How does a story about a California utility fit into a BPA regional publication? The answer is a description of a highly successful education program. Regional utilities may want to borrow these ideas, including Save a Watt (SAW) masks that are available to BPA public utility customers free of charge. (Contact Jennifer Wood at  (509) 527-6230 to order masks.)

Redding Electric Utility (REU) Energy Services Manager Pat Keener viewed the SAW masks at a Northwest Public Power Association event in 2002. "I thought they were fantastic," Keener said of the masks. "Bring some excitement into an educational presentation, and the kids enjoy it a lot more." REU purchased masks from BPA, and added the REU logo and web address. Adrian Mallery, REU Account Manager Residential/Small Commercial and also Conservation Manager, took Keener's concept and developed it into a program to teach local fourth and fifth graders the basics of electricity, including safety, and also the importance of conservation of electric energy and water.

The education program gained ground in 2003 - 2004, and will include up to 2,000 students this year. The utility plans to expand the program by following up with the same students when they are in seventh and eighth grades. By teaching students, REU is reaching their parents and the community.

Features of the program include:

• Mallery teaches energy and water conservation and talks about how electricity is made, and the benefits of a locally owned and locally controlled utility.
• Safety: A team concept. Linemen come in dressed in all of their gear and talk about safety. They display a model house that shows all of the things that can happen if you do something wrong -- push a button which initiates a shock, and it electrocutes the miniature person displayed in the model.
• Science: Several students stand and hold hands. They are asked if they are a conductor of electricity. Then they hold a continuity meter, and a buzzing sound shows the power is flowing through them. Two students are told to let go of each other's hands. This, of course, is a circuit breaker.
• Efficiency Activities: Each student receives a REU folder containing information about wise appliance use, a sheet for audits, list of energy savings tips, and a recycled pencil made from Levis. They are also directed to explore REU's web site to complete an energy audit on REU's home energy calculator for extra credit. Comic books that teach about conservation will be added to the mix.
• Souvenirs: Teachers receive a low-flow showerhead, a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL), a nice pen, and a small calculator stamped with the REU logo to use to calculate how much electricity they are saving after the presentation.

How does REU gauge the success of the program?

"Through increased activity on REU's web site, particularly hits on our Apogee energy calculator," Mallery said. "REU contracts with Apogee for the use of its Energy Calculator program - Apogee is amazed by the volume of hits the calculator receives, especially at such a small utility as REU. We meet with the school teachers before presenting the education program, and

Redding fourth and fifth grade students enjoy Save a Watt masks and learning about energy and water conservation and electrical safety.

Adrian Mallery developed an educational program to teach fourth and fifth graders the basics of electricity, including safety, and also the importance of conserving energy and water.

suggest students be given extra credit for conducting an audit online with their parents, with the caveat, the student returns with a printed, completed audit. Our staff attributes the high use of the energy calculator to our school education program.

"Letters from students are also a good gauge of success. Students let us know they are really getting something out of the program. One student said she thought it was great, but said, 'I should have never told my parents to turn the lights off and shut the refrigerator, because now I get in trouble.'

"At one area school, our team was wrapping up the presentation and packing up to leave, and, as usual, kids stuck around and asked more questions. About 50 kids lined up and asked for the REU Team's autograph. This type of response tells us the program is a resounding success."

James C. Feider, REU Director said, "This program has been a tremendous outreach to our community. It's amazing to see how the young people in our community truly realize the importance of energy and water conservation and want to take what they learn at these presentations home to their families to encourage further energy savings."

REU…Smart Service … Bright Ideas!

-- Contact Adrian Mallery (530) 339-7210