How about we give you an electicity bill break. You win and we’ll pay your Clark public utilities Bill Vancouver for two months!!
See contest details and restrictions for further details.
Moving To Vancouver WA or Greater Clark County? Here is some information from http://www.clarkpublicutilities.com that you may find useful.
Clark Public Utilities offices are available at 360-992-3000 or e-mail seven days a week, 24 hours a day to serve you. We think you’ll find the folks at Clark Public Utilities fantastic to work with on whatever your utilities needs may be.
Start or stop service
· if you are moving from one address to another within Clark County. Use this form to let us know when to take the service out of your name at one address and start your service at your new location. We will contact you to verify the information.
· if you are moving out of Clark County. Use the form to let us know when you will be leaving and to make arrangements for us to send your new utility a reference letter for you.
· if you are a new customer moving to Clark County from somewhere else. Use the form to start your new service. We cannot, however, make arrangements with your prior utility to discontinue your service there.
Energy counselors
Need some unbiased advice on methods or equipment for saving energy? We have a small staff of energy counselors who specialize in helping customers cut electricity use in their homes.
Energy counselors also administer our weatherization and heat pump loan programs. If you participate in these programs, they’ll be advocates for you during all stages of your project, from determining which measures are right for your home, to analyzing bids from contractors, to making sure the work has been done correctly.
Our energy counselors are available at (360) 992-3355 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to answer any questions you may have about energy conservation.
The energy counselors’ office is located at 100 Columbia Way, just east of the Interstate 5 bridge.
If you’re interested in a self-help tool for finding ways to save on your electric bill you might try a free on-line home energy use calculator.
Report outages on PowerLine
When you call PowerLine, our automated outage reporting system, you can hear updates about outages we’re aware of and report a new outage in your neighborhood.
If you lose power, check outside to see if neighbors are out, too. If they aren’t, check your electrical panel or breaker box to rule out problems with electricity inside your home. Then call PowerLine at 360-992-8000 to report the outage. Remember that cordless phones won’t work during a power outage.
Having your accurate phone number in our computer system is the key to PowerLine’s success. Make sure we have your correct phone number. Write your phone number on your payment stub, e-mail it, fill out our online form with your updated phone number or call our office at 360-992-3000.
Be prepared
Here are some steps you can take to be prepared in case of a power outage:
- Prepare an emergency kit that contains flashlights, extra batteries, candles, matches, blankets and a battery-operated radio.
- Store a supply of drinking water (especially if you’re on a private well) and non-perishable food.
- Protect your sensitive equipment, including personal computers, televisions, DVRs, VCRs and stereos, with a surge suppressor.
- Call the PowerLine at (360) 992-8000 to report a power outage. Having your accurate phone number in our computer system is the key to PowerLine’s success. Make sure we have your correct phone number.
We found some good emergency preparedness information at other websites and have included a list of links for your use.
There is more information in our Be Prepared brochure which you can download here.
Safety lighting
You have several choices for lighting to make your property more safe and secure. The following information describes the main types of controls for your lights.
Use: indoors or outdoors
For the outside porch light, consider switching to a fixture that includes a built-in photocell that monitors darkness and automatically turn lights on at dusk and off at dawn. These fixtures often come with an appropriate CFL, and others are frequently labeled if they are can be used with CFLs.
Use: indoors
Motion sensors detect movement in the target area and turns on lights. They are handy for areas like workshops or laundry rooms, where you often have your hands full when coming into the room. The sensors also will turn lights off if they haven’t detected any motion for a certain period of time, usually three to 10 minutes.
Use: outdoors
Photocells prevent the light from coming on during the daytime when there is motion in the area, and the motion sensor keeps the light from being on all night. They activate only when it’s dark to greet you with light as you enter driveways, walkways and entry areas.
Use: indoors
Timers plug directly into a wall outlet and allows you to set the specific times the lights will go on and off. You’ll have to adjust the settings throughout the year because of differences in daylight hours.
Use: indoors and outdoors
In this more expensive option a “master” controller sends voltage signals to other controls installed in lighting fixtures or wall outlets with lamps plugged into them. These controls, called “power-line carriers,” allow central control of several lights in your home. Each light can have a separate schedule, and you can even control the whole system on your home computer if you wish.
Tree trimming request
A significant number of power outages in Clark County are caused by falling trees or limbs during wind, snow or ice storms.
To maintain reliable electric service, we operate an extensive program to trim, or even sometimes remove, trees that interfere with overhead power lines.
Help us help you: If you see trees growing into power lines, call us at (360) 992-3000 or fill out and submit the attached request form. We’re on a year-round tree-trimming schedule to improve our power reliability over time, but we also respond to individual requests from customers who spot problems.
If you have questions about our tree trimming program, please call us at (360) 992-3000 or e-mail us.
Call before you dig
Call 811 or one of the local numbers: (360) 696-4848 or 1-800-553-4344 at least two working days before you plan to dig, and all affected utilities will send workers to mark each underground line with color-coded paint.
You’ll know we’ve been there because you’ll see sprayed color marks on your lawn or driveway. Each color defines a particular type of underground utility. The following colors correspond with specific utility lines.
Payment options
Meters are read, and customers are billed, monthly. You can eliminate the seasonal ups and downs of your utility bill with Equal Pay, which divides your yearly bill into equal monthly payments.
We offer several convenient ways to pay your bill.
If you think you’re going to have trouble paying your bill on time and need to make payment arrangements, please call us at (360)992-3000 or fill out and submit this form and we’ll be happy to work with you.
Learn about assistance programs available through your utility.
Payment assistance programs
Our customer representatives are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to assist you with payment difficulties. If you receive a bill and don’t think you’ll be able to pay all of it on time, please call us at (360) 992-3000, or notify us by filling out this form. We’d be happy to help you make arrangements for payment.
Here are some ways we can help customers who are having trouble paying their electric bills:
- Guarantee of Service Plan (GOSP)
- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) (to cover all types of heating costs)
- Operation Warm Heart
- Senior Citizen Rate Credits
You can check on your eligibility for any of the above programs by calling us at (360) 992-3000. In addition we offer assistance through these services:
For more information about any of these programs and services, call us at (360) 992-3000 or e-mail us.
Green Lights
Give the Green Light to nature’s power!
For less than $2 a month you can sign up to support the development of clean, earth-friendly electricity through Clark Public Utilities’ Green Lights program. Calculate the beneficial impact of your Green Lights purchase then you can sign up now.
The natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest is one of the reasons we choose to live here. And we want to make sure we preserve this beauty for generations to come.
Now there’s an easy way to help the environment by supporting the development of electricity from “natural,” non-polluting resources, such as the wind and sun. Clark Public Utilities has teamed with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation to offer Green Lights, a program that will generate more wind, solar, geothermal and other forms of pollution-free power in our region to displace more environmentally harmful power sources.
