Issue #258, July 2026

Water Use Can Affect Electric Bill

How you use water inside your home can have a large effect on your electric bill. Water heating is often one of the largest energy expenses in the home and can account for up to 20% of your monthly power bill.

You can cut your hot water use with these tips:

• Take more showers than baths.
• Use cold water to do laundry.
• Run only full loads in your dishwasher.
• Turn off the water while brushing teeth, shaving, or scrubbing dishes.

Converting to a heat pump water heater can help you save even more. Heat pump water heaters use up to 70% less energy than a standard electric resistance water heater. We have rebates of up to $1,800 for qualified installations.

Enter Raffle to Win Handmade Quilt

You can help provide bill payment assistance to your neighbors by entering to win the beautiful, handmade quilt pictured here.

Raffle tickets are $1 apiece or six for $5. They can be purchased in our office or at the Columbia County Fair. The winning ticket will be drawn in October.

The quilt was made and donated by the Columbia River Piecemakers Quilting Guild. All proceeds go to our GLOW Fund.

Keep Cool with a Heat Pump

Heat pumps can help keep your home comfortable all year long.

Even though they are called heat pumps, they also provide cooling. In the summer, they work like air conditioners. In the winter, they heat your home efficiently.

We have rebates available for ductless and central system heat pumps.

Tips to Help Protect Your Home Against Wildfire

We work diligently to try to keep our service territory safe from the threat of wildfire. Our efforts include trimming trees close to power lines and mulching underneath power lines, as well as installing protective equipment on our system.

There are also steps you can take to help keep you and your family safer:

• Create a 30-foot non-combustible buffer around your home.
• Stack firewood away from your home, shop, or other structures.
• Clean your gutters before fire season starts and keep them free of debris.
• Trim branches along your driveway and around your home.

Control Your Account Options Through Your Phone

There are several options available to streamline your electric account management through your smartphone.

You are able to sign up for text message or email notifications, auto pay, and paperless billing by using our SmartHub app.

Download the SmartHub app on your device to sign up, or call us at (503) 397-1844.

Please Drive Safely in Work Zones

When you see our crews working along the roadway, please slow down or move over a lane.

This will help keep our linemen, tree trimmers, and flaggers safe. And, in Oregon, it's the law.

Any time you see traffic signs, flaggers, and cones, please know that indicates we have crews working ahead and be prepared to slow down or move over a lane if that is a safe option.

See Us at the Fair for a Free Smart Thermostat!

Visit our booth at the 2026 Columbia County Fair!

We will be signing up eligible customers to receive a free Google Nest smart thermostat. To be eligible, you must be a residential CRPUD customer with an electric forced air furnace or an air source heat pump. Limit of one per household. (If you have received a smart thermostat rebate from us since 2021, you will not be eligible to receive one.) Once eligibility has been verified, the smart thermostat will be shipped to your residence.

Stop by to sign up for a thermostat and talk about the other rebates we have available, as well as ways you can save on your electric bill. We will also have other fun activities, raffle prizes, and giveaways for the kids.

We hope to see you there July 15-18!