LIGHT READING INLAND POWER AND LIGHT inlandpower.com
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Hydropower Flows Here As a resident of the Pacific Northwest, you enjoy the benefits of hydropower without even realizing it. The iconic rivers of the region are our primary source of clean, reliable and affordable energy. The next time you turn on the light switch, make a pot of coffee or charge your phone, know that “Hydropower Flows Here!” “Hydropower Flows Here” is a new awareness campaign by Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and its regional power customers, such as Inland Power. The awareness campaign is intended to showcase the various attributes of this renewable, clean, reliable source of electricity that powers nearly 60 percent of the Pacific Northwest’s homes and businesses and what it means to all of us. The rivers of the northwest are not only icons of the region’s natural beauty, but also a constant supply of energy. Rain and snow feed the water cycle, providing a renewable resource to meet the energy demands of millions, while seamlessly integrating other renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. Just as the river is always flowing, hydroelectric dams have the ability to constantly generate electricity. Hydroelectric generators can respond to increased power demands at any time of the day or night, and in any given weather condition regardless of wind or sunshine. In addition to clean energy, hydropower benefits the Pacific Northwest in several ways, from the reasonable rates on the electric bills of residents and businesses (see how Inland’s rates compare on back side of this newsletter), to the benefits of job creation, new business development, recreation opportunities and increased agricultural production. There are a multitude of benefits of hydropower including the following:
Hydropower is clean. Hydropower produces no emissions. There are no gases or waste products that contribute to air pollution. Hydropower is secure. Water from our rivers is largely a domestic resource that is not subject to disruptions from foreign suppliers, cost fluctuations in power markets, international political crises or transportation issues.
Did You Know? Without hydropower, the United States would have to burn an additional 121 million tons of coal, 27 million barrels of oil and 741 billion cubic feet of
Hydropower is flexible. By adjusting the amount of water flowing through the dams, hydropower can be increased or decreased very quickly to meet changes in demand for power. This meets a fundamental requirement of all electric grids, which is that demand must exactly match supply at all times to keep the power flowing and stable. Hydropower allows for the growth of other renewable resources. Hydropower is a great “back-up” for wind and solar power— for example it can be ramped up to meet demand when the wind is not blowing or dialed down in times of high winds.
natural gas combined.
Hydropower is renewable. Each year, rain and snow replenish the supply. It is our nation’s most abundant source of renewable energy. Hydropower is efficient. Hydropower plants at dams convert about 90 percent of the energy in flowing water into electrical energy. By comparison, fossil-fueled plants lose more than half of the energy content of their fuel as waste heat and gases.
Hydropower is affordable. This is because the “fuel” — water — is relatively free, which keeps operating costs low and protects against fluctuations in fuel prices. Over the years, the dams have consistently provided some of the nation’s most affordable electricity. States that get the majority of their electricity from hydropower — like Idaho, Washington and Oregon — have lower energy bills than the rest of the country.
i n land powe r is my coope rat ive
WE ARE A MEMBER-OWNED ENERGY COOPERATIVE COMMITTED TO SAFE, RELIABLE SERVICE AT COMPETITIVE RATES.
Tree Clearing Crews Increase Your Reliability
- i n l a n d p o w e r m i s s i o n stat e m e n t
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Inland Power Tree Crews Gear Up For A Busy Season
T O D D A N D L I N D S E Y, YO U R E N E R G Y E F F I C I E N C Y T E A M
Trees and branches falling onto power lines are one of Inland’s leading causes of power outages. Because of this, right-of-way clearing is an important part of Inland Power’s goal of delivering safe, reliable, cost-effective electric service. Inland Power’s tree clearing crews are returning to many parts of our service area as part of our regular rotation schedule. This schedule is partly determined by vegetation growth patterns and service area terrain. Currently our crews are working in the Tum Tum, Milan, Deer Park, Hayford and Four Lakes area. When these areas are complete, the crews will continue to the Springhill and Clayton areas in the late summer/early fall time frame. They will be clearing the right-of-way and will be focusing on lodgepole pines. While the weather is nice, we will be working hard on the reliability of our system. Our operations department will notify you when crews will be working in your area. They may contact you directly to ask for permission to remove any leaning trees that are outside of our right-of-way that look like they may impact our power lines. We are confident the efforts of our crews will help with reduce outages in the future. Thank you for your cooperation as we work to serve you, our valued members better.
Energy Efficiency 101:
Energy Conservation or Energy Efficiency? By Todd Williams and Lindsey Hobbs
The energy crisis of 1973-1981 shaped a new concept to help members cope with increasing energy prices. This global concept, referred to as “energy conservation,” was founded as a response to the time period’s energy predicament. Energy conservation is our behavior which results in the use of less energy. Turning off lights (any light) is an example of energy conservation. Fast forward to present day in the Pacific Northwest. Our industry is navigating a more complex dynamic with the advancement of technology. Conservation is still an important aspect to Inland Power, but it is important to draw a distinction between energy conservation and energy efficiency. Energy efficiency and energy conservation are frequently spoken about as though they share the same meaning, but are in fact two different ideas. Energy conservation is behavior, while energy efficiency is the use of technology that requires less energy to perform the same function. Example: using a LED over an incandescent bulb is energy efficiency. Many of the rebates offered by Inland Power are to help a consumer choose energy efficient products. A rebate will discontinue once codes and standards force the market and manufacturers to produce efficient products, thus taking away the ability for a consumer to purchase an inefficient product (example refrigerators, freezers, standard water heaters, etc.).
No matter which phrase you practice, awareness is the best approach you can exercise in managing your energy use. Managing energy use is a subject that Inland’s membership asks about daily and to broadly reach and address popular questions and concerns this is the first article in a five-part series. Stay tuned for the next piece in Energy Efficiency 101: Why Is It Important? If you have a topic you would like to know more about, we would love to hear from you! Our goal in energy services is to be a resource center for our communities. We are here to help you achieve your goals, provide access to a network of contractors and engineers, and continue education on conservation and efficiency topics in the residential, commercial, agricultural and industrial sectors. To contact Todd or Lindsey, call 509-789-1801 Monday through Thursday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., or email conservation@inlandpower.com.
VISIT INLANDPOWER.COM FOR MORE ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIPS
How do Inland Power Rates Compare to Other Utilities? Inland Power’s monthly bills rank as some of the lowest in the state.
$73.30
Vera Water & Power District
$85.15
Inland Power & Light
$92.59
$93.60
Avista
Clark PUD
$102.50
Snohomish PUD
$110.77
Seattle City Light
$112.94
Puget Sound Energy
$132.87
U.S. Average
Based on 1,000 kilowatt hours (average residential rates as of April 2017; includes service availability charges where applicable).
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