As we head into the colder months, severe weather can strike suddenly – anytime, anywhere. We prepare for storms throughout the year and encourage you to do the same for your business. Business leaders and employees can do a lot to prepare for the most likely hazards they will face in the workplace. When you're able to continue operations after severe weather, you also improve your community's ability to recover. If you would like to receive weather updates and planned outages, call me at the phone number below, or email me, and I will add you to my list.
Earn incentives for upgrading energy saving controls
Energy efficiency can help boost your bottom line and provide savings on utility bills. Heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) can make up a good portion of energy use in an average business. Installing a more efficient system will keep your space warm and comfortable and help reduce heating costs. Paired with a smart thermostat, you can simultaneously reduce energy consumption and have more control over your HVAC system. Our business rebates can help pay for the upgrades so learn more about what we offer online.
Be Aware of Utility Scams
Tacoma Public Utilities encourages everyone to be vigilant by knowing the signs of scams, including aggressive threats and insistence on immediate payments. Sophisticated scammers use spoofing technology to look and sound like us. We will never call, email, or visit a home demanding immediate payment. We will never request credit card, banking, or financial information. If you receive a phone call demanding payment to avoid disconnection, hang up immediately. For more information call Business Solutions at 253-502-8606 or visit MyTPU.org/Scams.
The Shalom Project receives $50,000 renewable energy grant
The Shalom Project is a partnership between Peace Lutheran in Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood and St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in West Tacoma. Their renewable energy project will use the Evergreen Options grant, and other funding sources, to install a solar array on three low-income houses in the Hilltop neighborhood, which operate as part of a low-income housing initiative. The grant will also go towards installing 249 400-watt solar panels on the roof of St. Mark’s. This project will have an exciting, broader impact on the community and directly impact the families in the three low-income houses by reducing their utility burden.
Grant funding comes from Tacoma Power residential and business customers participating in the Evergreen Options program. Learn more at MyTPU.org/Evergreen.
Tacoma Water to Propose Rate Increases Due to WestRock Closure
WestRock Company recently announced that they are closing their Tacoma paper mill. WestRock is among our largest industrial customers, using around $25 million worth of power and water each year.
Westrock’s usage accounted for approximately 1/3 of overall daily use of our water, equal to the water use of more than 100,000 homes and a significant revenue loss for our water utility. Our staff is actively reviewing ways to increase revenue from other sources and reduce costs.
While our system will no longer have this large water demand on it, the infrastructure (pipes, filtration plant, reservoirs, water resources) used to serve WestRock and all other Tacoma Water customers will continue to require maintenance. There will be limited ability to remove segments of the system from service to reduce costs. These fixed cost assets are critical to our ability to reliably deliver clean, healthy drinking water to all customers.
As a not-for-profit utility, our rates only cover our cost to provide clean, reliable drinking water. In order to maintain our system for providing clean, healthy water, we will need to compensate for the loss of expected revenue by proposing rate increases. Over the next several months, our staff will present scenarios to our policymakers for consideration.
To learn more about the proposals and public process, visit MyTPU.org/MillClosure. If you have questions about how the rate increase will affect your bill, contact me for more info.
Washington Clean Buildings Standard Updates
Washington State is finalizing rules for Tier 2 buildings, which encompass multifamily buildings greater than 20,000 sq. ft. and non-multifamily buildings from 20,000 to 50,000 sq. ft. Building owners of Tier 2 buildings can learn more about next steps at the Clean Buildings Performance Standard website.
We support the Energy Star Portfolio Manager (ESPM) service with automated uploads of energy usage. ESPM enables commercial building owners and operators to identify their building’s energy performance which is a requirement under the Clean Buildings law. Take steps to connect with ESPM now to avoid any compliance delays. Start the process to identify a compliance strategy for covered buildings and determine if third party assistance is needed to improve performance. Review our updated instructions for connecting with TPU and ESPM here.
Business Spotlight
The history of WestRock and the legacy of its departure
For over 90 years, the WestRock paper mill formed part of the industrial backbone of the Tacoma tide flats, its iconic presence in the Tacoma landscape an integral part of the region’s economic engine. Tacoma literally grew around WestRock, filling and expanding beyond its original footprint as the population and economic power of the City grew.
