Inside. Be safe when using electric generators Get ready! This winter, think water. Earned income tax credit help

Transcription

1 Ideas, Advice and News from Upper Peninsula Power Company Inside Be safe when using electric generators Get ready! This winter, think water. Earned income tax credit help FEBRUARY 2016

2 Be safe when using electric SELECT slightly la equipmen connecte CONNE generato are met. utility line should in utility dis CORDS equipmen grounded SPACE Never operate a generator in an enclosed or partially outdoor area. REFUELING Never refuel an operating or hot generator. Ga charged fire extinguisher nearby. CHILDREN Keep kids away from all portable generators at For more safety information, visit uppco.com/safety. This winter, think water. The average household spends around $300 a year on water-heating costs alone. You can save a lot by improving the efficiency of your water heater with these helpful tips. Dial it down. Unless you want to boil a lobster in your bathtub, setting the thermostat on your water heater to 120 F will keep things plenty hot while saving you about 9 percent on your water-heating costs. It doesn t cost anything, and it s easy to do. Less means more. It might seem obvious but using less hot water will help you save big. When showering, turn the water off, or temperature down, when you re not rinsing.

3 generators When power outages occur, portable electric generators are very convenient. But, like any power source, they should be installed and used correctly. Follow the manufacturer s instructions and these important safety tips: ION To find the correct size, select a generator with a rger output than the power level needed to operate all the t connected to it. Inappropriate generator size could damage d equipment or the generator itself. CTION Only a licensed electrician should connect portable rs to building wiring, to ensure all electric code requirements If not done properly, this can be extremely dangerous to mechanics repairing down power lines. A licensed electrician stall a transfer switch to isolate the building wiring from the tribution system. Use properly sized and rated power cords to connect t to the portable generator. Use heavy-duty, outdoor-rated, extension cords that are in good shape. enclosed area. It requires proper ventilation in an soline spilled on a hot engine could ignite. Keep a fully all times. Increase efficiency. Increase savings. If you ve got old pipes, insulating them can help you save percent on heating costs. If you have an older, electric heater, insulating it will also help. Or you can replace your older heater with an Energy Star certified heater and save up to $300 annually in heating costs.

4 GET READY! Look for exciting changes and improved service for you as a valued customer starting March 1 Upper Peninsula Power Company returned to operating as a U.P. based utility nearly 18 months ago. We are proud to continue providing you with safe and reliable service, being a proud community supporter in the areas our company serves and showing you how to save money on your energy bills with rebates on energy saving-products and information through a program called Efficiency United. As the newly independent UPPCO, we have also been busy preparing to roll out to you as a valued customer these exciting changes beginning March 1: U.P. CUSTOMER CONTACT CENTER DEDICATED TO SERVING YOU Staff available by phone to assist you and answer your questions Same phone numbers you now use to reach us New hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST Monday Friday Emergencies: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week BILL AND PAYMENT PROCESSING NEW FEATURES Account number, bill format and payment address Credit card payments with lower fee Different local pay stations ACCESS FOR YOU 24/7 Online portal Many self-service options New log-in information may be needed Pardon our dust as we continue building the new Upper Peninsula Power Company to serve you better. Your patience and understanding is appreciated as we continue to roll out new systems and resources. Look for more information about these changes and others in next month s UPPCO Connection and at uppco.com. Thanks for the opportunity to serve you from all of us here at Upper Peninsula Power Company U.P. Power!

5 EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT More help for those in need! The Earned Income Credit (EIC) is a special tax credit that helps working individuals and families with low to moderate incomes keep more of what they earn. To qualify for EIC you must have worked full- or parttime at some point in 2015, and fall into one of the following categories: Earnings of less than $14,820 (or $20,330 if married) with no qualifying children in your home. (Must be age 25-65) Earnings of less than $39,131 (or $44,651 if married) with one qualifying child. Earnings of less than $44,454 (or $49,974 if married) with two qualifying children. Earnings of less than $47,747 (or $53,267 if married) with three or more qualifying children. Note: Married income level assumes joint filing. Applying for EIC Families with qualifying children in their home in 2015 must file federal tax return Form 1040 or 1040A, and attach the completed Schedule EIC. Individuals without qualifying children can file Form 1040, 1040A or Form 1040EZ. For more information, or to find out how to get your forms filled out for free, contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at or Don t overlook Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit For tax year 2015, taxpayers may claim a Michigan earned income tax credit equal to a percentage of the federal earned income tax credit for which they are eligible, if any. Watch for additional information in the 2015 Michigan income tax booklet or visit

6 Connecting with us Online uppco.com 24-hour customer service hour electric emergency Para traducciones Le proporcionamos esta información como cliente. Si desea recibir una traducción, llame al Questions or comments The UPPCO Connection P.O. Box Green Bay, WI Printed on SFI-certified paper. 02/16