The Bonneville Environmental Foundation has helped to develop and market power from renewable energy projects in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. BEF invests your Green Lights dollars in the next generation of new renewable energy projects. A portion of Green Lights purchases are devoted to projects right here in Clark County, including solar demonstration sites that can be viewed at the link below.
Building and remodeling
Building a new home? Changing or upgrading your current electrical service? Call our Construction Services office at 360-992-8558. We’ll assign a residential planner to work with you or your contractor.
Within this section of the website, you will find helpful information related to installing or upgrading an electric service, along with a listing of fees and charges for both electric and water service.
To familiarize yourself with the process you might want to start by reviewing our steps to new residential electrical service and our collection of the most frequently asked questions when installing new residential electric service.
Before you begin any digging at the job site, remember to call before you dig. This free locating service will notify all underground utilities in your area that locates have been requested.
Learn about generating your own power.
Many customers are interested in installing a solar or wind electric-generating system to help offset their utility bills as well as help the environment. By connecting your generating system directly to Clark Public Utilities’ electric system you can gain credit if your generation exceeds your consumption from the utility.
Energy Adviser
The Columbian features a column by our “Energy Adviser” weekly. If you have a question about home energy, energy consumption, products or technology, e-mail the Energy Adviser. We have included past columns here, organized by date and headline.
They are also arranged here by topic:
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Rebates for 2009
Clark Public Utilities offers the following rebates for energy conservation measures in 2009.
Also be sure to see information about incentives for installing weatherization and for adding or replacing conventional heat pumps in electrically heated homes.
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Energy Star Refrigerators and Freezers |
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The incentive is $25 for Energy Star complying refrigerators and freezers purchased from a participating Clark County retailer. This is a point-of-purchase rebate and is contingent on recycling your old appliance. |
$25 |
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Energy Star Clothes Washers |
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Energy Star complying clothes washers with a MEF (modified energy factor) of 1.72 will be rebated $50 when purchased from a participating Clark County retailer. This is a point-of-purchase rebate. |
$50 |
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Ductless Heat Pump |
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A rebate of $1,500 is available to customers who participate in our ductless heat pump pilot project. The project targets homes currently heated with cable ceiling heat, baseboard or wall heaters. |
$1,500 |
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Geothermal Heat Pump |
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Installation of a geothermal heat pump in an electrically heated home may qualify for a $2,000 rebate. |
$2,000 |
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Solar Water Heaters |
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Solar water heater rebates are $1,000. To be eligible, the system must be BrightWay to Heat Water compliant. The installer must be BrightWay certified. |
$1,000 |
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Energy Star Heat Pumps |
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| Install and commission to the PTCS standards an Energy Star certified heat pump and receive a $750 rebate. This rebate is paid for heat pumps installed in new or existing electrically heated homes. See the attached flyer. |
$750 |
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Energy Star Light Fixtures |
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We will continue to offer a $10 incentive on Energy Star complying light fixtures purchased from a participating Clark County retailer. This is a point-of-purchase rebate. |
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Energy Star NW Homes |
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New electrically heated homes built to the Energy Star NW Homes specifications are eligible for a $1,000 rebate, paid to the builder.
New homes built to the Energy Star Homes specifications are also eligible for a lighting rebate of $10 per Energy Star fixture, and/or $2 per Energy Star screw-in CFL bulb, up to $500. The lighting rebate is available for all new construction homes that are verified to meet the Energy Star Homes NW specifications regardless of the heating source.
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Up to $1,500 |
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Commercial Lighting Improvement Program (CLIP) |
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Commercial and industrial customers installing specific lighting measures that reduce lighting wattage by 30-percent or more are eligible for a 35-percent rebate on the cost of the lighting improvements. |
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Rebates may be withdrawn at any time and additional rebates or promotional offers may be added during the year.
For more information on these rebates or other conservation programs at Clark Public Utilities call (360) 992-3355.
Appliances
Here you’ll find information about the cost to operate appliances, what appliances our repair department can fix for you and what to consider when buying a new one.
There’s been much emphasis on weatherizing your home to use less energy. Equally important is understanding how much various appliances cost to operate so you can make informed choices. Our brochure “Understanding Home Energy Use” can be helpful in addition to this section of our website.
Your house can use all sorts of energy, even if you are not home. To increase convenience, many appliances are always on, even when you are not using them. Televisions and other appliances with an “instant-on” feature may eliminate delay in the appliance being ready for use, but there is an energy penalty to pay. Computers and monitors are other items that are often always on. As a rule, just about any device with a remote control is always on.
The water heater, refrigerator and freezer are other examples of appliances that consume energy, around the clock, whether you use them or not.
New refrigerators and freezers are as much as twice as efficient as models built just 15 years ago. For a lower operating cost, consider Energy Star® appliances. Good information on Energy Star® appliances is available on this website.
Appliances: cost to operate
Cost of operating appliances
The amount of electricity you use in your home is related to family size and living habits.
The residential cost of one kilowatt-hour (kwh) for Clark Public Utilities customers is 7.36 cents. It’s easy to figure out the hourly cost of running an appliance. Find the wattage (usually on the side or bottom) of the tool or appliance and then use this formula:
Appliance wattage divided by 1,000 watts, multiplied by the time the appliance is “on,” multiplied by 7.36 cents.
Example: 1200 watts/1000 watts=1.2 (kw) x 1 (hour) x $.0736 = $.09 per operating hour
Don’t forget that some products such as irons, griddles, water heaters and electric space heaters are controlled with a thermostat and cycle on and off during operation.
Some electrical devices, like computers and tools, may show the amperage of the device instead of watts. To convert to watts, multiply amps by volts. The voltage of household outlets is 115 volts.
Bathroom appliances
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Appliance |
Approx. wattage |
Estimated use |
Ave. operating cost/month |
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Blow dryer |
1200 |
15 min/day |
66 cents |
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Curling iron |
40 |
15 min/day |
1 cent |
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Hot rollers |
375 |
30 min/every other day |
22 cents |
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Shaver |
10 |
10 min/day |
1 cent |
Heat your home
Almost half of the annual electric bill for an electrically heated home is used for space heating and cooling. Electric heat costs vary widely depending on:
· size of the home
· amount of insulation
· temperature
· family size
· lifestyle
The average yearly cost of heat for an electrically-heated home is about 58 cents per square foot of living area. A newer single-family home built to high insulation standards probably costs about 34 cents per square foot to heat for a year.
A 1000-watt portable space heater costs about 7 cents per hour to operate if it runs continuously. If it’s controlled by a thermostat and properly sized to the room, it will run continuously as it’s warming up, and then cycle on and off.
A heat pump can reduce your heating costs by 25 to 50 percent. It also gives you the added comfort of air conditioning in the summer.
Individual room heating systems such as baseboards, wall heaters and ceiling cable heat can operate less expensively than a central forced air system if rooms not in use are closed off and thermostat setting lowered.
It pays to adopt new habits that will help lower your heating costs!
