The submittal is part of Pennsylvania Act 129 of 2008, which was passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor last fall as a way to reduce electricity use, expand the use of advanced metering technology and set requirements for electricity supply purchases by utilities.
The plan includes more than a dozen energy efficiency and conservation programs, ranging from energy-efficient equipment rebates to expanded home weatherization services for eligible customers.
"As electricity users, we all have the potential to save energy," said
DeCampli said the company's plan offers opportunities for every customer group, from large commercial customers and institutions to small businesses, homeowners and renters. The plan aims to reduce customers' electric use by more than 1.3 billion kilowatt-hours a year by mid-2013.
"The plan we've proposed lays out programs that will dramatically expand our existing e-power campaign to promote wise energy use and help our customers save money, conserve resources and contribute to protecting the environment," he said.
In the last 50 years, customer electric use has surged nearly 500 percent - PPL Electric Utilities delivered 38 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2008 compared with just 6 billion kilowatt-hours in 1960.
"With bigger homes, more air conditioning, and more appliances, gadgets and home electronics, customers are using far more electricity than they did decades ago, and they're spending more as a result," DeCampli said.
"That's why it's important that electricity users make the best decisions they can, from purchasing energy-efficient appliances to taking actions that reduce their electric use," he said.
Among measures PPL Electric Utilities has proposed are:
- Rebates to customers who install energy-efficient equipment, including lighting, appliances, programmable thermostats, and heating and cooling systems.
- Nearly doubling the company's funding of home weatherization and conservation services for low-income customers.
- Financial incentives for customers to weatherize their home or get a home energy audit.
- A compact fluorescent lighting campaign to distribute more than 7 million energy-efficient light bulbs through a combination of giveaways and discount programs.
- A program to promote construction of energy-efficient homes, and grants to help offset higher construction costs.
- Rebates to encourage recycling of old, inefficient refrigerators and freezers.
- Energy efficiency education and take-home kits.
- Rebates for commercial customers who have their heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems tuned up and improved to increase energy efficiency.
- A time-of-use pricing option that would allow residential customers and some businesses to save money by shifting their electricity use from periods when demand is high.
- Financial incentives for customers to reduce 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.
- Financial incentives for customers to install solar energy systems or geothermal heat pumps.
The plan proposed by PPL Electric Utilities will help the company meet the energy efficiency mandates of Act 129, which requires electric utilities to reduce customers' annual energy use 1 percent by mid-2011 and 3 percent by mid-2013. It also requires utilities to reduce customers' peak demand, or peak hourly use, by 4.5 percent by mid-2013.
PPL Electric Utilities held several daylong meetings to gather input on its draft energy efficiency plan from representatives of economic development organizations, state agencies, consumer advocates, environmental groups and operators of energy efficiency programs. The company plans to partner with community agencies, equipment manufacturers, appliance retailers, contractors and others to carry out some of the proposed initiatives.
The PUC is expected to act on the plan by
DeCampli said the company already has taken steps to raise awareness about energy efficiency in recent years. For example, today PPL Electric Utilities is able to provide all of its 1.4 million customers access to detailed usage information like few, if any, utilities can in the country.
The company's online Energy Analyzer at www.pplelectric.com allows customers to view daily and hourly usage information. Customers can experiment with changes, like adjusting their thermostat, to see the difference it makes. They can complete a home profile on the Energy Analyzer to see where their energy dollars are being spent and get personalized tips to save.
The company's e-power team is visiting thousands of customers each year to share energy-saving tips. In addition, the company shares monthly tips in a newsletter that accompanies customer bills. PPL Electric Utilities also funds rebates to small businesses that upgrade to energy-efficient lighting and rebates to residential customers who have their home's energy use evaluated by a certified energy auditor.
SOURCE PPL Electric Utilities
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