Utility Officials Urge Oregon Residents to Take Energy-Saving Measures
By Bob Albrecht, The Bulletin, Bend, Ore.
Jul. 16–While temperatures may be high now, residents are encouraged to start preparing for rising utility rates that could lead to significantly higher bills when the winter heating season arrives, local utility officials say.
From lowering the thermostat when leaving home to billing options that spread utility costs evenly from month to month, customers have options to offset some of the rate increases that Central Oregon’s main energy providers, Pacific Power and Cascade Natural Gas Corp., plan to implement later this year, especially if they make a concerted effort to manage their energy use, said Cascade spokesperson Mark Hanson.
For those who need more help than weather-stripping their windows can provide, aid organizations can assist with paying energy bills. Energy aid organizations, though, are struggling to keep up with higher demand from customers faced with higher bills because donations are declining.
To help ease the bite of higher energy costs hitting everyone, Cascade Natural Gas suggests insulating air ducts, regularly changing furnace filters and checking furnaces to ensure they are running efficiently.
Setting the thermostat at 68 degrees during the winter, rather than the more customary 72 degrees, can ease a heating unit’s workload and save money, Hanson said.
Drapes and blinds can add an extra layer of insulation, keeping homes warmer as outside temperatures drop. They’re helpful in the summer, too, by blocking the sun’s rays and keeping the insides of homes cooler, allowing residents to keep air conditioning units off.
On their own, energy-saving adjustments may not have a large impact when it comes to lowering energy usage, Hanson said.
“They can certainly all add up, though,” Hanson said.
Doing little things to help is becoming increasingly important, especially for low-income households who are struggling with rising rates, said Roger Rees, who heads Oregon Heat, a statewide nonprofit that helps low-income households pay their utility bills.
Nationally, utility shut-offs for customers who are unable to pay their bills could reach record levels this year, according to data from the National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association.
The picture isn’t as dire in Central Oregon, according to local utilities, who say they aren’t seeing a rise in customers who are unable to pay their bills.
“Shut-offs are pretty much flat,” said Pacific Power’s Tom Gauntt. “We have more people calling in and saying, ‘Hey, we’re having a hard time making it.’ Those calls are up 6 percent to 7 percent.”
With utility rates rising, Oregon Heat and the federally funded Low Income Energy Assistance Program are getting more calls for help.
Oregon Heat helps one in five needy families, Rees said. The organization is supported by large utilities, including Pacific Power and Portland General Electric, and public donations ratepayers make on their monthly bills. Donations, however, are slumping with the economy, Rees said.
“We’re kind of apprehensive as we look at these coming winter months,” Rees said. “If there’s no monies available, it doesn’t matter how badly you need it, it’s simply not available.”
Locally, NeighborImpact works with Pacific Power to provide energy assistance using donations and contributions from ratepayers. In some cases, NeighborImpact refers residents who need help to Oregon Heat.
Customers still can take it upon themselves to manage their energy use and, in turn, control costs, said Hanson of Cascade Natural Gas.
“Every little thing will help,” he said.
—–
To see more of The Bulletin, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.bendbulletin.com
Copyright (c) 2008, The Bulletin, Bend, Ore.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
BRK, CGC,