Customer Newsletter - May 2012
May 2012
A regular newsletter for Clark Public Utilities customers
Play it safe outdoors this spring
May is National Electrical Safety month - a reminder to play it safe around electricity when heading outdoors this spring. Here are some tips for your family to remember.
- Avoid overhead power lines. When cleaning gutters, trimming trees or carrying a ladder, stay away from overhead lines. Do not climb trees with power lines running through or near them.
- Stay away from downed power lines. Call us immediately at 360-992-8000. Assume the line is energized and dangerous and keep others away until help arrives.
- Do not play on or around electrical transformers - the green metal boxes sitting on cement pads in some neighborhoods. Do not enter electric substations or climb fences surrounding them. The equipment is energized and dangerous.
- Use only ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets outdoors and cover the outlets when not in use. Do not leave outdoor electrical tools unattended after use.
- Call 811 two days before digging in your yard to avoid accidental contact with underground utilities. The free service will locate the utilities for you.
Find us on Facebook
Stay current with Clark Public Utilities news and events by "liking" our Facebook page. Facebook is just another way for us to share information and hear feedback from you. Get sneak peeks at upcoming events and inside scoop on volunteer and community activities. Check us out on Facebook today and click "like" to stay on top of our latest happenings.
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Save time with My Account
Accessing your Clark Public Utilities account has never been easier. Just log on to My Account at www.clarkpublicutilities.com. There you can monitor your electricity and/or water use, check your account status or sign up to go paperless and receive your bill by email.
Choose Auto Pay and your utility payment will be securely and electronically paid from your designated bank account on the date your bill is due. No more checks or stamps - and you'll know your bill is paid on time.
Enroll in Equal Pay to eliminate the seasonal ups and downs of your utility bill. Equal Pay divides your yearly bill into 12 equal monthly payments to make budgeting easy. Combine Equal Pay with Auto Pay and get the benefit of choosing what day of the month your bill is paid.
Plant trees in the right place
Trees clean the air, shade homes from summer heat and add overall beauty to neighborhoods. But trees also can cause damage if planted too close to power lines. In fact, trees contacting power lines cause 25 percent of all outages in Clark County.
You ca
n help by planting the right tree in the right place. Under power lines only plant trees that will grow no taller than 25 feet. Flowering dogwood trees are good choices. Plant trees and shrubs at least six feet away from utility poles and even farther away if the plant is especially bushy.
An easy way to be sure you're planting the right tree is to choose one carrying the TreeSmart logo. It indicates the tree is appropriate for planting near power lines. Or ask your nursery for advice on selecting the right-sized tree. See our website for a list of suitable trees and a downloadable brochure about proper planting and our tree trimming efforts to minimize power outages.
Tree Line USA recognizes utility, again
For the 13th consecutive year, the Arbor Day Foundation has named Clark Public Utilities a Tree Line USA® utility. The Foundation, in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters, annually recognizes utilities that protect and enhance America's urban forests by using best tree care practices in their operations.
To earn the award, Clark Public Utilities met these standards:
- Practices quality tree care including utility pruning and integrated vegetation management practices.
- Annually trains employees and contractors in best practices of tree care.
- Manages a tree planting and public education program.
- Promotes the positive benefits of trees in energy conservation programs.
Although we trim trees to ensure the reliability of the electric system, we also plant trees to help the environment. Since 1992, our StreamTeam program worked with volunteers to plant more than 600,000 trees, restoring about 120 acres of land. If you'd like to get involved, visit our website or give us a call.
Salmon-in-the-Classroom fish release a success
Students participating in our Salmon-in-the-Classroom program released salmon into Salmon Creek this spring. The salmon started out as eggs in school aquariums last fall. While the eggs are developing, the classroom curriculum follows the salmon lifecycle and habitat needs. A highlight for students is a chance to individually release fish. Many schools in the area have been involved in our program for more than 10 years. Salmon in the Classroom is funded by Clark Public Utilities and administered through Columbia Springs Environmental Education Center.
Left: An elementary student releases a young fish into Salmon Creek
"Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Midsize Utilities in the West, Four Years in a Row"
Clark Public Utilities received the highest numerical score among midsize utilities in the West in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2008-2011 Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction StudiesSM. 2011 study based on 98,562 online interviews ranking 12 providers in the West (AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, WY). Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed in July 2010-May 2011. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.