Compact fluorescent light bulbs have been available for years. So have energy efficient home appliances. Baltimore Gas and Electric’s energy audit program, which examines ratepayers’ homes for possible energy savings, isn’t a new idea either.
But state officials hope to vastly increase use of all three with aggressive programs that will, in some cases, literally give the services away in hopes of enticing residents to cut back on electricity use.
In orders issued last week to all of Maryland’s electricity providers, the state Public Service Commission approved a variety of programs including additional free assistance to low-income customers and credits for the purchase of energy efficient products.
More than the other efforts, PSC Chairman Douglas Nazarian last week highlighted BGE’s proposed “Quick Home Energy Check-Up.” Under the program, BGE contractors would conduct a simple assessment of a home’s energy efficient needs for $40. However if the homeowner allows the contractor to install those energy-saving measures, free of charge, the $40 fee will be waived.
“The goal is to get people to the mind-set that eventually they’ll do this on their own,” said Theresa Czarski, deputy people’s counsel. The Office of People’s Counsel represents ratepayers in utility litigation.
BGE said it expects to spend $68.4 million by 2011 on residential programs, paid for in part by an additional charge on all ratepayers’ monthly bills. Nazarian said preliminary estimates place that charge at between $1 and $3. However, he emphasized that the cost would be far outweighed by savings from reduced electricity use.
“If you request a quick home energy audit and allow BGE to install these straightforward energy efficiency measures in your home, you will save more than you will pay in surcharges, even if you do nothing else,” the PSC wrote in its order to BGE.
“It’s unfortunate timing with the economy,” Czarski said. “If the economy were better, people probably wouldn’t say, ‘Oh boy, I don’t want to pay that extra 60 cents for these programs.’ ”
According to the PSC, BGE anticipates just 2,500 of its 1.1 million residential customers will seek a quick audit by 2011, though BGE said it can provide one to every customer who asks. BGE representatives declined comment Monday, saying the utility has not had a chance to review the PSC’s order.
