In the Community

Power Pledge Challenge kicks off October Energy Awareness Month

Over 3,000 students will learn about energy efficiency this month and compete for prizes statewide as part of the Power Pledge Challenge. Utilities and organizations from Mat-Su, Anchorage, Kenai Peninsula, Seward, Bethel, and Juneau host the challenge as part of Energy Awareness Month, recognized every year in October. In the challenge, students complete a hands-on activity from the AK EnergySmart curriculum, learn how to calculate their energy usage, and ways to reduce their usage at home.  They then conduct an online home energy audit with their families and identify specific actions they will take to use energy more efficiently.

Over the past six years, this challenge has grown from 700 students in Anchorage to more than 3,600 throughout the state competing for regional and statewide prizes. Each region will award one class with a pizza party with a special guest and/or power plant tour. The statewide “grand” prize is a pizza party and $1,700 worth of energy-related classroom supplies.

The Power Pledge Challenge is held through support of Alaska Energy Light & Power, Alaska Energy Authority, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, Chugach Electric Association, City of Seward, Homer Electric Association, Matanuska Electric Association, Municipal Light and Power, and Renewable Energy Alaska Project. The AK EnergySmart program provides energy literacy curriculum for K-12 students, student hands-on workshops and professional development opportunities for teachers. To learn more please visit: www.akenergysmart.org. 

Chugach participates in National Drive Electric Week

Chugach participated in National Drive Electric Week September 8-16, 2018. National Drive Electric Week is a nationwide celebration to heighten awareness of the widespread availability of plug-in vehicles and to highlight the benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid-electric cars, trucks, motorcycles, and more. As part of National Drive Electric Week, Chugach’s electric vehicle, named Wattson, was on display around the Anchorage service territory including at the Dimond Center, The Alaska Zoo, and in Girdwood.

Chugach purchased the all-electric 2017 Chevy Bolt and has been testing it in different road and weather conditions. Wattson is part of Chugach’s sustainability business philosophy (also called the Triple Bottom Line) directing social, environmental, and financial impacts be considered when evaluating business performance. The utility also has a charging station in front of its headquarters building on Electron Drive that is free and available for public use.

Chugach to participate in National Drive Electric Week

Chugach is participating in National Drive Electric Week September 8-16, 2018. National Drive Electric Week is a nationwide celebration to heighten awareness of the widespread availability of plug-in vehicles and highlight the benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid-electric cars, trucks, motorcycles, and more.

Chugach purchased an all-electric 2017 Chevy Bolt and has been testing it in different road and weather conditions. The electric vehicle (EV), named Wattson by employees, is part of Chugach’s sustainability business philosophy (also called the Triple Bottom Line) directing social, environmental, and financial impacts be considered when evaluating business performance. The utility also has a charging station in front of its headquarters building on Electron Drive that is free and available for public use.

As part of National Drive Electric Week, Wattson will be on display at various locations around Anchorage for members and the public to stop and hear about the benefits of electric vehicles. 

Where’s Wattson?

September 10           Dimond Center (east side near H&M)      11 am to 1 pm

September 12           Girdwood library/community center         1:30 to 3:30 pm

September 14          Alaska Zoo (upper parking lot)                  11 am to 1 pm  

Chugach will also be presenting on the topic of electric vehicles at the Clean Power Happy Hour at the 49th State Brewery in Anchorage on September 11 at 6 pm.

Watch for Chugach crews at work

With summer in full swing, Chugach Electric crews are out and about across Anchorage working on a variety of projects. Some of the work is related to Chugach projects, we also partner with local and state road projects, and crews are out restoring power after an outage. It is not unusual for Chugach crews to work 24/7 and weekends for outage restoration, and we often are called to assist Anchorage police and fire departments during certain events.

Occasionally, homeowners have questions when they see Chugach crews in neighborhoods, particularly after normal business hours. This work can require going into backyards to access easements where equipment is often located. You can spot a Chugach crew by the logos on the trucks, the logos on the safety gear they are wearing, and you can also ask for identification.

We know it can sometimes be surprising to see people working near or around your house, so we want to make sure we can work well together. The goal of any Chugach crew working anywhere is to work safely and efficiently. If you have questions about a Chugach crew working in your area, you can call 762-7888 to verify.