Butte, Mont. – September 27, 2010 – In an effort to help Montana residents become more energy efficient this winter, NorthWestern Energy is inviting customers to attend a Home Energy Expo in Bozeman, Mont., on Saturday, October 2. The event is scheduled to run from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Montana State University Campus—Shroyer Gymnasium on the corner of Grant Street and 11th Avenue.
According to Bill Thomas, manager regulatory support services for NorthWestern Energy, the Home Energy Expo will feature several booths, displays and activities designed to help customers save energy and control costs. “This is where our customers can learn about energy usage in their home, how to get ready for winter, and perhaps qualify for federal and state tax incentives,” says Thomas. “We’ll also be distributing free Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) to our residential electric customers who’ve not received them earlier in 2010, and sharing information about NorthWestern Energy’s money-saving Efficiency Plus (E+) programs and rebates.”
“Of course, we want to make sure everyone has fun,” says Thomas “So there will be plenty of free energy-related kid activities, safety demonstrations, and free refreshments, too.”
In addition to the Home Energy Expo, NorthWestern Energy will be hosting several Home Energy Events in communities throughout the state. “The Home Energy Events target our natural gas residential customers with a specific purpose,” says Thomas. “That is to distribute our free starter Weatherization Kits to qualifying customers, particularly those customers with noticeable air leaks around their doors and single pane windows.”
NorthWestern Energy customers have been sent a postcard with information about the Home Energy Expo and Events and are asked to bring the postcard with them when they attend. In addition, customers are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item for their local Food Bank. NorthWestern has partnered with the Montana Food Bank Network and will be accepting food donations at the Saturday Expos.
Home Energy Makeover Prize Packages
If saving energy and money weren’t enough incentive to attend the Home Energy Expo, NorthWestern Energy is incentivizing customers with valuable Home Energy Prize Packages. Customers can register to win an Extreme Home Energy Makeover worth $15,000; a Kitchen Makeover valued at $5,000; or a Home Entertainment Makeover worth $3,000. Contest entries will only be taken at the Home Energy Expos.
Customers and Company Share Common Goal
According to Bill Thomas, the utility company and its customers share a common goal—to save energy. “We want to help our customers reduce the energy they use because, in the long-run, it helps our company reduce the amount of energy we need to develop, purchase and distribute,” says Thomas. “Energy efficiency is the key to keeping costs down for everyone, and measures like CFLs make saving energy easy and affordable.”
For more information and a full schedule of upcoming Home Energy Expos and Events, customers can visit www.MontanaHomeEnergy.com or join Montana Home Energy on Facebook. Customers can also call (800) 823-5995.
Bozeman Area Expo and Events Schedule
Wednesday, September 29, 4 – 7 p.m., Home Energy Event
Three Forks I.O.O.F., 20 East Date Street, Three Forks, Mont.
Thursday, September 30, 4 – 7 p.m., Home Energy Event
Livingston NorthWestern Energy Service Center, 224 South B Street, Livingston, Mont.
Friday, October 1, 4 – 7 p.m., Home Energy Event
Belgrade Senior Center, 92 East Cameron Avenue, Belgrade, Mont.
Saturday, October 2, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Home Energy Expo
Montana State University Campus – Shroyer Gymnasium, corner of Grant Street and 11th Avenue, Bozeman, Mont.
About NorthWestern Energy
NorthWestern Energy provides electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 661,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. More information on NorthWestern Energy is available on the Company’s Web site at www.northwesternenergy.com.
Media Contact:
Claudia Rapkoch
(866) 622-8081
claudia.rapkoch@northwestern.com