Category Archives: Electricity

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npower Launches New Wallace & Gromit Ad – Hand Of Dog

While many England fans still bear the scars of the fateful game where Maradona proclaimed that the ‘Hand of God’ knocked England out in 1986, Wallace and Gromit exact their revenge in the new npower TV ad.

npower Launches New Wallace & Gromit Ad - Hand Of Dog

The new TV ad supports the Back the Bid 2018 campaign for England to host the FIFA World Cup(TM). As an official supporter of the bid npower is getting behind England 2018, as hosting the World Cup would provide a huge boost for British businesses large and small.

In one of the funniest football ads to be shown on British TV for many years, Wallace & Gromit, the eternal entrepreneurs, are all set to profit from a tournament in England with their madcap pie-making business – “WAG’s Pies Ltd”. As usual, their best-laid plans are threatened when Wallace’s latest invention – a pie-delivery machine – threatens the game with an errant pie.

Gromit sprints through the stands and onto the pitch making a leap for the runaway pie. As he flies through the air and catches hold of the pie, his other paw accidentally makes contact with the football sending it hurtling past the goalie and into the goal.

The advert ends with Wallace smugly viewing the success of his small business venture and Gromit enjoying a read of the local rag. The front page carries a photo of a very familiar dog scoring a goal under the headline “Hand of Dog”.

Via EPR Network
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Biogas Set To Power Our Homes

Biogas was once the domain of third world countries, but people at build-a-biogas-plant.com show that as energy costs skyrocket and new biogas designs come on the market, even people in a Western city can benefit from a biogas digester.

Biogas Set To Power Our Homes

Biogas is produced when organic matter is broken down by bacteria. The organic matter could be cow dung, but equally it could be the food scraps we throw away every day in our homes. Instead of these scraps going to landfill, they could be put far better use and go into a digester to produce biogas.

The biogas is made up of a large amount of methane, and methane is the important ingredient in biogas. Like natural-gas, biogas can be burned and used to heat water, create lighting or run our cooking stoves and it can even be used to run generators which produce electricity.

“We have been overwhelmed by the response to access the biogas information,” said Simon, a staffer at www.build-a-biogas-plant.com. “Our digester designs cater for individual’s household use, but larger systems are also available for communities, farms and other commercial businesses”.

In the United States alone, billions of tonnes of manure are produced each year by millions of cattle, pigs and chickens. Imagine how much electricity would be produced if all this dung was processed in biogas digesters? Not only would it replace a lot of natural gas but the residue makes a wonderful fertilizer (often better than commercially prepared products).

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Consumers Get Latest Electrical News with Specialist Site Electric.co.uk

Any consumer who wants to keep informed of the latest news from the energy and electrical industries is now able to do so thanks to re-launched website Electric.co.uk. The website is home to all the latest news updates on all the important electricity issues and details on other energy and power sources.

The website is owned and managed by leading web business stable ASAP Ventures and offers consumers news on a manner of energy sectors. The site carries all the very latest news from the electricity industry as well as all sorts of useful tips and hints on ways of cutting domestic power usage and saving energy.

With more people than ever now keen to stay aware of news on energy sources, Electric.co.uk can help them to stay on top of electrical energy news as well as other sources such as wind power, solar power, biomass energy and other renewable powers. The website was introduced by ASAP Ventures a year ago and the company recently re-launched the site with more features to celebrate its first birthday.

Anthony Jackson, spokesperson for Electric.co.uk, comments, “We believe that more people than ever now want to stay informed of all the latest developments in the energy industry, as there are massive environmental and financial implications for people. Our site can help them to remain informed on the latest green and renewable energy resources and all manner of other electric issues.”

For further information please visit www.electric.co.uk

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npower Assists Companies With The CRC

npower has launched a new service to help organisations manage compliance with the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC), and benefit from the incentives it offers.

CRC Assist offers a full service provision to organisations affected by the carbon reduction commitment It provides support to help businesses understand the CRC; assists them with the development of an energy management strategy; and manages their participation in the scheme.

Dave Lewis, head of business energy services at npower, said: “We believe it’s crucial that organisations understand the CRC and the management strategies they should implement to succeed within it. The scheme has been developed to offer significant incentives for the most successful participants and we have developed CRC Assist to ensure organisations are best placed to benefit from these.”

CRC Assist offers support for businesses across the full scope of the CRC legislation and provides an understanding of the CRC. It’s vital that all of the expected 5,000 full participant organisations, and the additional 15,000 participants who will need to register, understand the scheme and what is required of them. CRC Assist promises to cut through the complexities and help businesses understand their involvement in the scheme.

