These Chi-Com CFLs came in the mail from our city utility. They are financed by a "public-benefit" charge that is state mandated on municipal electric utilities.
Man! This is making me mad! Forcing people to use CFLs?!? No wonder I see a high usage of CFLs in cities with municipal utilities in California. CFL usage is somewhat less where I live, SCE territory. I have never received any free CFLs from them.
Here National Grid has rebate programs too like replacing your fridge and hauling away the old one for free. and it's "Payed for by the energy-efficiency charge on all customers' gas and electric bills in accordance with Rhode Island law". They say it every radio commercial so i ahve it memorized. Yeah, sad, i know.
I hear radio spots from So Cal Edison, about not touching a downed power line, to call 911, and "Flex Alert" to reduce electrical usage. My fav music is mostly 80s rock like Depeche Mode and the like.