Individual savings on electric bills may not amount too much, but those savings through the Washington Electric Utilities system could be significant.
During March, the City of Washington is conducting a light-bulb exchange program. Any WEU residential customer who brings in four incandescent bulbs from his or her home will receive four energy-saving compact fluorescent lamps. Compared to incandescent light bulbs providing the same amount of light, CFLs about one-fifth to one-third the electric power and last up to 15 times longer, according to several sources on the Internet.
The exchanges will take place at City Hall, 102 E. Second St. The exchanges will occur as long as supplies last.
When customers exchange their incandescent light bulbs for CFLs, they may sign up for the city’s load-management program, if they have not yet done so. They may also sign up for an electronic billing or payment method. By signing up, a customer will receive a $15 gas card at no expense to the customer.
There is a limit of four CFLs and one $15 gas card per household.
For several years, the city has been promoting its load-management program.
The city wants WEU customers take advantage of WEU’s load-management program, in which devices are installed on some electric appliances such as electric water heaters, heat pumps/central air conditioners and auxiliary heat sources such as heat strips. Those devices, which are radio-controlled, allow the city to turn off those appliances during times when peak demands are expected. That saves the city and its power customers money. WEU customers in the load-management program receive credits each month on their electric bills.
The appliances are controlled for no more than four hours a day for a few days each month.
During budget talks several years ago, WEU Director Keith Hardt said having all qualified WEU customers participating in the load-management program would save the city — and its qualified power customers — about $1.3 million a year.