AmerenUE Announces a Safe Connection System Pilot Program - Providing Savings On Select Generator Transfer Switch Systems To Fac
November 09 2007 - 1:50PM
PR Newswire (US)
ST. LOUIS, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- AmerenUE today announced that
through a newly created Safe Connect Program -- a safe connection
system for back-up generators -- the company is offering generous
rebates to any AmerenUE residential electric customers on the
purchase and installation of certain generator transfer switch
systems. These systems are designed by their manufacturers to help
ensure safety in connecting an emergency backup electric generator
to a home's electrical wiring. A rebate of 50 percent of the
cost-up to a maximum rebate of $500 --- will go toward the purchase
and installation of a safe connection system for back-up generation
if it is purchased and installed between Nov. 2, 2007, and July 31,
2009. AmerenUE does not profit from the Safe Connect program. The
Missouri Public Service Commission on Nov. 1 approved a filing
outlining the details of the program. "This is simply a service to
AmerenUE customers to help ensure safety," says Richard Mark,
senior vice president, AmerenUE Energy Delivery. "A generator safe
connection system prevents electricity from back feeding into
AmerenUE's power lines, while the generator is powering your home.
Backfeeding --- when electric power flows in the opposite direction
from its usual flow --- can be extremely dangerous because it
presents risks to neighbors served by the same utility line, and it
presents an electrocution risk to utility workers. If a lineman is
working to restore power to utility lines that are believed to be
dead and the lines are actually energized due to a back-feed of
electricity from an improperly connected generator, the lineman
could be seriously injured or possibly killed." AmerenUE engineers
have reviewed multiple suppliers of these safe connection systems
and selected several for this program. Selected generator safe
connection systems are Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc. (UL)-tested
and designed to connect a generator to the customer's wiring.
Systems come in a range of sizes to handle the specific capacity of
each electric generator. In addition, AmerenUE reached out to
hundreds of contractors to develop the Safe Connect Provider
Network of contractors who will be installing the generator safe
connection systems for customers who wish to receive rebates. To be
eligible for the rebate, the generator transfer switch must be
installed by a contractor who is on AmerenUE's list of eligible
providers at the time of installation. Product descriptions and the
names of those providers are listed on the safe connect web site
(http://www.ameren.com/safeconnect). Selected contractors were
required to meet a number of criteria to qualify for the network as
further described at http://www.ameren.com/safeconnect. Contractors
who would like to participate still have the opportunity to be
added by calling 1-800-552-7583. Customers can also contact our
customer contact center at 1-800-55ASKUE (1-800-552-7583) for more
information. Rebates go only toward the purchase and installation
of the generator safe connection systems covered by this program
and installation must be done by a contractor on the network list.
The rebate may not be used toward the purchase of an actual
generator or any other equipment. To get the rebate: 1. The
customer selects a contractor from AmerenUE's provider network and
has that contractor call AmerenUE for prior approval and request a
form Document C0 prior to starting the installation of the safe
connection system. To get the rebate approved, an AmerenUE form
Document C0 must accompany the application. 2. The contractor then
submits the rebate application to AmerenUE along with other
required documentation. 3. The check for the rebate is either sent
to the customer at the address where the system device was
installed or applied as a credit to the customer's bill-depending
on the preference checked when the rebate application is submitted.
With this service, AmerenUE is not selling or supplying the
generator transfer switch systems, the generator or other related
equipment, or offering any guarantees or warranties in connection
with these products or their installation. AmerenUE is not
responsible for the work of the contractor who sells or installs
these products. AmerenUE is a subsidiary of St. Louis-based Ameren
Corporation. Ameren companies serve 2.4 million electric customers
and nearly one million natural gas customers in a
64,000-square-mile area of Missouri and Illinois. DATASOURCE:
AmerenUE CONTACT: Susan Gallagher, +1-314-554-2175, or Mike Cleary,
+1-573-681-7137, both for AmerenUE Web site:
http://www.ameren.com/safeconnect http://www.ameren.com/
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