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Ji <br />Elk River -~ <br />Municipal Utilities <br />13069 Orono Parkway • PO. Box 430 <br />Elk River, MN 55330-0430 <br />Phone: 763.441.2020 <br />Fax: 763.441.8099 <br />Elk River Municipal Utilities strives to provide our customers with reliable, safe electric <br />and water services in an environmentally responsible manner at competitive rates. Those <br />rates, however, continue to go up. Our power supplier has advised us recently that they <br />will increase their rate to us by 15% in 2009 and another 10% in 2010. They cite a <br />number of factors including a decline in electric use due to a slowing economy, soaring <br />fuel prices used to generate electricity, and additional investment in plant due to <br />increased emphasis on environmental controls. Since wholesale power accounts for 70% <br />of our costs, we are forced to pass on most of this increase to you. The average 2009 <br />electric rate increase is 10%. By contrast, some utilities in the area are increasing their <br />rates by as much as 15%. <br />While the news isn't good, there are ways you can control costs. Consider using more <br />efficient lighting such as CFLs and when you purchase new electric appliances, specify <br />those that are energy star compliant. Keep the cooling coils on your refrigerators and air <br />conditioners clean, and turn stuff off when not in use. Maybe you can even eliminate one <br />of those refrigerators! Learn about phantom loads. These are electronic loads that <br />continue to consume electricity when you think you have turned the device off. The U.S. <br />Department of Energy states that 26% of the electricity consumed in homes today is used <br />by computers, TVs, sound systems, DVD and VCR players, battery chargers, and <br />electronic displays on devices that are not even in use but still consume electricity <br />because they are plugged in. Google phantom loads, and you may be surprised how <br />much you can save. If you don't have access to the Internet, contact us and we will send <br />you the info. <br />Watch for money saving offers included with your utility bills. They include coupons for <br />purchasing CFLs, AC Tune-up reimbursement, energy star rebates and air conditioning <br />rebates as well as other tips on how to save electricity and water. <br />Thanks for your understanding and for getting serious about conserving our dwindling <br />natural resources -let's save some for our kids! <br />Sincerely, <br />Vance Zehringer <br />General Manager, Elk River Municipal Utilities <br />