Check out some of the articles on home heat from The Energy Adviser.
Kitchen appliances
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Appliance |
Approx. wattage |
Estimated use |
Ave. operating cost/month |
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Blender |
385 |
5 min/day |
7 cents |
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Breadmaker |
430 |
16 hrs/month |
52 cents |
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Can opener |
125 |
2 min/day |
1 cent |
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Coffee maker, (10-cup auto drip type) |
850 – 1500 |
twice a day, with warmer on 4 hrs/day |
$1.18 – $2.36 |
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Crockpot |
200 |
10 hrs/ mo. |
15 cents |
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Dishwasher |
200 |
daily |
Washing: 44 cents |
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*Freezer: old model, (17 cu.ft. manual defrost) |
350 |
continuous |
$11.78 |
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*Freezer: new model, (17 cu.ft. frost-free) |
440 |
continuous |
$7.51 |
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Frying pan |
1250 |
4 hrs/mo. |
37 cents |
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Garbage disposal |
445 |
5 min/day |
7 cents |
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Microwave oven |
1500 |
30 min/day |
$1.69 |
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Mixer |
125 |
2 1/2 hrs/mo. |
2 cents |
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Oven: conventional |
3500 |
30 hr/mo. |
$7.73 |
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Oven: self-cleaning feature only |
one cleaning /mo. |
29 cents |
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Range: average, large element |
2100 |
30 min/day |
$2.36 |
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Range – average, small element |
1600 |
30 min/day |
$1.84 |
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*Refrigerator/freezer: old model, 20 cu.ft, frost-free |
615 |
continuous |
$13.84 |
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*Refrigerator/freezer: new model, 25 cu.ft, side-by-side, ice and water |
1270 |
continuous |
$6.13 |
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Toaster: 2-4 slice |
700 – 1500 |
3 min/day |
15 cents |
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*Toaster oven |
1150 |
15 min/day |
66 cents |
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Trash compactor |
460 |
5 min/day |
8 cents |
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*Waffle iron |
800 |
3 hrs/mo. |
37 cents |
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Laundry appliances
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Appliance |
Approx. wattage |
Estimated use |
Ave. operating cost/month |
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Clothes dryer |
4800 |
30 loads/month |
$6.71 |
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*Iron |
1200 |
8 hrs/month |
59 cents |
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Washing machine (includes water heating) |
640 |
30 loads/month |
$6.71 |
· Appliance wattages and operating costs listed here are averages only.
· *These appliances are thermostatically controlled and are not “on” continuously.
· All costs based on the current Clark Public Utilities rate of 7.36 cents per kilowatt-hour and rounded to the nearest cent.
Other household appliances
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Household Items |
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Appliance |
Approx. wattage |
Estimated use |
Ave. operating cost/month |
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Air cleaner |
20 |
10 hrs/day |
44 cents |
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Air compressor (1 horsepower) |
1000 |
5 hrs/month |
37 cents |
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*Air conditioner |
1100 |
5 hrs/day |
$12.14 |
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Alarm system |
6 |
continuous |
29 cents |
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Ceiling fan |
60 |
6 hrs/day |
66 cents |
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Clock |
2 |
continuous |
12 cents |
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Computer (including monitor) |
40 |
continuous |
$2.13 |
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*Dehumidifier |
250 |
6 hrs/day |
$3.31 |
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*Electric blanket |
175 |
8 hrs/day |
$3.16 |
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Electric air cleaner (furnace type) |
50 |
continuous |
$2.72 |
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*Fish tank – with pump, light, heater |
130 |
continous |
$6.89 |
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Hot tub – fiberglass, insulated, 300 gal., 102 degrees F |
varies |
3 to 4 times/week |
$24 – $63 |
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Ink jet printer |
25 |
8 hrs/month |
1 cent |
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Laser printer |
1000 |
8 hrs/month |
59 cents |
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Lawn mower |
1200 |
6 hrs/month |
52 cents |
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Lighting – 100-watt incandescent bulb |
100 |
6 hrs/day |
$1.30 |
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Lighting – 40-watt fluorescent tube, 4 ft |
40 |
6 hrs/day |
52 cents |
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Lighting – 18-watt compact fluorescent |
18 |
6 hrs/day |
22 cents |
|
Radio |
10 |
1 hr/day |
1 cent |
|
Satellite dish |
12 |
continuous |
66 cents |
|
Space heater |
1500 |
8 hrs/day |
$26.50 |
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Stereo/CD player |
50 |
4 hrs/day |
44 cents |
|
TV – 19” color |
105 |
6 hrs/day |
$1.40 |
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TV – 25″ color |
125 |
6 hrs/day |
$1.62 |
|
TV – big screen |
300 |
6 hrs/day |
$3.97 |
|
Vacuum cleaner |
960 |
30 min/week |
15 cents |
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VCR |
30 |
1 hr/day |
7 cents |
|
Water bed – king size, (room temp 65 degrees, bed set at 95 degrees) |
400 |
12 hrs/day |
$10.75 |
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*Water heater |
4500 |
continuous |
$35.03 |
|
Water pump |
1000 |
1 hr/day |
$2.28 |
· Appliance wattages and operating costs listed here are averages only.
· *These appliances are thermostatically controlled and are not “on” continuously.
· All costs based on the current Clark Public Utilities rate of 7.36 cents per kilowatt-hour and rounded to the nearest cent.
Pump water
Costs of operating a residential water pump.
Water pumps for domestic wells operate off and on throughout the day and night.
To estimate the cost of pumping water, you need to have a rough idea of the amount of water you use. The average household uses about 90 gallons of water per person per day.
A one-horsepower pump uses about 1,000 watts of electricity when it’s running. Domestic pumps deliver about 20 gallons of water per minute.
You can use the following formulas to figure your cost of pumping water.
To calculate how long the pump is “on”: 90 gallons x number of residents = number of gallons used per day / (divided by) 20 gallons per minute= “on” time
Example: 90 (gallons) x 4 (residents) = 360 (gallons per day) / 20= 18 minutes or .3 hour
To calculate the cost of operating the pump: (Horsepower x 1000 x hours) / 1000 watts= kwh x $.0736 = cost per day
Example: (1 x 1000 x .3) / 1000= .3 kwh x $.0736 = 2.2 cents per day In this instance, the estimated monthly cost for pumping water for a family of four would be 66 cents (2.2 cents per day x 30 days).
If you use the pump to provide water for livestock or to irrigate, you will need to increase the estimated gallons used per day. Use can vary greatly depending upon the type of pump, tank and well.
Electric range
Electric ranges built in the last 15 years differ from their predecessors primarily by their electronic rather than mechanical controls for oven temperature and timer functions.
While the electronics can provide more accurate control over oven temperature and allow more options for the user, replacement parts can be costly. Spills, especially liquids can damage sensors or control components if allowed to run under the range top.
