RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Board of Public Utilities has appointed a task force that will begin meeting on April 26 and spend the next 15 months studying the city’s agricultural water rates to determine if changes are merited. In the meantime, the WA-3 and WA-9 rates will be frozen at current levels.

The Riverside City Council recommended the establishment of such a task force back in November, when the Council was discussing potential increases to water and electric rates. The rate increases that were recommended from that process will be heard by the City Council on May 22, but the agricultural rates will not be affected, pending the recommendations of the agricultural water rate task force.

"Riverside has always embraced agriculture, first through citrus and most recently through the GrowRIVERSIDE movement," Mayor Rusty Bailey said. "That history and the potential for nurturing more farm-based businesses make this the right time to review these rates."

The Board of Public Utilities approved the formation of the task force at its March 29 meeting. Utilities Board Member Andrew Walcker will be the chairman and Seth Wilson of the Riverside Food Systems Alliance will be the vice-chairman. Recommendations to the City Council are expected in July, 2019.

"Riverside Public Utilities prides itself on being a community resource, so it is important to ensure that these rates are current and reflect the needs of the community," Interim General Manager Todd Jorgenson said. "We are fortunate to have such a knowledgeable group of task force members."

In addition to Walcker and Wilson, task force members will include: Rose Mayes, Jason Hunter, Gilberto Esquivel, Patricia Lock-Dawson, John Gless, Darleen DeMason, Michelle Sheehe, Dale Sexton, Tom Evans, Ed Adkison, Scott Andrews, Steven Robillard, and two additional members yet to be named.

Topics the task force will examine include: policy, legal and City initiative considerations; the City’s agricultural and citrus heritage; the Gage Canal; the existing rate structure; and the Water Utility Cost of Service Study.

"Water has always been a key to Riverside’s growth and prosperity, and that is especially true in the Arlington Heights Greenbelt," Mayor Pro Tem Chris MacArthur said. "I’m glad to see the task force is going to take the time to really delve into the issues facing resident farmers and growers who embrace agriculture in our city."

The task force will seek to recommend a fair and equitable distribution and pricing of water that promotes local agriculture and is consistent with the legal mandates of voter-approved Prop. R (1979) and Measure C (1987), as well as the goals of the GrowRIVERSIDE movement.

"Riverside Public Utilities takes very seriously its commitment to Riverside residents and business owners," said Board Chairperson Jo Lynne Russo-Pereyra. "The Board looks forward to receiving the task force’s findings as it further examines this issue of great importance to our city."

The task force is expected to meet each month in the Mayor’s Ceremonial Room on the 7th floor of Riverside City Hall, 3900 Main Street. The first meeting is tentatively scheduled for April 26; meeting dates, times, and materials will be posted at EngageRiverside.com under the heading "Council/Board Meetings." Meetings will be conducted in accordance with the Brown Act, are expected to last about two hours, and will be available for viewing on the City’s website and at watchriverside.com. More information can be found at: http://riversidepublicutilities.com/rateplan/default-pop-agricultural.asp

As part of the City of Riverside’s continued commitment to sustainability and vehicle electrification, 24 new Superchargers are available near City Hall. Tesla provided the chargers as one of their latest additions to the growing Supercharger Network.

These state-of-the-art, electric vehicle chargers can quickly re-charge Tesla vehicles so that commuters and road trippers can get back on the road. The addition means Riverside now has two downtown charging stations – one for Teslas and another for other vehicles.

"This next generation of charging stations is a great addition to Riverside's green portfolio," Mayor Pro Tem Chris MacArthur said. "The ability to quickly charge even more electric vehicles will further enhance Riverside's reputation as a home for residents and businesses who care deeply about sustainability."

The city already had a charging station downtown on the west side of the City Hall parking lot near 9th Street. That station has two type of plugs to accommodate different vehicle charging systems and can provide a charge of up to 80 percent of the battery in just 30 minutes. That gives electric vehicle owners the option of recharging their vehicles while dining at one of Riverside’s downtown eateries or checking out a museum or two.

The 24 new chargers for Teslas are located on the top level of the Mission Square parking garage located on the corner of 9th and Market streets, across from White Park. That location and the location near City Hall can be found on the mobile application Plugshare, which provides information about locations of chargers throughout the area.

