KPUB Summer 2023 Newsletter

Energy Hub

| SUMMER 2023

CEO CORNER

The Power is in Your Hands

Chill Your Electric Bill Down with Water Heater Savings

Often when we consider how to decrease the costs of our electric bill each month, we think of turning off the lights, changing the thermostat, or only using our washing machine or dishwasher when full. But a primary contributor to your total energy usage is likely a large tank in your garage—the water heater!

Hot water heating can account for 14-18% of an average utility bill (according to the Department of Energy). Many water heaters have factory settings to 140° F, but lowering the temperature to 120° F can lead to significant energy savings! Also, just like insulating your walls or roof, insulating your water heater is an easy and inexpensive way to improve energy efficiency and save you money each month. You can save even more by insulating your home’s hot water pipes once you’re done with water heater insulation.

Another way to save is by upgrading your water heater to a new heat pump water heater, which can be two to three times more energy efficient than conventional ones. EnergyStar certified heat pump water heaters can reduce water heating costs by up to 76% and provide a payback in just 2-3 years! Best of all, KPUB offers a $300 rebate to help offset the cost of this energy-efficient investment!

SAVE ENERGY & MONEY

KPUB offers rebates for the following types of energy-efficient home improvements:

Attic insulation

Heat pumps

Central A/C & furnace

Ductless mini-splits

Smart thermostat

Heat pump water heater

Pump & motor replacements

Shade trees

Window replacements

Window units *terms & exclusions apply

kpub.com/saveenergy

At KPUB, we are dedicated to serving our customers with the safest, most reliable electric service at the lowest-responsible price. We are not-for-profit, community-owned, and responsive to our customers.

Because we aren’t motivated by profits to sell more power, KPUB designs programs to help our customers save energy and money and equip them with the technology to monitor their usage.

With our KPUB app, SmartHub, the power is right at your own fingertips! SmartHub is an easy, free and convenient way to manage all aspects of your KPUB account. Pay your bill, monitor your usage, report outages, and much more from your computer, phone or tablet. The app is free and available for download from the Apple App or Google Play Store.

A more energy-efficient home means you save energy and money without sacrificing comfort. Because around half of your energy bill is from heating and cooling, small home weatherization improvements can add up in a big way! An easy way to start is by sealing any cracks, gaps and air leaks along vents, windows and doorways.

Since 2014, KPUB has supported energy-efficient home improvements through our customer rebate program. We offer a wide variety of rebate solutions to help reduce energy consumption and costs for our customers with qualifying home upgrades. In addition to helping our customers save money, this is also being environmentally responsible with our resources.

Finding solutions that empower our customers is important to us. If you’re looking to lower your energy bill, KPUB is here to help you take the power into your own hands.

Mike Wittler KPUB General Manager & CEO

KPUB Plugged Into Our Community

KPUB Awards up to $14,000 in Scholarships to Graduating Seniors

For eleven years now, KPUB has awarded scholarships to deserving seniors in our service area to help make their college dreams a reality. KPUB is pleased to announce its 2023 scholarship recipients are three local seniors, Alexandria Finch (Tivy High School), Quentin Vega (Tivy High School) and Jakeb Pritt (Ingram Tom Moore High School).

2+ Years without a Lost-Time Work Injury

At KPUB, safety is our way of life! If we do our work safely, that means that every employee makes it home to their family each night.

Safety is one of our company’s core values—it’s built into how we work, how we live and what we teach. KPUB provides ongoing training and conducts safety meetings regularly to keep safety at the forefront of all that we do. Cheers to 2+ years without a lost-time work injury here at KPUB!

Photos: L to R: 1st row, Starkey Elementary arc & spark demo, 4/13, Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Day, 5/25, Arc & spark demo at the Kerr County Agri Life 3rd Grade Safety Event, 5/15. 2nd row, KPUB Community Blood Drive, 3/23, KPUB Community Weatherization Event, 6/3, KPUB volunteering at a local food pantry event, 4/24. 3rd row, KPUB Meals on Wheels volunteer week, 3/20-3/24, and Center Point Elementary Career Day, 5/12.

Photo: L to R: Three graduating seniors were awarded scholarships at KPUB’s April Board Meeting. Pictured from left to right are Larry Howard (KPUB Board Trustee), Alexandria Finch (Tivy High School), Quentin Vega (Tivy High School), Jakeb Pritt (Ingram Tom Moore High School), Mike Wittler (KPUB General Manager & CEO) & Allison Bueche (KPUB Director of Customer & Community Relations).

KPUB Honored with National Award for Outstanding Safety Practices

KPUB has earned the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Safety Award of Excellence for safe operating practices in 2022. This year marks the fourth time in the last five years that KPUB has been nationally recognized for this accomplishment.

283 utilities from across the country entered the annual Safety Awards. Entrants were placed in categories according to their number of worker-hours and ranked based on

Getting started with SmartHub is easy!

You just need your KPUB account number to get started. Simply search for SmartHub in your phone app store or register through our website at kpub.com/smarthub-app/.

incident-free records and the overall state of their safety programs and culture during 2022. The incidence rate is based on the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses and worker-hours during 2022, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Keep Your Cool with Budget Billing

When the weather gets hot, focus on dipping your toes in the sand or cooling down with a fan—not your power bill!

Our traditional monthly billing might not be for you. Take control of your electricity plan and usage with our non-traditional billing options.

With KPUB’s Budget Billing Plan, you can pay the same amount each month on your electric bill. For those on a fixed income, this program is very helpful. Residential customers who have been at the same address and have paid on time for twelve consecutive months are eligible for this program.

Ready to take control of your electric bills?

Contact us today at 830.257.3050 or via email at custserv@kpub.com for additional information. You can also enroll in budget billing online through your KPUB SmartHub account.

Budget Billing Plan

Photo: KPUB’s safety committee and linemen pictured with the 2022 National Safety Award of Excellence from the American Public Power Association (APPA).

THURSDAY,

9

SATURDAY,

10 A.M. – 1 P.M.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 7, 2023, tojoin usforafreecommunityeventinLouiseHaysParkinhonor ofPublicPowerWeek.Wewillhavefamily-friendlyactivities thatincludetakingarideinoneofKPUB’sbuckettrucks,arc andsparkdemos,lineworkertooldisplays,photoopswithour linemen,facepaintingandmore.

Formoreinformationonpublicpowerweekactivities,visit kpub.com/publicpowerweek