As part of CRC Assist, npower will help participants develop energy management strategies. In the longer term, it will also assist them with managing their performance in the CRC’s league table, which will detail the best and worst performers in terms of emissions reduction. Through effective energy management, organisations will be able to achieve a higher position on the league table.

CRC Assist also offers businesses advice on carbon allowance purchasing, helping to make the ‘cap and trade’ element of the scheme easy. In addition, npower will also support organisations with their records and submissions within the scheme.

The CRC Assist proposal from npower will be specific to the size, scope and strategic objectives of each organisation it works with and is available to all organisations affected by the CRC – whether current, former or prospective customers of npower.

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npower Pledges To Continue Boiler Scrappage Scheme

npower has become the first energy supplier to pledge to continue its boiler scrappage scheme once the Government scheme closes.

The Government’s boiler scrappage scheme launched in January and in the first six weeks alone, over 50,000 households benefited from the initiative*, from a total allocation of 125,000.

npower became the first energy supplier to launch its own boiler scrappage scheme when it promised to match the Government’s £400 grant. The combination of the two scrappage schemes means customers could be eligible to receive as much as £800 towards the cost of a new boiler, when replacing a G rated boiler with an energy efficient A rated boiler.

Kevin Miles, CEO npower retail, said: “The scrappage scheme has proven to be extremely popular and if take-up continues at the same rate, we expect the Government’s scheme to close in April. However, there are still approximately four million households with G-Rated boilers in the UK, which is why we are pledging to continue npower’s boiler scrappage scheme.”

npower’s scheme differs from the Government’s scheme in that customers only have to have a boiler that is over 10 years old to be eligible to receive a £400 discount on a new boiler installation from npower hometeam.

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Brit’s Nasty TV Habits Revealed Due to Lack of Family Shows

Millions of Brits are wasting energy by watching one of their three household televisions alone while housemates or relatives watch the same TV show in another room*, according to new research by energy supplier npower.

Lack of family friendly programmes has led to this division in the home showing that the days of family bonding over a favourite television show are sadly long gone – and 46% of Brits have absolutely no idea how much energy they are wasting as a result of this fragmented viewing.

The poll of 2,000 people showed that the reason behind the nation’s disjointed viewing habits seems to have come down to what’s on the box. Last year there were only two shows which brought the family together for communal viewing and both are thanks to Simon Cowell – X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent.

With three televisions on average per household and no shared preference regarding what’s on, it’s no surprise that the overall energy consumption in homes is responsible for over a quarter of all UK emissions of carbon dioxide. Cutting out certain behaviours like wasteful TV consumption can reduce carbon emissions and save households over £300 a year.

Further figures showed:
– 47% of Brits put the telly on just to keep them company
– 42% of the nation is glued to the screen for approximately four hours a day
– 19% of Brits have a TV dinner every night of the week
– 15% of Brits put the telly on while they’re getting ready in the morning even though they don’t watch it

Reassuringly, the poll revealed that people are not happy with this state of affairs. 32% of the population think television should be a sociable activity and 21% of viewers would prefer to watch television in the company of the rest of the household.

In response, npower has launched its smartpower campaign to encourage the public to watch TV programmes as a unit again and then monitor the difference in their energy consumption and bills via a free smartpower electricity monitor.

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Wallace & Gromit Get Smart With npower On The Small Screen

Fans of Oscar-nominated Wallace and Gromit are to be treated to another dose of the favourite duo as they appear in npower’s new TV advert.

The nation’s favourite animated characters are up to their usual ‘inventive’ mischief in delivering npower’s message of sensible energy consumption in the home. The loveable duo soon learns a valuable lesson in monitoring energy, as another invention goes wrong.

The new advertising campaign created by VCCP for npower is in a 30 and a 40 second format and breaks on 29 March until 7 May on ITV (Mid West & North) and Channel 4.

The 30 second advert opens in a darkened room where Wallace is in a state of panic. Hidden behind a cushion he watches a horror movie on his latest invention, a homemade widescreen TV. Wallace’s widescreen TV defies convention, consisting of multiple TV’s taped together.

However, a scary movie is not the only thing poor Wallace has to worry about when the penny finally drops that his pile of TV’s has in fact become an energy consuming monster.

Luckily, the savvier Gromit saves the day when he receives advice from customer care advisor Penny on how to cut energy consumption.

Our heroine informs Gromit about the npower smartpower electricity monitor, which allows customers to keep an eye on how much energy is being eaten up by all household appliances.

The 40 second advert actually shows the viewers what movie is scaring the life out of Wallace – Revenge of the Killer Watts – as well as having an additional scene of Gromit creeping up on Wallace and passing family photographs of Frankenwallace and Dracuwallace along the way. The end of the advert cuts straight back to the ominous pile of televisions ‘sparking’ to life.

