Denis O’Brien, president and CEO of PECO, said: “We are helping our customers save money by making it easier…and cheaper…for them to use energy more efficiently. That’s why in October we launched our CFL bulb programme to bring millions of discounted CFL bulbs to local stores. We are thankful to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission for issuing an order that will be so beneficial to our customers.
“The programmes approved will go even further to help our customers understand, manage and reduce their energy use, and therefore reduce their energy costs. And, in addition to creating hundreds of local jobs, these programs also are a win-win because using energy more efficiently also provides significant environmental benefits.”
PECO’s suite of energy saving programmes will include $20m to bring discounted CFL bulbs to more than 800 local stores; $28m in weatherization programmes to help low-income customers; $42m in rebates on energy efficiency appliances and other products; $10m in customer incentives to pick-up older, inefficient appliances; and $112m in rebates and energy efficiency programmes for non-profit, educational, governmental and business customers.
The company’s demand reduction programmes will include $41m in customer incentives for energy management programmes; and $79m in programmes and incentives to help customers reduce energy demand during the 100 hours of the year with the highest demand for electricity.
The suite of energy saving programmes is part of the company’s support of Pennsylvania’s energy efficiency and demand response targets–Act 129. Act 129 requires all state electric utilities to reduce energy use by 1% by May 31, 2011 and 3% by May 31, 2013, and reduce energy demand during the 100 highest demand hours of the year by 4.5% by May 31, 2013. The programmes will cost residential customers about $1.50 additional on their monthly energy bills.