"Riverside Public Utilities embraces sustainability and actively works to promote sustainable practices," Interim General Manager Todd Jorgenson said. "These Tesla chargers will enable people working downtown, or visiting us for the day, to travel with confidence, knowing they will be able to re-charge their vehicles while enjoying our downtown."

For additional information on electric vehicles in Riverside visit GreenRiverside.com.

RPU contacts its customers only through paper billing statements, online billing emails, late payment reminders, and green "48-hour notification" tags placed at the customer’s address. RPU does not call customers to demand payment. RPU personnel who work out in the community drive clearly marked RPU vehicles, wear City uniforms, and display proper photo identification.

"High-quality customer service is a top priority for us. Customers should be aware of suspicious calls and remain vigilant," says RPU General Manager Girish Balachandran.

Customers who have any questions about suspicious calls are encouraged to report possible fraudulent actions by dialing the City’s Call Center (from a landline) at 311, or (951) 826-5311. Customers can also file a report with the Riverside Police Department at (951) 354-2007.

"Riverside Public Utilities plays a major role in the life, health and economic well-being of Riverside, and I look forward to taking on this important role," Jorgenson said. "The utility industry is a dynamic and challenging environment, and I am excited about providing leadership of RPU during this time."

Balachandran, who has been General Manager for four years, is leaving to join Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE), a community-choice energy agency, as its Chief Executive Officer. RPU’s Deputy General Manager Kevin Milligan, who has worked for the utility since 1984, recently announced his retirement, effective at the end of the month.

The executive search firm of Ralph Andersen & Associates will conduct a recruitment for the next General Manager. The City expects to hire someone by June.

Jorgenson joined RPU in July 2004, and has served in a variety of roles for the utility including: Senior Engineer, Principal Engineer, Water Operations Manager, and Water Engineering Manager. He was named Assistant General Manager for Water in October, 2015. Prior to joining RPU, Jorgenson held engineering positions at the Coachella Valley Water District and at Kleinfelder, Inc. in San Diego.

In his new role at RPU, Jorgenson will work closely with Assistant City Manager Marianna Marysheva to review all functions of the utility in light of the recent rate increase discussions and in concert with the development of a two-year budget for 2018-20.

"Since joining the City two years ago, I have been impressed with the caliber of talent at RPU and the excellence of many of the utility’s internal functions," Marysheva said. "I look forward to further acquainting myself with RPU’s board, management and staff and assisting the City Manager and Interim General Manager in laying the foundation for new RPU leadership."

Jorgenson assumes leadership of the utility at a time when it has sought a rate increase from the Board of Public Utilities and the Riverside City Council. It also is seeking to secure a second connection to the statewide power grid through the Riverside Transmission Reliability Project, and has completed a visioning document called Utility 2.0.

Jorgenson holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Brigham Young University and received his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from California State University San Bernardino. He is a California Professional Engineer and holds Level 2 certification in Water Distribution and Water Treatment from the California Department of Public Health.

"Todd Jorgenson has served RPU well during the past 12 years, and this opportunity speaks volumes about the confidence our leadership has in him," Mayor Rusty Bailey said. "We look forward to working with Todd to continue RPU’s exceptional level of service to our community."

RIsabel Ayala from La Sierra, Jaelen Chavez from Norte Vista, Audrey Alexander from Woodcrest, and Gabriela Sierravigas, who graduated from La Sierra in June all received a $250 scholarship and an enlargement of their artwork. Ayala and Sierravigas’ art teacher Bill Miller, Chavez’s art teacher Carole Coffman, and Alexander’s art teacher Rhonda Thomale were also honored with gift certificates to a local art supply store.

Held in conjunction with RPU’s annual "Splash Into Cash" fundraising and support opportunity for junior high and high schools in Riverside, high school art students get a chance to create their first piece of commercial artwork, which adorns bottled water given out to the schools who can use the water to support volunteers or activities groups, or raise funds for sports teams, uniforms and more.

Since 1999, RPU has recognized 42 aspiring artists through the art contest.

