Con Edison CEO Kevin Burke to Shareholders: Energy Efficiency & Smart Grid Empower New Yorkers

Con Edison Chairman and CEO Kevin Burke told shareholders that energy efficiency is about “maintaining our customers’ lifestyle needs with less energy.” He said the near-term goal is to lower electric demand 550 megawatts by 2015 in the company’s service area, saving enough energy to power more than half a million homes.

“The world is going through some rapid changes,” Burke told the shareholder gathering at the company’s headquarters. “Advances in technology are reshaping our customers’ lives and the energy industry. We have to be open to new technologies and continue leading efforts to find new ways to power the planet.”  

Burke referred to the smart grid as “probably the most interesting element in our modernization efforts.” Designed to improve information flow between company and customer, a smart grid pilot project Con Edison initiated in Queens involves installation of 1,500 smart meters, permitting customers to monitor and potentially improve their control of energy use.

In addition, $200 million in federal stimulus grants awarded to Con Edison of New York and Orange & Rockland (O&R) will fund smart grid projects designed to improve system performance. The projects include a control system that will facilitate renewable energy applications, whether from solar arrays, electric-car charging stations, or in-home energy monitors.

Details Here

first published week of:   05/17/2010

Constellation Energy Launches New EcoStar Grant Program
Awards of up to $5,000 will Fund Community-Based Environmental Stewardship Projects

Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEG) announced on January 18 that it is taking applications for its first annual EcoStar Grant program, which will provide qualifying nonprofit organizations with funds to implement projects that support Constellation Energy’ s long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship. Grant awards will be up to $5,000, with funds provided by the Constellation Energy Foundation.

The EcoStar Grant program will target community-based projects that fit into one or more of five stewardship categories: pollution prevention, education and outreach, energy efficiency, conservation and community activism. The application deadline is March 16 and grant awards will be announced on or before Earth Day on April 22, 2010.  

“Environmental stewardship is one of our foundational values and a guiding principle behind many of the investments we are making to link our employees to the communities in which Constellation Energy does business,” said Paul J. Allen, senior vice president of public affairs for Constellation Energy. “The EcoStar Grant program is the latest addition to our multi-pronged strategy to make the environment cleaner by advocating for measures to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, expanding our clean energy sources, investing in a smarter energy grid and supporting the organizations working to make a difference in our communities. We are committed to enhancing our support for organizations such as these, both through our contributions and through the volunteer work and leadership of our employees.”  

Details Here

first published week of:   01/25/2010

Consumers Energy Announces Management Team Changes

Consumers Energy announced on April 1 the following management team changes:

• Frank Johnson, senior vice president of energy operations, and James Coddington, vice president of generation operations, have elected to retire, effective Sept. 1.Johnson joined Consumers Energy in 1970, and Coddington joined the utility in 1972.
• Dan Malone will succeed Johnson, and become senior vice president of distribution and customer operations. Malone first joined Consumers Energy in 1984 and has served as vice president of customer and energy operations services and safety since 2009.

first published week of:   04/12/2010

CONSUMERS ENERGY'S NEW PLUG-IN ELECTRIC VEHICLE WEBSITE HELPS CUSTOMERS GET “PEV READY” 

Consumers Energy customers eager to join the ranks of plug-in electric vehicle owners will find information they need to conveniently charge the PEVs at their home on the utility’s website.

PEV rate information, incentives, frequently asked questions and a “Get Plug-in Ready” checklist are available at www.consumersenergy.com/pev.  The new site provides details behind Consumers Energy’s PEV at-home charging rates and the tools needed for PEV owners to make the transition to electric-vehicle ownership.  The rates, recently approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission, take effect Nov. 1.

“Michigan, as the automotive capital of the world, will play a key role in the growth of plug-in electric vehicles,” said Sue Swan, Consumers Energy vice president of smart grid development. “Our PEV website provides a convenient, one-stop location for customers needing information to be plug-in ready.”

Consumers Energy is ready to meet the needs of new PEV owners as the cars arrive at dealer showrooms this fall.  Automotive companies will direct customers who reside in Consumers Energy’s electric service territory to the PEV website for at-home charging information.

The website features six different areas, covering items ranging from PEV basics to details of the Company’s “time-of-use” pricing program for charging PEVs.

Consumers Energy’s PEV rate program includes a $2,500 incentive toward the installation of an in-home station for faster charging.  Details on the incentive program, available for up to 2,500 customers, can be found on the website. Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, provides natural gas and electricity to nearly 6.5 million of Michigan’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. 

Details Here

first published week of:   10/11/2010

Consumers focused on “guaranteed savings”

The sense that utilities need to communicate with and educate consumers on smart metering prior to installation has become a well-worn mantra. But in consumers' minds, the "smart grid" remains an elusive concept. They will pay a price for products and services that reduce their electricity bills, but only if those savings are guaranteed.

Few, currently, are interested in time-of-use pricing or demand response programs. And more than one-third do not want utility control of in-home appliances, regardless of potential savings.

These conclusions derive from a national survey of about 1,600 households in the United States in the third quarter of last year conducted by Bill Ablondi, the director of home systems research at Parks Associates, a market research and consulting firm.

Details Here

first published week of:   03/22/2010

Consumers Increasingly Embrace Self Service
Electric Utilities Finds More Customers Use Web, IVR Than Calling Customer Service

For the first time, more PPL Electric Utilities customers are using self service options on the utility’s web site and the customer care center’s interactive system, rather than speaking with a customer service representative. The increase in consumer acceptance for the web and automated call systems continues an upward trend toward self service options during the past two years.

PPL Electric Utilities customers can get an updated account balance, make a payment, or report a power outage using the company’s interactive voice response, or IVR, system. And, nearly 400,000 transactions were handled this way during the first five months of 2010, up 34 percent over the past two years.

At www.pplelectric.com, the utility’s customers have even more self-service options available anytime every day. More than 630,000 service transactions were handled on the web during January through May this year - up 16 percent from last year and 29 percent over 2008.

On the web, customers can start or stop service, view billing information, enroll in various bill payment plans, and make arrangements to pay the monthly bill. Additionally, PPL customers can view their hourly, daily or monthly electric usage patterns, analyze their usage, and get tips to reduce their utility costs. Once customers register their “my PPL” account, they can report a power outage and get updated outage information on the Web, too.

Details Here

first published week of:   07/12/2010

Volume 31

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