Lowell Light & Power Celebrates Public Power Week, Oct. 2-6

We received the following press release from Lowell Light & Power.

Lowell, Michigan, September 25, 2023 – Lowell Light & Power (LL&P) is celebrating Public Power Week, Oct. 2-6, along with more than 2,000 other community-powered, not-for-profit electric utilities that collectively provide electricity to 49 million Americans.

“Since we operate right here in Lowell and serve our friends and neighbors, we care a great deal about things like customer service, helping folks save energy and money, and keeping the community safe,” said Charlie West, General Manager. “We are proud of the work we do in these areas.”

This year, we are focusing on how public power utilities are working to ensure reliable, affordable, sustainable, and customer-focused service to our community. To mark Public Power Week, Lowell Light & Power offers a few tips on how to save energy and money in your home as we build for the future:

• According to the Alliance to Save Energy, the average U.S. home uses 70 light bulbs. Even though modern bulbs are energy efficient, you should still turn them off when they aren’t in use.
• Swap out old incandescent bulbs for new LED bulbs. According to the Department of Energy, residential LEDs — especially ENERGY STAR-rated products — use at least 75% less energy, and last up to 25 times longer, than incandescent lighting
• Heating and cooling your home uses a lot of energy. Set your thermostat lower in the winter and higher in the summer to save energy and money on your power bill.
• Unplug appliances when you aren’t using them. Even when they aren’t being used, they are sometimes drawing “phantom power,” which wastes energy.
• Your water heater is a big energy user. Make sure to use cold water when you can and turn off the hot water while you are scrubbing your hands.

“We know that using energy wisely to lower monthly electric bills is important to Lowell residents. And we recognize that even as our utility builds for the future we encourage our customers to do their part to help save energy,” said West. “While we are sharing these tips during Public Power Week, we hope our community will keep an eye on energy efficiency all year round as we work to provide reliable, safe, affordable, and renewable power supply.”

Lowell Light & Power invites community members to participate in a variety of Public Power Week events. Activities include:

• Free popcorn and Energy Saving Kits (over $50 value!) for customers who stop in the office throughout the week (Mon-Fri, while supplies last)
• Enter to Win a $50 Bill Credit—customers can enter by stopping in the office during the week
• 1st-3rd Graders Public Power Drawing Contest – select entries displayed in the LL&P office lobby, first place receives a $50 Amazon Gift Card, second and third place each receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card
• 4th Graders Public Power Art Contest – artwork displayed in the LL&P office lobby, winning student will receive a pizza party for his/her class and a $20 Amazon Gift Card
• Follow on Facebook and Instagram for energy saving tips, more information on what public power does for you, and to learn more about the staff at LL&P
• Visit LL&P at the Lowell Harvest Celebration on Saturday, October 14th from 10am – 4pm for pumpkin decorating (pumpkins generously donated by Heidi’s Farmstand)

Lowell Light & Power has 18 employees and two primary facilities; an office building at 127 N. Broadway and an Energy Center at 625 Chatham. The Energy Center houses the distribution and generation departments and is also the location of LL&P’s two natural gas fired combustion turbines. LL&P serves over 2,600 residential customers and over 450 commercial and industrial customers.

Public Power Week is an annual national observance coordinated by the American Public Power Association (APPA). APPA is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 2,000 towns and cities nationwide. The Association represents public power before the federal government to protect the interests of the more than 49 million people that public power utilities serve, and the 93,000 people they employ. It advocates and advises on electricity policy, technology, trends, training, and operations. Its members strengthen their communities by providing superior service, engaging citizens, and instilling pride in community-owned power. More at www.PublicPower.org