Pacific Power Reveals Energy-savings Ideas in Anticipation of Out-of-Town Guests

December 20, 2011

Portland, Ore. – As customers prepare for the holidays it’s easy to overlook the added energy costs that come with house guests. Pacific Power wants customers to save energy and money by being wattsmart while guests are in town.

"During the holidays many households will double or even triple in size with the arrival of out-of-town guests," said Sheila Holden, regional community manager of Pacific Power. "But with some planning the increased headcount doesn’t have to impact your energy bill."

Ways to conserve energy include:

• Five Minute Shower Rule. Install water-saving shower heads and ask all of your guests to limit showers to five minutes.
• Unplug the Thug. Ask guests to remove all chargers from walls when they are finished using them or plug them into a power strip and turn it off when not in use. Electronic chargers continue to drain energy as long as they are plugged into the wall.
• Have an “Energy Lite” evening. Turn off the electronics and break out the board games. Make a commitment to using less energy for the evening while entertaining guests.

“These are just a few ways customers can encourage house guests to take an active role in energy savings that will translate to their own homes,” said Holden.

Get more wattsmart ideas by visiting Pacific Power’s bewattsmart.com.

About wattsmart
Energy and money-saving wattsmart tips and program information are available at bewattsmart.com. Facebook users can get regular wattsmart tips by becoming a fan of Pacific Power’s wattsmart page.

About Pacific Power
Pacific Power provides electric service to more than 730,000 customers in Oregon, Washington and California. Our goal is to provide our customers with value for their energy dollar, and safe, reliable electricity. Pacific Power is part of PacifiCorp, one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the United States, with 1.7 million customers in six western states. For more information, visit pacificpower.net

About Energy Trust of Oregon
Energy Trust of Oregon is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to helping utility customers benefit from saving energy and tapping renewable resources. Energy Trust services, cash incentives and energy solutions have helped participating customers of Pacific Power, Portland General Electric, NW Natural and Cascade Natural Gas save nearly $800 million on energy bills. Energy Trust work helps keep energy costs as low as possible, creates jobs and builds a sustainable energy future. Learn more at energytrust.org or call 1-866-368-7878.