Are you Powerpaying yet?

Chelan County PUD customers taking advantage of the PUD’s new paperless billing option are saving paper, saving checks and saving stamps, said Kerri Wendell, Customer Information System administrator. The PUD began accepting online bill payments through its Powerpay system in July and now processes over 11,000 electronic payments per month, Wendell said. About 3,700 customers are enrolled Powerpay users, helping the PUD exceed its goal to enroll 10 percent of its customers, or 3,650, within the first year. 

Customers who opt for paperless billing help the PUD save about 54 cents per bill in printing and mailing costs.   

Powerpay helps customers reduce their paper mail, but users also like it for its features, Wendell said. Customers using Powerpay can get e-mail notification when a bill is ready, see current and prior bills, make online payments, view payment history and sign up for automatic payment plans through their bank accounts or credit cards. (Customers already using an automatic payment plan who want to enroll in Powerpay should contact a Customer Accounts representative, (509) 661-8002.) 

A video guides first-time users through the sign-up process. Customer Accounts staff are available during PUD business hours to help by phone if needed. 

If online payments don’t appeal to customers there’s another popular option: pay by phone. Wendell said almost 1,000 customers are paying their monthly bills via the PUD’s automated system. The number to call for phone payments is (509) 661-8729.

Customers can read about all payment options on the PUD website.

This small photovoltaic system in Nahahum Canyon near Cashmere was one of four new solar installations added to the SNAP program in 2011.

Note: An earlier version of this story provided an incorrect figure for the number of new producers. The error has been corrected in this version.

Chelan County PUD’s SNAP program added five new private producers in 2011 — the most in any one year since SNAP began in 2001.

The PUD operates three hydropower projects so already is into renewable hydropower in a big way. SNAP — short for Sustainable Natural Alternative Power –  focuses on small-scale solar and wind power. 

A total of 47 schools, nonprofit agencies and individuals are producing power for the PUD through SNAP. Five new private producers joined the program in 2011: John Alt of Entiat, Dennis Vogt of Chelan, Regge Egger of Plain, Lauren Johnson and Barbara Rossing of Leavenworth, and Shlomo Freiman and Mindy Stern, who have a summer home in Cashmere. The five are generating solar with rooftop and pole-mounted systems; together they added 22 kilowatts of capacity to the SNAP program. 

Three of the four new producers are using solar modules and inverters manufactured in Washington state, making them eligible for the highest payouts available through the state’s renewable incentive program. Taking advantage of the state program, in addition to SNAP, brings an earlier payback and helps make the investment in solar equipment more cost-effective. 

While state payments come from the state’s utility tax fund, SNAP payments come from green-minded PUD customers who want to see new renewable resources developed. In the 2010-11 production year, customers contributed $25,506 to SNAP. 

There’s a place on the electric bill where customers can sign up to support SNAP in any amount. There’s also a spot on the PUD website where customers can sign up.  

The website is also the place to go if you’re looking for information on becoming a SNAP producer, or want to see facts and photos about producers in the program. 

In 2010-11, producers generated 117,792 kilowatt hours of electricity. To put that in perspective, that’s the average annual use of about six homes in Chelan County. “While that’s not a lot of power, that’s really not the point of the program,” said Susan Gillin, SNAP coordinator. “The point is to plant the seeds for a future resource that, as time goes by, will become more and more viable.”

Chelan County’s Public Works department will host its annual household hazardous waste drop-off for county residents at four locations this Saturday, Oct. 1. Paint, bleach, anti-freeze and other household chemicals will be accepted. Check this flier for locations, hours and more information.

Chelan County PUD customers can now go paperless and receive their bills electronically. The change saves paper, which is good for the environment, and it saves the PUD money that would be spent on paper and mailing costs.

Customers can sign up for the PowerPay option on the PUD website.

Customers who choose paperless billing receive email notification when their bills are due. They can see current and past bills online, as well as use improved electronic and phone payment options. More than 40 percent of PUD bill payments already are made electronically.

Savings to the PUD for electronic billing average 54 cents per bill. Overall savings will depend on how many customers choose the paperless option.