SMMPA Earns 5th Consecutive Minnesota Safety Council Governor’s Safety Award

The Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (SMMPA) was recently recognized for excellence in workplace safety and health during the 2023 Minnesota Safety and Health Conference. SMMPA is one of 80 employers to be honored by the awards program as having Outstanding Achievement in Occupational Safety. This is the fifth consecutive year that SMMPA has received the Governor’s Safety Award.

 

“Developing a safety-first culture in the workplace is not just about policies and procedures. It requires a mindset where safety is valued at all levels of the organization.” said SMMPA Chief Executive Officer Dave Geschwind.  “It’s an honor for the team to be recognized for our efforts to foster a safety-oriented work culture here at SMMPA.”

 

Since 1934, the annual Governor’s Safety Awards program has honored Minnesota employers with exceptional safety performance. Applicants are judged on several years of injury data as it compares with their industry’s national statistics, and on their progress in implementing a comprehensive safety program.

Make Laundry Better With ENERGY STAR®

Clothes washers and heat pump dryers that have earned the ENERGY STAR® deliver superior efficiency and performance by incorporating advanced features that make cleaning and drying easier and more effective while saving money on your energy bills.

 

You can save even more with a utility rebate!

 

SMMPA member utilities offer rebates of up to $40 on the purchase of new ENERGY STAR clothes washers.  ENERGY STAR-qualified heat pump clothes dryers are eligible for a $25 rebate.  Rebate forms are available by clicking here and selecting your utility.

 

Clothes washers that have earned the ENERGY STAR use about 20% less energy and 30% less water than standard models and use a variety of sophisticated cleaning methods that deliver on performance while being gentler on your clothes.  Certified heat pump dryers use advanced technology that requires about half the energy of a standard electric dryer, and the ventless models can be installed almost anywhere. 

Learn more and get guidance choosing the right clothes washer for your home here, and dryers here.

Celebrate Earth Day Every Day!

Protecting the climate starts with all of us. This Earth Day, join SMMPA, our member utilities, and ENERGY STAR® in making energy choices that help support a more efficient, healthier, and more comfortable home for you, and a clean energy future for everyone.

Choosing products that have been independently certified to earn the ENERGY STAR label can help save energy, save money, and protect the planet.

SMMPA member utilities offer rebates on the purchase of new ENERGY STAR products. Rebate forms are available by clicking here and selecting your utility.

Together, we can all do our part to support a clean energy future!

Now’s the Time to Flip Your Fridge and Save!

Recycle that old energy-wasting refrigerator and replace it with a new ENERGY STAR® certified model.  You’ll save energy and you can save even more with a utility rebate!

 

SMMPA member utilities offer rebates of $25 on the purchase of new ENERGY STAR Refrigerators, plus an additional rebate to pay for recycling your old working refrigerator.

 

Rebate forms are available by clicking here and selecting your utility.

 

Refrigerators that are 15 years or older use twice as much energy as a new ENERGY STAR certified refrigerator.  Replacing that old energy-wasting refrigerator with a new ENERGY STAR certified refrigerator could save you more than $300 in energy costs over the next five years.  Get guidance choosing the right refrigerator for your home here: www.energystar.gov/flipyourfridge.

 

Flip Your Fridge to ENERGY STAR, the simple choice for energy efficiency!

 

Tips for Buying a Smart Thermostat

Our member utilities offer rebates of $10-$100 for ENERGY STAR® certified Smart Thermostats designed to save up to $100 each year on their customers’ heating and cooling bills.

 

A “smart” thermostat is a Wi-Fi enabled thermostat that allows you to control your home’s heating and cooling temperature settings from your “smart” devices - phone, tablet, or computer.  Smart thermostats offer greater convenience, energy savings, and control than manual or programmable thermostats.

 

Here are some tips to help you select a smart thermostat:

  • Make sure it’s compatible with your heating and cooling system. 

  • Consider using the same brand as your furnace, AC, or heat pump manufacturer.

  • Check that you have a compatible home network to connect the thermostat – most work on WiFi.

  • Look for the ENERGY STAR label!  Smart thermostats that have earned the ENERGY STAR go through an independent certification process to verify energy savings.

Not only do smart thermostats save you money and provide better comfort, they also help protect the environment by operating your AC, furnace, or heat pump only when needed.

 

Click here and select your utility for more ways to save energy and money.

 

Click here for our latest "Current" newsletter

Our newest issue highlights fiscal actions taken by SMMPA to reduce the amount of risk associated with the energy market cost variances, spotlights the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission accepting the Agency’s Integrated Resource Plan, identifies benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act and more. This edition of the Current is available here and in the Financials section of the website.

 

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