Access to energy-saving programs expands

Effective January 1, 2008, customers of the local utility now have access to the Business, Residential and Renewable Energy offerings under the Focus on Energy umbrella. The efforts of Focus on Energy help Wisconsin residents and businesses manage rising energy costs, promote in-state economic development, protect our environment and control the state's growing demand for energy.

“As energy costs rise and people become increasingly concerned about the environment, saving energy is one of the smartest and most cost-effective things we can do,” says Jan Lorenz, Customer Service Supervisor. “River Falls Municipal Utilities has a longstanding history of aggressively pursuing energy efficiency. Our partnering with the Focus on Energy programs is the most recent example of our community-owned utility’s commitment in this area.”

The decision to opt in to the Focus on Energy programs was finalized at the December 2007 meeting of the Wisconsin Public Power Inc. (WPPI) Board of Directors. River Falls Municipal Utilities is a member-owner of WPPI, a regional power supplier for 41 customer-owned electric utilities in Wisconsin. As a result of the decision, all of WPPI’s Wisconsin membership, including River Falls Municipal Utilities, will participate in the Focus on Energy initiatives.

Carl H. Gaulke, General Manager is a member of the Wisconsin Public Power Board of Directors.

Gaulke says that the local utility’s participation in the Focus on Energy programs through WPPI brings added advantages to customers in River Falls.

“Because we’re participating in Focus on Energy’s important and effective programs through our membership in WPPI, we will also still have the ability to supplement those programs locally, using our own Commitment to Community dollars,” Gaulke says. “We’re continuing to build on our own local successes while also leveraging the name recognition, market saturation and expertise that the Focus on Energy initiative has accomplished.”

About Focus on Energy: Focus on Energy works with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses to install cost effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Focus information, resources and financial incentives help to implement projects that otherwise would not get completed, or to complete projects sooner than scheduled. For more information call (800) 762-7077 or visit focusonenergy.com.

About WPPI: WPPI is a regional power company serving 49 customer-owned electric utilities. Through WPPI, these public power utilities share resources and own generation facilities to provide reliable, affordable electricity to more than 190,000 homes and businesses in Wisconsin, Upper Michigan and Iowa.