FirstEnergy, a diversified energy company headquartered in Akron, Ohio, serves six million customers in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions through 10 electric utility companies.
To help give their customers greater control over their electricity use, FirstEnergy’s utility companies offer a host of energy efficiency programs. These programs also help the utilities to keep pace with both the overall and peak demand for electricity in their service areas.
FirstEnergy attributes the success of its energy efficiency programs to three factors: the quality of its programs, the dedication of its operating companies to promoting and managing the programs, and, its determination to meet state efficiency targets while saving its customers energy and money.
Below is an overview of the energy efficiency services FirstEnergy’s utilities are now offering their customers:
In Ohio and Pennsylvania, FirstEnergy’s efficiency programs include:
Home Energy Analyzer and Business Energy Analyzer – A simple, online tool customers can use to get customized tips for saving energy in their homes and businesses. So far, more than 100,000 customers have taken advantage of the Home Energy Analyzer.
Appliance Turn-In Program – Customers receive cash incentives for recycling their older, inefficient refrigerator, freezer, and room air conditioners. FirstEnergy will pick up the old appliances and recycle them. In Pennsylvania, FirstEnergy has already collected and recycled more than 50,000 older, inefficient appliances.
Appliance Rebate Program – Residential customers can apply for rebates when they purchase new ENERGY STAR® qualified clothes washers, refrigerator-freezers, chest freezers, room air conditioners, and dehumidifiers. Discounts and rebates also are available on qualified floor lamps, LED holiday light sets, and smart strips.
Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) Bulbs – In Pennsylvania, customers can buy CFLs for discounts of $1 per bulb, and in Ohio, CFLs will be sold for 50 cents each through participating retailers. More than 100,000 CFLs have been distributed through these programs.
Walk-Through Energy Audit Program – Customers pay just $100 for a thorough in-home energy audit, and can then receive up to $900 in rebates for investing in energy-saving measures identified in the audit.
HVAC Program – Customers can receive rebates for completing an HVAC tune-up or for replacing their older, inefficient system with new, energy-efficient HVAC equipment. We expect a big upswing in participation in this program with the arrival of warmer weather.
Efficient New Homes – Builders who meet certain energy efficiency standards for new residential construction can receive up to $10,000 in rebates and incentives.
Low-Income Programs – Energy efficiency programs also are available to low-income customers to help them reduce their energy usage and save money.
FirstEnergy also offers several efficiency programs for its commercial and industrial customers, including rebates and incentives for lighting projects, the installation of high-efficiency motors and drives, and the purchase of specialty equipment. In addition, FirstEnergy offers programs on street lighting, outdoor area lighting, and an energy audit program for federal and local governments, schools and other institutions in its service areas.
In Maryland, FirstEnergy subsidiary Potomac Edison offers rebate and incentive programs under the state’s EmPOWER Maryland initiative to reduce energy consumption by 15 percent by 2015.
In New Jersey, Jersey Central Power & Light contributes to a state fund that manages energy efficiency programs for customers of all electric utilities in the state.
In West Virginia, Mon Power has submitted a plan that addresses low-income residential efficiency and efficient lighting retrofits to government, commercial and industrial facilities. West Virginia does not yet have legislation mandating energy efficiency.
For more information on FirstEnergy and its energy efficiency programs, please visit www.firstenergycorp.com.