ghborhood. Alex and Natalie
Wilsie, who both grew up in University
Place, were the first customers to receive
Click! services in mid May.
Where utilities are now overhead, Click! will build
aerial facilities. Where utilities are now underground,
Click! will cut the road surface and place conduit in the
ground. Several aerial and underground construction
crews are active each week-day in University Place.
One crew places a metal support cable (strand)
between utility poles. Another crew follows and lashes
coaxial cable to the support strand. Another specialized
team splices the coax to electronic components placed
at certain intervals along the coax route.
Underground construction is also active in several
locations each day. Contractors operate a specialized
road surface cutting machine called a rocksaw that cuts
a six-inch path. Workers then remove loose dirt, place
conduit, and cover the trench with fill material. The final
steps in the undergrounding process include grinding
the adjacent surface and asphalting the road to ensure
neighborhoods are left in good condition.
Residents have been very understanding of the
construction process, and appreciate our steps to
minimize the impact on their travel. Many people have
talked with the crews and are excited to finally have
a choice for cable and Internet service, said Rick
Munson, Click! Network, construction and engineering
manager.
University Place residents wishing to be added to
the early interest list are encouraged to call 502-8900
or e-mail Click! Network at customerservice@click-
network.com to secure early installation appointments
when services are available in their neighborhood.
Summer 2003
in this issue
t h e c h a n g i n g f a c e o f t h e e l e c t r i c u t i l i t y i n d u s t r y
Rebates up to $200 are now available from Tacoma Power when you
purchase a new, energy-efficient, commercial solid door, reach-in
refrigerator or freezer that meets or exceeds ENERGY STARs standards.
You must install and use equipment in Tacoma Powers service area.
For more information, call 253-502-8619 or visit www.tacomapower.com. Tacoma Power
receives stewardship
award Tacoma Power takes
energy savings for
a ride How does BPA affect
our rates? Where does your
electricity come
from? Weatherize your
home now
power
power
Get rebates on manufactured homes...
Click! expands into

U
niversity
P
lace

by Diane Lachel
...and commercial refrigerator or freezer
l
ine
r
e
b
a
t
e
s
T
acoma Power, the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance and
other Northwest electric and gas utilities are working together
to encourage buyers of manufactured homes to purchase
certified energy-efficient homes. Electrically heated Super Good
Cents, gas-heated Natural Choice and ENERGY STAR® labeled
homes are typically 20 percent to 30 percent more efficient than
other homes. The energy-efficient models have:
$
More insulation in ceilings, walls and floors
$
Better windows and doors
$
A specially designed and quiet
ventilation system
$
Heating ducts with better seals
$
Better air sealing to reduce drafts
Choosing a Super Good Cents, Natural Choice or
ENERGY STAR home offers home buyers a guarantee of
energy efficiency and quality construction. Qualifying homes
are certified under the program, manufacturer inspections are
conducted and dealer training is provided.
Tacoma Power will be offering a $750 incentive to
customers who buy an electrically heated
certified manufactured home that is sited
in the Tacoma Power service area. The
program will run from July 1, 2003, through
December 31, 2004. If you have any
questions, call the Tacoma Power Energy
Information Center at 253-502-8363
or send e-mail to power@cityoftacoma.org.

by Bill Hogan
Click! Networks first University Place customers are recognized at a ribbon cutting event at their home on
Glendale Drive. From left to right: Click! employees Bernie Peterson and Josh Newman, new customers
Natalie and Alex Wilsie, University Place Council members Linda Bird and Ken Grassi, Mayor Jean Brooks, Click!
manager Dana Toulson, Tacoma Public Utilities Director Mark Crisson, Tacoma Power Superintendent Steve Klein.
Seldens furniture reduces
sign electricity by 80%