This year’s winning entries, as well winning label artwork from the past years, can be viewed online at: https://www.riversideca.gov/utilities/about-rpu/community-services.asp

RPU contacts its customers only through paper billing statements, online billing emails, late payment reminders, and green "48-hour notification" tags placed at the customer's address. RPU personnel who work out in the community drive clearly marked RPU vehicles, wear city uniforms with respective logos, and display proper photo identification.

"RPU customers should be vigilant and aware of their surroundings. The safety and security of our customers remain a top priority of RPU. If you see something suspicious, please report it right away," says RPU General Manager Girish Balachandran.

Customers who have any questions about suspicious activities are encouraged to report possible fraudulent actions by dialing the City’s Call Center (from a landline) at 311, or (951) 826-5311. Customers can also file a report with the Riverside Police Department at (951) 354-2007.

RPU contacts its customers only through paper billing statements, online billing emails, late payment reminders, and green "48-hour notification" tags placed at the customer’s address. RPU does not call customers to demand payment. RPU personnel who work out in the community drive clearly marked RPU vehicles, wear city uniforms and display proper photo identification.

"Cyber security and protecting our customer's personal identification remains a top priority for us. Customers should be aware of suspicious situations and remain vigilant," says RPU General Manager Girish Balachandran.

Customers who have any questions about suspicious activities are encouraged to report possible fraudulent actions by dialing the City’s Call Center (from a landline) at 311, or (951) 826-5311. Customers can also file a report with the Riverside Police Department at (951) 354-2007.

After a ground-up $43 million renovation, the Riverside Convention Center is a cutting-edge facility that contains sustainable design features such as high efficiency LED lighting, occupant sensors for energy management, recycled materials, and drought-tolerant landscaping, including a garden used for fresh vegetables in the kitchen.

"We want to thank the Riverside Convention Center and Raincross Hospitality Corporation for taking the initiative to pursue greener practices in their facilities and operations," says Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey. "Sustainable and responsible environmental protection planning remains a top priority for Riverside as we focus on the next generation of strategies to drive green initiatives for our city."

Currently, the City of Riverside offers this program to manufacturing, office/retail, auto shops, hotels and restaurants. Each business sector must complete an extensive checklist in order to become certified as a green business.

"They are the third business in the city to receive this designation," says Girish Balachandran, Riverside Public Utilities General Manager. "We encourage more Riverside businesses to follow the Riverside Convention Center, OSI Group LLC and UTC Aerospace Systems in leading the effort to make Riverside greener and a more sustainable community."

Certified businesses become part of a growing network of more than 3,600 companies that make up the California Green Business Network whose facilities are evaluated based on their efforts to improve resource efficiency through energy, pollution, waste, and employee safety.

Scott Megna, President of Raincross Hospitality Corporation and General Manager of the Riverside Convention Center, said he is not aware of any other convention center in the state that has received such a certification.

"The Riverside Convention Center prides itself in not only providing our guests with the best service in our warm boutique atmosphere but also in being a leader in environmental sustainability," Megna said. "From recycling, to low-use water fixtures, to our own farm-to-table garden and citrus grove, sustainability is a part of the unique experience we offer our guests. This recognition is testament to our commitment to providing our guests the best hospitality in an environmentally friendly fashion."

For more information about the program, visit GreenRiverside.com.

Now is the time to prepare and plan how to beat the summer heat. RPU offers water and energy saving rebates and incentives for conservation measures. Additional water-saving incentives include: rebates for installing high efficiency toilets and clothes washers; high efficiency sprinkler nozzles.

RPU also has a variety of rebates and incentives available for its energy customers including: weatherization rebates on attic and wall insulation, Energy Star-rated windows, doors, ceiling fans, room air conditioners, and select appliances.

"Simple steps taken to conserve energy and water, especially during the hot summer months, make a noticeable impact on the grid and in our community," says Michael Bacich, Assistant General Manager Customer Relations/Marketing.

RPU contacts its customers only through paper billing statements, online billing emails, late payment reminders, and green "48-hour notification" tags placed at the customer’s address. RPU does not call customers to demand payment. RPU personnel out in the community drive clearly marked RPU vehicles, wear city uniforms and display proper photo identification.

"RPU takes fraudulent calls very seriously. We have a number of protection measures in place to safeguard against stolen information. Customers should be mindful of the situation and protect their personal information from being stolen or abused," said RPU General Manager Girish Balachandran.