Oven elements and surface elements with their related switches and wiring have changed little over the years. Most can be serviced by a skilled do-it-yourself person with the proper parts. Burner pans and rings, which can greatly improve the appearance of a range with some use on it, are readily available for most models.
The manufacturer’s name and the model number of the range can be critical when ordering parts or requesting service.
The model number is usually displayed on a tag or label which can be found just inside the oven door or pan drawer or under one of the surface elements. On some ranges, the whole top lifts or tilts up for servicing and model identification may be located under the top. These are typical locations, some ranges may vary.
Energy Star appliances
For a lower operating cost, consider Energy Star® appliances. You can find good information on selecting energy efficient appliances at this Energy Star® site.
ENERGY STAR® refrigerators are at least 20% more efficient than current federal government standards. Benefits to you include:
· lower utility bills
· precise temperature and defrost mechanisms
· differentiated “smart” compartments for food types
· less energy used to keep foods at proper temperature
Learn about our Energy Star® refrigerator and freezer rebate program.
ENERGY STAR® clothes washers are at least 50% more efficient than minimum federal government standards. Benefits to you include:
· lower utility bills,
· 35-50% less water used per load,
· bulky items fit easily in the super capacity basket, and
· better water extraction means less dryer time, for further energy savings.
Here’s information about our clothes washer rebate program.
ENERGY STAR® dishwashers are at least 41% more efficient than minimum federal government standards. Benefits to you include:
· lower utility bills,
· improved washing systems eliminate pre-rinsing, and
· less energy used to heat the water to clean the dishes.
Freezers
Here are some tips to help keep your freezer running almost as efficiently as it did when it was new.
· Keep the freezer two-thirds full. An empty freezer uses more energy to maintain a 0-degree temperature than one that is full. Once frozen, the items in the freezer help maintain the cold, meaning the freezer runs less. If you do not have food to freeze, place bags of ice in the freezer.
· Check the door seals. Leaking seals can let warm air back into the freezer. If your freezer has magnetic seals, place a bright flashlight in the freezer and look for light leaks around the door. If it has nonmagnetic seals, open the door and place a dollar bill at the seal and close the door. The bill should be difficult to pull out. Do this on all four sides of the door to check all the seals. If you find a leaking seal try adjusting the door before replacing the seal.
· Make sure the freezer has good air flow around it and that the refrigerant coils are clean. To maintain freezing temperatures inside, the coils must get rid of a lot of heat. If the coils have poor airflow around them or are covered with dust, it is harder for them to transfer that heat.
· Defrost the freezer. Manual defrost freezers should be defrosted when the ice becomes 1/4-inch thick on the walls of the freezer. Ice build-up makes the compressor run longer to maintain a cold temperature.
· Buy the right-size freezer. If you are going to buy a used freezer, buy one that fits your needs. It may be tempting to by a larger freezer, but they use more energy than smaller ones.
Recycle your old refrigerator or freezer
Got an old inefficient fridge or freezer? Let us recycle it for you!
Some appliances continue to run long after they should have been unplugged.
Old refrigerators and freezers from the 60s, 70s and 80s, while still operating, can use three times the energy to keep items cool than current models. Buying old appliances at garage sales or passing them on to relatives just compounds energy inefficiency.
The refrigerant used in old refrigerators and freezers is classified as a greenhouse gas and should be kept out of the environment. Without proper decommissioning, the refrigerant gas in these old units often escape into the environment, creating problems with the earth’s atmosphere.
Surge suppressors
Most surges are caused by disturbances inside your home. About 60 percent of surges are caused by routine operations, such as washing machines and dishwashers switching through their normal cycles. These low-level disturbances are so brief you probably don’t notice them, but over time they can shorten the life of your equipment.
Surge suppressors are the simplest, least expensive and most effective way to prevent problems with your electronic appliances.
Suppressors are installed between the appliance and the wall outlet, and their job is to reduce the size of voltage surges to a safe level. It’s best to ask the manufacturer of the appliance you want to protect what brand of surge protector is recommended.
If no information is available, here are a few tips:
· The surge suppressor should be tested and have received the UL listing for the following tests: IEEE standard 587A, 587B and UL1449. These will be verified on the back of the device by the presence of a UL sticker.
· The surge suppressor should have an indicator light or some other feature that shows you whether it has been struck by a power spike and still works.
· The surge suppressor must bleed energy from a power surge to ground, NOT to neutral. This will be listed in the manufacturer’s literature.
You can purchase point-of-use surge suppressors at stores that sell or repair computers, stereos and other electronic devices.
Water heaters
Water heaters are typically the second largest user of energy in the home.
To avoid possible scalding and keep costs lower, water heater thermostats should be set no higher than 120 degrees. If you have a dishwasher that does not pre-heat water for each load the water heater needs to be set between 130 and 150 degrees.
Setting the thermostats
Thermostats for the water heater are located behind panels (on the side) that are accessible by removing screws. First be sure to shut off the electricity to the water heater at the breaker panel. Sometimes you have to get past the insulation to find the thermostat under the access panel. Many water heaters have two thermostats (behind two different access panels) and they both should be set to the same temperature.
For more information on water heaters check these Energy Adviser articles.
Building and remodeling
Building a new home? Changing or upgrading your current electrical service? Call our Construction Services office at 360-992-8558. We’ll assign a residential planner to work with you or your contractor.
Within this section of the website, you will find helpful information related to installing or upgrading an electric service, along with a listing of fees and charges for both electric and water service.
To familiarize yourself with the process you might want to start by reviewing our steps to new residential electrical service and our collection of the most frequently asked questions when installing new residential electric service.
Before you begin any digging at the job site, remember to call before you dig. This free locating service will notify all underground utilities in your area that locates have been requested.
Learn about generating your own power.
Many customers are interested in installing a solar or wind electric-generating system to help offset their utility bills as well as help the environment. By connecting your generating system directly to Clark Public Utilities’ electric system you can gain credit if your generation exceeds your consumption from the utility.
Related links
- Rebate available for an Energy Star NW home
- A newsletter for contractors is available here.
- Clark Public Utilities list of electrical system installation contractors
- Contractor training materials
- Residential Electric Service Handbook
Fees and charges
Electric
(See below for link to water fees)
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BDR (Builders’ service) – Unmetered temporary service used for building a single-family residence (first 6 months of use) |
$210 |
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Metered Temporary Service – Can be used for building a single-family residence, multifamily unit or commercial structure (customer still responsible for monthly consumption) |
$160 |
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Current Transformer (CT) Metering – Metering equipment used for electric services 401 amps or greater. |
$ Varies |
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Miscellaneous construction charges – Costs for labor and materials used when equipment is upgraded or changed |
$ Varies |
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Permit fees – Fees for any city, county or state permit secured by the utilty, will be added to the customer’s construction billing |
$ Varies |
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System Development Charges (based on panel size) |
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Under 100 Amps |
$118 |
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100 Amps |
$236 |
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125 Amps |
$296 |
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200 Amps |
$473 |
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300 Amps |
$709 |
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400 Amps |
$946 |
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Water installation fees – effective 1/1/07
Frequently asked questions
Who is responsible for digging the secondary trench?
