Make sure to buy LED holiday lighting this season! LED holiday lighting uses 75% less energy than standard light strings, which can save you up to $21 per month (depending on usage). Plus get a rebate of up to $12 per string from RPU!
On Monday, October 10, 2011, RPU and Minnesota Energy Resources will host a Neightborhood Energy Challenge Workshop at Gibbs Elementary School. At this FREE workshop you will learn about our full-service energy audit program. This program will provide you with answers to your energy questions and will give you an opportunity to sign up for your own residential energy audit.
ROCHESTER, MN – You know that your appliances may not be as energy efficient as you’d like them to be. But do you really know how much energy your appliances or your computers really use? To help Rochester residents see how efficient their appliances, electronics, and computers are, Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) has donated five Kill-A-Watt meters to the Rochester Public Library.
The easy-to-use meters help calculate the energy costs for each appliance or electronic device tested, and library patrons can borrow the meters much like they borrow a book. “We are excited about this partnership with the library”, said Larry Koshire, RPU General Manager. “Residents can use their library card to ‘check out’ one of these special meters to use at home. And like a book borrowed from the library, residents must return them by the due date so that others will have an opportunity to use them.”
The Kill-A-Watt meter is plugged into a 120-volt appliance, electronic device, or computer to record consumption by the kilowatt-hour. Users can calculate electrical expenses by the day, week, month or year. This enables the user to identify areas in their home where they can save electricity – and money.
The five Kill-A-Watt meters are now in circulation at the library. For more information about this program that is offered in cooperation with the Rochester Public Library, please call the library at 507.328.2309. Meters may also be reserved for pick up, with a valid library card, through the online catalog – just type in ‘Kill-A-Watt’ in the catalog search box at www.rochesterpubliclibrary.org.
About Rochester Public Utilities
As the municipal utility of Rochester, Minn., for more than 110 years, RPU provides high-quality and reliable electricity to over 47,000 customers. Water customers number more than 36,000. RPU continually investigates innovative technologies to help customers realize the best value from the services they receive. Current initiatives include fuel cell research, wind power, and photovoltaic offerings.
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Date: April, 18, 2011
Contact: Tony Benson, RPU
507-280-1534
Rochester, Minn. – Austin Utilities (AU), Owatonna Public Utilities (OPU) and Rochester Public Utilities (RPU), announced that their Conserve & Save® Refrigerator and Freezer Recycling Program will be launched April 18 and will continue through October 31, 2011. The program makes it easy for customers to get rid of un-needed, secondary refrigerators and freezers while rewarding them with a $35 incentive.
“An old refrigerator running in a garage or basement typically costs $100 or more per year in electricity consumption”, says Sara Gimberline, RPU Residential Account Representative. “Our new program makes it easy for customers to get rid of their secondary units and start saving money. All they have to do is call, and we take care of the rest. Plus, they get a $35 check to boot.”
To participate in the program, customers can visit their utility’s website or call 1-877-341-2259 to schedule a collection date. Appliance pickups are typically performed between 7:30 am and 6:00 pm Monday through Saturday.
In order to qualify, the appliance must be a secondary, 10-30 cubic feet unit, in working (cooling) order and be owned by an AU, OPU or RPU residential customer. The appliance will be removed from the home free of charge at the address listed on the billing account, and the $35 incentive will be mailed within six to eight weeks after pickup.
AU, OPU, and RPU are municipal utilities serving their respective communities in Southeast Minnesota with electric, gas and water service (gas service is not available in Rochester). Their nine year old marketing partnership builds brand awareness and promotes energy efficiency. “Conserve & Save” is one way they are “Teaming Up to Save You Money.”
By working with customers on energy conservation and energy efficiency, RPU was able to reduce electric consumption in 2010 by over 19 million kilowatt-hours. That amount of energy is equivalent to the annual household usage of 1,978 homes in Rochester.
In celebration of this collaborative effort, we have produced a full page newspaper ad highlighting local businesses and organizations that made energy efficient changes in their operations. The newspaper ad will run in the local newspaper on Saturday, January 29.
Thank you to all of our customers and energy solutions partners for their effort this year!
