Recently in Utilities Category

Attorney General Jerry Brown and Assemblymember Nancy Skinner Introduce AB 2514 to Make the Smart Grid a Reality with California Becoming Leader in Clean, Cost-Effective Energy Storage

Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-14), Chair, Committee on Natural Resources, working in partnership with California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr., has introduced AB 2514 (available here) - new legislation that will create a smarter, cleaner electric grid, increase the use of renewable energy, provide Californians with significant savings by avoiding costly new power plants and transmission lines, and reduce air pollution. This transformative legislation will also create thousands of permanent new green-collar jobs.  

AB 2514 will achieve these benefits by closing the gap between the United States and other nations in investments and deployments of energy storage, a booming "green" industry that represents a significant economic development opportunity for California.

By mandating that utilities incorporate energy storage capacity - 2.25% of daytime peak demand for power by 2014 and 5% of peak demand by 2020 - the bill will provide much-needed lower electricity costs to consumers. Greater use of energy storage will provide the State with a cleaner and less costly alternative to the high costs of generating and supplying primarily fossil fuel-based power for only part-time daytime peak demand for power.

"Energy storage is the future -- it's a fast-growing clean technology industry that will save the state money and reduce pollution," said Attorney General Jerry Brown, the bill's sponsor.  "What's even better is that this new technology could create 8,500 new jobs in California during the next decade."

"We applaud Assemblymember Skinner and Attorney General Brown's leadership in introducing this essential legislation.  This bill will put California at the forefront of a growing global market that will spur economic development.   Given major advances in energy storage, the industry is now ready to provide high-technology, affordable, reliable products for California's utilities and consumers," noted Janice Lin, Director of the California Energy Storage Alliance.

Currently, California uses fossil fuel-burning backup power plants, as well as coal-fired power imported from other states, to help meet its relentlessly growing demand for daytime peak power.  This is costly, inefficient and harmful to California's air quality.  Wider scale deployment of clean, cost-effective energy storage will enable California to reduce pollution from greenhouse gases and smog-forming nitrogen oxides (NOx) by reducing the need for fossil fuel-based peaking power plants and imported coal-fired power.  Further, energy storage will increase the value and use of intermittent renewable power such as wind and solar, which often relies on fossil fuel-based backup power.  However, California is lagging behind other states in energy storage deployment.  AB 2514 is available at:

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_2501-2550/ab_2514_bill_20100219_introduced.pdf

Cost-effective and commercially ready energy storage is a key part of the newly emerging smart grid that will transform California's electricity grid into a modern, clean, sophisticated network fully integrating renewable and distributed power sources.  Modern energy storage technologies, some in existence for decades and covering a wide range of sizes, power capacity, and discharge durations, include mechanical, chemical and thermal processes for storing energy for use at a later time.  Energy storage has attracted significant investment capital and federal stimulus funding, with recently announced projects representing nearly 1,000 megawatts of new capacity.  This will more than double the current installed capacity of energy storage.

The California Energy Storage Alliance is an association of companies committed to the rapid expansion of energy storage to promote growth of renewable energy and a more reliable and secure electric system. Its members include a diverse group of companies ranging from electro-mechanical, electro-thermal and electro-chemical storage companies to system integrators and renewable energy component manufacturers and developers.  (www.storagealliance.org).

SOURCE CESA (California Energy Storage Alliance)

- Workforce of thousands restoring power as quickly as possible

- Customers asked to prepare for single-digit cold occurring overnight

- Worst winter storm in years poses work, travel hazards for crews

Dominion Virginia Power crews working in extremely difficult conditions have restored electric service to nearly half of the customers whose electricity has been interrupted by the record-breaking winter storm. With more severe weather expected today, the company is prepared to respond to additional outages caused by even more snow, sleet and rain, increasing winds, and cold weather.

Thousands of Dominion Virginia Power employees and contractors have been mobilized and have restored power to about 101,000 of the 207,000 customers affected as of noon today. Most of the outages have been in Northern Virginia and Charlottesville areas, where snowfall in the Dominion Virginia Power service area has been the greatest.

"We are dealing with our most severe winter storm in years, one that not only interrupts electric service to our customers but also poses extreme challenges to the crews working to restore that service," said Paul D. Koonce, chief executive officer of Dominion Virginia Power. Storm restoration information is available online at http://www.dom.com/storm-center/index.jsp.