Customers who have any questions about suspicious calls demanding payments are encouraged to hang up with the fraudulent callers and report them by dialing the City’s Call Center at (from landline) 311, or (951) 826-5311. Customers can also file a report with the Riverside Police Department at (951) 354-2007.

The Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3®) award designation recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development and system improvement. Criteria within each category are based on sound business practices and represent a utility-wide commitment to the safe and reliable delivery of electricity. Designations last for three years and this is RPU’s second Diamond recognition by the American Public Power Association (APPA).

"Recognition of this magnitude continues to showcase RPU among the best publicly owned utilities in the country. As we further engage the community with Utility 2.0, our strategic plan for the future, providing Riverside customers with reliable electricity through re-building aging infrastructure and investing in innovative technologies remains a top priority," said Girish Balachandran, RPU General Manager. "Riverside is supported by a strong workforce dedicated to providing the level of service our customers deserve."

"Our locally-owned utility continues to provide excellent customer service to Riverside residents and businesses," Mayor Rusty Bailey said. "RPU’s track record of high-quality service contributes directly to our quality of life as residents and our ability to provide a competitive advantage to our business community."

For nearly two decades, Riverside Public Utilities has offered programs and services to assist large and small commercial customers, funded by public benefit monies. These offerings are beneficial to businesses like RCH in order to meet state-mandated goals for energy and water use efficiency. The RCH expansion project would bring 300 permanent jobs, a comprehensive healthcare facility, and a significant amount of local sales tax revenue.

Hospital Corporation of America Holdings Inc. (HCA), the parent company of (RCH) is investing more than $400 million in the health of the community through the construction of a major hospital expansion project to meet the needs of the growing community.

Visit RiversidePublicUtilities.com for more information about RPU services, as well as water and energy conservation rebate programs and tips available, or call (951) 826-5485.

Russo-Pereyra has called Riverside her home for the last 28 years. She is a water industry professional that has held multiple positions in the field, but currently serves as the Assistant General Manager for the Cucamonga Valley Water District. She is an active member of the American Water Works Association, Association of California Water Agencies, and California Special District Association. She holds a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an M.A. in Public Administration from Columbia University.

"Having worked in many capacities in the utility field and municipal governments, I hope to bring my knowledge of operational leadership and responsible fiscal management to RPU customers," said Russo-Pereyra.

Oceguera, a retired high school principal, has lived in the City of Riverside for 14 years. He has dedicated his 37-year career to serving as an educator, holding positions such as middle school and high school teacher, assistant principal, and principal and community college counselor. He holds a B.A. in Spanish and an M.A. in Counseling and School Administration from Sonoma State University and Universidad De Madrid in Spain. As an active member of the community, Oceguera is involved in local PTA’s, school site councils and rotary clubs.

"My career as an educator, which I consider as a public service to the betterment of our community, has prepared me to be an instrumental figure on the Board of Riverside Public Utilities. I look forward to serving my community in this role to meet Riverside’s water and power needs," said Oceguera.

"I am honored to welcome Jo Lynne and Gil to the Riverside Public Utilities Board. Their dedication to the Riverside community will elevate our position as an economic driver for the Inland Empire as we move forward with our Utility 2.0 Strategic Plan," said General Manager Girish Balachandran.

An election was held for the Chair and Vice Chair positions. David Austin was unanimously chosen to serve a second term as Board Chair, while Jennifer O’Farrell was unanimously chosen as Vice Chair of the Board. Board meetings are being held at 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday’s of each month. The Board is composed of nine citizen volunteers appointed by City Council to four-year terms without compensation.

The arbitration tribunal has awarded the owners of San Onofre nuclear plant $125 million for defective steam generators supplied by MHI. Of this amount, Riverside was awarded slightly over $1.1 million, and has incurred $488,000 in attorney’s fees to date.

The written decision will not be made public until the parties have conferred regarding the treatment of potentially confidential information in the decision. Until this report has been made public, no further comment will be made at this time.

More than 50 students from Alvord Unified School District interested in careers in engineering will be attending this daylong seminar to learn more about careers in the profession.

