SUBreports
A report on activities of interest to SUB customers
Volume 11 Issue 2
Summer 2012
Paul Revere Set to
Raid Island Park!
Paul Revere and the Raiders takes the stage July 4th!
I
ndependence Day is right around the corner,
and the best party is in Springfield’s own
backyard!
Join SUB in Island Park on Wednesday, July
4th as we host Springfield’s biggest one day
event – the Light of Liberty Celebration!
This year, we welcome rock
See the insert in this and roll legends Paul Revere
and the Raiders to the big
edition of SUBreports stage. Take a trip down memfor details on the Light ory lane with hits like Indian
of Liberty Celebration! Reservation, Just Like Me and
Hungry, while enjoying a high
energy, family friendly show.
Paul Revere is known as the last “mad man” of
rock and roll for good reason – come see for
yourself!
Along with music, the day includes lots of
things for the family, including an expanded
kid’s area and more food vendors to keep you
going as you play your way through the day. As
always, the night will end with a breathtaking
fireworks display set to music and reflected over
the beautiful Willamette River.
Thanks to our many generous corporate sponsors, SUB is able to keep ticket prices low for
our community – just $5 in advance or $7 at
the gate. Their sponsorship also allows us to
welcome Springfield military veterans free of
charge, as well as the families of active-duty
Springfield military.
As always, all proceeds from this event go to
Project Share, a charity that helps low- and
fixed-income Springfielders with wintertime
heating emergencies. In this era of budget cuts,
this fund provides much-needed relief for many
in our community.
You just can’t beat this fun-filled, mid-week
get-away. So head down to Island Park and
celebrate our nation’s independent spirit while
raising money for a great cause!
See the program insert for complete event
information, including where to buy advance
tickets, concert information, special deals, a
detailed schedule of kids’ activities, where to
park, and more!
Springfield’s Linear Arboretum:
A new idea takes root
I
t’s a fact of life – trees and
overhead power lines must
co-exist. Another fact? It’s not
always a peaceful relationship.
But, as demonstrated by
the tree limbs that crashed
through power lines during this spring’s snowstorm,
planting the right tree in the
right place makes a difference.
In fact, when trees grow so big
that they threaten power reliability and public safety, they
must be trimmed.
The best solution, says Springfield Utility Board’s
assistant general manager Jeff Nelson, is to avoid the
issue by selecting the right tree for the right spot.
That’s why – when a strip of trees under a stretch
of power lines in the middle of Springfield didn’t
thrive – a new idea did. Why not replant that space
with a living demonstration of the many choices
homeowners have when it comes to planting near
power lines?
And work, everyone did! On a windy day in May,
a total of 22 trees, representing six varieties of trees,
were planted all along 32nd and Main Streets.
The “linear arboretum” shows, as only the real thing
can, the beauty and variety of trees that can share
space with power lines.
Because all the trees in the arboretum were planted
at the same time and under similar conditions, visitors will get a solid sense of growth speed, shape
and size. Corresponding signage is being developed
to educate the public about the species in the linear
arboretum.
“We envision having materials for nurseries and
landscapers to give to homeowners, who can then
visit the arboretum to see the trees for themselves,”
Jeff explains.
And the project isn’t done. As fall approaches and
more varieties become available, the plan is to
extend the arboretum in open spots along the street!
“We have lots of pictures and brochures that show
our customers which trees are best, but there’s nothing like seeing the real thing,” says Jeff.
The “linear arboretum”
shows the beauty and
variety of trees that
can share space with
power lines
Planting the trees required a collaboration among an alliance of
public agencies known as Team
Springfield: the school district,
the city, the parks district and
SUB. Why? The power lines
belong to SUB, the city owned
the land, the planting fronted Willamalane’s property, and there was a clear need for some strong,
young middle schooler backs to help do the work!
MEET the Board
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.
Ken Boyst
Chair, Position 4
Term exp. 12/31/14
Bobbie Jean Adams
Vice-Chair, Position 5
Term exp. 12/31/12
­2
Ted Johnson
Position 3
Term exp. 12/31/14
Virginia Lauritsen
Position 2
Term exp. 12/31/14
Joe Mathieu
Position 1
Term exp. 12/31/12
Introducing the Green Grass Gauge!
Water your landscape without soaking your wallet
W
ater knows no boundaries, so for decades, SUB has worked with Rainbow Water District and Eugene
Water & Electric Board to educate water customers about how they can protect water quality and conserve
this important resource.
As part of this collaboration, the three utilities are now co-distributing the Green Grass Gauge, a simple tool that
can keep water-guzzling landscapes from drying up your budget.
These easy-to-read gauges are available free-of-charge at several Springfield locations (see below) and help you
determine how much water your sprinkler system is delivering to your lawn or garden.
