Electric companies push for less energy use
Thursday, July 2nd, 2009
By: Shai Ben-Yaacov
sben-yaacov@whyy.org
Pennsylvania's seven largest electric companies are taking steps to make their customers buy less electricity. The utilities, which include PECO, filed plans as part of a new law that aims to reduce energy consumption.
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Act 129, passed last year, calls for a 1 percent reduction in energy use by 2011, and 3 percent by 2013. How utilities achieve those goals is up to them, but the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission still needs to approve the plans.
PECO Spokeswoman Cathy Engel says the utility's $342 million dollar plan includes incentives for customers to buy energy efficient appliances, along with an energy efficiency campaign aimed at using less energy. PECO needs to reduce its consumption by 1.2 billion kilowatt hours to reach the goal.
Engel: We feel confident that the products and programs that are in place as part of this filing will help us reach that overall energy reduction target of 1.2 billion kilowatt hours.
The PUC now has 120 days to either accept or reject PECO's plan.