"We’re opening our doors to these students so they can truly see the impact engineers make in their community every day," said Riverside Public Utilities General Manager Girish Balachandran. "Our hope is that we might leave them inspired to pursue this rewarding career through a variety of activities."

Started in 1951 by the National Society of Engineers, National Engineers Week is observed by more than 70 engineering, education and cultural societies, and is celebrated in February to celebrate George Washington’s birthday, who is widely considered the nation’s first engineer. Its purpose is to call attention to the contributions that engineers make to society, and is a time for engineers to emphasize the importance of learning math, science and technical skills.

"Engineers turn ideas into action, from the electrical grid that powers your home or business to the storm drains that protect our communities from flooding. If something is working, it’s probably because an engineer had something to do with it," said Public Works Director Kris Martinenez.

If you are a member of the media interested in joining us during this landmark day, please contact Heather Raymond at Hraymond@riversideca.gov or 951-826-5904.

The Riverside Public Utilities Economic and Social Impact Analysis report findings will be presented by economic forecaster Dr. Robert Kleinhenz, who with a team from the UCR Center for Economic Forecasting, conducted the independent study that illustrates the value RPU brings to the City of Riverside and the Inland Empire region.

"Riverside Public Utilities generates an economic impact of nearly $500 million each year to this community and the region," said RPU General Manager Girish Balachandran. "Our customers should have great pride in knowing that their investment into a publicly owned utility has and will continue to pay off in dividends."

Also at Monday night’s meeting, the Board will hear a presentation from staff regarding its completed 2017-2021 strategic plan. The plan, centered around the utilities comprehensive capital improvement plan, Utility 2.0, provides a structured roadmap and milestones for the next 5 years. RPU’s Utility 2.0 strategic plan is aligned with the city’s Riverside 2.0 plan.

"The Utility 2.0 Strategic Plan was jointly developed through a series of public workshops and involved the City Council, RPU Board and staff," said Board Chair David Austin. "This plan sets RPU on a path to modernize the utility and ensure that our customers’ needs for water and electricity are met."

Both reports can be viewed by clicking here and clicking on the agenda for the corresponding meeting date: https://riversideca.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.

The project, which was approved by the Riverside Board of Public Utilities on Nov. 14, 2016, is expected to take approximately six months, will help improve the reliability of the water system and increase the flow of water to fire hydrants by replacing small 4 and 6 inch cast iron pipes installed between 1928 and 1955 with 8 inch pipes made of ductile iron.

Work will include digging trenches for the new water pipeline, installing the new water pipelines, installing new fire hydrants and water services and repairing the pavement around the site. The project will cost approximately $2 million to complete.

"Although RPU knows how important it is to work on these types of projects, we also understand it causes an inconvenience for residents who travel those routes to and from work each day, and for those visiting businesses in the area," said Girish Balachandran General Manager Riverside Public Utilities.

Arroyo Drive is often a popular short cut for travelers on their way to Victoria Ave., and is also located on the South side of the Victoria Country Club.

We welcome Assistant General Manager of Operational Technology Mujib Lodhi, to the RPU family, and congratulate current RPU team members Daniel Garcia as the new Assistant General Manager of Power Resources and George Hanson as the Assistant General Manager of Energy Delivery. Lodhi begins work with RPU on January 3, while Garcia and Hanson were appointed to their executive roles late in 2016.

"Mujib, Daniel and George have all contributed greatly to the utility industry through leadership roles, positive project results and expansion of industry standards. We are excited and grateful to have them joining our executive management team to start the New Year," said General Manager Girish Balachandran.

Mujib Lodhi joins RPU from Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission with more than 15 years of experience in information technology management and leadership roles in academia and the water/wastewater industry. His strength will be strategic guidance on technology initiatives to help RPU meet its objectives for the coming year and beyond. Lodhi earned his master’s degree from Nyack College in Organizational Leadership in 2006, his bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Indianapolis and completed the Harvard University Management Development Program.

Daniel Garcia has more than 30 years of experience in the electric utilities industry. He started his utility career in 1984 as an engineering aide and has held various positions including system power and gas dispatcher, power scheduler, bulk power manager, and power/gas procurement manager. He joined the City of Riverside in 2007 and has served in various roles at RPU including market operations manager, interim planning manager and utilities scheduler/trader. Garcia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Woodbury University.

