Ameren Illinois Utilities Submit Plan to Increase Energy Efficiency, Save Customers Money and Benefit the Environment
November 15 2007 - 5:06PM
PR Newswire (US)
PEORIA, SPRINGFIELD and DECATUR, Ill., Nov. 15
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Ameren Illinois utilities today filed
an energy efficiency plan with the Illinois Commerce Commission
(ICC) intended to save customers money by reducing their
electricity usage. "Through this comprehensive energy efficiency
plan, we will help customers save money by using less electricity
without sacrificing personal comfort or safety," said Stan Ogden,
vice president for Customer Service and Public Relations for the
Ameren Illinois utilities (AmerenCILCO, AmerenCIPS and AmerenIP).
"The plan's goal is to help lower customers' monthly electric and
natural gas bills, while benefiting the environment. By using less
energy at home, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power
plants and help protect our environment," Ogden said. The energy
used in a typical home can be responsible for more than twice the
greenhouse gas emissions of the average automobile, according to
the U.S. Energy Department. During the plan's first year, slated to
begin in June, the Ameren Illinois utilities will offer rebates and
incentives that will help offset the cost of installing more
efficient lighting, heating and cooling systems. In addition, the
programs will help customers reduce the unnecessary loss of energy
from their homes. Customers will be given a variety of options from
which to cut their energy costs. Residential customers will be
eligible for incentives to install high-efficiency compact
fluorescent lights (CFLs), Energy Star qualified appliances such as
dishwashers and refrigerators and to properly dispose of old
inefficient refrigerators rather than to continue to use them as
second refrigerators. The plan also provides incentives to
homeowners and renters to encourage the proper maintenance of air
conditioning units and the installation of high-efficiency central
air conditioners. There will be incentives for business customers
to make lighting, heating and cooling systems more efficient, as
well as incentives to improve industrial processes. Energy
efficiency training will be offered to heating, ventilation and air
conditioning (HVAC) professionals. By the end of the first year of
the program (June 2008 through May 2009), the Ameren Illinois
utilities estimate their energy efficiency efforts will reduce
electricity usage by an amount sufficient to power nearly 7,700
single family homes for a year. In the second year ending May 2010,
the goal is to reduce usage by an amount equal to the electricity
needed to supply about 23,200 single family homes for a year. By
the end of the third year, the target is to reduce usage by an
amount equal to the electricity needed to meet the annual
electricity needs of about 46,700 homes. Under the terms of
Illinois legislation enacted in August, the Ameren Illinois
utilities (AmerenCILCO, AmerenCIPS and AmerenIP) are committed to
reduce electricity usage by specific targeted amounts. The plan
announced today is designed to achieve those targets. In addition,
the law sets annual limits on the dollar amounts the utilities must
spend to achieve the goals. The energy efficiency program is
expected to cost the typical residential customer 30 cents per
month during the first year of the program. This cost will be
applied to all residential customers. However, customers who take
advantage of the energy efficiency initiatives should realize
significant savings on their electricity bills that will exceed the
cost of the program. Over the long run, all electricity customers
will benefit because reduced electricity usage will help the
environment, while helping to delay the need for new power
generation, transmission and distribution investment. As programs
are fully developed, the Ameren Illinois utilities will present
details on their Web site (http://www.ameren.com/) and in their
AmerenLines customer newsletter. The Ameren Illinois utilities
serve 1.2 million electric and 840,000 natural gas customers in a
43,700-square-mile area of Illinois. DATASOURCE: Ameren Illinois
utilities CONTACT: Leigh Morris, +1-217-535-5228, or Erica Abbett,
+1-618-236-4329, or Natalie Hemmer, +1-217-424-7541, or Neal
Johnson, +1-309-677-5284, all for Ameren Illinois utilities Web
site: http://www.ameren.com/
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