Bowling Green Community Energy Savings Day Called for June 17-21

Monday, June 17th – Friday, June 21st, are projected to be the hottest days (so far) this year. It’s projected that some of Bowling Green’s highest electric usage for 2024 will occur over the next few days. Bowling Green is calling for Community Energy Savings Days and electric customers are being asked to conserve power. 

Bowling Green officials said nothing is wrong with the electric grid; they’re just trying to take every avenue to reduce costs for customers.  

Community Energy Savings Days are called for when demand for electricity is expected to be high. This can occur during very hot or very cold weather, when homes and businesses are using high amounts of electricity at the same time.

When a Community Energy Savings Day is called, residents can help by simply using less energy between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. If residents use less energy during these times of peak demand, demand can be spread more evenly on the network, reducing the cost of providing energy and reducing the amount of greenhouse gases generated.  

Participating in a Community Energy Savings Day is easy. Residents can take simple conservation steps such as: shutting off lights when not needed; unplugging small appliances and electric chargers (especially those with small lights); raising the air conditioner thermostat a degree or two; closing curtains, drapes and blinds; doing laundry and other household chores requiring electricity during hours other than 2:00 – 6:00 PM; and turning off televisions, computers, gaming consoles, and other electronic devices when not being used. 

The City of Bowling Green is participating in the Community Energy Savings: Smart Thermostat Program, a voluntary program designed to help reduce electric costs. You can help lower electric expenses for yourself and your neighbors by enrolling your smart thermostat in this program and allowing Bowling Green Municipal Utilities to make brief, small adjustments to your thermostat during times of high electric demand. If you do not currently have a smart thermostat, Bowling Green electric customers can receive up to a $100 rebate from Efficiency Smart® to purchase a qualifying smart thermostat. Please verify your new smart thermostat is eligible for both the Efficiency Smart rebate and the Smart Thermostat Program. 

Again, there’s plenty of power available and the grid is in good shape, but if we can conserve during these peak hours, the City can save on transmission and capacity costs in the future. A portion of the City of Bowling Green electric rates are the result of what is known as demand peaks, which are based on community-wide electric demand from the hottest/coldest days of the year. By lowering electric usage on these days, customers can help to keep electric rates lower in the future.  

As a municipal electric system, owned by its citizens and customers, it is contingent upon those same citizens and customers to keep the electric rates for themselves and all other customers of Bowling Green Municipal Utilities as low as possible. Our citizens and customers have the opportunity to make a difference in their system and their rates by conserving energy during the periods stated. As forecast dictates, we will most likely be asking our citizens and customers to again conserve energy at additional times this summer.

South Main Street Water Line Improvement Project Scheduled to Begin

The South Main Street Water Line Improvement project is scheduled to begin on Monday, June 24th. This project will involve the replacement of waterlines along S. Main St. from Ordway to Gypsy Lane. The work area will be divided into zones to minimize impact. Both northbound lanes, along with the center turn lane, will be closed within the work area with both lanes of travel shifting to the southbound lanes. Access to businesses will be maintained throughout the duration of the project. Additional intermittent closures at intersections will be necessary as work progresses.  

This is part of a two phased project that will extend into 2025. Water line improvement work will be completed this year, with paving along S. Main St., from Ordway to the southern corporation line, to follow in 2025. This project also includes ADA ramp improvements, a separated shared use path along the west side of S. Main (from Gypsy Lane to Napoleon), traffic signal replacement and road widening at the S. Main/Napoleon intersection, and the installation of two Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons between Gypsy Lane and Napoleon.  

This schedule is dependent upon weather and progress of work.  Keep up with this and other projects by following the City's Capital Projects Map.

Tips for Reducing Utility Bills in Warmer Months

In the last few years, we have experienced some of the hottest summers on record. Air conditioning is one of the largest users of electricity in a house. If your air conditioner is running 24/7, some of your highest electric bills of the year will occur between June and September. Installing a pool will result in an increase in electric (and water) usage. Extreme heat and dry conditions can also lead to an increase in water usage for landscaping.

