Conservation

Businesses served by the PUD #1 of Ferry County may be eligible for our commercial lighting retrofit program. Energy savings of over 25% are possible. Call or come in and ask!

Are You Considering...

Stop in and ask about our Conservation Programs, or call (509) 775-3325 and ask for John.

Off Grid Solar...

Ferry County PUD is now offering a solar/photovoltaic option for remote home sites. These systems include 165-Watt Sharp solar modules, Outback equipment and Concorde AGM batteries.

These PV systems are a part of the Utility's distribution system. As such,

the cost of these systems includes all system service and maintenance costs for as long as the system is in place.

These systems are available through our High-Energy-Cost Communities Financial assistance program, for qualifying customers, which allows the installation cost to be paid over a 20-year period at 0% interest.

For customers who do not qualify for our financing program, these systems can be paid for by the customer and installed by Utility personnel, the cost still includes all service and maintenance costs for the life of the installation. Here are the basic specifications of the systems:

System	Yearly Average Output	Total Cost	Payment
San Poil	2.5 kWh per day	$10,800.00	$45.00 per month
Kettle	5.0 kWh per day	$20,160.00	$84.00 per month
Columbia	7.5 kWh per day	$28,080.00	$117.00 per month

Following is an article contained in the first edition of the Washington PUD Association's magazine, "Connections."

Off-Grid Solar From Ferry PUD...

Like many rural areas of Washington state, there are just some parts of Ferry County where it's impractical to run a power line. But that doesn't mean that rural residents need to do without electricity, or live entirely "off the grid." Not when the Ferry County Public Utility District is willing to put a solar power system right in their own backyard.

"You can count me as one of the PUD's biggest fans," said former state legislator Dennis Dellwo, whose extended family of seven brothers and sisters owns a two-story log cabin on the Colville Indian Reservation in the southeast corner of the county.

Dellwo, a Spokane attorney and a member of the Eastern Washington Growth Management Hearings Board, reaches the cabin by driving to Seven Bays and crossing the Columbia River by boat - about on hour and a half trip. Otherwise, it takes nearly five hours to reach the property by car.

The nearest Ferry County PUD power line is more than 54 miles away. And when Dellwo inquired about the cost of running an electrical line to the property, he was told it would cost about $7 million. Or, said PUD Conservation Director John Friederichs, the PUD could install a small solar-power system on site.

"We had checked into installing solar power ourselves," Dellwo said, "but dealing with the PUD made it really easy, and we don't have to worry about vandalism or maintenance."

Dellwo became the second person to take advantage of the Ferry County PUD solar program.

About a year ago, the PUD installed a photovoltaic system that produces an average of 2 1/2 kilowatt-hours of electricity a day - slightly more during the summer, a little less during the winter. The system consists of six solar modules mounted on a 6-inch diameter post. The power generated by the solar modules is fed underground to a squat, green box - which Friederichs describes as a fiberglass doghouse - and then to a meter on the Dellwo cabin.

"The system is really an extension of the PUD," Friederichs said. "The PUD owns and operates the system - we have an easement - and sells power to the customer."

Working through the PUD, Dellwo received a 20-year, interest-free loan from the PUD to pay for the installation, which cost about $10,800. Dellwo pays for the electricity at the same low rate paid by other PUD customers, plus $45 a month to repay the loan.

The Ferry County PUD has installed three other solar systems of 2 1/2 to 5 average kilowatt-hours per day, and offers a 7 1/2 kilowatt-hour system for about $28,500 that consists of two poles, each with nine photovoltaic modules.

The PV modules are manufactured by Sharp Electronics in Memphis, Tenn., while the power inverters and other equipment to tie everything together come from Outback Power Systems in Arlington, Wash. The systems are engineered by Solar-Wind Energy Systems in Okanogan.

The average residential customer in Ferry County uses about 40 kilowatt-hours of electricity a day, far more than even the largest PUD solar system provides. But Friederichs said the solar systems produce enough electricity to provide lighting (using compact fluorescent light bulbs), pump water, and power small appliances, such as toasters, televisions, microwave ovens, and even refrigerators. Dellwo said he likes being able to plug in his power tools.

But those living off-the-grid still need to heat their homes and cook with wood, propane or gasoline-powered generators.

"People who live off-the-grid always have at least three generators," Friederichs said, "the one they're using, the one they're fixing, and the one they're using for parts. You learn to be miserly with the power you have."

In 2003, the PUD received $880,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utility Service to provide service to people who were paying more than 23 cents per kilowatt-hour for electricity - depending primarily on generators - instead of the 6.08 cents per kilowatt hour the PUD charges.

