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August 1, 2012

10,000th Refrigerator Recycled

BOISE, Idaho — More than 10,000 inefficient older refrigerators and freezers have been unplugged to be recycled since Idaho Power’s See ya later, refrigerator® program was introduced in 2009. Through this energy-saving program, more than 13 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity have been saved — that’s enough to power more than 1,000 homes for a year. It also kept more than 1.3 million pounds of material from entering landfills.
"We encourage our customers to use energy wisely,” said Theresa Drake, Idaho Power Customer Relations and Energy Efficiency Manager. “This is one of many programs we offer, designed to reduce electricity consumption, as well as help our customers manage their monthly energy use.”
Today, the 10,000th refrigerator picked up by JACO, an Idaho Power partner, came from the Treasure Valley. Its owner received a $30 cash incentive for participating in the program designed to remove inefficient older (but working) refrigerators and freezers from the electrical grid. Older spare refrigerators can use two to three times more energy than newer models purchased after 1993. In fact, a 25-year-old refrigerator or freezer can use up to 1,400 kWh annually, while a new unit uses between 400 and 500 kWh.
The 10,000th refrigerator, along with dozens of other units collected throughout the company’s service area, travel to a recycling site in Utah. JACO recycles 95 percent of the materials used in the manufacturing of each unit and safely disposes of toxins and ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbon gases from foam insulation.
For information on the See ya later, refrigerator® program or to schedule a pick-up, call toll-free 1-866-899-5539 or visit www.idahopower.com/seeyalater.

About Idaho Power:
Idaho Power began operations in 1916. Today, the electric utility employs approximately 2,000 people who serve nearly 500,000 customers throughout a 24,000-square-mile area in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon. With 17 low-cost hydroelectric projects as the core of its generation portfolio, Idaho Power’s residential, business and agricultural customers pay among the nation’s lowest rates for electricity. IDACORP, Inc. (NYSE: IDA) is the investor-owned utility’s parent company based in Boise, Idaho. To learn more, visit www.idahopower.com or www.idacorpinc.com.


Contact: Anne Alenskis
Communications Specialist
Idaho Power
aalenskis@idahopower.com  
208-388-2460
1-800-458-1443 media line