Central Lincoln Offers Energy Saving Devices
Central Lincoln PUD is offereing residential customers the opportunity to receive some energy saving devices. Through March 20th residents can visit the Central Lincoln PUD website for a supply of LED bulbs, two water aerators, a power strip and a showerhead as part of their commitment as a utility provider. Chris Chandler with CLPUD says it is an opportunity that they have not having to pay dividends to stockholders like a publicly run company.
“It’s part of our mission as a non-profit electric utility to help people to save electricity. Unlike some electric utility in the state and other states we don’t have investors, we don’t have people we have to make money for.”
Chandler says the devices are limited and customers can go to CLPUD.org to order their supply. The program was initially begun by the Bonneville Power Administration.
COVID Numbers
COVID-19 hospital beds continue to be more available as the number drops by 13 from yesterday, however the decrease in beds is not completely from the waning numbers of infections. Across the state there were 57 new deaths reported yesterday from the virus. Case number do continue to fall but health officials are concerned about the number of deaths. There were 3,309 new or presumptive cases yesterday and Lane county accounted for just over 10% of those cases with 383 new infections. The Florence area saw 6 more cases for a 1392 overall count.
More Deputies on the Way
The Lane County Sheriff’s department has committed 7.2 million dollars to increase the number of deputies available to respond to calls across Lane County. The monies will be able to add 5 deputies, two detectives and a sergeant over the next 5 years according to sheriff Cliff Harrold. It amounts to the addition of one deputy per shift and will be able to expand investigations on some felony property crime. Harrold says they will have to hire the positions, but once filled the increase in patrol will come.
Gas Prices
Oregon is not feeling the rise in gas prices as much as some other states. Oregon had the smallest weekly increase despite the geopolitical tensions at the Russian/Ukraine border. Across the US states saw an average of an 8 cent jump in fuel prices while Oregon only saw a penny increase. Crude prices are in the $90 per barrel range a figure that Marie Dodds with AAA Oregon says is $30 more than August. Florence’s price for a gallon of regular gas is averaging $3.83 a gallon.
