
(541) 746-1583
(800) 422-4086
fax (866) 284-7953
www.epud.org
[email protected]
ardes!
o
B
w
e
N g tim
Meetin
©2010
Emerald People’s
Utility District
Printed on recycled paper
Installing an underground
system costs about $125/foot
Also, underground lines are not always
the perfect solution. Reading automated
meters that are downstream of underground systems is troublesome and,
more importantly, underground lines
severely limit our flexibility in operating and expanding the system. EPUD
makes the decision to install underground or overhead line based on
code requirements and what we feel
is best for our Customer-Owners now
and into the future.
Kill A Watt Reminder
Ever wonder what it costs to keep your space heater plugged in overnight? Or how much it costs to run
your video game equipment, computer, and TV all at the same time? As an EPUD Customer-Owner, you
have FREE access to a device that can answer these questions and help save money on your electric bill.
The Kill A Watt EZ Electricity Usage Monitor helps you:
Track the electric usage of devices in your home when they are turned on and OFF.
Program in EPUD’s rate, to display actual operating costs by hour, day, week, month.
Understand exactly what each device in your home costs to operate.
Save money on your bill!
How to access a Kill A Watt:
Check one out at your local library in Junction City, Fern Ridge, or Cottage Grove.
Check one out at the EPUD office in Eugene.
Call us at 541-746-1583 to discuss delivery options.