Bermuda Gas gave away $32,000 in new appliances

The Royal Gazette Nov 24 2010
By Alex Wright

Bermuda Gas gave away $32,000 worth of appliances to customers who changed out their old electric models for new propane gas ones.  The company, which ran its Great $50,000 Gas Appliance Giveaway at the Bermuda Gas showroom in Church Street, Hamilton during the first week of November, signed up 32 new customers, each of whom received $1,000 towards the cost of a new gas appliance.  It is currently getting in the festive spirit with the launch of its annual Christmas Turkey Giveaway where a customer gets a free 12 to 14-pound turkey for every appliance they buy and for every $500 spent they will be entered into a prize draw on December 23 to win back the value of their purchase up to $2,000.

Seventy percent of the customers who signed up for the Gas Appliance Giveaway bought a range or gas cooker, 25 percent purchased a dryer and five percent a tankless water heater and most of the appliances have been or will be installed this week.  One satisfied customer was Dinah-Jean Bowen, who decided to make the switch to a new dryer to reduce her electricity bill. According to David DeSilva, Bermuda Gas showroom manager, she is already enjoying the benefits of the new appliance and noticing the drying time is shorter than her electric version.  The giveaway, which was the first of its kind, was part of a campaign launched in May to promote propane as a cleaner and more cost effective energy solution and educate people about its advantages.  ”It generated a lot of interest with customers at the door and the phones extremely busy as well,” said Mr. DeSilva. “People were asking lots of questions about the promotion and the appliances and we have now got 32 new customers as a result.  ”I would say that people’s interest has been piqued and they are becoming a lot more savvy about reducing their energy consumption. Those who have bought new propane gas appliances should see reductions in their electric bill within the first month.”  Bermuda Gas’ staff have also become involved in the Christmas promotion as a team bonding exercise and have been appearing in various print advertisements and radio slots.  The utility provider, which plans to follow up on the campaign further down the line with deals for specific products, has a number of new promotions in the pipeline, including one for its existing customers, and will be exhibiting at the Coldwell Banker Home Show in February and the returning Culinary Arts Festival in April next year.