Author: hannah

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

Contact: Hannah Duell, Communications Specialist, (231) 932-4544, hduell@tclp.org

TRAVERSE CITY, MI – Pending a public hearing next week, the Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) Board has tentatively approved a modest rate increase, effective July 1, 2024.

The adjustments are to ensure the utility’s continued move toward decarbonization/100% renewable energy use by 2040, enhanced community education services, and preventative tree trimming that maintains the low outage experience for customers, all outlined in TCLP’s 2024-2029 Strategic Plan.

“We understand that any rate increase can be a burden on personal and business budgets,” said Brandie Ekren, TCLP Executive Director. “We have worked conscientiously to minimize the impact as well as eliminate some barriers to electrification.”

The average TCLP residential customer uses 572 kWh per month. When the increase goes into effect, that resident will at most see around a 5%, or $4.50, increase in their monthly bill.

“These adjustments will also mean that there will no longer be two energy charge block rates, so residents won’t be assessed a higher cost for using more electricity,” Ekren said. “Their average cost will actually be reduced the more they use.”

TCLP understands the importance of affordability and is committed to providing customers with resources to manage their energy use, including:

• Energy saver programs: TCLP offers a variety of programs to help customers save money on their electric bills, including rebates on energy-efficient appliances and home upgrades.
• Budget billing: Customers can enroll in budget billing to spread their energy costs throughout the year and avoid seasonal spikes.
• Financial assistance programs: There are several programs offered by the government and organizations to qualified customers.

Within the industry, TCLP remains in the bottom five for its average residential price in the state of Michigan according to 2022 U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data.

Residents interested in providing comments may do so at a public hearing during the Tuesday, June 11, 2024, Board meeting, which will begin at 5:15 p.m. in the City Commission Chambers at 400 Boardman Avenue, Traverse City.

Documents detailing the proposed overall rate increase can be found here.

About Traverse City Light & Power

Serving the community since 1912, Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) is a municipally owned utility serving Traverse City and its surrounding areas. Dedicated to reliability, sustainability, and innovation, TCLP provides energy and telecommunication services designed to meet the changing needs of its community. For more information, visit www.tclp.org.

Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) will hold a public hearing regarding a proposed overall 5.0% rate increase on June 11, 2024, at the regular meeting of the TCLP Board.

All customers are invited to attend and provide comment regarding the increase during the public hearing.

The TCLP Board meeting will begin at 5:15 p.m. in the Commission Chambers located at the Governmental Center, 400 Boardman Avenue.  

Documents detailing the proposed overall rate increase can be found here.

Thursday, May 23, 2024

Contact: Hannah Duell, Communications Specialist, (231)-932-4544, hduell@tclp.org

TRAVERSE CITY, MI. – Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) is thrilled to announce that on June 10, 2024, it will be opening a second Customer Service Center at 130 Hall Street. This expansion underscores the dedication to enhancing the customer experience and providing greater accessibility to TCLP’s valued community members. This new location will also provide customers with a second point of contact for any inquiries or concerns.

“As we embark on this exciting expansion, we’re thrilled to open our newest customer service location. This move reflects our deep commitment to prioritizing your convenience and satisfaction. We eagerly look forward to elevating your experience with TCLP, providing the high-quality service you deserve,” said Executive Director, Brandie Ekren.

Starting Monday, June 10th, the strategically positioned new location at 130 Hall Street in Traverse City will be open from 8 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

Customer Service can also be reached at 231-922-4940 or via email at customerservice@tclp.org.

A grand opening event and a ribbon-cutting ceremony are scheduled to take place in the fall. Further information regarding this event will be provided at a later time.

About Traverse City Light & Power

Serving the community since 1912, Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) is a municipally owned utility serving Traverse City and its surrounding areas. Dedicated to reliability, sustainability, and innovation, TCLP provides energy and telecommunication services designed to meet the changing needs of its community. For more information, visit www.tclp.org.

Thursday, April 25, 2024

Contact: Kelli Schroeder, Customer & Employee Relations Manager, 231 932-4545, kschroeder@tclp.org

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – Traverse City Light and Power (TCLP) has awarded three local agencies funds from the TCLP Community Investment Program. This year’s Community Investment Program awardees are Friends of the Grand Traverse Conservation District, Habitat for Humanity, and SEEDS. The following submissions were approved at the Tuesday, April 9, 2024, TCLP Board meeting:

• Friends of the GT Conservation District – in the amount of $16,000 to support the construction of the Discovery Boardwalk along the trails of the Natural Education Reserve that will create a high-priority aquatic/wetland learning site for youth educational programming based out of the Boardman River Nature Center.
• Habitat for Humanity – in the amount of $5,100 to support the conversion of all current fluorescent lighting to energy and cost-efficient LED lights.
• SEEDS – in the amount of $20,000 to support the replacement of the roof of the SEEDS workshop, increasing the public educational and training capacity of the SEEDS Ecology and Education Centers.

