IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN – TIME FOR OUR FREE SHADE TREE PROMOTION

It's that time of year again - time for Riverside Public Utilities electric customers to redeem their FREE shade tree coupons on the back of their March Utility bills.

Now in its eighth year, the City's Tree Power FREE shade tree promotion provides a coupon on the back of the March Riverside Public Utilities billing statement that is good for one free shade tree (up to $25 in value) redeemable at one of five participating nurseries in the City of Riverside.

The free shade tree incentive is designed to encourage participation in the Utilities' Tree Power shade tree public benefits program, which provides rebates on purchases of up to five trees per calendar year, per metered account. By planting shade trees in selected areas on their properties, customers can dramatically reduce summer cooling costs and help make Riverside a greener place to live. Tree Power is one of many public benefit programs the Utility offers that provides rebates and incentives to customers who make efforts to reduce their energy demands. Since 1998, customers have planted more than 50,345 trees utilizing the Tree Power program, resulting in energy savings of nearly 9 million kilowatt hours.

Residential and business customers with electric accounts have until June 30, 2008 to redeem this year's coupon at one of these locations only: A & M Nursery, 10333 Arlington Ave.; Home Depot, 3323 Madison Street; Louie's Nursery, 16310 Porter Ave.; Parkview Nursery, 4377 Porter Ave.; Parkview Nursery, 3841 Jackson Street. To find out more about the Tree Power program click here, or call 826-5485.