"We are focused on getting the lights back on for our customers as safely and quickly as possible while maintaining safety as our first priority - safety of our customers and safety of our crews. We urge our customers to begin making plans for how they will stay safe overnight as single-digit temperatures affect much of the state.

"Please stay clear of downed lines and use extreme caution if you must be on the roads where snow and downed trees could be affecting traffic patterns," Koonce said.

Dominion crews will remain on the road this weekend assessing storm damage and traveling to locations across Virginia. The company asks motorists to be extra cautious to ensure safety for themselves and for the utility crews driving on and working near area roadways.  Safe driving also reduces the chances of motorists hitting utility poles, which becomes more likely along icy roads during and after winter storms. Work crew locations are available online at: http://www.dom.com/storm-center/crew-work-locations.jsp

Dominion expects the number of reported outages to peak late this afternoon or evening as the heavy snow and strong winds brought by storm move out of the company's service area. Crews and support staff will work around the clock to restore service. Customers should call toll free 1-888-667-3000 to report outages or downed power lines.

The highest priority for restoration is always given to public safety and emergency situations such as hospitals, emergency 911 call centers, and municipal water pumping stations. A video description of the storm restoration process is available online at http://www.dom.com/storm-center/how-we-restore-power.jsp.

Dominion offers these suggestions to its customers:

During the storm, if your electricity is interrupted:

• Call Dominion at 1-888-667-3000 to report an outage. Do not rely on your neighbors to report your outage.
• When reporting your outage, enter the phone number where you can best be reached in case Dominion needs to contact you.
• Leave one light on so you will know when power is restored.
• If using portable or camp-type stoves or lanterns for cooking and lighting, ensure that the area is adequately ventilated.

After the storm:

• Stay away from fallen wires, and debris.  Treat all fallen wires and any trees or tree limbs in contact with wires as if they are energized.
• Follow safe operating procedures for generators. Never operate one inside your home, in crawl spaces or in an enclosed space, such as a garage.
• Do not hook portable generators directly to the electrical system of your home. Electricity could flow backward onto Dominion's power lines and endanger lives. Either have a qualified electrician perform the work or plug directly into the generator with the proper-sized extension cords.
• Clear snow from around your home's heat pump so that air can circulate properly.
• Check for ice buildup within the exterior heat pump mechanism. Ice buildup can impede the proper functioning of the fan and may require technical service.

SOURCE Dominion Virginia Power

 The U.S. Demand Response Coordinating Committee (DRCC) today announced that a National Town Meeting on Demand Response and Smart Grid will be held in Washington, DC, on June 23-24.

The DRCC announced that, among other areas, the National Town Meeting would be focused on implementing the National Action Plan on Demand Response and Smart Grid required by Congress in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA). FERC is presently developing the Plan and the Act calls for FERC and DOE to work together to implement it.  Another focus area, according to the DRCC, will be a review of progress on the DOE smart grid grant programs.

The National Town Meeting is a non-profit event known for featuring a large number of roundtable sessions where all of the latest business and policy developments are discussed and debated.  No other event brings together all parts of the DR & Smart Grid community--utilities, policymakers, technology companies, ISOs and stakeholders--and puts them all in the same room if not at the same table to talk about customer acceptance, cybersecurity, interoperability and other important issues.

At the National Town Meeting held in Washington last year, over 400 members of the demand response and smart grid community came together to hear from such keynote speakers as Congressman Jay Inslee (D-WA) of the House Energy and Commerce Committee; Jon Wellinghoff, Chairman of FERC; Garry Brown, Chairman of the NYS Public Service Commission; top leaders from DOE and EPA; and Executives from smart grid companies like Google and Microsoft as well as utilities like Ameren, PG&E, National Grid and Southern California Edison. Close to 50 different utilities and state commissions were represented by at least one attendee and some had multiple participants.

The 2010 National Town Meeting--the 7th to be held--will also be focused on information sharing and dissemination, and it will feature multiple tracks of presentations on case studies, program deployments, and technology demonstrations.

