Estimating what customers are saving

Both customers and analysts are always trying to determine what are the savings from energy efficiency programmes. According to Renew Grid, one utility in Detroit has made such estimates and given customers a pleasant surprise. Understandably, such estimates have often been undertaken; yet, these positive results are impressive.

Utilities Reveal Just How Much Customers Are Saving With Energy Efficiency Programs

It’s no surprise that energy efficiency programs save money and, of course, energy, but two utility companies recently revealed just how much cash their respective programs have helped keep in their customers’ pockets. (Here’s a hint: millions of dollars.)

DTE Energy, a Detroit-based electric and gas utility company, has announced that customers who participated in its energy efficiency initiatives saved $512 million last year. In addition, the company says customers can expect the steps they took to result in lifetime savings of more than $4.5 billion.

“We’re delighted that our customers continue to respond to our robust array of energy efficiency programs and services,” says Irene Dimitry, DTE Energy vice president of marketing and renewables. “More than 200,000 of our customers took control of their energy use through these programs and saved millions of dollars as a result.”

The company’s energy efficiency programs, launched in 2009, include appliance recycling, in-home energy audits, low-income weatherization assistance, and rebates and discounts on energy-efficient light bulbs, programmable thermostats and energy-efficient appliances.

Comprehensive energy legislation passed in 2008 to ensure clean, affordable power for the future was the catalyst for DTE’s energy efficiency initiatives. Since 2009, the company says electric customers have saved enough energy to power all the homes in Ann Arbor, Mich., for more than three years, while natural gas customers have saved enough to heat the same number of homes in Ann Arbor for more than a year.

The company also says its programs have resulted in job creation. Through 2013, more than 300 Michigan-based jobs have been created by firms under contract with DTE Energy. These jobs include field operations staff, appliance pick-up drivers, call center representatives and program managers.

Meanwhile, Philadelphia-based PECO says its customers have saved more than $350 million ever since it launched its suite of energy efficiency programs in 2009. PECO, which serves electric and natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania, says the $350 million equals out to $220 million in energy savings and $130 million in rebates, discounts, and incentives on efficient products.

Dubbed PECO Smart Ideas, the suite of programs also helped save more than 1.5 million megawatt-hours of electricity. According to the utility, that’s enough electricity to power 10,000 average U.S. homes for more than a year, keep New York City lit for about a month or power 50 professional football stadiums for about 1,000 games.

Thus far, more than 500,000 customers have already participated in PECO Smart Ideas programs. Specifically, the company says customers have done the following:

• Purchased more than 9.5 million discounted compact fluorescent light bulbs and LED bulbs through PECO Smart Home Rebates;

• Recycled 36,985 refrigerators/freezers/AC window units with PECO Smart Appliance Recycling; and

• Completed more than 41,000 free energy-saving PECO Smart e-Audits.

“PECO Smart Ideas has programs to help every customer save energy and money,” comments Liz Murphy, PECO’s vice president of governmental and external affairs. “We are thrilled with the savings these programs have provided our customers and encourage our customers to continue to participate in the many programs available to help them manage their energy needs.”

The PECO Smart Ideas programs were devised to help meet Pennsylvania’s energy efficiency and demand response targets of Act 129. Act 129 required all state electric utilities to develop programs to help customers reduce energy use by 1% by May 31, 2011, and 3% by May 31, 2013. The legislation also requires an additional 2.9% energy cut by May 31, 2016.