Energy in the News

Several hundred Progress Energy customers have volunteered to test its energy conservation programs.

After evaluating the tests, the utility will tell the N.C. Utilities Commission this fall which programs it wants to introduce. The commission would have to approve the programs and the subsidies to pay for them.

All customers would have to pay a little more to cover the cost of Progress Energy's lost revenue, program administration, financial incentives and new technologies.

Here's a sampling of programs being tested:

IN-HOME ENERGY DISPLAY: Customers receive hand-held utility meters that show real-time readings of energy consumption and costs.

Participants: 300 customers with a 24-month billing history.

Duration: through July 1, 2008

RESIDENTIAL LOAD CONTROL: Allows the utility to adjust customers' thermostat settings remotely (shown at left).

Participants: 470 customers.

Duration: through Sept. 15

HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING TUNEUP AND DUCT REPAIR: Customers receive free maintenance and repairs to improve equipment efficiency.

Participants: About two dozen North Raleigh customers who live in homes that are about 15 years old with central heating and air conditioning.

Duration: through Oct. 31

WATER HEATER TIMER: Briefly shuts off water heater, using a radio-control signal, during times of peak demand.

Participants: About two dozen customers in Raleigh on the "time of use" rate who have water heaters with a capacity of at least 40 gallons.

Duration: through Oct. 1

COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHTS: Progress Energy will work with some retailers to promote discounts on energy-efficient lighting for its customers.

Duration: Fall 2007

What Progress is doing in Florida

Florida, where Progress Energy has 1.7 million residential customers, started requiring energy conversation programs in 1981.

At least one-fourth of Progress Energy's Florida customers take advantage of the utility's 16 conservation programs. It continues adding programs and last year paid more than $41 million in discounts and rebates to customers who made energy-saving investments in their homes.

The cost of the incentives is subsidized by electricity rates and shared by all customers. The typical residential customer in Florida pays about $2 a month for the program.

Progress Energy could establish some of the Florida programs in North Carolina. Here are some of its most popular conservation programs in Florida:

EnergyWise: The power to the air conditioner, heat pump, water heater and pool pump is briefly turned off. Participants are credited $14 a month in winter, $11 a month in summer.

Home energy check: A free evaluation to analyze energy consumption and recommend energy-saving improvements.

Duct test/repair: Pays $30 toward duct test and up to $150 for repairs.

Insulation upgrades: Pays up to $100 for upgrade, and up to $300 for adding injected-foam insulation.

Heat pump replacement: Offers up to $350 in rebates to install an energy-efficient heat pump.

Solar water heater: Offers a $450 rebate for installing a solar-thermal water heater for EnergyWise participants.

Reflective roof: Offers $150 rebate for installation.

Replacement windows: Pays $250 for installation of high-efficiency windows.

Window film: Pays $100 for installation of window film on existing windows.

Home Advantage Program: pays incentives, up to $1,800 per house, to builders who install energy-efficiency heat pumps, ducts or appliances in new homes.