The customer digs the trench from the meter base up to the side of the utility’s source facility.
What is the required depth of a secondary electric service trench?
Twenty-four inches deep from the meter base to the side of the source facility with 18 inches minimum of cover to the top of the conduit.
What type of secondary conductor (wire) is required?
4/0 aluminum triplex URD or 350 MCM aluminum triplex URD. A utility representative will advise you of the conductor to install, based on the size of the service.
Is COMPACT stranded wire acceptable?
No, Clark Public Utilities will not connect COMPACT wire. Standard or compressed stranding is acceptable.
How much extra wire (tail) should be left at the transformer or pedestal?
Leave an eight foot tail of wire at the source facility. Utility personnel will route the wire into the facility and make the final connection.
How much wire should be left at the base of a utility pole?
A minimum of 35 feet at the base of a secondary pole, 40 feet at a primary pole. Wire length required varies based on the pole height. Check with your residential planner for exact amount required.
Is conduit required?
Yes, a continuous run of conduit is required from the meter base to the utility’s source facility. Three-inch schedule-40, PVC, grey, electrical conduit is required for each run of secondary wire.
Can electrical conduit be heated for bending?
No, factory-made elbows are required for all bends.
Can I install parallel runs of conductor (wire)?
Yes, each conductor requires a separate run of conduit and proper tagging at the source end of the service.
What do I backfill my trench with?
The trench must remain free of any construction trash or foreign objects. Backfill using only clean soil with rocks no larger than 5 inches. If soil conditions are rocky, select backfill or a layer of sand may be required prior to backfilling the trench.
No, use either of the side knockouts on the bottom of the meter base.
Load (customer) side conductors are terminated in the bottom meter lugs. Line side conductors (from the source) are terminated in the top meter lugs.
The customer/electrician makes up the PED connectors and provides the insulating covers that are required inside a residential CT enclosure.
Incentives and rebates
New ENERGY STAR Homes
New homes that meet the specifications and are certified as ENERGY STAR NW Homes are eligible for the following rebates:
· Electrically heated homes built to the Energy Star NW Homes specifications can receive rebates of up to $1,000. Rebates are paid to the builder.
· Additionally, Energy Star fixtures installed in new Energy Star NW homes are rebated at $10 per fixture up to $500. The rebate is paid directly to the builder or electrician. Screw-in CFL bulbs receive a rebate of $2 per bulb for up to 50 percent of the light sockets in the home.
Click here for more information on Energy Star NW Homes.
Solar Water Heaters
Installation diagrams
The diagrams available at the links below provide visuals of the most common residential electric service installations. Each drawing includes information on equipment locations, trench depths and materials required by Clark Public Utilities. They are in PDF format and are sized so they will print on a standard sheet of paper.
For additional information you might want to download our Residential Electric Service Handbook. If you have any questions, please check with your residential planner or call the Construction Services office at (360) 992-8558.
Installation diagrams:
You’ll need Acrobat Reader to download the diagrams. If you don’t already have the program you may get it for free. If you have trouble downloading a diagram be sure to check that you have allowed popups for this site.
From meter on building to utility pedestal for connection to a pad mounted transformer
From meter on building to utility pole for connection to a pole mounted transformer
New Construction policies on BDRs
Back to Fees and Charges main page
Steps to new residential service
Follow these 8 easy steps and you or your electrician can get 120/240V single-phase electric service to your residential project. For a more detailed explanation see our Residential Electric Service Handbook.
Installing a new electrical service to a residential structure is a cooperative effort between the customer and Clark Public Utilities. Following these steps to electrical service installation will help to ensure that your project runs as smoothly as possible.
1) Call (360) 992-8558 to initiate a request for new residential electric service.
A site plan is required before a job can be created.
2) Obtain an electrical wiring permit from:
City of Vancouver – (360) 487-7802
Washington State Department of Labor and Industries – (360) 896-2300
Code or permit information (state only) — (360) 896-2360, 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. weekdays
3) Call the underground utilities locating service two business days prior to any digging
811 or (360) 696-4848
4) Contact local telephone, cable, water and natural gas utilities to advise them of your project.
Their service lines may share the same trench with Clark Public Utilities’ electric service lines. NOTE: Sewer lines and storm drainage systems are not allowed in joint utility trenches.
5) Install only utility-approved secondary conductor (wire) and materials.
New service installations must be built according to Clark Public Utilities’ electrical design. Continuous conduit is required as of January 1, 2005.
6) Discuss any changes to the design with your Clark Public Utilities residential planner.
Variances from the original design will not be connected without prior approval from a utility representative.
7) Call for an electrical inspection:
City of Vancouver – (360) 619-1200
Washington State Department of Labor and Industries – (360) 896-2350
Once your service has been approved, backfill the trench.*
*Backfill requirements: Backfill of secondary trenches from the meter base to the pedestal or transformer is required prior to final connection of the service. Two to 2 ½ feet of the trench (exposing the end of the conduit) beside the pedestal or transformer must remain open allowing utility personnel to route the conductor into the facility and complete the service connection. Services installed to utility pole bases require complete backfill up to and around the customer-installed elbow. See our installation diagrams for additional information.
Contractor list
Printable PDF version of this list available here.
Note: The contractors on this list are not employees of Clark Public Utilities. The Utility does not recommend or guarantee any of the contractors listed. Contractors are listed based on information they have provided the Utility that indicates they meet all applicable Utility, State of Washington and Federal requirements to do this type of work. (List revised October 29, 2008.)
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Clark Public Utilities list of electrical system installation contractors |
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Accurate Electric, Inc.
P.O. Box 873425 Vancouver, WA 98687 (360) 835-2145 FAX: (360) 835-3506 ADK Electric
P.O. Box 2676 Battle Ground, WA 98604 (360) 666-0153 FAX: (360) 666-0153 Advanced Electric, Inc.
21811 NE 58 Street Vancouver, WA 98682-0931 (360) 254-6864 FAX: (360) 254-2854 All Things Electrical, Inc.
2856 NE 65th Avenue, Suite E Vancouver, WA 98661 (360) 604-0241 FAX: (360) 604-3025 Aloha Electric Inc
8601 SE Patterson Place Vancouver, WA 98664 360) 696-9707 FAX: (360) 696-4436 Bergelectric Corporation
6026 NE 112 Avenue Portland, OR 97220 (503) 255-1818 FAX: (503) 255-1919 Bob’s Electric
2700 NE Burton Road #A Vancouver, WA 98662 (360) 254-7200 FAX: (360) 254-8219 Capitol Electric Company Inc. Cascade Electrical, LLC Cherry City Electric Christenson Electric, Inc. Columbia Electric, Inc. Cochran Electric Crown Voltage Current Electrical Design Electric, Inc. Diamond Electrical Systems DJ’s Electrical, Inc. DMS Electric Dynaelectric Co. E C Company Electrix, LLC Garner Electric Company Hamer Electric, Inc. Haskin Electric, Inc. Heil Electric Company Highlite Construction Company Hughes Electrical Contractors IES Commercial Inc. Inland Electric, Inc. JH Kelly
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Mac Electric Inc.
