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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2005
AU, OPU, and RPU ANNOUNCE END OF RESIDENTIAL
LIGHTING REBATE
Utilities encourage customers to save money
and energy
ROCHESTER, Minn—If you need proof that
energy conservation programs are alive and well
at Austin, Owatonna, and Rochester Public Utilities,
look no further than the ENERGY STAR® compact
fluorescent lamp (CFL) rebate program. In 2004
alone, the three cities issued rebates on over
78,000 of the energy-efficient light bulbs.
After three successful years of offering the
incandescent replacement incentive, market penetration
is high and the utilities will discontinue the
$2 per-bulb rebate March 31, 2005.
The local utilities began offering a CFL incentive
in the late 1990s: a $3 per bulb rebate. At
that time, the price of a single bulb was around
$6, and the concept was very new. Light color
was not always pleasing and the bulbs took a
long time to warm up or come on.
Today, bulbs can be purchased in multi-packs
for the price of a single bulb four years ago.
"The rebate offered by AU, OPU, and RPU
really helped move acceptance of CFLs as a home
lighting source," said Patty Hanson,
residential accounts leader. "This, in
turn, helped drive down the cost of bulbs."
Technology has improved so that bulbs take much
less time to warm up.
Customers can take advantage of the $2 per-bulb
rebate on ENERGY STAR-rated CFLs through March
31. CFLs are available at local hardware stores
and mass merchants. The rebate coupon is available
at the utilities or can be downloaded from RPU's
or OPU's Web site.
AU, OPU, and RPU are municipal utilities serving
their respective communities in Southeast Minnesota
with electric, gas and water service (gas service
is not available in Rochester). Their two-year-old
marketing partnership builds brand awareness
and promotes energy efficiency. "Conserve &
Save" is one way they are "Teaming Up to Save
You Money."
Utility contact information:
Austin Utilities, Austin, Minn.
Contact: J.D. Crowley
(507) 433-8886
www.austinutilities.com
Owatonna Public Utilities, Owatonna, Minn.
Contact: Roger Warehime
507-451-2839, ext. 134
www.owatonnautilities.com
Rochester Public Utilities, Rochester, Minn.
Customer Service
507-280-1500
www.rpu.org.
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