Tips to Reduce Higher Usage: Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible in the summer, ideally 78°F or higher, and keep your house warmer than normal when your family is away. Insulation isn’t just for the cold winter months. Preventing air leaks is one of the best ways to keep warm air out and cool air in. Close your drapes during the day. Water landscaping during cooler times of the day to reduce water usage...Continue Reading Tips for Reducing Utility Bills in Warmer Months

Firefly Nights Returns

Friday, June 21st

In conjunction with the Firefly Nights Festival scheduled for June 21, certain street closures and parking restrictions will be imposed in downtown Bowling Green.

On-street parking will be prohibited on Main Street, from Court to Washington, and on E. Clough beginning at 2:00 pm on Friday, June 21.

Main Street, from Court to Washington, will close to traffic at 4:00 pm. While Main Street is closed, no through traffic will be permitted on Clough Street. Wooster Street will remain open for east and westbound traffic.   

During the Main Street closure, detour routes for local and truck traffic will be posted.

All streets will reopen and parking will be reinstated on Friday following the event.

The Festival is scheduled to occur from 5:30 – 9:30 pm. Details may be found on the Firefly Nights Festival website

Municipal Utilities Scattergood Award

The City of Bowling Green received an American Public Power Association E.F. Scattergood System Achievement Award. The award honors APPA member systems that have enhanced the prestige of public power utilities through sustained achievement and customer service. 

The City emphasizes non-emitting generation. In 2022, 40% of the city’s energy was provided by renewable resources, with its 165-acre, 20-megawatt solar installation and six run-of-the-river hydroelectric facilities owned by American Municipal Power, Inc. The utility worked with AMP to develop Ohio’s first utility-scale wind farm, which provides energy to ten municipal utilities.

Bowling Green has also devised forward-looking solutions to reduce costs for customers, such as installing a 12-megawatt battery to enable as much as 120 hours of peak shaving each year. The utility works to improve community engagement and customer satisfaction through efforts such as streamlining outage reporting, implementing an online customer portal with real-time meter data, and creating a program that allows customers to help low-income residents. The city has repeatedly been recognized for safety and reliability, most recently receiving APPA’s Smart Energy Provider designation in 2023 and Reliable Public Power Provider designation in 2024.

Lunch in the Park

Fridays June - Early Aug.

The City of Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Department is pleased to announce the return of Lunch in the Park. Lunch in the Park is a series of events that takes place select Fridays in June, July and early August from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM in City Park. Each week will feature different dining options with local restaurants providing delicious meals as you enjoy free musical performances provided by talented musicians. These events take place in City Park at the Martin and Kiwanis Shelters (weather permitting) or moves indoors to the Veteran’s Building atrium in cases of bad weather.

2024 Lunch in the Park Schedule

For questions or more information, call (419) 354-6223.

Concerts in the Park

Sundays in June & July

The City of Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Department, along with title sponsor B.G. Transit and supporting sponsors BGSU Division of Student Engagement & Success and Otterbein Senior Life , will be hosting Concerts in the Park on Sundays in June and July. The live performances are free to attend and take place beginning at 7:00 PM at the Needle Hall stage at City Park. In case of inclement weather the performances will be moved in to the atrium of the Veteran’s Building.  

2024 Scheduled Performers

For questions or more information, call (419) 354-6223.

Food Truck Thursdays Returns to Wooster Green

The City of Bowling Green is excited to announce the return of Food Truck Thursdays at Wooster Green this summer. Food Truck Thursdays will begin Thursday, June 6th from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM and continue every Thursday throughout the summer until July 25th.

Each week food trucks will be parked to the east of Wooster Green in Downtown Bowling Green and serve food and drinks. 

This series coincides with The Wood County District Public Library’s weekly Summer Reading Program from 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM also at Wooster Green. 

City of Bowling Green | 419-354-6204 | 305 N. Main St. | www.bgohio.org