12414 NE 95 Street Vancouver, WA 98682-2400 (360) 256-3300 FAX: (360) 256-8001 Magnum Power, LLC
34124 NW 21 Avenue LaCenter, WA 98629 (360) 901-4642 FAX: (360) 666-1049 McCoy Electric Company, Inc.
2014 SE 9 Avenue Portland, OR 97214 (503) 234-7521 FAX: (503) 234-9473 Michels Power
P.O. Box 808 Bothell, WA 98041-0808 (425)485-7908 FAX: (425) 485-0808 Mill Plain Electric Inc.
6115 NE 88 Street Vancouver, WA 98665-0959 (360) 574-7265 FAX: (360) 574-0956 Mofford Electric
8315 NE 219 Street Battle Ground, WA 98604-4113 (360) 687-2578 FAX: (360) 687-7833 Murray Electrical Contractors
5900 NE 88 Street #B205 Vancouver, WA 98665 (360) 574-3511 FAX: (360) 574-4630 Northeast Electric, LLC Northstar Electrical Northwest Custom Electric Northwest Electrical Contracting O’Neill Electric Oregon Electric Group Pacwest Electric Inc. Pleasant Valley Electric Porter Electric, Inc. Portland Electrical Construction, Inc. Power Technology, Inc. Prairie Electric Inc. Precision Electric Progress Electric Co. Rawhide Electric Services, LLC Richart Family Inc. Riverside Electrical Contractor Inc. Rosendin Electric, Inc. Ross Electric Company, Inc. Shaw West Company St. Johns Electric Inc. Stoner Electric, Inc. Tasker Electrical Construction, Inc. Tice Electric Company Tradesmen Electric Westside Electric Co. Inc. Wire Rite Electric, Inc.
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Water availability
If you’re building in our water service area and you need to determine water or fire flow availability you can use these forms to request the information.
If you right click on the link and “save target as” you can download the Word document to your computer, fill it out and then bring it in with you.
Request for Utility Review of Water Availability
Energy conservation
· Clark Public Utilities offers a range of conservation information and services.
· Loans are available to customers who own their electrically-heated home.
· Our residential energy counselors will be happy to provide you with conservation information and advice that’s specific to your home. We offer speakers for your club or organization to provide you with personalized advice about a range of energy issues. To talk to an energy counselor you can e-mail us or call us at (360) 992-3355.
· We also have several conservation-related brochures and fact sheets you can download or order online. Many of the energy conservation suggestions won’t cost you anything. We have lots of energy-saving tips that are either low-cost or free! If you take a few minutes to learn how to read your electric meter you can keep track of your savings.
· Remember that pumping and heating water can be a big part of your electric bill. Check out our recommendations for conserving water.
· Individualized advice is also available for our commercial and institutional customers. E-mail us and we’ll call to set up an appointment.
· Related links
· Rebates for conservation measures
Conserve space heat
Space heating usually makes up half or more of the electric costs of electrically heated homes. Lower your cost by changing habits and making home improvements to reduce heat loss.
Spend a little money
· Weatherstrip and caulk around all doors and windows to limit leaks of outside air into your home.
· Consider installing an automatic setback thermostat for your furnace.
· Buy glass doors for your fireplace.
Invest a little more
· Install thermal insulation.
Insulating walls, ceilings, water pipes, duct work and flooring over crawl spaces is one of the most effective conservation measures available.
· Replace or cover single pane windows.
Double-pane, triple-pane or storm windows reduce heat loss substantially (by as much as 40 percent).
· If you’re buying a new heating system, consider installing a heat pump.
Heat pumps can make your heating and cooling system far more energy efficient.
Incentives are available when an approved contractor installs weatherization measures in your electrically heated home. Talk to us about our loan programs for heat pumps and other conservation measures. E-mail or call us at (360) 992-3355.
Energy saving tips
Lots of conservation actions are free!
Although you can spend money on insulation, energy-saving windows and a heat pump, you can also realize substantial benefits by adopting new habits…and that won’t cost you anything.
…for cooling your home
…for heating
…for the water heater
…in the kitchen
…in the laundry room
…on lighting your home
Free resources
Here are some helpful free resources offered by your utility:
Brochures and fact sheets to order or to download
Homework help related to electricity and water for all ages
Links to community utilities and service providers, organizations, and news sources
On-site visit from an energy counselor
Student tours and classroom visits
Heating and cooling
There are essentially only five fuels used to condition today’s homes: electricity, natural gas, propane, oil and wood. Each has its own set of advantages and idiosyncrasies.
· Natural gas may not be available to your home.
· Propane and oil require tanks.
· Wood is widely available, but requires much more “involvement” stacking, hauling, loading and so on than the other fuels.
Almost all fuels have experienced a price advantage over the others at some point over the last 20 years. As fuel prices are cyclic, you might want to focus on the attributes of one fuel over another.
· If you want quick warm up on cold winter days, oil and wood produce more heat output than propane, natural gas or electricity.
· Natural gas and propane produce fewer harmful pollutants than do oil or wood.
Zonal heating systems
These systems comprise individual heaters in each room in the house. Zonal heaters can use almost any heating fuel, but electricity is the most common. Zonal heating systems enable you to heat different rooms to different temperatures. Each room, or “zone,” has its own thermostat, so you can keep your bedroom cool, while keeping the living room warmer.
Zonal systems tend to be slightly more efficient than central, whole-house heating systems. Keeping some rooms cooler also helps lower heating costs.
Central heating/cooling
These systems include a forced-air furnace or heat pump with a duct system to distribute heated air within your house. Some things to consider:
· A single thermostat controls most residential central systems.
· You can introduce fresh air or filter the air at a single location and then distribute it to the house.
· Central heating systems do not “zone” well.
One common misconception is that to turn off the heat to a room, all you have to do is close the heating register. This can damage the furnace and shorten its service life. Never close more than 20 percent of a central forced-air heating system’s registers.
Help with your bill
You may find yourself facing an unexpected high bill due to
- cold weather
- an increase in the number of people in your household
- hot water leaks
- shorter days that require more lighting
or any number of reasons. We want to help you control the size of your bills and provide you assistance in paying your bill when you need it.
Here are some suggestions for our residential customers about what to do if you have a bill due but not enough resources to pay it. Call us or fill out this form to make payment arrangements. Perhaps we can adjust the due date or divide it into more affordable pieces for you.
See if you qualify for any of the assistance programs we offer.
There are lots of low- and no-cost ideas for saving energy in your home. By knowing about how much it costs to operate various appliances you will have a better idea of where the biggest savings can be found.