The new Wallace & Gromit advert is part of the energy supplier’s smartpower campaign to help customers monitor and reduce energy consumption in the home with the offer of free smartpower electricity monitors when existing and new customers sign up to an online account.

Kevin Peake, marketing director at npower, commented: “We’re all guilty of being like Wallace and Gromit and wasting too much energy in the home, but we want to show that there are ways where we can help our customers save energy and money.

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npower Urges Businesses To Make CRC A Board Level Priority

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npower has launched a plea for businesses to make the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC) a board level concern and develop a strategy to manage participation to avoid financial loss and reputational damage.

npower Urges Businesses To Make CRC A Board Level Priority

This is the message of a new film – Understanding the CRC from energy firm npower, designed to help businesses prepare for the scheme and avoid potential pitfalls. npower’s film provides guidance on qualification for the CRC, the importance of managing energy and carbon emissions to succeed under the scheme, and the reputational implications of the CRC league table that will name and shame those participants failing to reduce emissions.

It also points out the potential financial benefits of the scheme. DECC calculates that the CRC will stimulate £1bn of cost savings for participants through better energy efficiency.

A further message coming through loud and clear from the film is the importance of having a board member responsible for the CRC. Annual ‘evidence packs’ detailing participants’ energy consumption must have board level sign off. The CRC will also require enterprise-wide investment and behaviour change to improve energy efficiency, which typically can only be sanctioned at the highest level.

Dave Lewis, head of business energy services at npower said: “A lot of businesses are turning to us for advice on the CRC and it’s clear that many are still unclear on the obligations it places on them, and the opportunities and challenges it presents. Our film answers these questions and will hopefully go some way in addressing the concerns that some organisations have. Those affected by the scheme only have until the end of September to register, so it’s important they understand what they need to do and how they can make the CRC benefit their business. This must be driven from the very top if businesses are to realise all the advantages the CRC offers.”

npower helps companies monitor and manage energy consumption to bring commercial and environmental benefits. To help achieve this, npower has developed a monitoring and targeting (M&T) tool – encompass. A web-based system, encompass gives businesses accurate and timely information on their energy consumption, providing them with the data they need to implement cost and CO2 reduction policies. The system automatically collects data from half-hourly and smart meters, providing a detailed report on a business’ energy consumption behaviour, and the related cost and environmental impacts of this. With this data, benchmarks can be set and consumption tracked, alongside mapping of carbon use and cost.

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npower Reports Solar Energy Boost From Cashback Scheme

npower has reported that, thanks to a new government cashback scheme, those who use solar power to generate their own electricity could soon earn approximately £960 per year.

npower Reports Solar Energy Boost From Cashback Scheme

Introduced by the government in April 2010, Feed in Tariffs, or FITs, as they’re more often referred to, offer homeowners with solar photovoltaic (PV) panels a payment of up to 41.3p for every unit of electricity they generate.

James Morgan, solar expert for npower, commented: “This is great news for homeowners. Put simply, owners of solar photovoltaic panels, which produce electricity, will be paid for all the energy they generate – regardless of whether they use it themselves or sell it back to the grid. So not only will your energy bills be reduced, but you will also be receiving a regular income from the energy you generate.

“Consequently, there’s never been a better time to be installing solar panels on your home. Since the introduction of the scheme, we’ve seen a huge increase in the number of people interested in going solar, as the extra financial benefit offered by FITs means that the payback period has been reduced to around 15 years for a typical installation costing around £12,000.”

Solar photovoltaic (PV) uses energy from the sun to create electricity to run appliances and lighting in the home. Solar PV requires only daylight – not direct sunlight – to generate electricity, making it incredibly efficient. The system also generates no greenhouse gases, helping to reduce homeowners’ carbon footprint.

Ronald and Wendy Jordan from Cornwall are one couple who will benefit from Feed-in-Tariffs. They run their own beef farm and bed and breakfast near Lostwithiel and decided to invest their savings in solar PV panels while interest rates were low.

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npower Boosts Barclaycard Freedom Scheme With Reward Worth Up To £160

The reward, the first in the scheme to be paid regardless of the amount the customer spends on their card, is recorded in pounds not points, and can be spent by customers immediately with tens of thousands of participating retailers across the UK.

npower Boosts Barclaycard Freedom Scheme With Reward Worth Up To £160

Celebrating the partnership, npower is doubling its sign-up incentive to £60* of Reward Money for Barclaycard Freedom customers transferring their gas and electricity to npower before May 17th 2010. Along with the £100 annual loyalty payment for both new and existing npower customers paying by monthly direct debit for both fuels, Barclaycard Freedom holders could earn enough in a year to buy a meal out for the entire family, special treat for someone or have a shopping spree online, simply by choosing npower as their gas and electricity supplier.