“TCLP is a community-owned utility that is committed to investing back into the community it serves,” said Board member Elysha Davila. “We are excited to support initiatives that are aligned with TCLP’s vision and values to embrace environmental stewardship and foster a sustainable environment.”

Are you a non-profit organization operating in the Traverse City service area that has a program or project that can benefit the Traverse City community? Does your project aim to promote energy-related education, improve the quality of the natural resources of Traverse City, and support a sustainable environment?

If your answer is yes to the above questions, we invite you to apply for TCLP’s Community Investment Fund. Grant applications are accepted two times per year from May 1 – July 31 and from November 1 – January 31.

About Traverse City Light & Power

Serving the community since 1912, Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) is a municipally owned utility serving Traverse City and its surrounding areas. Dedicated to reliability, sustainability, and innovation, TCLP provides energy and telecommunication services designed to meet the changing needs of its community. For more information, visit www.tclp.org.

Monday, April 15, 2024

Contact: Hannah Duell, Communications Specialist, (231)-932-4544, hduell@tclp.org

Traverse City, MI — Traverse City Light and Power (TCLP) has received national recognition for achieving exceptional electric reliability in 2023. The recognition comes from the American Public Power Association (APPA), a trade group that represents more than 2,000 not-for-profit, community-owned electric utilities.

APPA helps electric utilities track power outage and restoration data through its subscription-based eReliability Tracker service. Once per year, APPA’s Reliability Team compares this data to national statistics tracked by the U.S. Energy Information Administration for all types of electric utilities.

“It’s encouraging to see year after year that public power’s track record for providing highly reliable service is backed up by data,” said APPA Director of Research and Development Paul Zummo. “These utilities are the best of the best when it comes to keeping the lights on. And these communities should be proud of their local power providers and appreciate the hard work that goes into earning this recognition.”

Nationwide, the average public power customer has their lights out for less than half the amount of time that customers of other types of utilities do. “We are very proud to receive this recognition. It is a testament to the hard work of all our staff towards ensuring that our customers in the Traverse City area receive reliable electric service” said Daren Dixon, Operations Manager at TCLP.

APPA found TCLP’s SAIDI (average outage duration for each customer served) to be in the top quartile when compared to the data from 174 investor-owned, 465 rural cooperatives, and 324 public power utilities.

For more information on TCLP and its commitment to reliability, visit www.tclp.org

About Traverse City Light & Power

Serving the community since 1912, Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) is a municipally owned utility serving Traverse City and its surrounding areas. Dedicated to reliability, sustainability, and innovation, TCLP provides energy and telecommunication services designed to meet the changing needs of its community. For more information, visit www.tclp.org.

Friday, April 12, 2024

Contact: Hannah Duell, Communications Specialist, (231)-932-4544, hduell@tclp.org

Traverse City, MI –Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP), a pioneering municipal utility committed to providing reliable and sustainable energy solutions, proudly announced on March 15^th, 2024, the approval of its forward-thinking Strategic Plan. Through extensive planning, stakeholder engagement, and collaborative efforts over the past year, TCLP charts a visionary course for community enrichment, customer experience excellence, employee development, operational and financial innovation, technological advancement, and environmental sustainability.

Strategic Vision for Community and Beyond

Building from the momentum derived from TCLP’s Climate Action Plan’s robust stakeholder engagement and a year’s worth of analysis and planning, TCLP sets forth an ambitious path to deepen its integration within the community it serves, ensuring a future that is both sustainable and prosperous for all.

Key Priorities and Goals

• Community Enrichment: Committing to sustainable practices and innovative clean energy solutions as an invested civic partner.
• Customer Experience: Delivering unparalleled service quality and innovative offerings for enhanced customer engagement.
• Employee Excellence: Building a high-performing, adaptable team ready to meet the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.
• Operational and Financial Excellence: Innovating operations and strengthening financial health for sustainable growth.
• Technology Transition: Leading in utility sector technology and service excellence with strategic technological investments.
• Environmental Sustainability: Advancing towards 100% renewable energy usage by 2040 and promoting comprehensive environmental stewardship through TCLP operations targeting greenhouse gas reduction.