According to Ferry County Community Services, there are as many as 200 households in the PUD's service area that qualify.

The PUD used the money to run power lines to nearly 50 previously off-grid customers, as well as offer its solar program, including no-interest loans.

Friederichs said the PUD still has solar modules and electronic equipment to install seven more on-site solar systems from the original grant, and will continue to offer the program even when the grant money runs out.

Since running a power line to a rural residence can cost more that $6 per foot - which must be paid by the customer - off-grid solar is easily the more economical way to go. Even a one-mile line can cost more than the most expensive solar system the PUD offers, and some rugged areas are simply out of reach at any cost.

And while many homeowners in urban and rural areas are opting for rooftop solar systems, Friederichs said he is not aware of any other utilities that are offering programs similar to the Ferry County PUD's solar program, which is actually an extension of the PUD distribution system into otherwise inaccessible areas.

"It's like having a PUD all your own," Friederichs said. "It's worked really well for our customers."

For more information about the Ferry County PUD solar program, call (509) 775-3325.

Ferry County Wins Innovator Award...

APPA presented the DEED Energy Innovator Award to two public utilities this year: City Water, Light & Power of Springfield, Ill., and Public Utility District No. 1 of Ferry County in Republic Wash. This award, sponsored by the Demonstration of Energy-Efficient Developments program at APPA, recognizes innovative programs that provide better service to electric customers and/or increase the efficiency of utility operations.

Ferry County's High-Energy Cost Community-Service Cost Assistance Program has provided a means that was previously impossible to extend electric service to some rural residents in its service territory. Some of Ferry County's most rural customers use their own small gas generators to produce electricity at rates between 24 and 31 cents per kWh or use their own solar photovoltaic (PV) system at rates of 42 cents per kWh.

With a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service, Ferry County began a program to help these customers finance distribution line extensions or installation of PV systems with long-term, subsidized financing. The program enables the construction of line extensions that combine multiple customers and would be prohibitively expensive if done individually. The program also allows the use of photovoltaics in cases where the terrain or distance makes even a no-interest loan prohibitively costly.

APPA created the Energy Innovator Award in 1980 to honor publicly owned electric utilities that have made outstanding advances in the development or application of highly creative energy-efficient techniques and technologies. Award consideration is given to those systems participating in APPA's Demonstration of Energy-Efficiency Developments (DEED) program. DEED was established in 1980 to sponsor and conduct activities related to energy innovation, improving efficiencies and lowering the cost of providing energy services to the customers of publicly owned electric utilities.

Clean Power From Water, Wind and Sun...

Hydroelectric power is Washington's original clean, renewable power - its supply of fuel (water) is virtually infinite, it uses no fossil fuels and it produces no emissions. Hydropower also enables use of other technologies like wind and solar by balancing the times when the wind isn't blowing and the sun isn't shining.

Wind energy is the nation's fastest-growing energy source, and Washington is on the forefront of building new wind projects.

Energy Northwest, a joint operating agency made up of public power members, is exploring solar energy as a viable energy source for the region.

Are you ready for some great ideas and information?

Check out the links listed below!

Please remember, when you click on them, you will be opening a new browser window.

Cut Your Electric Bill...

Without spending a dime! As electricity costs increase, saving energy is even more important. Each energy-saving tip below will help cut your electric cost...at no cost to you:

Heating: Set the thermostat at a maximum of 68 degrees or as low as comfortable. Save up to 3 percent on heating costs for each degree the thermostat is lowered. If you have thermostats in each room, you can turn down the heat to 50-55 degrees and close the doors of little-used rooms.

Water Heating: Reduce water heater temperature settings to 120. (Be sure to shut off power to the water heater before adjusting). Use cold water to run the garbage disposal. When hand-washing dishes, don't let hot water run continually.

Refrigerator/Freezer: Vacuum the condenser coils in the back or bottom of refrigerators and freezers every three months. Set refrigerators no colder than 37 degrees and freezers to 0 degrees F. Defrost your refrigerator or freezer regularly if it's not a frost-free.

Cooking: Not all foods require preheating the oven. If it takes over an hour to cook, place it in a cold oven. Match the size of your cooking utensil to the burner. The bottom of a pan should completely cover the element without extending more than an inch beyond it.

When Leaving For 3 or More Days: Turn off the electric water heater at the breaker panel. Allow a few hours to reheat the tank. Unplug electrical equipment like TVs, VCRs, and computers, which draw power even when not in use. These appliances should be hooked up to surge protectors.

Conservation Programs...