Giuseppe Di Vita, Managing Director of npower Retail Markets, commented: “Our customers have told us that they would like more freedom of choice in the way that they are rewarded for joining and staying with npower. Participating in the Barclaycard Freedom scheme enables us to give our customers the choice of up to 30,000 retailers to redeem their Reward Money. Our customers will benefit from a straightforward, simple and transparent way to get more value for their money.”

Barclaycard Freedom, which launches in March, offers the concept of a rewards programme to many small and medium retailers for the first time. In addition to encompassing household names, including npower, over 30,000 retail outlets have been invited to be part of the scheme at launch. On average there will be 200 retailers within a five mile radius of where a Barclaycard cardholder lives and many more retailers are expected to join in the coming months.

Sarah Newman, Managing Director of Barclaycard Freedom, commented: “Barclaycard Freedom incorporates all of the best elements of a rewards scheme with no vouchers or coupons to collect and no points to calculate – the rewards are quite simply in pounds and pence. Offers like npower’s – the first of its kind in the Barclaycard Freedom scheme – give customers a new way that they can build up their reward balance. We hope that customers enjoy spending their Reward Money.”

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$4.8 Million Dollar Energy Efficiency Program comes to the Sierra Nevada

Local governments and businesses in 14 Sierra Nevada counties will have new access to cutting edge, energy efficient technology through a new collaboration between Sierra Business Council and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). From 2010 to 2012, Sierra Business Council, a non-profit organization based in Truckee, CA will be offering free energy audits and low-cost retrofits to commercial PG&E customers in the Sierra Nevada through a new program called the Sierra Nevada Energy Watch.

$4.8 Million Dollar Energy Efficiency Program comes to the Sierra Nevada

“During this tough economic downturn, we are excited to be able to support our local businesses and governments by offering cost-cutting energy efficiency services,” said Steve Frisch, President of the Sierra Business Council. “This project embodies our long-standing mission of demonstrating that environmental quality and economic prosperity are compatible goals.”

In addition to offering energy efficiency services and products, the program will help local governments conduct greenhouse gas inventories and develop climate action plans to help the state meet its AB32 emission reduction goals. The program takes a comprehensive approach to the region’s energy needs. “We aren’t just dropping in light bulbs,” explained Program Manager, Betony Jones, “We are looking for deep, long-term savings, and we are developing the local workforce capacity to provide clean energy services far into the future.”

The Sierra Nevada Energy Watch program is funded by California utility ratepayers under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. It offers services for municipal, special district, and non-profit facilities as well as small and medium businesses throughout the PG&E service area from Lassen to Mariposa Counties. Those interested in participating in the program or learning more should contact Sierra Business Council at 530-582-4800.

For more information about the Sierra Nevada Energy Watch Program, and to see tips on saving energy at home and the workplace, please visit www.sbcouncil.org/energywatch.

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Global NES of Oregon Helping To Pave A Bright Future!

Global NES of Oregon is a world leader in providing a comprehensive 360 Degree Approach to New Energy Solutions.

Global NES of Oregon specializes in energy efficiencies methodologies and renewable energy technologies powered by clean sustainable solar, wind, hydroelectric and geothermal energy sources. We partner with businesses, governments and industrial clients to identify, design, finance, and build new energy solutions that deliver energy efficiency and take advantage of today’s most innovative renewable energy technologies.

We develop a custom designed system, meeting the energy needs of your company and your community. Renewable Energy solutions deliver long term financial and environmental benefits that are critical for success in today’s demanding markets.

Global NES offers a 360° Approach:
• We listen to our customers in order to fully understand our clients goals and objectives
• We complete an in-depth, state of the art energy evaluation and analysis to determine efficiency, as well as, system options that meet our client’s needs
• We propose and implement energy reduction measures reducing overall energy consumption
• We design and build innovative renewable systems that reduce or eliminate energy expense
• We partner with our clients to deliver financial options and incentives that maximize Return on Investment
• We continue our relationship beyond project completion to ensure a long-term, sustainable solution was delivered

Global NES of Oregon Helping To Pave A Bright Future!

Is Renewable Energy Right For Me?
Renewable energy has a broad-based appeal. The end-line consumer is a homeowner, landlord, retail business owner, farmer, rancher, manufacturer, school, hospital, church, apartment complex owner and virtually anyone who pays a utility bill.

Your motivation:
• Supplementing your energy needs or providing 100% of the power for your location or facility
• Renewable energy offers an opportunity to become self-sufficient
• Revenue generation by selling the energy you produce to tenants or back to the utility providers themselves.
• Reduce your carbon footprint on this planet by reducing emissions and use or dependency on fossil fuels.