Dan Delurey, Executive Director of the DRCC, said, "The 2010 National Town Meeting on Demand Response and Smart Grid promises to continue to be the national forum for bringing together the DR & Smart Grid community so they can share experiences and learn from each other.  In addition to all of the key issues to discuss, this year will be particularly important as FERC will have just completed its National Action Plan on Demand Response and sent it to Congress.  The National Town Meeting will be the first opportunity to talk about how to put the Plan into action.  We hope all members of the community will attend and help in that effort."

Registration for the 2010 National Town Meeting on Demand Response and Smart Grid opens on March 15, 2010. More information on the upcoming as well as on past National Town Meetings can be found here: www.smartgridtownmeeting.com.

The DRCC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to the development and exchange of information and expertise about demand response and smart grid. Its members include Ameren, American Electric Power, Arizona Public Service, DTE Energy, ISO New England, Landis+Gyr, Midwest ISO, National Grid, NYSERDA, Pacific Gas & Electric, PJM Interconnection, Progress Energy, Salt River Project, San Diego Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, Southern Company, Tennessee Valley Authority, Viridity Energy and Wal-Mart. More information on the DRCC can be found at www.demandresponsecommittee.org.

The DRCC is the sponsor of the 2010 National Town Meeting on Demand Response and Smart Grid, to be held in Washington, DC, on June 23-24.  For more information, go to www.smartgridtownmeeting.com.

SOURCE Demand Response Coordinating Committee

The economic impact of nearly $170 million spent to bring high tech energy service to Michigan over the next two years will provide jobs and needed spending in Michigan's economy, said Anthony F. Earley, Jr., DTE Energy chairman and CEO.

Earley was joined at a news conference today by Edward Montgomery, executive director, White House Council on Auto Communities and Workers, who touted the latest round of grants under the federal economic stimulus program. DTE Energy will receive $83 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to accelerate its SmartCurrents program over the next two years. The grant will be matched by DTE Energy and its technology partners.

During 2010 and 2011, Detroit Edison and MichCon will install 660,000 new "smart" meters in portions of Wayne, Oakland, Livingston, Lapeer, Ingham and Tuscola counties. These meters will serve as the technological backbone for the SmartCurrents program.

"We estimate the accelerated startup of the SmartCurrents program will result in the creation of 700 deployment and construction jobs for IT contractors and overhead linemen, and 350 permanent positions for suppliers to this effort," Earley said. "This estimate does not include second tier or pull-through opportunities created with an increase in local production and commercial growth of this technology. There are environmental benefits, too. By reducing our vehicle use related to meter reading, we'll also cut our carbon emissions and fuel consumption."

The SmartCurrents program is DTE Energy's contribution to the nation's Smart Grid, which uses the latest technologies across the country's electric system to allow consumers to make choices that save them money and improve the environment.

"The combined effect of our $3.4 billion investment, when the projects are fully implemented, will create thousands of jobs, including higher paying career opportunities for smart meter manufacturing workers, make the grid more reliable and empower consumers to cut their electricity bills," Montgomery said. "We estimate these improvements will reduce electricity demand by 1,400 megawatts, and put us on a path to get 20 percent or more of our energy from renewable resources by 2020."

SmartCurrents will provide customers with improved electric service reliability, the distribution of smart appliances and ways to control and reduce energy consumption and costs.

The new metering part of the program will serve as a platform to eliminate manual meter reading and provide remote monitoring of the electric distribution system, which will enable faster and more reliable power outage detection and restoration. DTE Energy also would have the ability to connect meters remotely. The program will enable customers to manage their bills by tracking their consumption and demand via the DTE Energy Web site.

As the program implementation proceeds, every electric meter in Southeast Michigan would be replaced with solid state meters and every gas meter would be modified with an advanced metering module. Customers will be notified when meter changes are scheduled in their communities during the next several years.

The SmartCurrents program, besides advanced metering technology, includes Smart Circuit and Smart Home technologies. Smart Home would provide different pricing levels to incentivize off-peak electrical usage, web-based customer energy usage presentation and customer outage notification. In addition, certain "smart" appliances could communicate with DTE Energy to provide optimum energy savings.

As a result of the DOE funding, DTE Energy will have the opportunity to offer Smart Home technology with in-home displays and high tech thermostats to 5,000 customers, and make improvements to 11 substations and 55 circuits over the next two years.