Putting some of our advice related to energy conservation and water conservation into action can save you money. Our energy counselors can give you individualized recommendations so you’ll have a better idea of where you’ll get the best return on your investment in energy-saving measures.
Related Links
- Weather history: High, low and average temperatures
- Low- and no-cost tips for saving energy
- Learn to read your meters so you can monitor your usage
· Lighting
· For a typical Clark County home with electric heat, we estimate that about 6 percent of the electric bill is for lighting. While that may not sound like much, this is a really easy way to reduce energy use and save a few dollars.
· As the demand for and cost of generating electricity has risen over the years, utility companies and governmental agencies began promoting more efficient ways of generating light. A compact fluorescent bulb generates equivalent light output to an incandescent bulb using only one-quarter to one-third the amount of electricity.
· The Energy Star program, a joint effort of the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, says that if the five most frequently used light fixtures or bulbs in each American home were changed to compact fluorescent bulbs, energy costs would drop by at least $6.5 billion a year. That’s a savings of about $60 per household. In addition, the energy savings would prevent greenhouse gases equal to the emissions from more than 8 million cars.
· The five most frequently used light fixtures in most homes are the kitchen ceiling lights, table and floor lamps in the living and family rooms, and the outdoor porch light.
· Related links
· Report street light out
Recycle fluorescent bulbs
Light for safety and security
Outages
· Converting overhead lines to underground lines in appropriate areas
· Continuing to make improvements at our substations (which “step down” the voltage of electricity) and on our “feeder” lines (which route electricity throughout the county)
· Continuing to install “tree wire” on overhead lines to make them more resistant to contact with trees.
If your power goes out, please call us as soon as possible. We respond to outages 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Be prepared
Here are some steps you can take to be prepared in case of a power outage:
- Prepare an emergency kit that contains flashlights, extra batteries, candles, matches, blankets and a battery-operated radio.
- Store a supply of drinking water (especially if you’re on a private well) and non-perishable food.
- Protect your sensitive equipment, including personal computers, televisions, DVRs, VCRs and stereos, with a surge suppressor.
- Call the PowerLine at (360) 992-8000 to report a power outage. Having your accurate phone number in our computer system is the key to PowerLine’s success. Make sure we have your correct phone number.
We found some good emergency preparedness information at other websites and have included a list of links for your use.
There is more information in our Be Prepared brochure which you can download here.
Frequently asked questions
What causes power outages?
The top 4 causes of power outage hours in Clark County are:
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Trees and limbs (non-preventable) |
50% |
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Loss of wholesale power supply |
13% |
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Vehicle accidents |
12% |
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Birds and animals |
8% |
Why do I have trouble getting a call through to your office during an outage?
If you’re calling our regular (360) 992-3000 number, we don’t have enough phone lines to handle the hundreds or thousands of calls we could be getting during an outage. That’s why in late 1996 we installed the PowerLine, a special phone line you can now use to report outages and get updated outage information. You can reach the PowerLine at (360) 992-8000. And because PowerLine can take up to 1,200 calls a minute, you’re unlikely to ever get a busy signal!
Why can’t you tell me specifically when my power will be restored?
Unless the cause of an outage is obvious (such as a car running into a power pole), it takes us some time to determine the extent of the damage. And the problems are magnified during winter storms that result in numerous outages. Our priority is simply to get your power back on, not to guess about how quickly it may happen.
My neighbors have power – why don’t I?
Sometimes there’s a blown fuse in a transformer or damage done to the line serving your home. But we also may have to isolate a small section of line to work on a problem, even while power has been restored to other parts of the same line.
Do certain customers get priority in having their power restored after an outage?
No. We start with the biggest problems and work our way down. No one gets special treatment. However, we do make special efforts to respond quickly to the needs of emergency service providers, such as police, fire stations and hospitals.
Why does it take so many hours, sometimes days, to get power back?
During major outages that affect many areas of the county, we have to attack all the problems methodically and make sure we’re doing it in a safe manner. The time it takes to repair problems is directly related to the extent of the damage.
Why can’t you prevent outages from occurring in the first place?
We do our best during non-emergency time to maintain and upgrade our entire electric system. But unfortunately, no system is built to withstand falling trees, branches across lines and other side effects of severe weather. A well-designed and maintained system will prevent some damage, but it can’t completely prevent outages.
Why don’t you just bury all power lines, or at least put them underground in the areas most prone to outages?
Underground power lines are up to 10 times as expensive to install. Because of the larger stretches of line in rural areas, where outage repairs are more difficult, it would cost customers too much to put in underground service. Underground lines also have unique maintenance problems, so installing them doesn’t make the customers they serve immune to outages.
How we prepare for storms
How we prioritize repairs
Power outages are more difficult to fix than they may seem, because often they’re caused by a mix of problems.
Electricity moves from a source, such as a Columbia River dam, over a regional transmission system to utility substations. From there it runs through a series of “feeder” lines that connect with “primary” lines serving homes and businesses. Transformers at each “step” lower the voltage.
Problems can occur at each of these stages of transmission, and they can take time to diagnose and solve. If there are problems at, say, both the substation and primary line stages, fixing the primary line first won’t do any good, because a problem remains at a “higher” level. That’s why in dealing with outages, we start at the top of the system and work our way down.
With that in mind, here’s how we prioritize our repairs:
1) Hazardous situations threatening the public safety
2) Transmission lines, which deliver power to substations
3) Substations, which distribute power to several thousand customers
4) Feeder lines from substations which affect large numbers of customers
5) Primary lines which serve between five and 30 customers
6) Outages affecting individual customers
Standby generators
At Clark Public Utilities, our goal is to provide you with highly reliable electric service, and 99.9 percent of the time we do. However, occasional power outages do occur.
If you want the added security of knowing you can run a refrigerator, furnace or other electronic equipment in case of an outage, you might consider installing a generator.
There are basically two kinds of residential-type generators:
· Portable generators provide up to 6,000 watts of electricity. They sit outside and usually run on gasoline. Portable generators don’t create enough electricity to power your home — generally they’re used to run individual appliances, such as refrigerators.
· Permanent generators provide up to 20,000 watts of electricity. These are wired into the electrical system of your home, and can keep several electrical appliances operating at once, depending on generator size.
Do not plug a back-up generator into a wall outlet in your home without first disconnecting from our system.
Both portable and permanent generators should be installed with a transfer switch, which will cut your home’s connection to the Clark Pulbic Utilities electric system before you start the generator in the event of an outage. This is a critical safety feature that prevents your generator from backfeeding electricity into utility lines and putting our workers at risk.
Tree trimming request
A significant number of power outages in Clark County are caused by falling trees or limbs during wind, snow or ice storms.
To maintain reliable electric service, we operate an extensive program to trim, or even sometimes remove, trees that interfere with overhead power lines.