No matter what your needs or desires are, we have the solutions for you.

Financing and Incentives
As part of the Global NES 360 Degree Approach, we work closely with our Clients to ensure the right financing options are presented and utilized, as well as our Clients take advantage of all state and federal incentives. The coordination of financing and incentives are critical in delivering a complete project and maximizing Return on Investment.

Financing
Global NES offers a wide variety of financing options including traditional financing packages, lease options and Power Purchase Agreements (PPA). We have an extensive network of financial relationships and partners specializing in financing and investing in renewable energy solutions. Our network includes financing options from the following sources:

• Traditional Financial Institutions
• Leasing Companies
• Investment Banks
• Hedge Funds
• Insurance Companies
• Private Investors
• Venture Capital Firms

Federal and State Incentives
We work closely with our Clients to identify and present the best financial options. We then work hand in hand with our Clients and financing partners to prepare and complete a financial package that maximizes the opportunity for project completion and delivers maximum Return on Investment for our Clients.

There are currently a growing number of local, state and federal incentives designed to help companies develop and expand renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions. These incentives can dramatically help fund or offset project costs, and include some of the following:

• Government and Private Grants
• Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBS)
• Renewable Energy Production Incentive (REPI)
• Favorable Financing Terms
• Rebates
• Tax Incentives and Deductions

With the complexity and rapidly growing number of incentives, it can be overwhelming and challenging to ensure the right incentives are identified and taken advantage of. Global NES works with corporate Clients to make sure all the local, state and federal incentives are identified and fulfilled. These incentives can play a critical role in defining a project’s overall financial outlook, determining cost savings and maximizing Return on Investment.

Energy Efficiency
As part of the Global NES 360° Approach we utilize state of the art technology to analyze and evaluate building infrastructure, systems and processes. Our expert engineering teams identify, design and implement integrated energy reduction solutions that optimize efficiency and maximize savings.

Global NES begins with an in-depth energy analysis and evaluation focusing on building construction, occupancy patterns, mechanical and electrical systems including HVAC and lighting. We design, present and coordinate energy reduction measures that improve facility efficiency, reduce operating cost and maximize shareholder value.

Benefits of Energy Reduction Measures
• Reduce operating expenses and improve cash flow by dramatically reducing energy/utility consumptions
• Identify and reduce energy waste
• Capitalize on federal tax deductions and other government incentives
• Increase the value of your facility
• Decrease maintenance time and costs
• Secure favorable interest rates and terms through Green Financing Options
• Make a positive contribution to the environment by reducing your carbon foot print and greenhouse gas emissions

Global NES also partners with our Clients to ensure maximum Return on Investment by identifying and coordinating favorable financing options and ensuring Clients take advantage of all possible rebates, grants and tax incentives. Please Feel Free To Contact Us For More Information, Or To Schedule Your Free Energy Analysis.

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npower Welcomes Cash Rewards For Low Carbon Electricity And Heating

npower has welcomed the Government’s announcement regarding Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) levels and urged consumers to buy now to take advantage of the Government scheme.

The scheme offers financial assistance when installing solar PV panels, potentially earning customers £986 per year.

Julia Lynch-Williams, Director of Energy Services for npower, commented: “According to Government calculations, consumers generating their own electricity from solar PV panels could earn approximately £986 per year from tax free generation payments and bill savings combined.

“The new Feed-in-Tariff arrangement means homeowners have the opportunity to earn more than ever before from generating their own electricity and together with a grant, solar is certainly a more attractive investment than it’s ever been. Given that the Government has increased generation levels since the consultation in July, now definitely looks to be the best time to buy.”

With a typical installation costing around £12,000, FITs will see the payback period considerably reduced.

npower has seen enquiries in solar panels increase by 200 per cent since the Feed-in-Tariffs were first announced in July 2009, and expects this trend to continue.

To help homeowners take advantage of FITs, npower solar offers a complete ‘one-stop-shop’ service including site survey, grant application support, installation and buy back of excess energy.

npower’s website includes guidance for homeowners on solar installations, including a suitability calculator which tells homeowners whether their property is suitable for solar installations and offers a free estimate for installation.

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BPU’s Townsend and Johnson receive 2010 Black Achievers Award

Patrice Townsend, Key Account Utility Specialist for the Kansas City Board of Public Utilities and Cynthia Johnson, Superintendent of Stores, were recently named recipients of the 2010 Black Achievers in Business and Industry Award, sponsored by the Southern Leadership Christian Conference of Greater Kansas City and the Black Achievers Society. Townsend and Johnson were honored at a Recognition Dinner on January 14, 2010.