By Ken Kurtz T
acoma Power has purchased its first
super-ultra-low-emission vehicle to replace
an older car. Emissions from the new Toyota Prius
hybrid vehicle are as much as 90 percent lower than emissions from a
standard gas vehicle. The Prius gets between 45 and 50 miles per gallon,
or about 566 miles per tank of gas.
The phenomenal fuel savings come from the visionary technology that
combines a gas engine with an electric motor, said Frank Castro, Tacoma
Powers Fleet Services manager.
The gas engine shuts off when the car is idling or comes
to a stop. During deceleration, a regenerative braking system
captures the kinetic energy to recharge the vehicles batteries.
In other words, the car never has to be plugged for recharging.
The car also comes with an eight-year/100,000 mile warranty on the
electric side and a five-year/60,000 mile warranty on the power train, plus a
feature called regenerative breaking. Whenever the brakes are applied or
the car decelerates, the hybrids battery is recharged, making the car not
quite a perpetual-motion machine, but still very efficient, Frank Castro said.
You will be able to identify the new car because Tacoma Power has
dressed it up with decals promoting energy efficiency on wheels.




C
atch
a

k
ok
an
ee
Have you been to Alder
Lake to catch kokanee?
Each year, Tacoma Power plants up to 500,000 kokanee
in Alder Lake to provide angling opportunities for visitors.
Kokanee are landlocked sockeye salmon that grow up
to 12 inches in Alder Lake before spawning in the lakes
tributaries. Tacoma Power began stocking kokanee in
Alder Lake in 1999, although historically plants took place
in Alder Lake in the 1950s.
To catch kokanee in Alder Lake, troll with a wedding
ring spinner and bait along Stacil Point or in the Little
Nisqually arm. Slowly troll in an S pattern near the
surface in May and June and deeper later in the season.
Anglers can now enjoy fishing the Little Nisqually arm
of Alder Lake and avoid boat traffic at the same time.
As a part of Tacoma Powers wildlife management plan,
no-wake zones have been established in Alder Lake. The
no-wake zones are a perfect compliment to the excellent
fishing opportunities.
Alder Lake is located on State Highway 7. From
Tacoma, take Interstate 5 south to State Route 512.
Travel east on SR 512 about 2 miles to the Pacific
Avenue exit (SR 7). Go south on SR 7 about
27 miles, turn right on to School Road
and follow the signs to the park.
S
tewardship
Tacoma Power has
received an award for Outstanding
Stewardship of Americas Rivers from
the National Hydropower Association for
environmental activities associated with
the utilitys Nisqually River Project. The
association recognized six utilities that have
demonstrated diligent stewardship and
extraordinary environmental achievement
at seven hydroelectric projects in the United
States and Canada.

An important component of Tacoma Powers
stewardship strategy is collaboration with
other stakeholders within the Nisqually basin,
said Debbie Young, Tacoma Powers Natural
Resources manager. Weve built strong
relationships with the Nisqually Tribe,
non-governmental organizations,
educators and private industry
to help manage power
production, wildlife habitat,
fish resources and
recreation opportunities.
This collaboration
increases effectiveness
of management action,
leverages resources, and
introduces a diversity of
ideas to the management
process.
As part of its stewardship role
on the Nisqually River, Tacoma Power
instituted a science-based management program
to ensure that environmental restoration and
improvements meet license requirements, provide
relevant ecological value and are consistent with
broader, basin-wide environmental objectives
developed by the Nisqually River Council.
For example, Tacoma Power reclaimed
an old gravel pit for wildlife habitat; purchased
more than 3,000 acres of land for fish and wildlife
protection and enhancement, including five miles
of pristine river corridor; installed two bridges
across Tanwax Creek to restore degraded
stream crossing; created forage areas for
elk; and installed nest boxes for bats, bluebirds
and wood ducks.
Tacoma Powers Nisqually River Project,
which includes Alder and LaGrande dams,
produces enough electricity to serve 47,000
average Northwest homes. In addition to programs
for wildlife habitat and fish enhancement, the
Nisqually River Project provides outstanding
recreational opportunities at
Tacoma Power
campgrounds,
picnic areas
and boat launches.
Founded in 1983, the National Hydropower
Association represents nearly 80,000 megawatts
of hydropower in North America and champions
its use as a clean, renewable and reliable energy
source that supports todays environmental values.
This time of year, its easy to enjoy the green all around us
trees, lawns, gardens, flowers, shrubs. You can be green too,
by signing up for Tacoma Powers EverGreen Options green
power program.
EverGreen Options participants pay a small premium on their regular electric
bill. Residential customers can opt to add $3 a month to their electric bill for green
power, which represents 200 kilowatt-hours; $6 a