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LIGHT AND POWER DEPARTMENT

 

For after-hours light and power emergencies, call:  970-586-4000

 

 

To transfer an existing utility account into your name, or if you have questions about your utility bill,

 

please call Utility Billing at: 970-586-5331

 

 

UTILITIES DIRECTOR

Robert M. Goehring
170 MacGregor Avenue
P.O. Box 1200
Estes Park, CO  80517

970-577-3580

bgoehring@estes.org

Utilities Engineer
Reuben Bergsten
970-577-3583
rbergsten@estes.org

Line Superintendent
Todd Steichen
970-577-3601
tsteichen@estes.org

Crew Chief
Joe Lockhart
970-577-3613
jlockhart@estes.org

           

       

LIGHT AND POWER INFORMATION

 

General Information

 

Renewable Energy Purchase Plan

 

Renewable Energy Rebates - Small Wind Turbines & PV Systems

 

Renewable Energy Survey

 

The Historic Fall River Hydro Electric Plant

 

Fees and Rates, Net Metering Agreement

 

Questline for Commercial Customers

 

State Electrical Inspector

 

 

Meter Reader Phil Badali

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Light & Power Office is located in the Engineering Department on the first floor of the Municipal Building at 170 MacGregor Avenue, while the Light & Power Shop is located at 615 Elm Road.

Estes Park's Light and Power Department has been providing the area with quality electrical service since 1945. Today the utility serves about 9,300 customers, including more than 7,600 residential accounts and nearly 1,600 commercial accounts. Its coverage area encompasses 280 square miles, reaching south to Allenspark and Ferncliff; to Glen Haven along the North Fork; Waltonia on Highway 34; and eight miles down Highway 36. The area is bordered on the west by Rocky Mountain National Park.

All of the local utility's power is purchased from Platte River Power Authority, including energy output from the Colorado-Big Thompson Project. In all, about 40 percent of the power is generated by the Western Area Power Administration and 60 percent from Platte River, Craig and Rawhide Plants.

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photo courtesy of American Wind Energy Assoication

RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEM REBATES

In partnership with the Colorado Governor's Energy Office, Estes Park Light & Power is offering rebates on the installation of small wind turbines and/or photovoltaic (PV) systems on individual customers' sites. 

Small wind turbine rebates are available immediately, to qualified residential or commercial EPL&P customers at $2/Watt up to a maximum of $5,000. 

To qualify for the small wind turbine rebate, you must install a small wind turbine that carries a five-year manufacturer's warrantee on your property, participate in EPL&P's net metering program, and, follow all local, county, and state building and zoning codes and ordinances. 

Participants must perform yearly maintenance tests on the turbine, proving that it is operating within manufacturer's specifications and provide that documentation to EPL&P.  To participate and for more information, please refer to the Small Wind Incentive Pilot Program Rebate Application.

PV rebates are available to residential customers only at $3/Watt up to $9,000 for installations completed after February 2, 2009.  Homeowner-installed systems do not qualify for PV rebates, and energy audits are required.  The Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (CoSEIA) is administering this program; a list of approved installers for this program is available here.  THE PHOTOVOLTAIC REBATES ARE FULLY SUBSCRIBED FOR 2009.  PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR INFORMATION ON FUTURE REBATE OPPORTUNITIES.

For more information on EPL&P's Renewable energy Rebate Program, please contact Barb Boyer Buck, bboyerbuck@estes.org or refer to the Renewable Energy Rebate program brochure.

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 RENEWABLE ENERGY

 PURCHASE PROGRAM

RENEWABLE ENERGY PURCHASE PROGRAM

Estes Park Light & Power customers may purchase renewable energy through EPL&P and Platte River Power Authority.  In 1999, Town Board voted to commit to the purchase of 25 percent of the output from a 660 kW wind turbine located at the Platte River Power Authority Medicine Bow wind site in Wyoming, translating into 961,000 kilowatt hours per year.

In 2007, Platte River's demand for renewable energy increased and the renewable portfolio expanded to include other forms of renewable energy. In response, EPL&P increased its purchase of renewable energy by 500,000 kWh.

Estes Park Light & Power customers can invest in increasing production of renewable energy by purchasing renewable energy in 100 kWh blocks. Each block purchased will result in a cost of $1.30 over and above the customer's monthly utility bill.

Sign-up forms are available at the Light & Power Office, by calling the Light & Power Department at 970-577-3588, or by e-mailing bboyerbuck@estes.org  For a brochure on Wind Power in Estes Park, click on this link: Renewable Energy  Purchase Program Brochure

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RENEWABLE ENERGY SURVEY

The Town of Estes Park's community Renewable Energy Survey was completed on October 16. To view the results,  click here.

 

 

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HISTORIC FALL RIVER  HYDRO ELECTRIC PLANT MUSEUM

The Fall River Hydro Plant, Estes Park's first power plant, was built by F.O. Stanley in 1909 on the banks of Fall River. Stanley was driven by a desire to provide electricity for his new facility - The Stanley Hotel.

Stanley's power plant was shut down in 1982 following extensive damage to the structure caused by the Lawn Lake Flood. However, following extensive refurbishing the Hydro Plant has now reopened as a museum. State Historic Fund monies provided a major source of funding for the project. The grand opening ceremony was held July 15, 2002, coinciding with the 20th Anniversary of the Lawn Lake Flood. Click here to discover more fascinating information about the Fall River Hydro Plant.

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FEES AND RATES

For the Net-Metering Policy & Agreement, click here

For Utility Department Financial Policies, click here

For current Town of Estes Park electrical rates through 2010, click here

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Reuben Bergsten, Utilities Engineer, is the Town's Questline Representative.                    

Reuben can be reached at:
577-3583 or
rbergsten@estes.org

ESTES PARK LIGHT AND POWER QUESTLINE SERVICE

Free of charge, current Estes Park Light & Power commercial and industrial customers can use and access the Questline®Service.  The Questline service includes a Technical and Business "Ask and Expert" Hotline (one-on-one access to engineers and industry & business experts), proprietary information and databases & libraries (including benchmark and targeted research tools), and monthly information  and a resource-rich newsletter.

 

As a commercial or industrial customer of Estes Park Light & Power, Questline® invites you to use the service as if it were part of your own company's research and information department.  The service is provided at no cost to you because we believe that if the companies we serve are strong - then we will be strong.

 

To gain access to or sign-up for the service, please click on the link below.

 

www.questline.com/service/index.cfm?clid=117

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DaveCearlock.jpg (31674 bytes)

Dave Cearlock,
State Electrical Inspector

STATE ELECTRICAL INSPECTOR
 

Dave Cearlock, State Electrical Inspector, is available in the Engineering Department at the Municipal Building from 8 to 9 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. He can be reached by phone locally at 970-577-3589, or in his Fort Collins office at 223-9838.

 

 

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Copyright Town of Estes Park