BPU's Townsend and Johnson receive 2010 Black Achievers Award

The Black Achievers Award is awarded to African Americans in middle to upper management business positions in Kansas City who display corporate accomplishment, better their community through civic and philanthropic activity, and mentor others around them to exceed and achieve.

“Patrice and Cynthia are terrific well-respected utility employees, professional in their work capacity and active within the community,” stated Don Gray, General Manager of the BPU. “Both have achieved greater responsibility within the organization, continued their education and professional development, and remained active in civic and other causes.”

Townsend, a 25-year employee with the BPU, worked her way up from a Customer Service Representative to the key position she holds today, where she acts as the primary liaison to key utility customers. In the community, she has served on the Board of Directors for the United Way of Wyandotte County, is president of the BPU’s Employee Foundation, Inc., coordinates the Annual Day of Caring within the community, assists with Back-to-School Project fundraising efforts, and organizes BPU’s support for the KCK Housing Authority’s “Christmas in the City” annual event. Townsend graduated from Sumner High School , attended Kansas City , Kansas Community College where she earned an Associates Degree in Business, received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Rockhurst College , and is currently working towards a Master of Arts Degree in Management and Leadership from Webster University.

Johnson, a 24-year employee with the BPU, has also achieved positions of greater responsibility, working her way up from Stock Control Clerk to her position today in which she is responsible for all inventory management and control of the utility’s five logistic warehouses. In the community, she is a 2009 graduate of Leadership 2000, a nine-month leadership initiative that trains area leaders in community service. Johnson also assists two faith-based community projects that assist in clothing the homeless and elderly, and assisting battered women. In her church, she serves as a key administrator for its community outreach programs that administers through theatrical productions and serves as Superintendent of Christian Education. Johnson graduated from Washington High School , and has participated in numerous training and professional development courses offered by BPU.

About BPU
BPU is a public utility that serves approximately 65,000 electric and 51,000 water customers, primarily in Wyandotte County, Kansas. The mission of the utility and its 640 employees is “to be the utility of choice and the workplace of choice, while improving the quality of life in the communities we serve.” Go to www.bpu.com for more information.

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npower Bill Gets Top Marks For Plain English And Clarity

npower is introducing new bills for its customers. The new bill, based on extensive research and feedback from customers, call centre staff and consumer groups, has received the Plain English Campaign’s Crystal Mark for clarity for its information page.

The front page of the new bill has been designed with a ‘less is more’ approach. It is extremely clear and easy to read, with the front page summary now simply showing the customer’s account details; npower’s customer service number; exactly how much the customer owes or is owed; whether the bill is estimated or based on a meter reading; and emergency contact details.

On the second page, there is a ‘jargon buster’ section, which clearly explains the unavoidable technical terms that have to be included on any energy bill, such as ‘calorific value’ and ‘correction factor’. It also talks customers through ‘what’s a watt?’ and explains exactly how npower works out customers’ bills.

The third page, detailing how the customer’s account balance has been calculated, has been amended to make the calculations clearer and also includes an energy usage graph so that customers can compare their usage over a set period of time to the corresponding period the previous year.

“Our discussions with customers and stakeholders have told us that people want their energy bills to be clearer and simpler; they want to know how much they have to pay and how that amount has been calculated,” explained Chris Johnson, managing director of npower’s retail operations.

“This is just one of the ways in which we’re working hard to improve our service to customers: we’re committed to listening to our customers, understanding what they want, and delivering products and services that meet their needs.”

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Guide To Stay Safe And Warm In A Winter Power Cut

Householders are being urged to cut out and keep a handy guide on staying safe and warm in the event of a winter power cut. The guide was pulled together by uSwitch.com, the independent price comparison and switching service, after many households were left without power during the recent big freeze.

Emma Bush, energy expert at uSwitch.com, says:”With this winter expected to be the coldest in 30 years and more snowfall predicted to be on the way, consumers should be as prepared as possible for any further power cuts.

“Energy companies will always try to get the supply back up and running again as quickly as possible, but in severe weather such as snow this can take time. If you are disabled, chronically ill, elderly or have young children in your home, let your supplier know as they may need to make you a priority.”

