PSC Acts On Remaining Energy Efficiency Programs

• by New York State Public Service Commission

ALBANY, NY (12/16/2009)(readMedia)-- The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today approved more than $120 million in new energy efficiency programs for residential and commercial and industrial markets, including $14.7 million for low-income residential customers.

"The energy efficiency programs we are approving today will enable homeowners and businesses to reduce energy costs," said Commission Chairman Garry Brown. "These energy-saving initiatives will join the record-setting portfolio of energy efficiency programs that have been approved this year by the Commission. As a result of the substantial actions we have taken this year, tens of thousands of utility customers can receive financial support and related energy efficiency services in their continued fight to dramatically lower energy bills."

In its action today, the Commission approved electric and natural gas energy efficiency programs for residential customers that will be administered by National Grid in both its upstate and downstate New York territories, Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corporation, Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

Additionally, electric and natural gas commercial and industrial customers will be able to receive financial and technical assistance to help improve their energy efficiency as a result of efficiency programs approved that will be offered by NYSERDA, New York State Electric and Gas Corporation and Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation.

Today's decision also provides significant funding for low-income residential energy efficiency programs. To avoid duplicating program administration efforts and costs, the Commission decided that all low-income program funding for the lowest income sector, residential customers with income at or below 60 percent of the state median household income level, should be administered through NYSERDA's EmPower NY program, and that it will be coordinated closely with the state's existing Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), which NYSERDA is already doing.

To expand its assistance to low-income families, the Commission ordered additional funding for natural gas energy efficiency measures to supplement NYSERDA's existing electric Assisted Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program, which targets residential customers with incomes between 60 percent and 80 percent of the state's median household income level. This group often can't afford to participate in other residential programs, but has income that is above the eligibility criteria for low-income residential programs, such as EmPower NY and WAP.

For residential electric customers, Central Hudson will receive $2.26 million, designed to save 5,384 MWh; Con Edison will receive $12.46 million, designed to save 26,130 MWh; and National Grid upstate will receive $15.27 million, designed to save 54,525 MWh. The $30 million being invested is designed to save 86,039 MWh of electricity, enough to power 10,608 average-sized homes annually.

For residential gas customers, NYSERDA will receive $43.56 million, designed to save 843,258 dekatherms. For low-income residential gas customers, NYSERDA will receive $14.7 million, designed to save 110,986 dekatherms. Among the utilities, National Grid's downstate operations will receive $7.15 million, designed to save 78,600 dekatherms. Meanwhile, National Grid's upstate business will receive $3.22 million, designed to save 230,328 dekatherms. The $68.6 million being invested on residential gas energy efficiency improvements is designed to save 1.26 million dekatherms, enough natural gas to heat 127,333 average-sized homes annually.

For commercial and industrial gas customers, NYSERDA will receive $4.3 million for its High Performance New Construction program, designed to save 290,103 dekatherms. For commercial and industrial electric customers, NYSERDA will receive $11.1 million for its Benchmarking and Operations Efficiency program, designed to save 56,000 MWh. Among the utilities, NYSEG will receive $3.18 million, designed to save 8,270 MWh; and RG&E will receive $3.28 million, designed to save 8,270 MWh. A total of 23 programs were approved today.

In total, more than $17.57 million is being set-aside for commercial and industrial electric customers, an effort designed to save 72,540 MWh, enough to power 8,944 average-sized homes annually. Natural gas savings for commercial and industrial will be enough to heat 31,845 average-sized homes.

These efficiency resources will allow individual customers as well as energy efficiency service providers to submit customized proposals to install electric energy efficiency measures through a request for proposal solicitation process.

On June 23, 2008, the Commission created the Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (EEPS) program to develop and encourage cost-effective energy efficiency programs. Since then, numerous proposals have been submitted in response to the initial order, some of which are combined electric and gas programs. The order approved today focuses on program proposals designed for residential and low-income residential customer segments as well as the commercial and industrial customer market segment through 2013.

The Commission's decision today, when issued, may be obtained by going to the Commission Documents section of the Commission's Web site at www.dps.state.ny.us and entering Case Numbers 08-E-1127, 08-E-1128, 08-E-1129, 08-E-1130, 08-E-1132, 08-E-1133, 08-E-1135, 07-M-0548, and 09-G-0363 in the input box labeled "Search for Case/Matter Number." Many libraries offer free Internet access. Commission orders may also be obtained from the Commission's Files Office, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223 (518-474-2500).

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