Issue #234, July 2024

Help Us Celebrate 40 Years of Public Power!

Next month marks a milestone, as it represents 40 years that we have been providing public power to Columbia County.

To celebrate, we are inviting you to join us at our office for an open house on Thursday, August 29, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. We'll be grilling hot dogs for you and giving away other goodies as well.

We hope to see you in August to celebrate 40 years! Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.

Kids' Coloring Contest Starts Now

Our annual Coloring Contest is underway for children ages 5-12 who live in our service area.

To enter, color this photo, complete the form on the back, and return it to the PUD by August 31.

Sign Up to Receive Text Message Notifications

Would you like to receive information about your electric account through text messages?

If you are enrolled in SmartHub, you can! Sign up by logging into SmartHub on your computer or mobile device.

If you need help signing up for SmartHub, please call us at (503) 397-0590.

Stay Cool with a Heat Pump this Summer

You can cool your home with a heat pump.

Despite their name, heat pumps provide cooling as well as heating. They work like an air conditioner in the summer while also heating your home efficiently in the winter.

If you heat your home with electricity, you may be eligible for a rebate on a qualifying installation.

Water Use Can Affect Your Power Bill

Water heating is often the second largest energy expense in a home. It can account for up to 20% of your monthly utility bill.

A few simple changes can cut your hot water use and lower your monthly bill:

• Take more showers than baths.
• Use cold water to do your laundry.
• Run full loads in the dishwasher.

Here are some additional suggestions to reduce your hot water use.

Enter to Win Handmade Quilt

You can help provide bill payment relief to your neighbors by entering to win this beautiful, handmade quilt.

The Columbia River Piecemakers Quilting Guild donated this queen-sized quilt to be raffled. All proceeds go to our GLOW Fund.

Tickets are $1 apiece or six for $5. The winning ticket will be drawn at our Customer Appreciation Dinner on October 8.

Please Slow Down, Move Over for Work Crews

When you see our crews working along the side of the road, please slow down or move over. This will help keep our linemen and tree trimmers safe. And, in Oregon, it's the law.

Traffic signs, flaggers, or cones, mean crews are ahead. When you see these indicators, please slow down or move over a lane if that is a safe option.

Thank you for helping keep our crews safe.

See Us at the Fair!

Visit our booth at the 2024 Columbia County Fair and Rodeo!

We will be talking about energy efficiency and providing information about our rebate programs. We will also have giveaway items and fun activities for the kids.

We hope to see you there July 17-20.