Daily Business Report

KU asks to expand energy efficienty programs

by Scott Sloan -- ssloan@herald-leader.com
Posted: April 21, 2011

Kentucky Utilities has asked the state Public Service Commission for permission to expand its energy efficiency programs. If approved, the request would create three new offerings and tweak five existing ones.

The utility says if the changes in the seven-year plan are approved for it and affiliated company Louisville Gas and Electric, they could save the amount of energy produced by a typical coal-fired generator over their lifetime.

There's no statutory requirement for how soon the commission must address their request, said PSC spokesman Andrew Melnykovych.

Under the proposal, the new programs would be:

Smart energy profile: The utility would issue a report to customers that compares their energy usage to others like them and offer information on energy efficiency programs.

Residential incentives: Rebates ranging from $50 to $300 would be offered for Energy Star appliances, HVAC equipment and window film.

Residential refrigerator removal program: The utility would pay customers $30 to remove and recycle their working secondary refrigerators and freezers.

The existing programs to be expanded are:

Demand conservation program: Customer incentives would be improved to boost participation past its current 20 percent rate.

Commercial energy rebates: The list of qualified energy efficiency improvements would be expanded.

Residential audit: The program would add incentives ranging from $500 to $1,000 for installing recommended energy efficiency measures while maintaining the existing charge of $25 for an audit.

WeCare: This low-income assistance program would add participants over last year's total.

Program development and administration: The utility would add staffers to assist in managing the programs.

"As our customers' interest in energy efficiency has grown, so has our commitment to delivering programs that help them become better energy managers of their homes or businesses," said John Malloy, vice president of retail energy delivery for the utilities, in a statement.

The proposals were also praised by Elizabeth Crowe, executive director of the Kentucky Environmental Foundation.

The utility "is certainly moving in the right direction by offering incentives to help its customers save money by saving electricity," she said. "Using electricity more efficiently means we burn less coal, and that translates into cleaner air and water and better health."

To learn more about existing energy efficiency programs, visit LGE-KU.com/ee.