Related News
Related News
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EWEB offering additional energy efficiency supplement to qualified customers
Current EWEB residential electric customers may qualify to double their energy efficiency rebates with a limited time supplement.
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EWEB opens application for 2024 Electric Mobility Community Grants
Grant awards of up to $30,000 to cover costs associated with electric mobility projects.
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Upgrades to Eugene's downtown electric network continue
You may have noticed construction this week on the corner of 7th and Pearl Street. That’s because crews replaced a corroded, aging vault with an innovative, new Voltek vault. The Voltek design allows for the new infrastructure to be built inside of the existing aging vault. We’re able to install the new vault while the cables are still energized, minimizing disruption to customers and traffic while cutting construction time in half.
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New tanks come online as EWEB modernizes water system
New drinking water storage tanks are one of several investments to ensure that EWEB can meet critical community needs in the event of an earthquake.
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EWEB crews focusing on restoring electric service for Hayden Bridge Water Filtration Plant
With more ice forecasted for Tuesday, all EWEB crews are in the field assessing outages and restoring power.
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Start the New Year saving money with energy saving tips
We know that saving money is important to our customers. Using energy and water wisely is a great way to reduce your monthly utility bill, even as the costs of electricity and water rise. EWEB has several steps you can take to reduce your usage and even make your home feel more comfortable.
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Currin Substation: End of year update
EWEB Engineer Philip Peterson explains what's been happening in the final stretch to complete the substation rebuild.
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EWEB Recognized with Excellence in Communications Awards from American Public Power Association
We are proud to have been recognized with two Excellence in Public Power Communications Awards for 2023 from the American Public Power Association (APPA).
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Let's talk turkey. If a disaster strikes, is your family ready?
Many of us avoid discussing politics over the dinner table in the spirit of family peace and harmony. But here's a topic that can bring everyone together: emergency preparedness.
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EWEB To Hold First of Two Public Hearings on Proposed 2024 Budget and Prices
At the Nov. 7 Board of Commissioners meeting, EWEB staff will present a proposed budget that includes rate increases necessary to support utility operations and make needed infrastructure investments.
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EWEB now offering a Smart Thermostat rebate program
EWEB is excited to announce a new residential rebate program to provide electric customers with free or greatly discounted Smart Thermostats to customers whose primary source of heating is from an electric forced-air furnace or heat pump.
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Your EWEB Rates at Work: Investing Today for a Resilient Tomorrow
For more than a century, EWEB has planned, built, and maintained the systems that deliver safe, reliable, and environmentally responsible power and water to Eugene homes and businesses.
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Have an energy efficient and water conscious holiday season
The holiday season is officially upon us. Whether you are celebrating a special holiday or just sharing a meal with close friends and family, hosting can cause some unexpected energy and water usage increases – resulting in a higher utility bill. We’ve prepared some tips on how you can save energy and water this holiday season.
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River Road Substation returns to service after infrastructure upgrades
Supply chain shortages and proactive infrastructure investments, including constructing seismic foundations and implementing control modernization, have played a role in the substation's return-to-service timeline.
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The importance of managed electric vehicle charging explained
EWEB has much to handle related to EV charging infrastructure. To ensure that the switch from gasoline-powered vehicles to electric vehicles reduces the most emissions possible at the lowest cost possible, we need to implement managed EV charging.
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Celebrate Earth Month by taking charge of your home's energy use!
April 01, 2024 • Ashley Cissna, EWEB Communications
Every April, we celebrate Earth Month, a dedicated time to raise awareness about environmental issues and take action to protect our planet. But our efforts need not be confined to just one month of the year; we can make impactful decisions year-round that truly make a difference.
Taking control of your home's energy use benefits both the planet and your wallet. Less energy consumed means less money out of your pocket.
As you can see in this graph from the Department of Energy, most of an average home's annual utility bill goes to space heating or water heating. As we like to say at EWEB, the greenest, cheapest electron is one you never use.
A few easy ways to limit your energy consumption include:
- Use less hot water; it takes a lot of energy to heat water. Limit shower times or use cold water whenever possible for household cleaning.
- Replace incandescent bulbs with LEDs, a more energy-efficient lighting option. Take it a step further and put your lights on a timer so you aren’t wasting energy to light a room when you aren’t at home.
- Keep your thermostat at 68 degrees or lower in the winter. Each degree you decrease the thermostat can reduce heating costs by as much as 3%. A smart thermostat can help keep your home comfortable year-round and EWEB offers a FREE Google Nest Thermostat and additional models at highly discounted prices for qualifying customers!
Understanding how your household uses energy can help you make decisions and behavioral changes that may significantly impact your electric bill. Even something as simple as remembering to turn off your lights when you leave can make a big difference over time.
Want more energy efficiency tips? Check out eweb.org/energytips.
Sometimes, no matter how many low- and no-cost steps you take, the time comes to upgrade your appliances or home to newer technology. An essential way that we help customers save energy (and money) is through efficiency and conservation programs. For example, upgrading your electric water heater to a new super-efficient heat pump water heater could save up to 50% or more on your water heating bill over time, and EWEB's rebate of $800-$1700 can substantially offset the upfront cost.
Energy efficiency upgrades mean reduced carbon emissions. In 2023, EWEB helped customers save over 14,000 MWh of electricity, enough energy to power over 700 homes for a full year! Together we upgraded almost 1500 residential heating and cooling systems, water heaters, insulation, and other energy-saving updates.
EWEB offers cash rebates and zero-interest loans to assist customers wanting to upgrade their homes systems, which can create year-round bill savings.
For a limited time, EWEB customers looking to invest in energy efficiency upgrades may qualify for an additional rebate incentive on ductless heat pumps, ducted heat pumps, and insulation installations. The new incentive allows households with a combined gross annual income of 60%-120% of the Oregon Median Income to double the standard EWEB rebate amount for these select programs.
The new incentive is to assist our moderate-income electric customers who may be interested in energy efficiency upgrades but cannot move forward due to budget constraints. EWEB still offers enhanced rebate opportunities for limited-income customers below the 60% range. These programs often cover the full cost of upgrading.
This table shows the current efficiency assistance programs, including our new rebate incentive program.
Product | Limited Income Rebate | Standard Rebate | Standard Rebate with Additional Incentive |
---|---|---|---|
Ductless Heat Pump | Owner Occupied: $4,500 Rental:$1,000 |
$800 | $1,600 |
Ducted Heat Pump | Owner Occupied: $6,000 Rental:$1,000 |
$1,000 | $2,000 |
Insulation | 100% of eligible program costs | $1/sq ft of insulation | $2/sq ft of insulation |
Windows | Owner Occupied: $20/sq ft of glass Rental: $10/sq ft of glass |
$4/sq ft of glass | N/A |
Heat Pump Water Heater | Owner Occupied: $1,700 Rental: $1,000 |
$800 | N/A |
Reducing your energy use won't only have an impact on your bill but is also essential in the fight against climate change. Energy efficiency and electrification - replacing fossil fuel use (e.g., natural gas, heating, oil, gasoline) with low-carbon electricity - can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For customers who have already made improvements to their homes and are looking to further help us achieve a sustainable future, you can invest in EWEB's Lead Green programs to continue to support carbon-conscious programs and renewable energy sources.
EWEB is here to help you make smart choices and save money. If you want to talk to an energy expert about energy efficiency upgrades in your home, call us at 541-685-7088 or email us at ems.answers@eweb.org.