Dive Brief:
- PECO said that the utility's Smart Ideas efficiency programs have saved almost 2.2 million MWh since the programs began in 2009, resulting in more than half a billion in customer savings, according to a statement.
- PECO said that in the last six years, customers received $103 million in rebates, $103 million in incentives for energy-efficient products, and saved almost $300 million on decreased energy use.
- The utility said it is working on new programs to meet state energy goals, including helping customers reduce their energy usage by an additional 2.9% by the end of May, and by an additional 5% by 2021.
Dive Insight:
Now entering its seventh year, PECO is continuing to grow its Smart Ideas efficiency program as a way to meet aggressive state targets to reduce energy use.
"We are thrilled these innovative programs continue to meet the needs of our customers,” Craig Adams, PECO president and CEO, said in a statement. “We look forward to offering even more programs as we continue to provide our customers with safe, reliable, affordable and clean energy and energy services.”
Among the programs, PECO has helped customers in installing energy-efficient lighting, recycling and replacing older inefficient appliances with new Energy Star models, and performing energy assessments to identify long-term savings opportunities The program is a suite of 15 different programs that are available to residential, business, government, nonprofit and institutional customers.
Since 2009, PECO said customers have purchased more than 13 million discounted, high-efficiency light bulbs, received more than 9,300 in-home audits and assessments, recycled more than 58,600 old and outdated appliances, and received more than 8,050 rebates for equipment enhancements and energy-efficient construction measures.
The efficiency programs aim to help meet Pennsylvania’s energy efficiency and demand response targets, passed in 2008. The law, Act 129, required electric utilities to develop programs to help customers reduce energy by 1% by 2011 and 3% by 2013. Utilities must slash electrical consumption another 2.9% by mid-2016 and 5% by 2021.