A Future Crafted Together

“In crafting TCLP’s Strategic Plan, we’ve been guided by the vast possibilities our industry offers and the immense dedication of our team,” said Brandie Ekren, Executive Director of Traverse City Light & Power. “This plan reflects our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and excellence, laying a foundation for a future where we not only meet challenges but create opportunities.”

Board Chair Ross Hammersley added, “Our new strategic plan represents a significant milestone for TCLP, our customers, employees, and our community.  It lays out a blueprint for how we can move forward together, building on our strengths as a municipal utility and embracing new opportunities for growth and sustainability. I’m incredibly proud of what TCLP has accomplished and very excited for the journey ahead.”

Together Towards a Brighter Future

TCLP is excited to invite the community to be an integral part of this transformative journey. Through shared dedication and collaborative effort, TCLP and the Traverse City community will pave the way toward a future marked by prosperity, sustainability, and innovation.

About Traverse City Light & Power

Serving the community since 1912, Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) is a municipally owned utility serving Traverse City and its surrounding areas. Dedicated to reliability, sustainability, and innovation, TCLP provides energy and telecommunication services designed to meet the changing needs of its community. For more information, visit www.tclp.org.

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

Contact: Hannah Duell, Communications Specialist, (231)-932-4544, hduell@tclp.org

Traverse City, MI, April 8, 2024— Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) has earned a Diamond Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3)® designation from the American Public Power Association for providing reliable and safe electric service. This recognition is the highest designation possible.

The RP3 designation, which lasts for three years, recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvement. Criteria include sound business practices and a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity. TCLP joins more than 250 public power utilities nationwide that hold the RP3 designation.

“Receiving an RP3 designation is a great honor signifying a utility has demonstrated commitment to industry best practices,” said Troy Adams, Chair of APPA’s RP3 Review Panel and General Manager at Manitowoc Public Utilities, Wisconsin. “And ultimately, the culture developed from this pursuit of excellence and continued improvement through the RP3 program results in measurable value delivered to the local community.”

“We couldn’t be prouder to be honored with this designation,” said Brandie Ekren, Executive Director, of TCLP. “This is the culmination of a lot of work from many people who care about powering our community. But this designation is not a final destination. We are committed to continuing to look for ways to improve our operations and customer service.”

About Traverse City Light & Power

Serving the community since 1912, Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) is a municipally owned utility serving Traverse City and its surrounding areas. Dedicated to reliability, sustainability, and innovation, TCLP provides energy and telecommunication services designed to meet the changing needs of its community. For more information, visit www.tclp.org.

Monday, April 8, 2024

Contact: Hannah Duell, Communications Specialist, (231)-932-4544, hduell@tclp.org

Traverse City, MI – Traverse City Light and Power (TCLP), in collaboration with 5 Lakes Energy, Seeds, and Keen, held an engaging community event centered on building electrification on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. This initiative aligns with TCLP’s commitment to fostering sustainable energy solutions and its mission to serve as a trusted community partner. The event was designed to unite a diverse group of stakeholders in exploring the transformative potential of building electrification.

Event Highlights:

• Provided an opportunity to delve into discussions on the advantages and strategies of building electrification.
• Engaged with experts in the field of sustainable energy and infrastructure.
• Allowed a platform for collaborative exchange and contribution towards a sustainable energy future.

Under the banner of its new corporate mission, TCLP aims to “deliver innovative, affordable, reliable, and environmentally sustainable energy and telecom solutions,” guided by a vision of leading “with positivity and creativity, creating a brighter future for all.” Emphasizing values of Sustainability, Innovation, Collaboration, Integrity, and Optimism, the utility is set to navigate and contribute to the future of sustainable living.

Concurrently, TCLP invites the community to engage in a comprehensive electrification survey. This initiative seeks to gather valuable insights to refine and enhance the utility’s services and programs, ensuring they align with the community’s evolving sustainability needs. Your insights will directly impact our strategy to provide clean, innovative, and beneficial energy solutions. Take the survey here.

About Traverse City Light & Power

Serving the community since 1912, TCLP is dedicated to enhancing the community’s quality of life by providing innovative and sustainable energy solutions. As a municipal utility, TCLP is committed to operational excellence, anticipating, and exceeding customer needs in the ever-evolving energy landscape. For more information, visit www.tclp.org.