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West Penn Power & Pennsylvania Act 129
Pennsylvania Governor, Ed Rendell, signed House Bill 2200 into law as Act 129 in 2008. The Act requires utilities to develop cost-effective plans to reduce electricity consumption by 1 percent by 2011, and by 3 percent by 2013. Additionally, the Act requires a 4.5 percent reduction in peak demand by 2013.
In 2009, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) established an energy efficiency and conservation program to address the mandates specified by Act 129. Click here to read the PUC’s news release. Click here to link to the PUC’s Act 129 web page.
New Programs Approved
In response to Pennsylvania’s Act 129, West Penn Power proposed and received approval for energy efficiency programs for residential, commercial and industrial customers. Customers will be receiving specific information on these programs in the coming months. These programs are designed to help consumers use electricity efficiently, curb consumption and reduce overall demand for electricity.
“Allegheny (West Penn Power) is moving aggressively to introduce these new energy efficiency programs, which offer incentives for homes and businesses to save energy and money. We have designed a portfolio of programs that will provide meaningful reductions in energy usage and with the implementation of smart meters, we will offer customers new rate options and other tools for customers to better manage their electric bills.” -- Rodney Dickens, President of Allegheny Power.
The new programs approved by the Commission will include:
- Rebates for customers that purchase high efficiency appliances, lighting and heating and cooling systems;
- Residential home audits and rebates toward implementing audit recommendations;
- Home audit, weatherization and air conditioner replacement programs for low-income customers;
- New rate options that will provide financial incentives for customers to lower their demand for electricity or shift their usage to lower-priced times;
- Incentives for customers who install in-home devices that reduce electric usage when demand is highest; and
- Various programs for commercial, industrial, government and non-profit customers to increase energy efficiency and conservation.
Act 129 calls for the programs to be funded through customer rates. The typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours a month will see an increase of about $2 per month. Customers who take advantage of one or more of the new programs have the opportunity to offset that amount and save much more over the years. Programs enabled by smart meters will be available in 2011.
PUC Filings
West Penn Power's Second Amended Energy Efficiency & Conservation/Demand (EE&C/DR) Filing -- August 9, 2011
Second Amended EE&C/DR Filing (Clean)
West Penn Power's Amended Energy Efficiency & Conservation/Demand Response (EE&C/DR) Filing--September 10, 2010
West Penn Power's Amended Energy Efficiency & Conservation/Demand Response (EE&C/DR) Filing--April 29, 2010
West Penn Power's Amended Energy Efficiency & Conservation/Demand Response (EE&C/DR) Filing--Dec. 21, 2009
West Penn Power's Energy Efficiency & Conservation/Demand Response (EE&C/DR) Filing--June 30, 2009
West Penn Power's Smart Meter Technology Procurement and Installation Plan (SMIP) Filing--August 14, 2009
Energy Procurement
Act 129 also has provisions for Pennsylvania’s utilities to purchase sources of energy at the lowest possible cost. Read Allegheny’s news release and fact sheet about our accelerated energy procurement plan for Pennsylvania.
Interested Parties
West Penn Power wants to engage interested stakeholders as we continue to develop our Act 129 Energy Efficiency and Demand Response Plans. We have designed a collaborative and on-going process as we believe “success” will only be achieved through partnering with stakeholders. Please send questions, comments, or requests to be added to our stakeholder list to: Act129Feedback@AlleghenyPower.com.
For more information on the Stakeholder Process, click here.
Last Modified: 1/16/2012 |