Everett, WA — Consumers and businesses throughout Snohomish County and Camano Island expect to save hundreds of thousands of dollars through the PUD’s Energy Challenge, a community-wide effort that asks customers to cut their energy use by 10 percent. Local businesses have pledged to cut 6.8 million kilowatt hours, enough to power 560 homes. The program not only helps customers save money, it helps the environment and keeps rates low by reducing the need for new power generation. The following businesses have joined:

Dwayne Lane Family of Auto Centers    Tyee Aircraft
Intermec Technologies Corp.            In Harmony Services, Inc.
Judd & Black                     Pacific Continental Shippers, LLC
Petosa's Family Grocer            Tina & Company Daycare
Philips Healthcare                JMC Cabinets
Stockpot                    Chuck’s Chevron
Fluke                        Snohomish County PUD
Premera Blue Cross                Coleman Property Development LLC

In addition, almost 800 residential customers have signed on to the PUD Energy Challenge. As part of their pledge to reduce their energy use, they receive monthly emails with tips and ideas about saving energy, a window decal and a certificate acknowledging their commitment.

The program also includes quarterly drawings for residential customers to receive energy-saving prizes, including home energy-saving kits, smart power strips and free home energy assessments from the PUD. The following customers received prizes this month:

-Wendy Rall, Everett            -Greg Blake, Marysville
-James Wilson, Edmonds        -Denise Cerna, Arlington

All customers can learn more about the PUD Energy Challenge through notices in their bills, by visiting www.jointhePUDchallenge.com or by calling the Energy Hotline at 425-783-1700.