The numbers tell the story. PPL Electric Utilities customers are a savvy, energy-efficient bunch.

In the first phase of E-power programs developed as part of the state’s energy efficiency and conservation law known as Act 129, the utility’s customers achieved a 3 percent  reduction in electric consumption required by May 31.

Government, nonprofit and educational customers reached 10 percent in reductions. In addition, the utility reached its 4.5 percent peak load reduction target in the summer of 2012.

“Congratulations to all those customers who took advantage of our programs, rebates and incentives during the first phase of E-power, which kicked off in late 2009,” said Thomas C. Stathos, director of Customer Programs and Services for the utility.

“The good news continues because phase two is underway, and there are a lot more opportunities to save,” Stathos added. “We encourage those who were on the sidelines in the first phase to join hundreds of thousands of their fellow customers in saving energy and money and reducing their carbon footprint in the second phase, which started June 1.”

As part of phase one, PPL Electric Utilities customers:

-- Racked up nearly 1.5 billion kilowatt-hours per year of electric savings, enough to power more than 121,000 average homes for a year and reduce customers’ energy costs by approximately $150 million per year.

-- Reduced greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions from nearly 198,000 passenger vehicles a year.

-- Recycled nearly 55,000 appliances.

-- Installed nearly 10 million compact fluorescent light bulbs purchased at discounts at hundreds of retailers in central and eastern Pennsylvania.

-- Received more than $120 million in rebates and incentives.

About 300,000 customers -- almost 25 percent of all PPL Electric Utilities customers -- participated in at least one program. Also, some 4,400 jobs were completed under the Direct Discount program for business lighting and refrigeration upgrades, earning those customers some $16 million in rebates.

Some programs, such as appliance recycling and discounted residential lighting, will continue in phase two, which runs until May 31, 2016. LED light bulbs will play a more prominent role in the second phase.

The utility will continue to offer programs such as rebates for certain home appliances, residential HVAC, commercial lighting and HVAC, custom incentives for commercial customers, and weatherization and energy education for income-eligible customers.

New programs include a Home Comfort Program for both new and existing homes, equipment rebates focused on the agricultural community, and a program to aid owners of certain master-metered multi-unit apartment buildings.

More information on all the phase two programs can be found on PPL’s e-Power website.

6/24/2013