SOURCE DTE Energy

ComEd today announced it has been awarded a total of $4 million in federal economic stimulus funding to expand one of the nation's largest private fleets of alternative-fuel vehicles and test solar-powered vehicle charging infrastructure as part of its study of plug-in electric vehicle usage and its impact on the electric system.

ComEd has received notice of a $1.5 million grant from the City of Chicago that stems from $15 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding awarded to the city by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under its Clean Cities Grant program. ComEd will use the funding to acquire up to 14 new hybrid and plug-in electric hybrid vehicles over the next two years, adding to the 10 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and 151 hybrids already in use. The company's green vehicles number more than 2,100, which comprises 63 percent of its overall fleet.

The Clean Cities funding also will be used to deploy "smart charging" infrastructure at ComEd facilities that will enable the company to continue studying the impacts of vehicle charging while managing the electric load associated with these vehicles.

"We believe this is viable technology and we want to help ensure a positive experience for customers who adopt electric vehicle technology," said Anne Pramaggiore, president and chief operating officer, ComEd. "Our goal is to enable customers to make more informed choices about how they use electricity, such as charging their vehicles at night, which could potentially save them money on their electric bills."

ComEd's vehicle charging infrastructure will include one station equipped with solar canopies and stationary battery storage to capture solar-electric energy and use it to recharge the vehicles. The utility also will deploy up to 32 public vehicle smart charging stations in the Chicago area, including one solar-powered station. The public charging stations will be located with the help of the City of Chicago, the Chicago Area Clean Cities coalition, and other community partners to ensure optimal charging opportunities for users of plug-in vehicle technology.

ComEd also is participating in the DOE's Transportation Electrification grant program in partnership with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and more than 50 other utilities to demonstrate the performance of plug-in hybrid electric bucket trucks in operational conditions. Backed by $45 million in ARRA funding, the program will help put more than 300 energy-efficient bucket trucks into use across the country, 25 of which will be deployed by ComEd over the next two years.

"We also will use smart charging technology to study the impact of large plug-in vehicles on the electric grid, while demonstrating advanced, automated methods for managing usage, such as time-of-day charging, and aggregate load management for groups of vehicles," said Terence Donnelly, executive vice president of Operations, ComEd.

ComEd also has been awarded $253,000 from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IPEA) to retrofit about 40 of its large diesel vehicles with anti-idling technology in a pilot project that will help lower the emission of greenhouse gases. The retrofits, which are expected to begin this fall, will involve the installation of direct-fire heaters, which reduce the need to idle large diesel engines during periods of extreme cold to prevent the freezing of vital engine fluids.

"With the help of anti-idling technology, we expect to save about 6,000 gallons of biodiesel fuel per winter for the 40 vehicles in the pilot," Donnelly said. "That equates to a savings of about 50 metric tons of CO2."

The pilot will enable ComEd to evaluate the technology in terms of the savings it generates and the reliability of the equipment. The effort is one of 21 projects totaling $6.7 million that were approved under the Illinois Clean Diesel Grant Program.

SOURCE Commonwealth Edison Company

The nation's interest in "green" living and "green" jobs is continuing to fuel the growth of the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA), a national non-profit that educates people on how to use rainwater harvesting systems and conserve water. During the past three years, ARCSA's membership has grown rapidly from 256 members to over 700 as of September 2009.

"The recent droughts in California, Washington, Georgia, and Texas have increased awareness about the impact water shortages can have nationwide," said newly-elected ARCSA president E.W. "Bob" Boulware, P.E., of Indiana. "People want to know what they can do to save water and ARCSA appears to be in the right place at the right time to help."

One of ARCSA's many accomplishments this past year was Boulware serving as liaison between ARCSA and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO). Working with code officials, his committee developed the Green Plumbing Supplement to the next edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code(R). It now includes design standards for rainwater harvesting systems, which will allow systems to be approved as an alternative to utility-provided water.

In the past two years, ARCSA's conferences and accreditation workshops have taught rainwater catchment practices to hundreds of individuals across the United States. At its September national conference in Decatur, Georgia, ARCSA elected a new board that's preparing itself for future growth by expanding its services to members nationwide.

