Anybody Can Serve 2010 ACS Launches New Campaign

Three Families Win 30-60-90 Day Efficiency Challenge

Thirty-five families from across the U.S., identified with the help of the National Association of Regulatory Commissioners (NARUC) and the National Association of State Consumer Utility Advocates (NASUCA) members, participated and simultaneously saved on energy costs while helping our environment. Each family signed Commitment Contracts through a website created by stickK.com to manage their energy conservation progress. The Commitment Contract, a tool developed by stickK, is a binding agreement to achieve a personal goal by attaching incentives and accountability to the goal. For the Anybody Can Serve Challenge, participating families committed to goals such as "Take 8-minute Showers," "Wash Clothes in Cold Water," and "Use the fan instead of AC during the day."

Participants were rewarded points for their progress, redeemable for eco-friendly prizes, such as reusable grocery totes and water bottles, eco-friendly jump ropes and Frisbees, eco art pads and pencils, low-flow showerheads, and solar path lights. The interactive online experience helped families stay engaged in the conservation process by allowing friends and family members to view and comment on participant progress, encouraging success.

After tabulating the results, the Anybody Can Serve, So Let's Conserve campaign is proud to name the winning families:

The overall winner is the Ostermann family from Michigan, who reduced their utility bills by more than 42 percent. In second place is the Kiser family from Delaware, who reduced their adjusted overall consumption by more than 43 percent and reduced their bills by 29 percent. Finally, in third place is the Gadsden family from Maryland who reduced their adjusted overall consumption by more than 28 percent and reduced their bills by over 18 percent.

The Ostermann family will get their utility bills paid for all three months of the contest, while the Kiser family will be paid for two months, and the Gadsden family will be paid for one month.

Working closely with Ian Ayres, Yale University economist and co-founder of stickK, the Anybody Can Serve team determined the winners by comparing the family's average 2009 and 2010 cost per day for all utilities and adjusting for the State's change in both heating and cooling days. On average, all families reduced their electricity consumption by 2.01 percent. There were 81 registrants and 201 Commitment Contracts created with an average reported success rate of 82 percent.

"Congratulations to our winning families! The results of this program prove that ordinary people can make extraordinary differences. This coincides with the spirit of Dr. King and his message: 'Anybody can be great, because anyone can serve.' While the Ostermanns, Kisers and Gadsdens were our top three winners, all of our participating families are winners because they were able to work together in creating energy conservation habits to reduce their energy bills and help save the planet," said Anybody Can Serve, So Let's Conserve Chair Colette Honorable of the Arkansas Public Service Commission.

A formal acknowledgement of all winners will occur at the upcoming 122nd Annual NARUC Convention in Atlanta.

The Anybody Can Serve, So Let's Conserve team encourages everyone to participate in the challenge next year as it is expanded to include more families. The team would also like to thank Chair Honorable for her dedication and guidance to the Anybody Can Serve 30-60-90 Day Energy Efficiency Challenge.

About the Anybody Can Serve, So Let's Conserve Campaign: NARUC and its partners established the Anybody Can Serve, So Let's Conserve Campaign to coincide with the Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday. Each year, NARUC, its members, and its partners will mark the holiday by making it a Day of Utility Service. The Anybody Can Serve campaign is a far-reaching effort to encourage the general public to conserve energy. Through, songs, PSAs, and other innovative programs, the Anybody Can Serve campaign brings the message about energy conservation from State public service commission hearing rooms to everyone's living rooms.

Listen the Artists' Full Singles

Audra - "Conserve"

Todd James - "Lights Out"

James Boyd - "Start Today"

Tru - "Saving Green"