New Meters are Easier to Read

You may have read last year that Pasadena Water and Power is swapping out old meters with new models called AMRs.

The electric and water meters have odometer displays that are easier to read (left to right) to help you track your usage and conserve. By checking your month-to-month consumption and using better energy-saving habits, like shutting off your air conditioning when nobody’s home, you can save on your bills.

The meters are also great for PWP. AMR technology uses radio frequency to transmit billing data to handheld devices carried by our meter readers. This lets our crews walk or drive by without entering your property in most cases. This process is much faster and more accurate.

To date, more than 25,000 electric meters and more than 6,000 water meters have been upgraded, mostly in residential areas. To accommodate these improvements in your neighborhood, please remember that Pasadena’s Light and Power Ordinance allows PWP crews to enter your property to inspect or replace equipment. You can help us work quickly and keep our equipment in top shape by providing easy access and offering any keys or security gate codes. Our crew members always wear official PWP identification badges and arrive in officially marked vehicles.

If you have any questions about the meter change-out program, call 744-4469.

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New Year’s Resolution: Water-Wise Gardens

Pasadena Water and Power’s landscape workshops  fare blooming again! Learn how native plants, smart plant selection, proper locations and good maintenance can help prune your water bills while your garden thrives.
Free to all PWP residential water customers, this series of four comprehensive classes covers the following topics:

Landscape design basics – Saturday, Feb. 24
California Friendly and native plants – Saturday, March 10
Landscape sprinkler systems – Saturday, March 24
Soils, watering and fertilizers – Saturday, April 7

You can sign up for individual classes or for the entire series. The classes, taught by landscaping professionals, will be from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Eaton Canyon Nature Center, 1750 N. Altadena Dr. All materials are provided. Seating is limited, so call
744-3715 to reserveyour spot (you must have a reservation to attend).

If you can’t make it to the workshops, look for an online tutorial covering topics similar to the classes above at www.cityofpasadena.net/waterandpower (click on Your Water, then FREE Landscape Irrigation & Design Courses).

Reminder: If you use sprinkler timers, be sure to adjust them this winter to reduce watering; turn them off completely on rainy days. For a current watering index, which indicates the right amount of water for plants to receive based on temperature and weather, visit www.bewaterwise.com

Pull the Plug on Your Old Fridge

Earn some cool cash through Pasadena Water and Power’s Refrigerator Recycling Program, back by popular demand!

How old is the refrigerator in your kitchen? Or, if you’re like many residents, you may have an old, spare refrigerator or freezer that you hardly use plugged into your garage. Each one drains about 1,718 kilowatt hours every year. (New models can be 25 percent more efficient!) PWP wants to make it easy for you to pull the plug and start saving money.

Open to all PWP residential electric customers, the program offers free pick-up and recycling of old refrigerators and stand-alone freezers. In return, each participant receives a $25 rebate for a fridge, a $35 rebate for a freezer and a coupon redeemable for three compact fluorescent light bulbs. To qualify, refrigerators and freezers must be in working order and there is a two-unit limit per household. Just call PWP’s AnswerLine two to three weeks in advance to schedule a pick-up straight from your home or garage (there’s no need to haul the fridge to the curb).

You’ll receive a check in the mail and lower power bills, plus you’ll reduce the load on Pasadena’s power grid and help the environment at the same time. PWP has secured the assistance of Appliance Recycling Centers of America Inc. (ARCA), which has pledged to handle the old appliances using the most advanced and Earth-friendly methods available. They’ll safely dispose of or recycle potentially hazardous materials, like PCBs and CFC refrigerants. All in all, this program is a great way for you to contribute to the greater good.