New Incentives For Conservation
With the hot summer months approaching, Con Edison reminds customers to continue to learn more about reducing their energy usage and saving money by visiting the company’s Energy Efficiency “Green Team” website.
Since 2009, nearly 95,000 Con Edison customers have received $83 million in rebates and incentives for energy efficiency upgrades, helping thousands of homes and businesses reduce their energy usage and protect the environment. The website is www.coned.com/greenteam.
“We’re offering rebates for EnergyStar air conditioners, energy surveys, programmable thermostats and other incentives to help our customers save money,” said Marilyn Caselli, senior vice president of customer operations. “They should also check out our online energy calculator to see how much energy they are using and how they can save even more.”
Con Edison customer service representative Rosalva Nunez explained how to navigate the energy calculator and find ways to save, whether you live in an apartment or a home.
To further enhance electric delivery reliability, Con Edison said it has invested $1.2 billion for system improvements for 2012. This year’s electric delivery improvements included $928 million for cables, transformers, and network protectors; $34 million on transmission upgrades; and $208 million on new substation installations and related equipment.
More information can be found at www.coned.com/summerprep.
The electric peak demand forecast for this summer in Con Edison’s service area is 13,225 megawatts (MW), with a projected peak of 11,505 MW for New York City and 1,720 MW for Westchester County. The record peak-13,189 MW-was set at on July 22, 2011 at 4 p.m. Incity power supplies are more than sufficient to meet the 83 percent incity generation requirement.
Service area peak load is expected to grow at annual average rate of 1.2 percent over the next five years, or 160 megawatts per year, the equivalent to powering an additional 160,000 homes annually.
Energy saving programs
Here are more details about Con Edison’s energy efficiency programs:
For owners of one- to four-family homes:
– Low-cost, home-energy surveys to show you how to spend less and save energy, and get free upgrades, such as compact fluorescent bulbs;
– Rebates up to $1,000 for installing eligible energy-efficient heating and air-conditioning equipment;
– Free smart thermostats for central air-conditioning systems;
– Rebates of $25 for new ENERGY STAR window air conditioners (a seasonal program for Con Edison customers who receive a bill; restrictions apply); and
– Free recycling of freezers, second refrigerators and old air conditioners.
For apartments, condos or co-ops (five to 75 units):
– Incentives for lighting, heating, and cooling efficiency improvements;
– Free surveys and free upgrades, such as compact fluorescent bulbs and smart power strips;
– Free smart thermostats for central air-conditioning systems; and
– Payments for reducing electricity use on the hottest days.
For apartments, condos, or coops (75 or more units):
– Incentives for lighting, heating, and cooling upgrades;
– Free smart thermostats for central air-conditioning systems;
– Incentives based on energy savings for making energy-efficient upgrades not included in other Con Edison rebate programs; and
– Payments for reducing electricity use on the hottest days.
For businesses:
– Free surveys to show you how to spend less and save energy;
– Free upgrades, such as compact fluorescent bulbs;
– Incentives for lighting, heating, and cooling upgrades;
– Free smart thermostats for central air-conditioning systems;
– Incentives based on energy savings for making energy-efficient upgrades not included; and in other Con Edison rebate programs
– Payments for reducing electricity use on the hottest days.
Every watt counts
Con Edison is offering $25 rebates for customers who purchase ENERGY STAR air conditioners, or who purchase special wireless remote “modlets” that can be plugged into room air conditioners. Con Edison and ThinkEco recently launched a plan to create smart air-conditioning control through modlets (https://themodlet.com/demo.html) on 10,000 New York City air conditioners, which are expected to result in five megawatts of demand reduction, or enough power for 5,000 homes.
Con Edison will distribute the modlets this summer in large apartment buildings throughout New York City, working with building owners and tenants to install the energy-saving devices.
The modlet is a simple plug-in smart outlet that can be controlled by a smart AC thermostat and a user’s online modlet account, allowing customers to control the temperature setting of any window air conditioner. Customers can remotely turn on/off their AC from any smart phone or browser, and set the temperature.
More energy savings tips are available on Facebook at Power of Green, on Twitter@ConEdLiz and @Con EdSara and by downloading the company’s Power of Green iPhone app.
Customer service on web
Using a smart phone, PDA or computer, you can report power problems and manage your account on line, including viewing billing and payment history, updating account information, paying bills, and obtaining information about special services.
Visit www.conEd.com/customercentral, or call the company us at 1- 800-75CONED.
Power problems include no lights, partial lights, and dim or flickering lights. When reporting an outage, customers should have their Con Edison account number available, if possible, and report whether their neighbors also have lost power.
Visit our online outage map (www.conEd.com/outagemap) to find the number of outages in your area, and the restoration estimate. Maps are updated every 15 minutes.
