Related News
Related News
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Rate Setting Process is Customer Driven and Community Focused
EWEB’s Board of Commissioners is considering rate changes to help maintain reliable utility services and fund critical investments in Eugene’s water and electric infrastructure.
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National Preparedness Month: Older adults take control in 1, 2, 3
We know older adults can face greater risks when it comes to the extreme weather events and emergencies we face, especially if they are living alone, are low-income, have a disability, depend on electricity for medical needs, or live in rural areas.
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Bethel neighbors boost emergency preparedness during Emergency Water Station event
Staff gave out about 300 emergency water containers to enthusiastic community members eager to learn more about the water station.
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How does EWEB recover the costs of serving customers
Here’s an overview of the three primary ways EWEB recovers the costs of serving customers and generates the funds needed to keep the power on and the water flowing.
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Please join your neighbors in reducing energy use today
With excessive temperatures and wildfire conditions affecting power generation across the region, EWEB is encouraging customers to safely conserve power.
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Stay cool during extreme heat events
With temperatures forecasted to reach over 100 degrees over the next several days, we've prepared some tips and tricks to help you stay cool.
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Women in STEM: Meet the woman responsible for managing our wholesale energy agreements to ensure we meet our customers energy needs
Megan Capper, the Energy Resource Manager at EWEB, began her career working in economics at BPA before joining the power planning department EWEB, ensuring we can meet the energy needs of our our customers today, tomorrow and 20 years from now.
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Substations – The resilient spine of EWEB’s electric system
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Water conservation tips for a drought-stricken Lane County
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Trends that are impacting your utility rates
Needed infrastructure investments and rising costs of operations will require increases in the price of water and electric services.
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Wildfire season is here – tips and safety precautions
Temperatures are heating up with weather forecasts anticipating temperatures up to 99 degrees in Eugene and the surrounding areas on the 4th of July.
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Currin Substation - the origin of the name
Hugh Currin was hired as an engineer at EWEB in 1923. Later, he became the chief engineer for the utility.
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Electric vehicles benefit customers and the community
The rising cost of gasoline and growing consequences of climate change are driving more and more people to look for alternatives to gas-powered vehicles. And EVs offer benefits that go beyond the gas pump.
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EWEB preparing for expected surge in electric vehicles
Electric vehicle (EV) sales are poised to skyrocket in the years ahead as technology improves, more models hit the market, prices fall and regulations limit the sale of gas-powered vehicles. And EWEB is preparing for this surge.
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EWEB programs make electric mobility more accessible
Electric mobility seems to be everywhere these days, but does availability equal accessibility? Here at EWEB we’ve determined that the answer is ‘no’ and are working to bridge that gap through EV car shares, community grants and electric bike rebates.
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EWEB Partners with City, UO to Make Rentals More Energy Efficient
March 02, 2018
Did you know that rental units comprise half of the available housing in Eugene? A 2017 study by the University of Oregon Business Consulting Group identified that more than 6,000 of those rentals are in need of energy-saving upgrades.
Supporting vulnerable members of our community with conservation and efficiency programs is a priority for EWEB, which is why we are once again helping tenants and rental owners lower monthly utility bills through the Home Energy Score program.
"We care about energy efficiency because it plays such an important role in a customer's total electric bill," says Matt Lutter, an EWEB energy management specialist. "The program focuses on rental housing because many rentals are inefficient and costly to heat, and there are often significant barriers to making efficiency improvements in these homes."
One barrier is what is known as "split incentives." Property owners don't make efficiency investments because the renters pay the energy bills, and renters don't make investments in property they don't own. A Home Energy Score is similar to a vehicle's miles-per-gallon rating. The score allows customers to compare the energy performance of their rental home to other homes nationwide.
EWEB has offered on-site energy audits for homes (both owner-occupied and rentals) and businesses for a number of years, but the HES program is focused exclusively on rental housing.
"When rental owners see the Home Energy Score report, we hope they will be more likely to invest in the efficiency upgrades that will make their rentals more comfortable and affordable, even if they are not paying the utility bills," says Matt.
The process starts with a Qualified Assessor collecting energy and water information during a brief walk-through of the home. In addition to scoring the home, EWEB will provide the tenant and landlord with the average monthly energy costs, a list of recommended improvements and the estimated cost savings.
The program is a partnership between EWEB, the University of Oregon's Department of Sustainability and the city of Eugene. EWEB trained nine interns from UO to become state-approved Home Energy Assessors. The city pays the interns' wages, making this a cost-effective effort for EWEB.
This is the Home Energy Score program's second year. In 2017, EWEB scored 248 rental properties, and landlords invested over $100,000 in energy efficiency improvements with the help of EWEB's rebates and zero percent interest loans. The 2018 HES program has been expanded to include water efficiency and leak detection.
Learn more about the Home Energy Score program and apply online.