ERMUSR MISC 08-14-2007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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T ~~ ~.,.i. Odd-even sprinklingban now in effect in Elk River A sprinkling ban is now in effect in Elk River. It is important to follow the sprinkling requirements. If we can keep our water use down, we don't have to invest in as many expensive wells, pumps' and water towers, and that helps keep. a,lid on rates. How does the sprinkling ban work? •It's easy! Odd-numbered homes may sprinkle only on odd-numbered days and only before 7 0 a.m, and after 6 p.m., including weekends. Even-numbered homes may sprinkle only on even days during those same hours. Thanks for your help! New generation needed to meet demand for more electricity People are using more energy than ever before, and all indications are that regional energy consumptioh will continue to rise: Conservative estimates by the Mid Continent Area Power Pool (MAPP), a network of more than 40 Upper Midwestern utilities, forecast that electric use will increase as much as 15 percent over the next decade. It will take an estimated 9,300 megawatts of new generating ca- pacity in the MAPP region by 2012 to meet this demand. New genera- . lion scheduled to come online in the next several years, however, falls far. short of that goal: bespite the need, it takes years tc obtain regulatory approvals and build a new power plant. In fact, the last significant "baseload" power plant built in this region was built in the mid-1980s. A utility consortium is seeking reg- ulatory approval to build Big Stone A; a 630-megawatt, coal-fired electric` generation plant to be located ir1 Big Stone, South Dakota. If Big Stone ll is built, it will meet a small part ofthe demand in our area. The EIk River Municipal Utilities Commission believes additional resources need to be built to meet growing electric demand in our region. We will do what we can to ensure a steady supply of sa#e, reli- able electricity. we also urge you to participate in our energy conservation programs such as Cycled AC and "Wait Till Eight." These programs are an increasingly i portent partAf our ElkRiver ----- Municipal Ut~lxaes electrical supply portfolio Simple energy saving tips Wlil SBVe electricity .and money Summer heat and humidity can p a strain on your body but don't let it put a strain on your wallet. These easy #ips carr help save both energy and_money. • Set your AC thermostat to 77-78 degrhes while using fans to circulate the air. This will conserve electridlty without sacnflcing'com- fort. • Seal off sections of your house that are not use ofiten, giving your air conditioner less space to cool • Closs drapes and blinds on the sunny side, as unnecessary sun light only makes your air conditioner work harder. • Enjoy. the weather and cook outside on the grill. Avoiding use of an oven wilt help, keep your kitchen cool: • Check your air conditioner's filter and replace it if it's dirty. This takes just a minute and can signifi- cantly reduce energy usage. • Turn off lights when not in use. They use electricity and`produce excess heat. Compact fluorescent lamps may cost more`to buy but they produce less heat. and use only 1 /4 as much electricity, saving money in`the long run, • "Curn off your computer ~ monitor when not in use. Or, plug electronics into a surge protec- for and turn it off when not in use. Electricity used by "turned ofP' home electronics is estimated Bost Ameri-i cans $1 billion annually. •Wheh planting trees or shrubs, try fio locate them on the sunny side of The house; as this will provide natural shade and keep your house cool While there are other ways to lowe your horrre's er~rgy usage, these suggestfohs offer energy bill say- ings at little cost and no significant change in personal habits. with a cost, More power plants burning more fuel are needed to meet the electric demand: That means higher costs and a greater impact on the environment. ut Electric peaks usually occur during the late afternoon or Barry evening hours during the hot summer days. Elk River regularly sets new elec- trill peak demand records. Electric peaks mean tight electr~ supply: Tight supply means higher prices. You can help us reduce' demand and control costs. Elk Fiver Muni~i- pal Utilities has a volutltary effort to con#rol peak demar3d. Vt~e ca:l rt °Jial Up Five At Five" and' "Wait Til Eight." The effort targets air conditioners, but the idea applies to all electric _ appliances. If you get inuolved, we can successfully centtnl ~urcests and your rates. We used two names to identify the program because we have drffer- ent types of customers, Some run air conditioners continuously. during thesummer. We askthg5e folks to turn up them therrnvstat at ieastfrve- degrees from 5 p:m. to.8 p.m; on weekdays when the temperature point exceeds 90 degree$ and/or ' fhe dew point exceeds 70, This will reduce air conditioning demand at critical times. Some folks only run air condition- ers when they come home from work. We're asking you to leave the ' unit off until 8 p.m, on those hot days. That will also reduce peak de- m~nd at critical times, and still cool your home prior to bedtime. While you can help us reduce electric demand at critical times, you can practice wise use throughout the year. You can refrain from using power-gobbling devices, such as washers, dryers and dishwashers, from 5 to 8 p.m. Use a microwave, or barbecue. That will help reduce r cooling costs as well These steps cart help everyone in Elk River. You play an important part in controNing gour rates, we can better control our wholesale power bill, and allow our wholesale power Simple changes at home supplier to use existing power plants Will SBVe. US 8il @nergy more efficiently! " ' " and money Dial up Fire At 1=~e and W ait " Elk River continues to be one of Till Eight are voluntary. There is no the fastest growing cities in Min- special rate, just savings to you for II helping hold our costs down. nesota. Growth means increased electric usage. EIk River Municipal Thanks for helping ps control our Utilities is expanding to meet ttie electric use and costs. growing demand,. but growth comes 13069 Orono Parkway, Elk River,. MN 55330 63 441 2020