RALEIGH, N.C., Dec. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Progress Energy Carolinas filed a comprehensive energy efficiency plan today with the North Carolina Utilities Commission and the Public Service Commission of South Carolina as part of the company's strategy for meeting growing demand in the Carolinas. The plan details the initial programs that the company is considering to meet the goal of displacing 2,000 megawatts (MW) of generation announced earlier this year, doubling the approximately 1,000 MW being saved with existing programs. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020923/CHM008LOGO-c ) "Our communities are growing rapidly and we expect to add between 25,000 and 30,000 new homes and businesses annually over the next two decades," said Lloyd Yates, president and CEO - Progress Energy Carolinas. "One of the greenest ways to meet our area's increasing electricity needs is through a substantial expansion of our energy efficiency programs. These programs help our customers save energy, save money and reduce the emissions that contribute to global climate change. "We are making significant investment in education and outreach to find the programs that really work for our customers. At the same time, we are aggressively pursuing renewable energy technologies and upgrading our existing plants to ensure that they operate as cleanly and efficiently as possible. As the growth in our communities requires new generation, we will invest in state-of-the-art plants to provide the clean, reliable, affordable power our customers expect," Yates said. The energy-efficiency plan was filed today in conjunction with the company's annual Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), a document submitted by electric utilities each year that shows anticipated resource needs in the coming decade. It details the following programs: -- Installation of new load-control technologies for controlling air conditioners and water heaters to help reduce on-peak energy use in homes and businesses. -- Programs targeted toward residential new construction and improving existing residential heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) efficiency through proper HVAC maintenance, high-efficiency equipment upgrades, and attic insulation improvements as well as duct testing and repair. -- Programs for government, commercial and industrial customers that target new construction and retrofits of existing facilities. -- Increased energy education and awareness, including in-home energy assessments and the use of new digital displays that provide real-time energy use and cost information for homeowners. Implementation of these programs will begin in 2008, and Progress Energy will expand them as new technologies become available and as customer interest and participation increase. These programs will be presented individually, and in more detail, in future filings to the commissions for final approval as they become ready for launch. In October, Progress Energy Carolinas initiated a program to provide discounted Energy Star-qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) at selected The Home Depot locations in the company's service territory. The program began Oct. 1 and will last until Dec. 30 or while supplies last. Up to 200,000 Energy Star-qualified CFLs will be sold as part of the program. As of the end of November, more than 155,000 have been sold through the program. In addition, the company launched an educational campaign called Save the Watts which features a highly interactive Web site (http://www.savethewatts.com/) with program details and useful tips for customers to save energy. The Web site provides a calculator for customers to measure their energy savings and also their carbon footprint, which calculates an individual's energy usage to reflect his or her contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, a comprehensive promotional campaign - including print, television, and radio advertising, direct mail and the Internet - will be used to promote Save the Watts and the benefits and long-term savings of the energy-efficiency programs and incentives offered by Progress Energy. "Customer participation is critical to our ability to maximize energy efficiency and minimize the need for new generation," Yates said. "Our Save the Watts campaign provides consumers the information they need to make the changes, both small and large, that can make a real difference." Meanwhile, the company plans to move forward aggressively in incorporating alternative energy technology into its portfolio of resources. Progress Energy Carolinas recently issued a request for proposals for renewable energy sources and will be evaluating potential projects for possible inclusion in future resource plans. Progress Energy [NYSE: PGN], headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a Fortune 250 energy company with more than 21,000 megawatts of generation capacity and $10 billion in annual revenues. The company includes two major utilities that serve more than 3.1 million customers in the Carolinas and Florida. 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. The company also is the first utility to receive the prestigious J.D. Power and Associates Founder's Award for customer service. Progress Energy serves two fast-growing areas of the country, and the company is pursuing a balanced approach to meeting the future energy needs of the region. That balance includes increased energy efficiency programs, investments in renewable energy technologies and a state-of-the-art electricity system. For more information about Progress Energy, visit the company's Web site at http://www.progress-energy.com/. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020923/CHM008LOGO-c http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Progress Energy CONTACT: Corporate Communications 24-Hour Media Line, +1-919-546-6189 Web site: http://www.progress-energy.com/ http://www.savethewatts.com/

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