FirstEnergy's Ohio Utilities have filed three year plans with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to offer energy-saving programmes. Customers of FirstEnergy's Ohio Edison, Cleveland Electric Illuminating and Toledo Edison companies will have several new options for saving energy.
The plans, which include ways to make homes and businesses energy efficient and reduce peak energy use, could save customers $720m over the life of the programmes, FirstEnergy said.
The programmes are part of the companies’ efforts to comply with energy-efficiency provisions of Senate Bill 221 (SB 221), Ohio’s energy law. If approved, the programmes are expected to be introduced to customers beginning in 2010.
John Paganie, vice president of customer service and energy efficiency at FirstEnergy, said: “Energy efficiency and demand reduction are cost-effective ways to address growing electricity usage. And, our portfolio of programmes has been designed to provide savings to customers that far outweigh the costs.”
Based on customer participation, the plans are expected to reduce electricity usage by approximately 1.3 million megawatt-hours annually by the end of 2012, equal to the average annual usage of some 140,000 homes. Reduced electricity usage under the plans could also avoid annual emissions of some 1.2 million tons of carbon-dioxide, 10,000 tons of sulfur dioxide and 2,000 tons of nitrogen oxides; and support the development of ‘green jobs’ in Ohio.
The recent filing outlines options for customers to save energy and money on their monthly electric bills. These include: an incentive of up to $50 to customers who turn in older, inefficient appliances; a full evaluation of a home’s energy performance; offering discounts toward the purchase of compact fluorescent lights bulbs (CFLs) from local retailers; rebates and financial incentives for customers who purchase energy-efficient products such as ENERGY STAR qualified appliances and high-efficiency lighting; and incentives for home builders to improve the energy performance of new construction.
In addition, the companies will continue offering programmes designed to help low-income customers improve energy efficiency and reduce their electric bills through the Community Connections programme. Since 2001, the companies have provided some $40m in weatherization and energy-efficiency support for qualifying customers.
As provided for in SB 221, the companies are also seeking approval to recover programme costs, including approximately $30m for residential programmes each year through 2012. Under the recent proposal, Ohio Edison residential customers using 750kWh per month would see an average monthly increase of $1.42 in 2010. For residential customers of Cleveland Electric Illuminating, the increase would be $1.57, and for Toledo Edison customers, $1.52. The amount recovered would be adjusted annually to reflect programme costs of the plan.