DRAIN OR PAIN? TAKE YOUR PICK.

Take a look at the accompanying photo. Not very pretty, is it?

This is what can happen in an unheated home when water is not drained from the plumbing.

Sad to say, scenes like this happen every winter in the Lansing area. About 200 BWL water meters break each year because water wasn’t properly drained from household plumbing. Locally, two or three homes suffer significant damage every year due to pipes that burst when the water inside them freezes.

Homes that are susceptible to water damage include vacant landlord-owned houses, houses in the process of being sold, and homes owned by “snowbirds” heading south for the winter.

For snowbirds and others here’s what the BWL will do for you:

1. We will shut off water to your house at no charge. To request a shut-off, call our Customer Service Department, 702-6006.
There is a $7 reconnection fee.

2. A BWL employee will attempt to see if your water lines have been drained by checking an outside faucet.

Now, here’s what YOU can do to prevent your household plumbing from going KABLOOEY.

1. Once water is turned off by the BWL, go to the lowest fixture in the house and open that valve.

2. Next, go to every plumbing fixture in the house and open those valves. Keep all valves partially open. If the water is  properly shut off, the water in the plumbing should rapidly reduce to a trickle, then a few drops. 

3. Drain the water from the hot-water heater (and water softener, if you have one).

4. Flush all toilets. Then, pour non-toxic antifreeze into toilet bowls and other drains, such as those in a sink or a bathtub.

A MESSAGE FROM RICHARD PEFFLEY

Dear BWL customers:

Recently I was named the Lansing Board of Water & Light’s interim general manager. Three words sum up my priorities: Rates. Reliability. Service.

RateS—The BWL has traditionally kept its rates lower than its competitors. Our electricity rates are about 20 percent below those of Consumers Energy. Being a public utility, the BWL pays its customers “dividends” in the form of lower rates.

Reliability—Providing reliable electric, water and steam service is the foundation of our customer relationship. From keeping equipment up to date to trimming trees for the prevention of storm outages, the BWL is constantly working to improve reliability. Many of you agree. In our most recent customer survey, satisfaction with service reliability was well above the national average.

Service—We have a saying around the BWL: “We want to be the only utility our customers will accept.” Among other things, that means striving for excellent customer service every day. No, we’re not there yet. But I am committed to achieving that level of service.

My first job with the BWL was pushing a broom. That was 30 years ago. I’ve had a lot of other jobs since. But one thing hasn’t changed. We have a great group of people at the BWL.They’re dedicated to living up to the BWL slogan: Hometown People. Hometown Power.

I understand you’re raising the electricity rates. How much, and why?         Edith Suttles, Delta Township

In August, the Board of Commissioners approved a 1.5 percent increase in the electricity rate. The new rate took effect on September 1, and it should be reflected in your October statement.   For the average residential customer using 500 kilowatt-hours of electricity a month, the bill will go up by 57 cents.   Various factors necessitated a rate increase, including inflationary and environmental costs, plus the added cost of providing health care to BWL employees.   Even with the rate increase, BWL electricity rates remain well below competitors’ rates. For example, Consumers Energy’s rates are typically about 20 percent higher than the BWL’s.

Do you have a question about some aspect of Lansing Board of Water & Light operations? Include your name, city of residence and phone number, and send it to Q CORNER:
 

  E-MAIL: mailto:mdn@lbwl.com

    FAX:  (517) 702-6855

   MAIL:  Lansing Board of Water & Light

          Communications Department

          1232 Haco Dr., P.O. Box 13007

          Lansing MI 48901.

LIGHT THE WAY -
THE NEW WAY

When people think about conserving energy in their homes, most of their attention is directed toward heating and large appliances.

That’s quite appropriate. However, did you know that nearly one-fifth of an average homeowner’s electric bill is for lighting?

Obviously, turning off the lights when they’re not needed is a smart idea, and so is a gradual program to switch to energy-efficient light bulbs.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs with an ENERGY STAR^® label use two-thirds less electricity than regular incandescent bulbs. And these energy-efficient bulbs last 10 times longer!

During Public Power Week, October 1–7, the Board of Water & Light will give away a limited number of compact fluorescent lights (CFLs).

Whether or not you receive a free bulb from us, mark October 4 on your calendar. That’s Change a Light Day, and all Americans are encouraged to swap one incandescent bulb for a CFL.

Initially, CFLs are more expensive than regular bulbs. But consider these facts:

• If you replace your home’s five most frequently used light bulbs with bulbs with the ENERGY STAR^® label, you can save about $35 a year.

• If every home in the United States switched those five bulbs for CFLs, the nation would save $6.5 billion a year in energy costs.

• This energy conservation measure could significantly reduce greenhouse gases—equivalent to the emissions from more than 8 million cars.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs are shedding a whole new light on your home, your wallet, and the environment. We urge you to “make the switch.”