Under its E-Power brand, PPL Electric Utilities will offer a portfolio of 13 energy efficiency and conservation programs over the next three years as part of an ongoing effort to help its customers reduce their electric usage.

The programs are part of the company’s energy efficiency and conservation plan recently approved by the Public Utility Commission. The state has mandated electric utilities to sponsor cost-effective programs for all customers that achieve an overall energy reduction equal to 2.1 percent, or 821 million kilowatt-hours per year, by 2016.

The company’s existing energy efficiency programs that offered discounts, rebates and other incentives over the past four years will expire May 31. The new programs will be available starting June 1.

Some of the new programs will be similar to popular existing offers, such as appliance recycling, rebates on energy-efficient appliance purchases and discounted lighting.

The new programs provide incentives for residential, small commercial and large industrial customers, as well as a specific focus on low-income customers, government, nonprofit and educational facilities.

The new programs also will include incentives for new homebuilders, as well as audits and weatherization for existing homes.

Additionally, PPL Electric Utilities will offer specific programs for farms, schools and low-income apartment buildings to help them reduce their energy use.

A PPL Electric Utilities contractor will conduct an energy audit or operational assessment to identify savings opportunities and make recommendations. The company then will provide significant discounts to implement the energy efficiency measures, like lighting upgrades, occupancy sensors, and high-efficiency refrigeration, heating and irrigation systems.

Details of the new plan can be found online.

Tom Stathos, director of Customer Programs and Services for PPL Electric Utilities, said: “Our new programs expand on our efforts of the past few years and provide customers with wide-ranging choices that enable wise use of electricity, reduced electricity consumption, and opportunities to save money without diminishing quality of life or business effectiveness. Ultimately, all of our programs are geared to help educate customers and better manage their energy costs.”

The company’s plan submitted to the PUC last November allocates about $61 million in funding each year for all customer classes (residential, small commercial and large industrial). It includes detailed procedures to measure, evaluate and verify the energy savings performance of the programs, Stathos said.

The programs were developed based on experiences from current programs, market studies, input from consumer advocates and stakeholder groups, and guidance from Cadmus Group Inc., a Massachusetts-based energy efficiency and sustainability consulting group.

“PPL Electric Utilities’ programs focus on proven, cost-effective technologies that can be installed alone or as part of an integrated strategy for long-term energy efficiency,” Stathos said. “We understand the hurdle to invest in higher efficiency appliances and equipment, so we’ll assist our customers with measures that provide sustainable savings over time.”

NewsClips:

PPL Launches New Energy Conservation Program

PPL Offers Energy Saving Programs

4/1/2013