At the conclusion of the conference, members elected nine board members. The association's board now consists of:

• Bob Boulware, president, from Indianapolis, Indiana
• Jason Kerrigan, vice-president, from Australia and Illinois
• Ramiro Ortiz, treasurer, from Plano, Texas
• Doug Pushard, secretary, from Santa Fe, New Mexico
• John Hammerstrom from Tavernier, Florida
• Heather Kinkade from Phoenix, Arizona
• Billy Kniffen from Menard, Texas
• Tim Pope from Friday Harbor, Washington
• Joe Wheeler from Austin, Texas
  

Boulware is excited about the future of the association. "My goal, as president," he said, "is to keep the membership growing and add to the gathering of new ideas. My dream is to focus the enthusiasm of ARCSA members to promote the concept of a National Water Policy."

SOURCE American Rainwater Catchment System Association

ComEd yesterday submitted a petition to the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to approve the utility's application for federal stimulus grants that would fund half of a $350 million Smart Grid pilot. If approved and fully funded, ComEd would add 180,000 customers to its original Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) pilot proposal and finance other technologies to significantly reduce customer interruptions.

ComEd's application was submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) last month. It calls for expanding the proposed AMI pilot and more than doubling the number of customers receiving new Smart Meters from about 140,000 to 320,000 customers in Chicago and 31 other communities. The stimulus funding also would significantly expand investment in other advanced automation technology to make the transmission and distribution systems "smarter" and more reliable.

The petition to the ICC includes a request to allow ComEd to recover remaining costs of the stimulus projects after receiving the 50 percent match from the DOE. The ICC's approval would be in addition to the more than 100 letters of support the utility received from the City of Chicago, other municipalities and organizations for its federal application submitted in August.

"ICC support will greatly increase the chance that the DOE will select ComEd's application, as it will demonstrate strong local interest to put federal stimulus funds into action," said Anne Pramaggiore, president and chief operating officer, ComEd. "By tapping up to $175 million in federal stimulus funds, we can accelerate and multiply Smart Grid benefits to our customers and reduce customer costs."

Earlier this summer, ComEd filed a petition with the ICC recommending a one-year AMI pilot, one of the country's most comprehensive evaluations of how customers will interact with this innovative technology.

If the $350 million federal stimulus project is approved by the DOE and the rider by the ICC, the effect to the average residential customers' bills would be an average 35 cents per month beginning April 2010 - or an increase of about one half of a percent on an average customer bill of approximately $77.

ComEd's proposed expansion of smart grid technologies also will provide useful information to the ICC and other stakeholders as policies for statewide Smart Grid deployment are developed. ComEd's AMI pilot and Smart Grid vision will play an important role in building a more energy efficient and independent future for Illinois by delivering higher levels of reliability and providing customers unprecedented choices and control.

The federal matching funds come from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (ARRA), which is designed to accelerate the modernization of the nation's electric system and promote economic recovery through job creation. DOE will select projects for funding later this year, and if approved, benefits from the ComEd application also will include:

• Creation of about 3,800 jobs in northern Illinois.
• Deployment of additional smart meters in ComEd's service territory in combination with advanced pricing and billing options. Additional customers will receive in-home displays, programmable devices that will let them control their air conditioners remotely and Web interface options to help manage energy usage and costs.
• A unique project with the City of Chicago that integrates smart meters and advanced technology with energy efficiency incentives in urban communities targeted for sustainability investments through the Chicago Climate Action Plan.
• Dynamic Voltage Reduction technologies to reduce line losses the energy that is wasted as power is moved from power generation plants to homes and businesses.
• Intelligent substation technologies to improve safety and optimize maintenance practices while enhancing reliability and operational performance.
  

ComEd also applied for federal funding for an innovative test integrating solar power with smart metering dynamic pricing and energy storage to increase reliability and provide more options to manage energy use.

Source: ComEd

The Common Ground Alliance (CGA), the nation's leading organization focused on protecting underground utility lines and the safety of people who dig near them, today announced findings from its comprehensive Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) Report. The estimated total number of underground utility damages occurring in the U.S. in 2008 has decreased to 200,000 from the 2004 and 2007 estimates of 450,000 and 256,000 respectively.