The uSwitch.com cut out and keep guide to surviving a winter power cut:

1.Be prepared - make sure you keep torches, spare batteries, candles and matches in an easy to get to cupboard or drawer and that all your family knows where they are. Keep a battery-powered radio tuned into a local station for information and have important numbers stored on a charged mobile phone.
2.Check - turn off all your electrical appliances and lights, but leave one light switched on so you know when the power is back on. Check whether neighbours have power or not. If it’s just your home affected, check your fuse box first before calling your supplier.
3.Stay warm - this is a priority. If a power cut leaves you without any heating move the whole family into one room, preferably south facing, and make sure you wear several layers of clothing, including a hat, scarf and coat if necessary. Use sleeping bags for extra warmth.
4.Stay safe - you can use other forms of heating such as paraffin stoves, but always read the instructions carefully and make sure the room is well ventilated. If you’re going to cook on a BBQ make sure you only do it outdoors. Never leave candles or heating appliances in unoccupied rooms.
5.Store water - if a power cut lasts for more than a few hours you will need to start storing water as the water supply may start to be affected. Fill saucepans, buckets, empty bottles or even the bath with water. If you are able to boil some water keep it in thermos flasks for warm drinks and fill hot water bottles to help stay warm.
6.Keep food fresh - if the freezer loses power do not open the door unless you have to, frozen food can last for around a day. The fridge is more of a problem, but if it is cold enough you can store food outside. Use a cardboard box with newspaper to stop it from freezing though.
7.Be a good neighbour - check on any elderly or vulnerable neighbours. If they’re struggling to keep warm invite them into your home – the more bodies, the more heat and the safer they should be.
8.Sub zero - if the temperature falls below freezing use towels and blankets to help insulate exposed water pipes. The last thing you need is a burst pipe.
9.After the power cut - check water pipes for leaks, reset electric timers and clocks and check the food in your freezer. If food has thawed do not refreeze as it could make anyone eating it ill.

Via EPR Network
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£319 Million Investment Could Spell Future Bill Misery For Consumers

Ofgem yesterday published final proposals for funding the first tranche of projects from a potential GBP1 billion package of extra investment in Britain’s high-voltage networks. The first tranche, totalling GBP319 million, will help connect Great Britain’s growing renewable electricity generation. However, this is just part of a much broader GBP233.5 billion investment programme that is expected to add GBP548 a year in total onto household energy bills, warns uSwitch.com, the independent price comparison and switching service. And while the investment is needed, consumers must start preparing for the eventual impact on their energy bills.

Will Marples, energy expert at uSwitch.com, comments: “This announcement is one of many that consumers can expect to hear about huge investments being made to secure our longer-term energy supplies. The investment is crucial, but there can be no doubt that it will have an impact on our future energy bills and this has to be explained to consumers now so that they can start taking action to protect themselves in the future.

“The average household energy bill today is GBP1,239 a year and the additional cost of investment alone is expected to add GBP548 a year onto our bills. Ongoing pricing trends coupled with this investment could see household energy bills hit as high as GBP4,733 a year by 2020, nearly four times higher than they are today.

“This is a wake-up call for us all. The GBP5,000 a year energy bill may seem like an outside possibility, but we have to remember that energy bills doubled in the last five years alone and that the huge investment needed to keep the lights on in Britain will alone add GBP548 a year onto our bills. The fact is we are entering a new era of high cost energy and households will have to adapt their behaviour accordingly.

“Consumers have to start taking action now to future-proof themselves against far higher energy bills. My advice is to invest in making your home more energy efficient, reduce the amount of energy you use and make sure you are paying the lowest possible price for it. Big projects such as a new energy efficient boiler or home insulation can be expensive, but you can speak to your supplier or the Energy Saving Trust to see if you can get any financial support to help with it. Any savings you make through cutting the price of your energy could also be re-invested into energy efficiency measures so that you reap even greater rewards in the future.”

Via EPR Network
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Clean Energy, Electricity, Electricity Generation, Energy, Green Energy, Products, Projects, Renewable Energy, Solar Power, Turbine, Wind Power

EnergieVair Offers Wind Turbines, Solar Panels, Inverters And All You Will Need For Your Renewable Energy System

EnergieVair (www.energievair.com) is one of the world’s leader in the industrial sector of Renewable Energies. It is a compagny based in Canada that supply, install and make the promotion of Renewable Energies, all over the world. The new year 2010 seems very promissing for EnergieVair that can now count on new distributors in Europe and Africa. Also, they’ve just published, on the 1st of jan. 2010, their new website, all refreshed with new shopping kart options and many more interesting products. From now on, you can also read other buyer’s review and feedback about the product you are about to purchase. Be sure to do it the right way!

EnergieVair now offers an even wider variety of vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT), from more than 4 design that will match your needs, even if you are in low-wind zones or urban locations. EnergieVair also offers horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWT), for gust-wind regions. Want to maximize your system’s efficiency? We suggest hybrid installations using Solar Panels and Wind Turbines.

Maybe you are far away from Canada? Dont worry, EnergieVair ships worldwide and they’ll find an affordable way for the goods to reach you. All of their products (Solar Panels, Wind Turbines, Regulators, Inverters, Converters, etc.) are under warranty for long-term periode, to assure you a constant input of electricity, and a peace of mind.

