August, 2008
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People helping people EnergyHELP reaches a milestone
Difficult times cause some SMUD customers to have to choose between paying their electric bill, paying the rent or feeding their families. For these customers there is EnergyHELP®, a program of people helping people.
Through EnergyHELP, customers may contribute automatically in their monthly bill payment to any of four charities. The donation is tax-deductible, and SMUD sends 100 percent of it straight to the charity. The charity then offers as much as $200 in bill assistance to low-income customers whose electric power has been – or is about to be – disconnected for nonpayment.
More than 10,000 SMUD customers now give a total of more than $30,000 a month to help others keep their lights on -- close to $1 million in donations since the program began.
For details on how you can help, visit www.smud.org, e-mail eanswers@smud.org or call 1-888-742-SMUD (7683).
Signs on poles a safety hazard
Before you post that yard sale, lost pet or event poster on a utility pole, consider the safety of those who have to climb the poles – utility workers.
Nails, staples, tacks and screws used to post signs pose serious safety hazards for those whose job it is to keep the power on for SMUD customers. Obstructions can interfere Signs on poles a safety hazard with the safety gear of line workers, causing them to slip or fall as they climb. And even the tiniest puncture in a line worker's rubber gloves can expose him to severe shock from power lines.
Please refrain from posting signs on poles and help to keep our line workers safe from harm. |
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Save energy, save money by saving water
When the temperature rises, so does demand for water and electricity. And that's when the cost for these resource is highest.
Cutting back water and electricity use during the hottest hours of the day can help save money and contribute to a cleaner environment.
The treatment, pumping and heating of water account for 19 percent of the energy used in the state. To keep costs down, local water agencies run pumps to fill water storage facilities at night when electricity costs less to produce. Customers can help by following some simple steps:
Water lawns just three days per week on alternate days.
Set timers to run sprinklers during off-peak watering hours, 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Avoid watering from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. to reduce evaporation and energy demand.
Other money-saving tips can be found at the Web site of the Regional Water Authority (www.rwaH2O.org). There you'll also find links to your local water agency. Contact them for information on rebates or to ask for a free in-home assessment of your home's water use.
For additional rebates – and ways to save on all your electricity needs – visit www.smud.org/savetoday, or call 1-888-742-SMUD (7683). | |
 It's easy to trade your old fridge for fresh cash
That spare refrigerator in the garage? It's costing you up to $125 per year. Why not pocket that cash – plus another $35 from SMUD – by letting us haul away that old fridge or freezer.
It's easy. Call JACO, SMUD's contracted recycler, at 1-800-299-7573 to schedule a free pickup. In a few weeks after they take the old appliance away, you'll receive a $35 incentive check from SMUD. Pickup arrangements can also be made online at www.smud.org.
To qualify for this service, you must be a SMUD residential customer. The refrigerator capacity should be from 10 to 27 cubic feet, and the unit should be in working condition. Customers may recycle up to two refrigerators per residence.
Save money and help preserve the environment with SMUD's refrigerator recycling program.
Don't make a move without SMUD
What if you could set up cable, internet and phone service when you start your electric service with SMUD? You can – just by visiting www.smud.org and clicking the Moving Connections link, or by calling SMUD at 1-888-742-SMUD (7683) and asking for Moving Connections. 
Moving Connections will help you establish:
- Phone service – local and long distance
- Cable or satellite TV
- High-speed Internet
- Newspaper delivery – local or national
- Home security ... and more!
Let SMUD help simplify your next move ... with Moving Connections.
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Join SMUD at the State Fair
 He sings, dances and chats you up about saving energy and money. He’s the SMUD showbot, and he’ll be at the California State Fair, Aug. 15 through Sept. 1 at Cal Expo, in the Green Dream Expo in building B.
Visitors to the SMUD booth will enjoy the lighthearted approach to everything electrical, including lighting, appliances and environmentally sustainable living.
There’ll also be a new feature, the home energy monitor – a device that tells you, in real-time, what you are paying for electricity. |
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Lighting for the aging eye
Vision quality changes as people age. Learn to compensate in a lighting class offered by SMUD, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Sept. 20.
To enroll or for more information on this free class or others, call the SMUD Energy & Technology Center at (916) 732-6738, or visit www.smud.org/etc. | |
Save Today. Save Tomorrow.
 We can work together to protect the environment, help our community, and help you save money on your bill. Saving today will keep costs low, maintain reliable electric service, and help build a cleaner, healthier environment for tomorrow.
For more information on SMUD programs including Greenergy, SolarShares, appliance rebates and SolarSmart Homes, visit www.smud.org/savetoday.
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