The total number of events submitted for 2008 was 135,521, which represents facility damages, near misses and/or downtime incurred. The number of event submissions increased for the fifth consecutive year, which is indicative of broader support for voluntary data submission into DIRT. Several stakeholder groups currently submit data to DIRT as listed below.

• Natural Gas - 41 percent
• One Call Center - 27 percent
• Telecommunication - 23 percent
• Excavator - 3 percent
• Electric - 3 percent
• Other - 3 percent
  

Part of the increase may be attributable to the number of Virtual Private Dirt (VPD) accounts being requested and developed. VPD is an efficient, secure and useful solution for managing damage and near miss data. VPD enables users to collect and report their data for DIRT, as well as collect data for unique "flex fields" which can be customized to fit the needs of the individual organization or company.

In addition to the larger number of records submitted; the quality of the records improved in 2008. The Data Quality Index (DQI), a measurement of each record's level of completeness, improved from 50 percent to 57 percent. The DQI was used to evaluate each record, based on a variety of criteria, providing insight on reporting trends and training needs, as well as providing valuable feedback to the submitter.

Of the total number of incidents reported in 2008, more than half (73,152) had a known root cause, and were identified as follows:

• Notification not made - 37 percent
• Excavation practices not sufficient - 37 percent
• Locating practices not sufficient - 22 percent
• Notification practices not sufficient - 3 percent
• Miscellaneous root cause - 1 percent
  

Reported damages with "Notification Not Made" as the root cause are down to 37 percent from 48 percent in 2004, the year when DIRT submissions began. "Notification Not Made" was identified as the root cause in some 200,000 damages in 2004. That number was approximately 75,000 in 2008. More than ever, homeowners are calling their one call centers prior to beginning projects on their properties. The implementation of "811" in May 2007 has had a positive impact on the calling process.

"This year's DIRT Report enables us to take a more comprehensive look at the progress being made in underground damage prevention efforts throughout North America," said Bob Kipp, President of CGA. "With this data we are able to uncover important trends and also see the positive impact the implementation of 811, in May 2007, has had on reducing utility damages, specifically those caused by the failure to contact a one-call center before digging."

The DIRT Report was created as part of CGA's continuing mission to identify the contributing factors and root causes of underground utility damages and near misses, with the ultimate goal of reducing the occurrence of these incidents in the future.

The complete DIRT Annual Report for 2008 is available for download athttp://www.commongroundalliance.com, and stakeholders interested in submitting data to the 2009 report or establishing a Virtual Private Dirt account should visit the DIRT site at http://www.cga-dirt.com.

About CGA

CGA is a member-driven association of nearly 1,400 individuals, organizations and sponsors in every facet of the underground utility industry. Established in 2000, CGA is committed to saving lives and preventing damage to North American underground infrastructure by promoting effective damage prevention practices. CGA has established itself as the leading organization in an effort to reduce damages to underground facilities in North America through shared responsibility among all stakeholders. For more information, visit CGA on the web at http://www.commongroundalliance.com.

SOURCE Common Ground Alliance

PPL Electric Utilities has conducted the first in a series of scheduled purchases for 2011 electricity supply. The results were approved Thursday (8/13) by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

In this first procurement, PPL Electric Utilities obtained 16.875 percent of the load-following electricity supply it will need to serve residential and small- and mid-size business customers in the five-month period from Jan. 1, 2011, to May 31, 2011.

"We are continuing with the strategy of obtaining electricity supply in stages over time to minimize the price risk for our customers," said David G. DeCampli, president of PPL Electric Utilities.

These purchases are the first under a plan approved in June by the PUC for obtaining electricity supply for 2011, 2012 and the first five months of 2013.

State law requires PPL Electric Utilities, which does not own power plants and does not generate electricity, to buy default electricity supply from the competitive market for its customers who do not select an alternative supplier.

The company must obtain electricity supply through a combination of short-term, long-term and spot-market purchases, and pass the costs through to customers without profit. The initial purchases made this week represent the beginning of PPL Electric Utilities' efforts to assemble a supply structure that meets those requirements.

"Continuing the experience we have had with obtaining electricity supply for 2010, this first procurement for 2011 was a highly competitive process," DeCampli said. "We had 14 suppliers participate, ensuring competitive prices for our customers."