Used in conjunction with the region’s weekly watering recommendations (based on current weather), the gauge
helps you accurately satisfy your landscape’s water needs.
Here’s how to make your gauge work for you:
• Place the Green Grass Gauge in an area of the lawn where it receives a typical amount of water.
• Move the gauge around the lawn between each watering cycle to help identify dry spots.
• Run the sprinklers until the Green Grass Gauge is filled to the weekly watering
recommendation, which can be found at www.eweb.org/ggg.htm. Emptying the
gauge between each watering cycle will help you to know if you are watering the
recommended amount each time the sprinklers run.
If you prefer, just use a tuna can to capture the water, and use a ruler to determine the
amount of water collected. That works, too! The Green Grass Gauges are available at:
Gray’s Garden Centers, 4441 Main Street
Jerry’s Home Improvement Center, 2525 Olympic Street
KMTR, 3825 International Court
SUB, 250 A Street
Lane Forest Products, 820 North 42nd, Street
Rainbow Water District, 1550 North 42nd Street
Summer water rates now in effect
Did you know that SUB’s water rates are seasonal? A lower rate is in effect for most of the year, when water is plentiful. But
during Springfield’s dry, warm summers, the demand for water skyrockets. To encourage summertime conservation of this
important resource, a slightly higher summer water rate goes into effect.
During non-summer months, water for most of SUB’s service area costs $1.17 for the first 13 units of water (Note: a
unit is 748 gallons, and the average household uses about 13 units a month). During the summer months (June through
September), the rates for the first 13 units are the same, but increase to $1.30 for additional units up to 100.
This surcharge helps everyone. Why? Because SUB must build infrastructure that can meet the highest demand for water, so
by keeping that peak demand reasonable, we can delay costly construction projects that drive up rates. So, during summer,
SUB encourages you to use all the water you need, and not a drop more! For tips on how to conserve, visit SUB online
at www.subutil.com.
3
Watts Happening
Watt’s Up with the “Light Bulb Ban”?
Recently, some Springfielders have called SUB’s Conservation Connection
concerned because they’d heard the government will be enacting a ban on
incandescent light bulbs. The reason for the call? They want to stock up before
the bulbs become unavailable. While rumors of a ban are exaggerated, there are
changes coming.
How does SUB’s
rate rate?
$171.45
$170
National
Average
Here are the facts:
$150
In December 2007, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 was
signed into law. Part of this bill is meant to “increase the efficiency of products”
available to consumers. Some have interpreted this to mean that Congress is
attempting to outlaw the familiar incandescent light bulb and to force
consumers to buy compact fluorescent lamps. The bill was supposed to go
into effect January of this year, but now is postponed until October.
For the record, the legislation does not ban incandescent light bulbs; it just
sets efficiency standards for general-purpose lighting a bit higher. The
lighting industry, which didn’t want each state developing individual
regulations, advised Congress on the language for the bill and signed off on
the final product.
The wording requires newly produced bulbs to be 28 percent more
efficient than conventional bulbs,
which waste 90 percent of their
input energy through heat. The law
doesn’t care what technology manufacturers use to meet the standards.
Philips, GE, and Sylvania have
introduced incandescent
products that meet the law’s
requirements, and other lighting
manufacturers are ready to jump
in. Some of the new products still have that familiar light bulb shape, deliver
the same amount of light, and produce the same warm coloring. They can
be used on dimmable circuits and don’t have mercury in them.
Same light, same look, but more energy-efficient. Not bad, as product
upgrades go.
The new and improved light bulbs are on the market today and give
customers more options to pick from than ever before. In fact, customers
can choose among the new generation of incandescent bulbs, or instead
choose compact fluorescents, LED lighting, or mix and match.
Bottom line? There’s no need to stockpile incandescent lights. You will
still see them on shelves.
$130.94
Local
Utility
Average
(w/o SUB)
$130
$110
$90
$81.15
SUB
$70
$50
Electric Rate Comparison
$30
Based on 1,500 kWh
Point-in-time April, 2012
(national average from Jan., 2012)
$10
It’s Time for Bingo!
Mark your calendars! SUB will again present Bingo! at the
Lane County Fair, Wednesday, August 15, through Sunday,
August 19. All proceeds from the Bingo! event benefit
Project Share, a charity that helps low- and fixed-income
Springfielders with wintertime heating emergencies. It’s
fun. It’s fast-paced. And at 50 cents a game, it’s the cheapest thrill you’ll find at the Fair! Odds are, you’ll have a great
time, so follow the crowd to the Bingo! tent, and support a
terrific cause.
They’ll just be far more efficient!
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.
POSTAL CUSTOMER
Springfield Utility Board
P.O. Box 300
250 A Street
Springfield, OR 97477
ECRWSS
Prsrt Std
US Postage
PAID
Eugene OR
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