ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Sept. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Progress Energy Florida (PEF) has asked the Public Service Commission for approval to significantly expand its energy-efficiency programs for residential and commercial customers.
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The request calls for the creation of two new programs and adding 39 new measures to existing programs. These proposals will help customers save money on their electric bills by providing financial incentives to implement energy- efficient measures and through participation in renewable-energy programs. Additional savings are possible if customers also take advantage of tax credits and grants that accompany several of the programs.
Residential customers could save 37 percent on energy costs while commercial customers could save almost 30 percent if they took advantage of a combination of existing and proposed new measures.
The company expects the proposed expansion will attract new participants to the programs, which help manage energy resources for the future. Known collectively as demand-side management (DSM), the programs encourage customers, contractors and builders to use electricity more wisely and to adopt renewable energy technology.
"Expanding our energy-efficiency programs is part of our balanced solution to managing energy costs while preparing to meet the challenge of providing reliable electric service for future generations," said Jeff Lyash, president and CEO of Progress Energy Florida. "We have one of the most successful and innovative energy-efficiency programs in the country, and we encourage our customers to take advantage of the program to save money on their electric bills."
Since 1981, PEF customers have saved more than $750 million in energy costs through participation in DSM. In addition to eliminating the need for 17 peaking power plants, DSM has also averted the production of more than 10 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity -- enough to power the city of Orlando for more than two years.
PEF also offers other free programs designed to help manage electricity use and provide financial assistance to those in need. Some of these include:
Home Energy Check: This program provides residential customers with an analysis of their energy consumption and recommendations on energy-efficiency improvements. Several types of Home Energy Checks are available, including an online version.
Budget Billing: Customers on fixed incomes or others who want a consistent bill throughout the year are encouraged to take advantage of Budget Billing. The program is free and helps customers forecast monthly energy costs and better plan their finances by avoiding price spikes than can occur during the warmest and coldest months of the year. The monthly budget bill amount is based on the average of actual bills during the last 12 months.
Energy Neighbor Fund: Progress Energy established the fund in 1988 to provide assistance to customers who are experiencing temporary financial difficulties, such as sudden illness, unexpected unemployment, or an emergency or personal crisis. All funds collected from participating Progress Energy customers and employees are distributed locally through social service agencies to neighbors in need.
For more information about these and other programs, customers should visit http://www.progress-energy.com/save or call 888-302-8348.
Highlights of PEF's proposed DSM expansion
(*an asterisk means that customers who use that program or measure may also be eligible for tax credits or grants):
Proposed new programs
- Neighborhood Energy Saver. This is a new program that will assist low-
income families through a comprehensive package of measures, including
the installation of energy-efficient household items such as compact
fluorescent light bulbs and low-flow shower heads and faucets. PEF will
identify and canvass low-income neighborhoods and install energy-
efficiency measures in homes at no cost to customers. The program will
also educate customers about energy efficiency so the savings will
become sustainable.
- Renewable-Energy Program. This is a new program to provide an incentive
for installing renewable-energy technology for residential customers.
- Solar water heater with energy management -- This measure
encourages residential customers to install a solar thermal water
heating system; $450 per residence plus a 30% federal tax credit up
to $2000 and a $500 state rebate per residence.
- Solar photovoltaic with energy management fund -- This measure
promotes environmental stewardship and renewable energy education
through the installation of solar energy systems at schools within
PEF's service territory. Customers participating in the energy-
management program may donate their monthly credit toward the fund.
All proceeds collected from participating customers will be used to
promote photovoltaic and renewable-energy educational
opportunities.
Proposed new measures to existing programs
- Home Energy-Improvement Program. New measures added to this existing
program are:
- Replacement windows* -- up to $250 per residence
- Spray-in wall insulation* -- up to $300
- Reflective roof manufactured and single-family homes* -- incentives
ranging from $40 up to $150 per residence
- Window film and window screen -- up to $100 per residence
- Central electric air-conditioning with existing non-electric heat*
-- $50 per unit
- In conjunction with the installation of a high-efficiency central
heating/cooling system, the following incentives will be added:
- Supply and return plenum duct seal -- $50 per system
- Proper sizing of high-efficiency air conditioner -- $75 per
system
- HVAC commissioning to ensure system has been properly installed --
up to $50 per system to evaluate and optimize the performance of
heating/cooling equipment
- Residential New Construction Program.* PEF helps homebuilders use
energy-efficient features in construction, which helps save on costs.
The following additions have been proposed to this existing program:
- Spray-in wall insulation -- $200 per residence
- Energy recovery ventilation -- $150 per residence
- Window film and window screen -- $100 per residence
- Reflective roof single family -- $100 for reflective roof material
per residence
- Attic spray-on foam insulation -- $100 per residence
- Conditioned space air handler -- $50 per air handler
- HVAC commissioning -- up to $50 per system to evaluate and optimize
the performance of heating/cooling equipment
- Energy-Management Program.
- Residential year-round energy management -- Monthly incentives for
year-round participation in energy management. This program will
allow PEF to temporarily cycle your central heating and cooling
system and electric water heater during periods of peak demand for
electricity. Participating customers earn a monthly credit on their
bills.
- Commercial stand-by generation program -- Participants will receive
a monthly credit on their energy bill according to their ability to
reduce electric demand at PEF's request. It is also proposed to add
an additional credit based on the kilowatt-hours the customer
provides. The credits will be based upon the load served by the
customer's generator, which would have been served by PEF if the
standby generation program were not in operation. Incentive will
be $2.30 per kilowatt (kW) plus additional compensation for each
kWh produced.
- Better Business and Commercial/Industrial New Construction Program.
Requested additional measures to this program will provide enhanced
tools for business customers to control their energy costs in existing
and new facilities.
- Roof insulation upgrade -- 7 cents per square foot up to $5,000
per building
- Thermal energy storage w/time-of-use rate TES (w/TOU) -- $300 per
kW of reduced cooling load at peak times
- Green roof -- 25 cents per square foot for the installation of an
approved Green roof (plants and foliage for the roof that act as
additional insulation)
- Efficient compressed-air system -- $50 per kW reduction
- Occupancy sensors -- $50 per kW of controlled lighting load
- Rooftop unit recommission -- $15 per unit to ensure optimal
performance of rooftop air conditioners
- Heating and air conditioning steam cleaning -- $15 per unit (one
time)
- Efficient-indoor lighting -- $50 per kW reduced, minimum of one kW
lighting reduction per incentive application
- Demand-control ventilation -- $50 per ton reduction for device that
automatically controls ventilation as needed
- Efficient motors -- $1.75 to $2.75 per horsepower (hp) based on
motor size and efficiency, minimum number of motors 25 hp
- Window film -- 75 cents per square foot of installed window film
Progress Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Progress Energy , provides electricity and related services to more than 1.6 million customers in Florida. The company is headquartered in St. Petersburg, Fla., and serves a territory encompassing over 20,000 square miles including the cities of St. Petersburg and Clearwater, as well as the Central Florida area surrounding Orlando. Progress Energy is the 2006 recipient of the Edison Electric Institute's Edison Award, the industry's highest honor, in recognition of its operational excellence. In 2005, the company also received the prestigious J.D. Power and Associates Founder's Award for dedication, commitment and sustained improvement in customer service. For more information about Progress Energy, visit the company's Web site at http://www.progress-energy.com/.
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