If you are off the grid, without electricity, you will probably need an independant system, using batteries. If you are already connected to the grid, you would probably like to lower your electric bills by connecting your Wind Turbine or Solar Panels directly to the grid, without batteries. This is the easiest and most affordable way to do it! No matter what system you need, EnergieVair will help you! Come and visit their new website and see by yourself the wide choice of good quality Renewable Energy products, at very low prices. If you are not sure yet, contact their friendly customer’s service for an immediat consultation, assistance or advise. You will get a reply withing 48 hours.

The cost for traditional and polluting energy sources are rising. On the other hand, the cost for Renewable and green Energies are falling. It is now more possible than ever to live in respect with the environment and save some electric fees. Whatever you want to do, you can do it NOW! Wired in parallel with the public electricity (grid), as an independent electric system, as an emergency power supply, to electrify a camp, a boat or a RV, or even to heat a place, with EnergieVair, the possibilities are INFINITE!

Via EPR Network
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Door Step Energy Salesmen Must Provide A Written Quote From Today

The move is in response to growing concerns over doorstep selling and particularly the fact that many consumers end up on a worse deal after speaking to an energy company salesman. According to uSwitch.com research almost 7 million UK households have taken out an energy plan through a direct salesman, but less than a quarter of these (22%) believe they got a good deal.

Door Step Energy Salesmen Must Provide A Written Quote From Today

The new system of providing written quotes means that consumers will have proof of the deal they have been offered. But, importantly, the onus will still be on consumers to check for themselves whether it is the best plan they could be on.

Ann Robinson, Director of Consumer Policy at uSwitch.com, says: “This new rule is not about making sure consumers get the best deal, or even a better deal. It’s about making sure they have written proof of what they’ve been offered. It is then down to them to take this information and check for themselves whether they will be better off or not.

“The key thing is that consumers understand that the quote is not a guarantee that they will be saving money. Direct salesmen are not obliged to tell people about their company’s most competitive plans. These tend to be online and are around GBP300 a year cheaper than standard plans so consumers signing up with a salesman without comparing first could still lose out.

“Over a third of people (37%) think that energy salesmen don’t present them with enough information to make an informed decision while almost half (45%) don’t like the fact that the seller only represents one energy supplier. The new quotation system doesn’t tackle these issues, but it does mean consumers can protect themselves by taking the quotes and comparing prices before signing on the dotted line.”

As well as the requirement for written quotes, Ofgem is also increasing the threshold for debt blocking for prepayment meter (PPM) customers from GBP100 to GBP200. This means that those with a debt on their meter of up to GBP200 could now switch to a better deal opening up the opportunity for them to save money. The regulator has also brought in new rules on SME energy, but has backed off banning suppliers from rolling SME contracts over.

Via EPR Network
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Electricity, Energy, Energy Distribution, Heating, Services

New Small Business Energy Rules ‘Confusing’

Ofgem’s new rules for the small business energy market come into play yesterday – Monday 18th January, 2010. While designed to give greater protection to Britain’s SMEs, according to uSwitchforbusiness.com, the dedicated SME price comparison and switching service, the rules are in danger of confusing business owners and put too much onus on them to take action.

Jake Ridge, small business expert at uSwitchforbusiness.com, says:”Ofgem is doing the right thing in offering Britain’s SMEs greater protection in the energy market. However, these new rules have fallen far short of the simple blanket ban on evergreen or rollover contracts that was initially proposed and, as a result, are in danger of confusing busy SME owners.

“Small businesses need to understand the rules quickly to ensure that they benefit from the additional protection being offered. The key thing is that the rules only apply if you are a micro-business so check whether you qualify and let your energy company know straight away if you do. This means that when you come to renew your contract your supplier must provide you with clear written details of the full terms and conditions plus ensure you get suitable notice so that you can shop around for a new deal. Check with your supplier if you are unsure when your current contract will end.

“You also now have the right to opt out of being rolled-over – as soon as you sign a new energy deal let the supplier know you are opting out and this means that you can only be put onto a 28 day notice rollover plan at the end of your contract leaving you free to move to a better deal.

“The rules are complicated and unfortunately put too much onus on SME owners. But it’s a step in the right direction and should hopefully see more small businesses avoid the expensive trap of ‘evergreen’ energy contracts.”

The new rules only apply to micro-businesses, which Ofgem defines as a company that meets any one of the following criteria:
•Consumes less than 200,000 kWh of gas per annum
•Consumes less than 55,000 kWh of electricity a year
•Has less than ten employees (or the full-time equivalent) and an annual turnover or annual balance sheet total of Euro 2 million or less.

Via EPR Network
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