Beginning next month, SaskPower customers will have a new way to reduce their power bills.

The Crown corporation has announced a partnership with MasterCard of Canada and CUETS, a Regina-based information processor which has resulted in a new credit card available to Saskatchewan residents November 1.

The SaskPower PowerPoints MasterCard is a credit card that allows customers to accumulate points with every credit card purchase to be used toward reductions in SaskPower bills or catalogue merchandise.

A credit card purchase of $100 is equal to 100 Powerpoints redeemable in merchandise or a $1 reduction on a power bill.

Kelly Staudt, vice-president of customer services for SaskPower, said the cost to the company is not a concern since the program was designed to show appreciation to customers.

"We were looking at new and innovative products and services that we can offer our customers and this was one where we can give some added value to our customers."

Staudt said SaskPower researched the possibility and approached MasterCard and CUETS, a member of MasterCard that provides all of the technical services and operation support for the card company.

Bob Lane, spokesperson for CUETS, said it welcomed the partnership and is pleased with the resulting product.

"Like SaskPower, we're very excited about the card. When you can get points that can contribute to your power bill, that's quite a practical service. We're very pleased to be working with SaskPower and MasterCard to make this happen," said Lane.

According to Staudt, no other utility company in Canada offers a similar program. He said he is aware of two similar ventures in the United States.

"We're hoping that if it's successful in this jurisdiction, and our customers embrace it, than SaskPower has a product that they can market to other power utilities thoughout Canada and the U.S.," said Staudt.

The card is available to all Saskatchewan residents including those who are not billed through SaskPower.

Residnets who do not recieve their power through SaskPower are still eligible for the card, but will only be able to redeem their PowerPoints toward merchandise, rather than reductions on their power bills.

The application process for the PowerPoints MasterCard is the same as any other MasterCard. Applications will be mailed to every Saskatchewan resident and are available at SaskPower locations.

The PowerPoints MasterCard has an annual fee of $24 and offers the same benefits of a regular MasterCard, including travel insurance and warranty insurance on purchases. It is accepted at any of the 14 million locations world-wide that accept MasterCard.