Energizer Fall 2011

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30 West Superior Street Duluth, Minnesota 55802 www.mnpower.com 800.228.4966 (Toll Free) Area) 218.722.2625 (Duluth

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The Cold Weather Rule (CWR) regulates the conditions under which gas and electric utilities may disconnect residential service in the winter months (from October 15 to April 15).

The CWR requires that customers who have difficulty paying utility bills contact their utility to work out a mutually acceptable payment plan to keep their heat on.

Should you receive a disconnection notice from Minnesota Power, you must contact us to set up a CWR payment plan to avoid disconnection. Call 1.800.228.4966.

You may also wish to contact the state’s Energy Assistance Hotline at 1.800.657.3710 to find out if you qualify for funds to aid in paying your electric heating bills.

Call for your free 2012 pocket calendar Receive your free copy of Minnesota Power’s convenient 2012 pocket calendar filled with energy conservation tips and important MP phone numbers and facts by visiting www.mnpower.com and clicking on the calendar button or calling 218.355.3512 or toll free 1.800.228.4966.

Mark your calendar The 22nd Annual Energy Design Conference & Expo will be held at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center from February 21–22, 2012. Register now at www.duluthenergydesign.com to learn more about the conference and take advantage of early bird pricing.

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Receive future issues of Energizer electronically by sending your request to keldien@mnpower.com View past issues at mnpower.com/customer_service and click on the Energizer link.

Minnesota Power Foundation 2011-2012 scholarship applications available online Minnesota Power continues to honor outstanding high school seniors with $2,500 Community Involvement Scholarships. A prime criterion for eligibility is a student’s involvement in the community through volunteerism. We also distribute up to $50,000 in scholarships through the New Generation Scholarship program each year. Criteria for consideration include attending a two- or four-year college within our region with a focus on careers that match regional workforce needs. The Foundation’s educational programs reflect a commitment to building stronger communities.

Our scholarship program rewards committed college students who are positioning themselves to live, work and prosper in the region.

Apply online at www.mnpower.com/scholarships

Last year’s Minnesota Power Foundation scholarship recipients.

Are you Wasting Electricity?

Are your children or students e-SMART (the “e” stands for energy)?

Science teachers and guidance counselors in our service territory have received an e-SMART packet to help educate K-12 students and teachers on everything from where electricity comes from to renewable energy, electrical safety and energy conservation.

Tell your kids, and their teachers, or visit: www.e-smartonline.net/MinnesotaPower

More than 80% of US homes subscribe to some type of pay television service, resulting in more than 160 million set-top boxes. Based on a recent study completed by National Resources Defense Council (NRDC)1 and the ECO Group, set-top boxes consume 27 billion kWh of electricity In Use annually (2/3 of which occurs when they are not even in use), 1/3 of set-top box which is equivalent to the annual household electric usage Energy Use for the entire state of Maryland.

Not In Use Fortunately, there is great potential for reducing 2/3 of set-top box the electric usage from these electronic devices. Visit Energy Use www.mnpower.com/plugload for information on no cost/low cost ways to save energy related to set-top boxes and other plugged-in devices, which can represent up to 20% of a typical home’s electrical usage.

One change, one choice is all it takes.

Remember, reducing electric usage from set-top boxes when not in use helps you get the most for your energy dollar.

Minnesota Power/ALLETE is part of the “Adopt a Highway” program

When it comes to lighting … it’s important to choose the right bulb for the right job. Visit us at www.mnpower.com/lighting for tools, resources, and rebate information.

Next time you’re driving down Scenic Highway 23 south of Duluth, you might notice our “Adopt a Highway” sign.

We are very proud of our employee volunteers who, twice each year, round up a team and hit the road to keep this stretch of adopted highway clean.

Pictured left to right: Leonard Conley, Nathan Helder, Pat Stabs and Hillary Creurer Not pictured: Diem Carson

Coming Soon ... Minnesota Power will soon be offering customers the opportunity to sign up and review

their monthly bill electronically; we call it e-Bill. Watch for more information in the coming months about how to sign up for this new, convenient, paperless offering.

Lights Out: 1.800.30.POWER (1.800.307.6937)