Author: hannah

Thursday, July 18, 2024

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

Traverse City, MI – Traverse City Light and Power (TCLP) is accepting Community Investment Fund Grant Applications for the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year.  Applications are still being accepted until July 31, 2024.

As a public power utility, TCLP is committed to investing in the community we serve. The vision of the Community Investment Fund is to enhance the quality of life in the Traverse City area with charitable contributions focused on projects and programs in three key areas: Community Development, Energy-Related Education, and Natural Resources/Environmental.

“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.

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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.]www.tclp.org.

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

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

Traverse City, MI – During times of high temperatures, Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) is committed to helping our community stay cool while conserving energy. Our mission is to be your trusted partner in delivering innovative, affordable, reliable, and environmentally sustainable energy solutions. Here are some practical tips to help manage energy use during this period, all powered by positive energy.

Smart Energy-Saving Tips for All Customers:

1. Adjust Thermostats: Aim to set your thermostat around 10-15 degrees cooler than the outside temperature for optimal efficiency.
2. Leverage Fans: Use ceiling and portable fans to enhance comfort, allowing you to raise the thermostat setting by about 4°F without sacrificing coolness.
3. Block Out the Sun: Keep blinds or shades closed during peak sunlight hours to reduce indoor heat.
4. Schedule Appliance Use: Operate large appliances like ovens, washers, and dryers during early morning or late evening when it’s cooler.
5. Unplug to Save: Disconnect electronic devices when not in use to prevent energy waste.

Residential Energy-Saving Innovations:

• Heat Pumps: Consider using energy-efficient heat pumps for both cooling and heating needs.
• Mini-Splits: Install mini-split systems to cool specific areas, reducing overall energy use.

Commercial and Industrial Efficiency Enhancements:

• Optimize HVAC Systems: Ensure regular maintenance and optimization of HVAC systems for peak performance.
• Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Systems: Transition to advanced HVAC systems, including heat pumps and mini-splits, to enhance energy savings.
• Energy-Efficient Lighting: Use LED lighting to reduce energy consumption and heat output.
• Shift Operations: Schedule energy-intensive processes during off-peak hours to minimize energy demand.
• Seal and Insulate: Properly insulate and seal buildings to keep cool air in and hot air out.

At TCLP, we believe in the power of positive energy. By working together, we can conserve energy, stay comfortable, and support a sustainable future for our community.

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.

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.