The purchase of five-month full-requirements contracts resulted in a price of $88.60 per megawatt-hour for residential customers and $90.31 per megawatt-hour for small- and mid-sized business customers.

"Because the amount of supply we purchased in this auction is only a small portion of what we need and does not cover the entire year, it is premature based on these prices to estimate the effect on customer bills in 2011," DeCampli said.

In addition, PPL Electric Utilities purchased for residential customers a five-month block of 50 megawatts of round-the-clock electricity supply for January through May 2011 at a price of $57.15 per megawatt-hour, as well as renewable energy credits for January through May 2011 to comply with Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard.

The price for the 50-megawatt energy block is for energy only, and does not include capacity and other charges, which the company will purchase separately from the regional PJM Interconnection.

These purchases are separate from the electricity supply that PPL Electric Utilities has obtained for 2010, and are not comparable to the 2010 purchases due to the five-month time period and different product mix. The sixth and final purchase for 2010 will occur in October.

PPL Electric Utilities, a subsidiary of PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL), provides electric delivery service to 1.4 million customers in 29 counties of eastern and central Pennsylvania and has consistently ranked among the best companies for customer service in the United States. More information is available at www.pplelectric.com.

Source: PPL Electric Utilities

From fresh ice cold watermelon to chocolate ice cream, Illinoisans rely on refrigerators and freezers for those tasty treats that make Midwestern summers special while tips from the Ameren Illinois Utilities (AmerenCIPS, AmerenCILCO, AmerenIP) help reduce energy bills.

For many Ameren Illinois Utilities (AIU) electric customers, savings can begin with just one phone call. AIU will pay an electric customer $35 for a standard size refrigerator or freezer manufactured before 1993. The appliance must be operating and used as a secondary unit located in a garage or basement.

"Those old refrigerators and freezers out in garages and down in basements waste a lot of energy," said Karen Warnke, Ameren Illinois Utilities Customer Service energy efficiency advisor. "A standard size secondary refrigerator might cost $100 or more a year to operate."

Eligible Ameren Illinois Utilities electric customers should call 1-866-899-9088 to schedule a pickup of their refrigerator or freezer. The call center is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The refrigerator and freezer program is part of Act On Energy(R), the AIU energy efficiency initiative for residential and business customers. Complete information, including energy conservation tips, are available at ActOnEnergy.com.

Close the door

Getting the most out of a refrigerator or freezer begins with sound advice most people heard from their parents - close the door. Minimizing the amount of time a refrigerator or freezer door is open keeps cold air in which lowers energy costs. Other tips include:

• Keep refrigerators at 35 to 38 degrees Fahrenheit and freezers at 0 degrees Fahrenheit for maximum performance and food safety.
• Make certain there are a few inches between the back of the refrigerator or freezer and the wall to allow for proper air circulation.
• Replace door seals that are not airtight.
• Avoid placing refrigerators and freezers near heat sources such as ranges, dishwaters, direct sunlight and heat vents.
• Manual defrost freezers should be defrosted when ice builds up to one-quarter of an inch.
  

Always buy ENERGY STAR

When buying a new refrigerator or freezer, select a model that is ENERGY STAR qualified for maximum energy efficiency and the features you need. Other tips include:

• Refrigerators with a top-mounted freezers use 10 to 25 percent less energy than side-by-side and bottom-mount freezer models.
• Typically, the most energy efficient refrigerators have 16 to 20 cubic feet of space. In most cases, larger freezers use more energy than smaller models.
• Automatic ice makers and through-the-door water/ice dispensers will increase energy use by as much as 20 percent, while adding up to $250 to the purchase price.
• Consider buying a chest freezer, which typically use less energy than an upright model.
• Manual defrost freezers use about 50 percent less energy than automatic defrost units.
  

SOURCE Ameren Illinois Utilities

PPL Electric Utilities on Wednesday (7/1) requested Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission approval of an energy efficiency and conservation plan to help its customers use electricity more wisely.

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 David G. DeCampli, president of PPL Electric Utilities. "Sometimes it just takes knowing where to start and getting a little help."

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 Nov. 1, and the company hopes to begin offering some of the new programs by the end of the year and most by early 2010.

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