George Hanson has served in a variety of roles with RPU since June 2010, including engineering manager and electric field manager. Hanson started his municipal career at the City of Corona as an assistant general manager. Prior to that, Hanson gained 10 years of experience at Southern California Edison. Hanson earned a Master of Science degree from California State University, Long Beach in civil engineering and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Irvine.

Find out why for the past decade Bakke has been researching and writing about the changing cultures of electricity and the three grids in the United States Gretchen calls the "largest machine in the world."

The multi-award winning Green Power Report has been on-air since 2007 and serves as one of Inland Southern California’s key sources for news about environmental stewardship, sustainable living practices, and renewable energy. Past guests have included area city and utility officials as well as top environmental bloggers, activists, celebrities, and corporate heads.

After their air dates, Green Power Report broadcasts are available to download through iTunes and via the show’s radio player at www.GreenRiverside.com. For additional information about Riverside Public Utilities follow us on Facebook and Twitter, or visit www.RiversidePublicUtilites.com.

Santa Ana winds are common this time of year in Southern California, and RPU asks customers to report any issues due to the winds to Customer Service at 951-782-0330.

Residents are reminded to use caution around intersections where signals may be out and be aware of pedestrians at intersections and near schools. If using a generator during an outage, follow all directions for use and never use indoors or store fuels indoors.

For additional tips and information on being prepared for emergencies or outages, visit www.ReadyRiverside.com.

"There are a number of telephone and in-person deceptions that prey on customer fears that their utilities services will be discontinued unless a payment is made immediately," said Riverside Public Utilities General Manager Girish Balachandran. "Our customers, as well as those across the country, need to know about these scams and the scare tactics that they use so they can avoid falling prey to them," Balachandran said. For example, RPU would never call a customer and ask for personal payment information, nor request payment in person at a customer’s home or business.

Customers of RPU are only contacted via paper billing statements, online billing emails, through late payment reminder mailings, or green 48-hour Notice notification tags placed at utility property sites only, and any RPU personnel out in the community drive clearly marked city vehicles, wear city uniforms, and display proper photo identification. Any late payment contact by Riverside Public Utilities would only come from its Credit and Collections Department.

Unfortunately, scams like this have been going on nationwide for several years. Some feature live callers, others automated messages, that threaten to shut down utility services unless an immediate payment is made by providing personal banking info, credit card info, or a PayPal account (or similar). Additional utility bill payment scams that have affected RPU customers include: requests by customers to pay for meter change outs to avoid high bills; and the use of telephone number scramblers, which can trick caller identification software to make it look like the calls are coming from the utility, but falsely represent RPU’s customer service telephone number of (951) 782-0330.

While the phone number is RPU’s main phone for customer accounts, billing questions, and for reporting 24-hour water or power emergencies, for security reasons it will never appear on a customer’s caller ID. Customers who have any questions about suspicious calls demanding payments are encouraged to hang up with callers, and report them by calling the city’s call center by dialing 311, or (951) 826-5311.

Find out how Hobbs, a 30-year veteran with Ford, and his team played a key role in helping the company achieve the number one Best Global Green Brand in 2014, and have been integral in building on the company’s legacy of forward thinking environmental stewardship to continue reducing Ford’s environmental footprint worldwide.

The multi award winning Green Power Report has been on-air since 2007 and serves as one of Inland Southern California’s key sources for news about environmental stewardship, sustainable living practices, and renewable energy. Past guests have included area city and utilities officials as well as top environmental bloggers, activists, celebrities, and corporate heads.

After their air dates, Green Power Report broadcasts are available to download through iTunes and via the show’s radio player at www.GreenRiverside.com. For additional information about Riverside Public Utilities follow us on Facebook and on Twitter, or visit www.RiversidePublicUtilites.com

For additional information on the American Public Power Association, visit online at www.publicpower.org

Sofia Goebel from North, and Kristin Counts, who graduated from La Sierra in June both received $250, an enlargement of their label artwork, and a case of water featuring their customized labels. Goebel’s art teacher Vonn Rosser and Counts’ former art teacher Bill Miller were also honored with gift certificates to a local art supply store, and enlargements of their students’ artwork.

