11/25/24 - 156 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/54ukts8z
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Met-Ed, Penn Power, Penelect To Offer Energy Efficiency Programs
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Metropolitan Edison Company, Pennsylvania Electric Company and Pennsylvania Power Company soon will offer a wide variety of programs that could collectively result in customer energy savings of up to $960 million over the life of the initiatives.
The programs, which include ways to make homes more energy efficient and reduce peak energy use, were approved by the Public Utility Commission. The companies are subsidiaries of FirstEnergy Corp.
"Over the next few months, we will introduce a number of new programs to help our Pennsylvania electric utility customers save energy and money," said Doug Elliott, FirstEnergy president of Pennsylvania Operations. "They will include incentives for making efficiency improvements in homes and businesses, and tools to help customers understand how to make better energy decisions."
Depending on customer participation, the plans have the potential to reduce energy use by more than a million megawatt-hours annually through 2013, equal to the average annual usage of some 100,000 homes.
This reduced electricity usage also could avoid annual emissions of some 900,000 tons of carbon-dioxide, 10,000 tons of sulfur dioxide and 1,000 tons of nitrogen oxides, help delay the need for costly new generating plants and support the development of "green jobs" in Pennsylvania.
The plans were initially filed with the PUC on July 1, 2009, to comply with Pennsylvania Act 129, which requires electric utility companies to reduce customer usage and peak demand.
Programs include:
-- Home energy audits – a full evaluation of a home's energy performance, including insulation, heating and cooling systems, doors, windows, caulking and sealing. Customers who participate also would be eligible for rebates and discounts on items purchased to improve energy efficiency.
-- Appliance turn-in – an incentive to customers who turn in older, inefficient appliances such as second refrigerators, freezers and room air conditioners. The program includes free pick-up and disposal of the old appliances, and may also include a coupon toward the purchase of a high-efficiency appliance through the Energy Efficient Products program described below.
-- HVAC program – incentives for contractor-installed HVAC systems in existing or new residential buildings to enhance the home's energy performance.
-- Energy efficiency products – rebates and financial incentives for customers who purchase energy efficient products such as Energy Star qualified appliances and high-efficiency lighting.
-- Whole building program – comprehensive diagnostic assessments followed by direct installation of selected low-cost measures plus various incentives, including rebates.
-- Direct load control program – an option to receive an advanced technology thermostat capable of two-way communication in exchange for providing the utility company with the ability to raise the temperature a few degrees on peak usage days in the summer.
-- On-line home energy analyzer – an on-line audit that provides a customized way to identify energy-saving opportunities that reflect an individual home's characteristics and energy systems. Participating customers will be offered compact fluorescent light bulbs and, for those with electric water heating, two faucet aerators.
-- Low-income residential assistance – additional electric energy savings measures to the existing and new WARM program participants.
The companies also filed revised rates to reflect recovery of approved program costs, as provided for in Act 129. If approved, costs for a typical residential customer using 750 kilowatt-hours are expected to be less than $3 a month. However, customers who take advantage of energy efficiency and conservation programs the companies offer will have the opportunity to save much more.
The plans also include various programs for commercial, industrial, government and non-profit customers to increase energy efficiency and conservation efforts. Visit the Energy Save PA website for more information.
Elliott said a key element of the plan is comprehensive consumer education so that customers understand the options available to them and can choose the programs that provide the greatest benefits for their type of home or business. And, the incentives will help defray the costs associated with energy efficiency enhancements.
Act 129, which was passed in October 2008, requires electric utility companies to reduce customer electricity consumption by 1 percent by May 31, 2011, and by 3 percent by May 31, 2013. In addition, the demand placed on the companies' system during peak usage periods must be reduced by 4.5 percent by May 31, 2013.
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2/12/2010 |
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