Friday, July 17, 2009 - I don’t know about you but I never liked the idea of a rebate for a product. Why not just lower the price of the product rather than charging me the higher amount only to send me a rebate check thus effectively lowering the price of the product? With this in mind, MPS is offering an incentive for you, the residential customer, to purchase or upgrade your anticipated purchase to a qualified Energy Star appliance.
This incentive is not associated in any way with the manufacturer or the price of the product, but is based solely only the energy efficiency of the product. To qualify the appliance must be one of the items listed under the residential section of the Bright Energy Solutions web page, http://www.brightenergysolutions.com/ and meets current Energy Star ratings.
To get the incentive download the form and appliance list from the above web site or get it from your local appliance dealer where available. You can also get the form and list by calling Moorhead Public Service, 218-299-5400, and we’ll mail it to you. Fill out the form and include the required documentation then mail it to us. If everything checks out you should see a check in your mailbox within 8 weeks.
If you have any questions feel free to contact me at 218-299-5225 or email me at deisenbraun@mpsutility.com.
Posted by: MPS Energy Services Manager, Dennis Eisenbraun
Monday, May 11, 2008 - Recently I had the opportunity to attend the 2009 Annual Meeting for Missouri River Energy Systems (MRES) in Sioux Falls, SD. MRES is one of Moorhead’s two major electric power suppliers. The overall theme was “Balancing Our Energy Future”. Over the course of the two day conference I heard from various speakers regarding our energy balance, energy efficiency, environmental impacts, legislation, the smart grid and power delivery issues.
Speakers included:
- Tom Heller, General Manager, MRES
- Susan Stratton, Executive Director, Energy Center of Wisconsin Cost-Effective Energy Efficiency
- Tim Meeks, Administrator, Western Area Power Administration Perspectives on Energy Priorities
- Paul Boyd, Regional Technical Specialist, US Army Corp of Engineers Sedimentation Actions and Impacts in the Missouri River Basin
- Marty Kanner, Kanner & Associates, LLC Federal Legislative Outlook
- Carl Mycoff, Mycoff, Fry & Prouse LLC The Aging Workforce and Public Power’s Competitive Position
- Mike Beehler, Associate VP Transmission and Distribution, Burns & McDonnell Defining the Smart Grid for Electric Utilities
- Ray Wahle, Director of Power Supply and Operations, MRES MRES Generation and Transmission Update
- Harold Schiebout, Sioux Center Municipal Utilities and MRES Chairman of the Board.
I would like to single out the presentation from Ms. Stratton to give you a glimpse of the information presented by these top-quality speakers.
As mentioned above, Stratton’s presentation was titled: Cost-Effective Energy Efficiency. Stratton’s position is that when it comes to using energy more wisely the very first thing we should consider is to implement energy efficient measures if possible. You’ve heard it before, “Reduce, reuse, recycle.” Efficiency is the “reduce” part.
Stratton also reminded us that incandescent bulbs will start to be phased out in 2012. When only compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL) are available she humorously noted that utilities might want to reconsider their CFL bulb give-away programs!
Another reminder from Stratton was the deadline for federal stimulus applications, June 25, 2009. Moorhead Public Service (MPS) is looking into some possibilities here so keep posted for further updates on this topic.
An interesting concept that Stratton brought up was that of “Blitz” programs, that is to say implementing community-wide energy efficient programs. I take blitzing to mean more than just a marketing campaign, but something more concrete where people and businesses engage in some measureable energy efficient activity. This is a great idea that I believe MPS should give some thought to.
Finally, Stratton summarized energy efficiency tools utilities should be familiar with:
- Energy Efficiency measures. Remember the “reduce” part?
- Consider increase use of renewable energy supplies.
- Energy from waste materials.
- Infrastructure improvements.
- Continued/increased use of load management strategies.
- Combined heat and power applications.
Posted by: MPS Energy Services Manager, Dennis Eisenbraun
Thursday, April 30, 2009 -Moorhead Public Service is proud to acknowledge and thank Concordia College for their participation in energy conservation through MPS' Bright Energy Solutions® Program. Through the Bright Energy Solutions® program, Concordia was awarded $15,090 in incentive payments for energy effciency improvements on their campus.
Concordia, in conjunction with MPS' Bright Energy Solutions® guidelines, upgraded several of their gymnasium lights to brighter, more efficient lights. This upgrade is estimated to save the college 247,000 kWh each year; or approximatly $7,000 in energy savings!
Thanks Concorida College for your participation in Bright Energy Solutions® and for your part in energy conservation in Moorhead!
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Photo (L-R): Ken Winkler (Dakota Energy and Lighting, contractor), Paul "Nick" Rasmussen (Concordia College,Facilities Manager), Dennis Esienbraun (MPS, Energy Services Manager)
Bright Energy Solutions® is a cash-incentive program offered by MPS in cooperation with MPS’ power supplier, Missouri River Energy Services. Through this program, MPS encourages both residents and commercial businesses to make improvements that result in more energy-efficient homes and buildings. Additional information about this program can be found on MPS’ Web site at www.mpsutility.com or by calling 218-299-5400 and talking with Dennis Eisenbraun, MPS’ Energy Services Manager.
Posted by: MPS Communications Director, Doug Rogness