PA Environment Digest

The Public Utility Commission took action this week to approve energy efficiency and conservation plans required by Act 129 for Allegheny Power, PECO and PPL. Here are a few details on each plan--

Allegheny Power

The plan for Allegheny Power includes:

-- Residential EnergyStar and high efficiency appliance programs that provide rebates to customers for the purchase of certain energy efficiency appliances;

-- Residential compact fluorescent lighting (CFL) rewards programs that provide rebates and point of sale discounts for the purchase and installation of CFLs;

-- Residential HVAC efficiency programs that encourage consumers to purchase a high efficiency central air conditioner or heat pump;

-- Residential home performance programs that provide for home audits and rebates toward implementing audit recommendations;

-- Low-income home audit and appliance and air conditioner replacement programs;

-- Time of use with critical peak pricing rates to reflect the cost of serving customers during peak times; and

-- Hourly-pricing options with rates reflecting the cost of energy during each hour, encouraging customers to lower their demand or shift to lower-priced periods. (click here for complete announcement)

PECO

The plan for PECO includes:

-- Residential Low-Income Energy Efficiency Program to educate income-eligible customers on how to make their homes more energy efficient by providing home energy audits and installing energy efficiency measures, similar to PECO’s Low-Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP);

-- Residential Whole Home Performance Program designed to help customers improve the energy efficiency of their homes through an energy performance audit, installation of low-cost energy saving measures and rebates for the purchase of additional energy efficiency measures identified through the audit;

-- Home Energy Incentives Program to increase the penetration of Energy Star appliances and other high-efficiency measures identified through the offer of rebates;

-- Time of use with critical peak pricing rates to reflect the cost of serving customers during peak times; and

-- CFL Initiative providing 6.5 million compact fluorescent light bulbs to PECO’s 1.4 million residential customers, previously approved by the Commission. (click here for complete announcement)

PPL

The plan for PPL includes:

-- Rebates to customers who install energy-efficient equipment, including lighting, appliances, and heating and cooling systems;

-- Rebates and incentives for customers to get a home energy audit and weatherize their home;

-- A compact fluorescent lighting campaign to distribute more than 7 million energy-efficient light bulbs through a combination of giveaways and discount programs in retail stores;

-- A program to promote construction of energy-efficient homes, and grants to help offset higher costs of energy efficiency measures;

-- Rebates to encourage recycling of older, inefficient refrigerators, freezers and window air conditioners;

-- Nearly doubling of the company’s funding of home weatherization and conservation services for low-income customers;

-- Rebates for commercial customers who have their heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems tuned up and improved to increase energy efficiency;

-- Financial incentives for customers who reduce electricity use during peak hours or install remote-controlled devices on certain appliances so that the company can scale back electric use when summer demand is highest; and

-- Financial incentives for customers to install solar energy systems or geothermal heat pumps.

“Our programs provide great incentives to improve your home or business and save energy,” said David G. DeCampli, president of PPL Electric Utilities. “These programs will reward you if you buy, build, renovate and act with energy efficiency in mind. They can help you save money and protect the environment.”

DeCampli said the company’s options, which will offer everything from rebates on energy-efficient equipment to expanded home weatherization services for eligible customers, encourage broad participation and generally don’t require customers to spend large amounts of money.

“The majority of our programs will result in significant savings and quick payback,” he said. (click here for complete announcement)

Each of the plans also includes various programs for commercial, industrial, government and non-profit customers to increase energy efficiency and conservation efforts.

The Commission also will convene a working group composed of representatives, consumer advocates, community-based organizations and other interested parties in each of the service territories to address some issues surrounding low-income consumers and clarify other matters affecting the annual reconciliation process.

According to the plan, the companies also must meet with stakeholders annually until May 31, 2013 to discuss the implementation of the plan.

For more information, visit the PUC's Act 129 webpage.

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