

A colorful graph paints a pretty picture— the Alaska Permanent Fund did well in fiscal 2015. Not so much this year to date.

Kenneth Ray Book, 92, died Jan. 30, 2016, in Beaverton, Oregon.
Lawrence Harris Milton, 79, died Jan. 5, 2016, in Ketchikan.
MaryEllen Haseltine, 91, died Jan. 239, 2016, in Ketchikan.
Lowering prices

Prices tend to rise when supply is low.

When the city is short on electrical power, it turns on its diesel generators and adds a surcharge to customers' electric bills.

Many customers, faced with increased taxes, higher wastewater bills, and increasing insurance premiums, want to do whatever it takes to keep prices from rising.

The question is what to do. The answer is conserve.

The little things we do add up. Little things — such as turning off lights not in use, using lightbulbs that require less energy, unplugging electrical devices when not needed, and turning heaters off when a space is warm enough — might not amount to much savings individually, but those and other conservation measures combined add up.

Probably one of the most effective ways to conserve is to depend less on electricity for warmth and bundle up. Instead of walking around the house in a T-shirt during the winter, put on a sweatshirt — pull the hood over the head. Hoods, hats, scarves and ear muffs really hold the heat in well.

By layering — even indoors — it's possible to save on the electrical bill.

Electrical heaters, which many operate in an effort to reduce heating fuel bills, are becoming more and more economical to operate. Some models draw significantly less voltage than others; it's worth shopping around for the most energy efficient.

Conservation is a community concern. It's the total drain of electricity that prompts the need to turn on the generators. So, to keep everyone's electrical costs down, everyone must participate in conservation.

Conserving is a way to improve the quality of life in Ketchikan.