Give your landscape a snowball's chance Before freezing temperatures arrive, there are a few things you'll want to do to give your landscape a better chance of rebounding in the spring.
- Fertilize your lawn in October before you turn your sprinklers off. Fertilizing in fall will help your lawn be more resilient over the winter.
- If you have areas of your yard with wood mulch, make sure the layer is three to four inches thick to ensure plants are fully insulated to make it through winter.
- Drain your backflow prevention device or blow out your sprinkler system at the first sign of freezing weather. Fall is also a good time to upgrade your system with rebated products.
As you get your landscape winter-ready, please keep in mind water restrictions -- two days per week, three hours per day -- and tiered water pricing is still in effect through Dec. 31. As of Oct. 1, you may water any time of the day. Visit csu.org for more fall landscape tips.
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Are phantoms haunting your house?
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Slay the phantom load, save money
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What lurks in the walls of your home, drains your pocketbook,
and steals the energy out of your electronics and appliances? A phantom load is the energy used by items like your DVD player and microwave, even when they are turned off or in standby mode.
The U.S. Department of Energy reports that 20 percent of our electric use goes to phantom loads.
Take these easy steps to scare off phantom loads:
- Unplug appliances and electronics when not in use.
- Simplify by using a power strip to power down multiple appliances with one switch.
- If you don't want to shut down your computer, turn off the monitor and printer.
- Need new appliances? Consider ones that are Energy Star� rated. They use 10 to 50 percent less energy than traditional appliances.
Visit our website for more energy-saving ideas and money-saving rebates.
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Proposed 2014 budget and rates 
The proposed 2014 budget has been developed to achieve the outcomes most important to customers and the Utilities Board: competitive utility rates, safe, reliable service and excellent customer service.
To meet these outcomes, we will propose electric and natural gas rate changes for 2014 to be decided by City Council. If approved, new rates will go into effect Jan. 1, 2014.
Public meeting schedule
- Oct. 16: Utilities Board - Budget and rates presentation
- Nov. 12: City Council - First reading of the budget and a public rate hearing
- Nov. 26: City Council - Second reading and decision on the budget and rate case
You can also view live and past Utilities Board meetings at csu.org.
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