Wow! What a year we have had considering the snow, mud and rain! I am just starting to catch up on things I had to put aside to combat the weather and more than likely you are right there with me.

I would like to share with all of you how I managed to give my boss, the Superintendent, a check for $4,662.00 just last week

Recently, I was out at Mountain Home Air Force Base and happened to be talking about the lighting upgrades we were doing in our schools. During my conversation I was asked if I had submitted a preliminary application to Idaho Power for energy savings reimbursement. Of course you all know I am not one to let an opportunity to get some cold hard cash for our district slip by. So once I got back to the shop, Steff and I immediately started to research this program.

We located the Idaho Power website where the information and forms are found.

http://www.idahopower.com/energycenter/energyefficiency/YourBusiness/easyUpgrades.htm 

Then we sat down at my laptop (after Steff turned it on for me) and we were on our way. We spent about twenty minutes just trying to open the forms, but the computer kept coming up with an error. I attempted to call our contact person, but couldn’t get through. Needless to say, I was getting very frustrated and as a matter of fact I was so frustrated that I actually gave it up for awhile.

About a month later I was ready to try again, but before I did this I decided to contact a friend of ours at Idaho Power, Blake Watson. Of course Blake knows me rather well and is completely aware of how skilled I am at both the internet and computers (yeah right!). After the Hi how you doing - long time no see conversation, we got down to business. I explained to Blake that I at times struggle with technology and was having a hard time getting through not only onto the site, but once I got there I found the Easy Upgrades Commercial-Industrial Building Retrofit Incentive application (say that ten times real fast) along with the worksheets kind of tough to figure out and print out. Blake must have heard my cry for help and decided to put me in contact with our area representative, Randy Mendiola.

Now get this! It wasn’t but a few days later Randy called and said, “hang on Phil and I’ll be out there to give you a hand!”  Yes, I know it is hard to believe, but Randy did come out. He personally took me by the hand and walked me through the whole process.  He helped me to establish a relationship with Curt Nichols, who is the guy that decides if I get a check or not! In a nutshell, that is what I call customer service!

The other interesting lesson I learned is that there are times in this day and age of technology and e-mail that you just have to jump in the car or get on the phone and talk with someone. That is what Blake, Randy and now Curt and I have done. The sweetest thing about this whole story is that Steff and I were able to personally hand our Superintendent a check for $ 4,662.00. As you can guess, he looked pretty pleased. By the way, the project was a lighting upgrade we did at Liberty Elementary that cost us $56,439.00. It took some administrative time to do the homework, but it was well worth it.  The other thing is don’t be afraid to ask your architect and/or engineers that put the project together for  you to help with the paperwork.

Well, this is the end of my story. I’ve got to get going as I have to go pick up my Idaho Power rebate check for $11,925.00 for a $227,000 HVAC project I just accomplished.

 See ya.
Phil

Read the remainder of the Spring 08 Newsletter by clicking here.