Progress Energy Outlines Plan for Energy Efficiency in the Carolinas
December 03 2007 - 12:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
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/
Copyright