Puget Sound Utilities Report Success of Green Programs

Renewable Energy Today, Sept 27, 2004

The Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) recently announced that Puget Sound Energy, Snohomish County Public Utility District and Tacoma Power added 4,300 new customers to their green power programs during the utilities' latest public information campaign to encourage customers to purchase renewable energy, representing a 272-percent increase in the enrollment rate over the same period last year.

According to BEF, the new customers alone purchased enough green power to supply 1,032 homes annually and prevent more than 21.6 million pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the air.

"The utilities' and our own studies show that customer interest in clean, renewable energy was high, but awareness of where and how to get it was low," said Belo Marketing Solutions marketing consultant Noreen King. "In just a few short months, using television, the Internet and permission-based e-mail, coupled with utility bill inserts and an offer from Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Roasters of a free mug and two packages of premium coffee, we were able to get the word out. People signed up faster than ever before, resulting in about a 66-percent combined increase in participation for the utilities' green power programs."

Contact: Bill Jeppesen, BEF, phone 916-941-7553.

(EIN STAFF: 9/22)