The threat of rising energy costs is a looming concern for small businesses, and the Lehigh University Small Business Development Center wants to help by sponsoring an energy efficiency workshop on November 7 at Lehigh University.

In a 2006 survey performed by the National Small Business Association, 75 percent of respondents indicated that they had been moderately to significantly impacted by rising energy costs.

In Pennsylvania, these costs are expected to rise considerably in the next few years, as electricity price caps for utilities serving much of the Commonwealth will expire at the end of 2009 and 2010.

While there is no way to predict the exact rise in costs, recent examples demonstrate that businesses should be prepared for dramatic increases. When the rate caps came off in Pike County in 2006, customers saw their total electric bills increase over 70 percent. Commercial customers in Delaware and Maryland are having similar experiences as the rate caps come off in those states.

However, there are steps that businesses can take to become more energy efficient and lessen the impact of the potential electricity price increases.

The Lehigh SBDC’s Environmental Management Assistance Program is offering a free workshop to address these issues.

“The Impact of EPAct: Assessing Your Potential for Energy Efficiency Savings and Tax Deductions In the Face of Utility Deregulation” will be held from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., November 7 at Lehigh University.

This workshop can benefit small businesses of any type seeking clarity about utility deregulation and energy efficiency opportunities. Examples of topics to be covered include electric deregulation, how to analyze your energy bill, tax deductions and rebates for energy efficiency projects, and more.

Statewide, businesses are already benefiting from the energy efficiency expertise available through the network of Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers.

A typical Pennsylvania SBDC client can save 25-30 percent on utility bills by implementing EMAP recommendations of cost-effective steps to reduce energy consumption. This workshop will highlight how other small businesses can achieve these results.

To register, call 610-758-3980 or send email to: insbdc@lehigh.edu . For more information on this and other workshops visit the EMAP workshop webpage.

10/26/2007