Help us help you: If you see trees growing into power lines, call us at (360) 992-3000 or fill out and submit the attached request form. We’re on a year-round tree-trimming schedule to improve our power reliability over time, but we also respond to individual requests from customers who spot problems.
If you have questions about our tree trimming program, please call us at (360) 992-3000 or e-mail us.
What to do when the power goes out
Call the PowerLine at (360) 992-8000 to report a power outage.
If your power goes out, please call us as soon as possible. We respond to outages 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
· Leave your porch light switched on, as well as a light inside your home, so you and our repair crews will know when service has been restored.
· Turn down your thermostat and turn off the circuit breaker for your water heater. This will help reduce initial demand for electricity when power is restored. If that demand is too great, the system will overload and cause the power to go off again.
· Turn off and unplug other electrical equipment, including VCRs, computers, television sets, stereos and microwave ovens. It will protect your equipment in case there is a change in voltage as the power comes back on. It’s also a good idea to use a surge suppresser to protect your valuable electrical equipment and appliances.
· Do not turn equipment on again until lights have returned to their normal brightness.
· Open the refrigerator door as seldom as possible so cold air stays inside until the power comes back on. Remember, pork, poultry, fish and ground meats spoil quickly at room temperatures above 40 degrees. Other foods that spoil quickly include custards, creamed foods or any food containing mayonnaise.
· Food will stay frozen for about two days in a full freezer, or about one day in a freezer less than half full. It helps to cover freezers with blankets and quilts. Food may be refrozen if it still contains some ice crystals. If in doubt, throw it out. Dry ice may be added to the freezer to help keep food frozen. Wear gloves and place it on top of cardboard or newspaper rather than directly on food packages.
· Make sure you have one or more working flashlights at hand with extra batteries. Use caution if you light candles.
Please remember that when the power goes out, we’re trying to get it restored to all customers as fast as we can. But we have to prioritize repairs to minimize outages. Repairs in rural areas often take longer than outages in urban areas because power lines are longer and may have more points of damage. If, after an outage, power is restored to your neighbors but not to you, please call us again.
Rates and billing
Clark Public Utilities is a customer-owned utility. An elected board of commissioners sets rates. Those rates are based on the cost to provide service. There is no profit built in.
Electric bills include charges for electricity, delivery services, general administration and overhead, metering, taxes, conservation expenses and other items. Since 70 percent of our budget is power supply costs, those energy costs are the primary factor in whether electric rates need to change.
If you wish to pay your bill in person, please note our office hours and locations.
If you receive a bill and don’t think you’ll be able to pay all of it on time, please contact us so that we can make payment arrangements.
For a copy of our service policies and other important billing information, call us at (360) 992-3000 or e-mail us.
Related links:
Rates and billing
Clark Public Utilities is a customer-owned utility. An elected board of commissioners sets rates. Those rates are based on the cost to provide service. There is no profit built in.
Electric bills include charges for electricity, delivery services, general administration and overhead, metering, taxes, conservation expenses and other items. Since 70 percent of our budget is power supply costs, those energy costs are the primary factor in whether electric rates need to change.
If you wish to pay your bill in person, please note our office hours and locations.
If you receive a bill and don’t think you’ll be able to pay all of it on time, please contact us so that we can make payment arrangements.
For a copy of our service policies and other important billing information, call us at (360) 992-3000 or e-mail us.
Related links:
Electric rates
Electric rates have been increased just six times in the past 25 years. Unfortunately, five of those six increases have come since 1999 as prices to produce and buy electricity have risen significantly.
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Seventy-three percent of an average electric bill reflects the actual cost of the energy you use. We resell electricity for what it costs us to produce it or buy it, with no price mark-up. The rest of your bill covers the cost of delivering electricity to your home over our power lines, electric system maintenance and improvements, general administration and overhead, metering, taxes, conservation expenses and other items.
Residential electric rates are 7.65 cents per kilowatt-hour.
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A kilowatt-hour equals 1,000 watts of electricity used for an hour. For example, you use a kilowatt-hour when you burn one 100-watt light bulb for 10 hours or a 1,000-watt heater for one hour.
There is also a monthly customer charge of $8. The basic charge is intended to collect some of the costs of providing service, regardless of whether any electricity used. Such costs include meter reading, billing and the fixed facilities that are in place, including the meter, power lines and transformers.
Rates effective January 1, 2009
Water rates
New water rates, encouraging conservation, took effect for water use beginning January 1, 2009. A full copy of the adopting resolution is available here. The adopted water rate structure complies with a law passed by the Washington legislature that requires utilities to do more to encourage water conservation.
The price of water is measured by cubic feet. One cubic foot is 7.48 gallons. The average family of four uses 400 gallons of water a day.
To encource conservation, pricing is in three tiers with the cost per 100 cubic feet increasing as more water is used.
· Water consumption up to 1,800 cubic feet will be charged at the rate of $1.60 per 100 cubic feet (748 gallons).
· Use of between 1,801 and 3,600 cubic feet will be charged at the rate of $2.08 per 100 cubic feet.
· Water consumption above 3,600 cubic feet in a month will be charged at $2.56 per 100 cubic feet.
On the “Compare your use” section of the bill there are lines that differentiate the rates and your use. They will be “Block 1″ for use up to 1,800 cubic feet, “Block 2″ for consumption from 1,801 to 3,600 cubic feet and “Block 3″ for any use above 3,600 cubic feet in a month.
There is also a monthly customer charge which is based on the size of the water meter serving your property. For most residential customers this charge is $8.00 a month.
Community involvement
When it comes right down to it, Clark Public Utilities is involved in much more than keeping the lights on and water flowing to your home. As a customer-owned utility we work hard to make Clark County a great place to live. We participate in the community to make a difference in the lives of customers.
We’re involved in the development of our communities, the education of our young people, and assisting those with special needs. Our employees volunteer more than 4,600 hours each year. We live here too, and believe that we make a positive difference in the community.
Community links: We’ve compiled a list of favorite links to websites of local government, service providers such as schools, utilities, libraries, transit and other popular sites.
Community rooms: We have two meeting rooms that we offer free of charge to non-profit organizations. Both have kitchen facilities. You may request a meeting date on-line.
School programs: Students are invited to our operations center to learn about electricity and water.
Home & Garden Idea Fair: The utility sponsors the annual fair at the Clark County Fairgrounds every spring. It features a huge plant sale, landscape displays, craft sale, speakers and demonstrations, activities for children, exhibitors with lots of ideas for your home and garden and new energy efficiency products.
Homework help: This section has activities and information that may help youngsters with their electricity and water-related homework.
SafeWatch: This program is our way of telling you we’ll help if you need us in an emergency situation.
Speakers Bureau: Employees are available to speak to schools groups and community organizations.
Clark County Fair
Community services links
For your convenience we’ve included links to many of the businesses, local governments and service providers you may need to contact when you’re moving in or out of your home, or if you’re new to the area and just want to get acquainted!