Held in conjunction with RPU’s annual "Splash Into Cash" fundraising and support opportunity for junior high and high schools in Riverside, high school art students get a chance to create their first piece of commercial artwork, which adorns bottled water given out to the schools who can use the water to support volunteers or activities groups, or raise funds for sports teams, uniforms and more.

Since 1999, more than 542,300 bottles have been distributed to Riverside schools through the Splash Into Cash program, each featuring the unique designs created by the city’s high school artists.

This year’s winning entries, as well winning label artwork from the past 16 years, can be viewed online at: www.RiversidePublicUtilities.com/Art

Sofia Goebel, front left, a senior at John W. North High School, and Kristin Counts, who graduated from La Sierra High School in June, show off their winning artwork designs in Riverside Public Utilities 18th Annual Bottled Water Label Art Contest. RPU Assistant General Manager Kevin Milligan, left, and Board of Public Utilities members Vice Chair Justin Scott-Coe, Ron Cole, Kevin Foust, Jennifer O’Farrell, David Crohn, and Chair Dave Austin honored this year’s winners at their regular meeting Monday, October 24.

Water bottle label art by Kristin Counts - La Sierra High School

Water bottle label art by Sofia Goebel - John W. North High School

See label art winners from previous years.

That means you should set your thermostats to 78 degrees or higher (health permitting); keep those window blinds and/or curtains closed; turn off unneeded lighting, computers, and electronics; and wait until the evening or early morning hours to use appliances like dish and clothes washers.

"These small steps add up to big energy savings system wide when we all pitch in together and do our parts to conserve," said RPU General Manager Girish Balachandran.

Additional tips that can cut summer energy use but still keep you cool include: cooling off with fans, ceiling fans, and room air conditioners. Don’t have any ceiling fans or room air conditioners? No problem. RPU offers rebates for its electric customers who install qualifying ceiling fans and room air conditioners that can help you save money, save energy, and lower your energy bills. Visit RiversidePublicUtilities.com for complete details or call (951) 826-5485.

Riverside residents are also encouraged to avoid heat-related illnesses by dressing in lightweight clothing, staying hydrated, and avoiding long-term exposure in the sun. The City’s Cooling Centers will also be available to residents looking to escape the heatwave. Log on to the City’s web site at www.RiversideCA.gov for information on how to beat the heat and for a list of all the local Cooling Centers, their hours of operation and rules.

"We are able to return to this level of our water conservation ordinance because of the change in how our water resources are now being calculated by the state, and due to the tremendous efforts that all of Riverside’s water customers put forth to comply with the state’s emergency drought regulations over the past year," said RPU’s General Manager Girish Balachandran.

The changes in status of the ordinance level means that once mandatory restrictions, like those limiting the number of days that customers could use outdoor irrigation, are now voluntary. "We’ve got the water for our customers to use," Balachandran said, "but not to waste, never to waste."

Wise use of water by the city, the utility, and its customers are the reasons Riverside was able to return to this level of its ordinance, Balachandran pointed out. "And it will be through our ongoing wise use and conservation of our resources that will allow us to continue to meet current and future needs."

To help customers keep usage and water bills low, RPU is continuing to offer several water conservation rebate programs that can offset costs of making homes and businesses water wise inside and out. These include: rebates for installing high efficiency clothes and dish washers; free low-flow sprinkler nozzles; rebates for installing Weather Based Irrigation Controllers (WBICs); and the popular water wise landscape program which encourages removal of thirsty turf areas.

Additional changes to the drought ordinance included: new definitions and language updates to match the state’s new regulations; elimination of duplicate standards and language; and clarifications of certain exemptions for gray and recycled water, use of drip irrigation, and splash pads.

Meanwhile, prohibitions by the state on water wasting practices like: watering that causes runoff; washing vehicles without a shutoff valve; washing of sidewalks, roadways, and driveways; and failure to repair leaks are still illegal and can carry fines for failure to comply with conservation rules.

Unreasonable use restrictions are now effective at all times, even without any drought conditions or if any stage of Riverside’s water conservation ordinance is in effect.

For complete details on available programs offered, and for updated information visit RiversidePublicUtilities.com or call (951) 826-5485.