Archive for the ‘Kane County’ Category

As temperatures drop and heating bills rise, a new plan aims to ease the burden of winter energy bills by offering cheaper electricity

Winter is on the way, and with it, potentially heavy utilities bills. Fortunately, a new plan offers Kane County residents the chance to save money on their electricity bills. The Community Energy Cooperative is expanding the Energy-Smart Pricing Plan SM in Kane County, and the plan could help local ComEd customers lower their electricity bills by 10 to 15 percent. While the plan does not impact residents’ gas bills, lower electricity bills offer some relief for those looking to keep down their total energy expenses.

The Community Energy Cooperative is a non-profit membership organization helping consumers and communities obtain the information and services they need to control energy costs. The Cooperative launched the Energy-Smart Pricing Plan (ESPP) in January 2003. The plan gives participants the power to save money while they help protect the environment and maintain electrical reliability. It works by giving residential electricity customers incentives to conserve energy when electricity demand and stress on the electricity infrastructure are greatest.

With the standard ComEd residential rate, people pay the same price for electricity no matter when they use power. But when households sign up for ESPP, they get access to a special hourly electricity rate that reflects the market cost of electricity. Prices are low when electricity demand is low and can go up when demand rises. While hourly prices vary, ESPP participants save money because the average cost with ESPP is lower than with the standard rate. In addition, ESPP participants can increase their savings by conserving energy during the few high-demand, high-price hours, which usually occur on hot summer afternoons. The Cooperative provides easy access to price information, and notifies all participants in advance when prices are expected to be high-making it easy to adjust electricity use and increase savings

During 2003, the over 750 northern Illinois households participating in ESPP saved an average of 20 percent compared with what they would have paid on the standard ComEd residential rate, and participants said that saving money with ESPP was simple and convenient. The Cooperative estimates that this year typical ESPP participants can expect to reduce their electricity costs by approximately 10 to 15 percent, even if they do not change their energy use patterns. In addition, participants could save more by reducing their energy use during peak hours. Energy saving actions can include simple steps such as adjusting air conditioner settings or waiting to run the dishwasher in the evening after prices drop.

When ESPP participants conserve electricity during high price hours, they not only save money, they also reduce stress on the local the electricity transmission and distribution systems at times when demand is greatest. This helps to reduce or delay the need for new, costly electricity infrastructure, benefiting the local environment and saving communities money.

Information about participating in the Energy-Smart Pricing Plan is available at www.energycooperative.org/espp or by phone at (773) 269-4037. Participation is limited, so those interested in enrolling should contact the Cooperative immediately.

Additional Resources for Managing Home Energy Costs

The Energy-Smart Pricing Plan makes it easy to save money on electricity, but it is likely to be more difficult for consumers to control their gas bills this winter. For residential customers, the best solution to high gas bills is often to improve your home’s energy efficiency. Tips for winterizing your home are available in the autumn issue of the Community Energy Cooperative’s newsletter, online at www.energycooperative.org/pdf/ceq-2004-q3.pdf (page 5). In addition, the following organizations offer useful information on managing home energy costs.

General Energy-Saving Information
US Department of Energy
www.eere.energy.gov/consumerinfo/
Phone: (877) 337-3463

Energy Efficient Product Information
ENERGY STAR Program
www.energystar.gov/
Phone: (888) STAR-YES

Energy Assistance Programs
Illinois Office of Energy Assistance
www.liheapillinois.com
Phone: (800) 252-8643

For more information about the Community Energy Cooperative, contact Stephanie Folk, communications and outreach coordinator, at sfolk@energycooperative.org or (773) 269-4085.

This fall, the Community Energy Cooperative is expanding its innovative Energy-Smart Pricing Plan (ESPP) in Kane County. The plan is designed to help consumers reduce their electricity bills. It also tests an innovative strategy for improving the reliability of the electricity transmission and distribution systems, and reducing the need to build new infrastructure such as power lines, substations, and peaker plants as communities grow. The Energy-Smart Pricing Plan is open to ComEd residential customers in Kane County.

The Community Energy Cooperative is a non-profit membership organization helping consumers and communities obtain the information and services they need to control energy costs. The Cooperative launched the pilot Energy-Smart Pricing Plan in January 2003. ESPP is the nation’s first large-scale residential pricing program to use hourly, market-based electricity prices. It works by giving residential electricity customers incentives to conserve energy when electricity demand and stress on the electricity infrastructure are greatest.

When households sign up for ESPP, they get access to a special hourly electricity rate that reflects the market cost of electricity. Prices are low when electrical demand is low and can go up when demand rises. While hourly prices vary, the average rate with ESPP is still lower than the standard rate for ComEd residential customers. ESPP participants can increase their savings by conserving energy during the few high-demand, high-price hours, which usually occur on hot summer afternoons. Prices for each day are available through the Cooperative’s Web site and toll-free phone line. In addition, the Cooperative notifies all participants in advance when prices rise above 10 cents per kilowatt-hour.

During 2003, the over 750 Chicago-area households participating in ESPP saved an average of 20 percent compared with what they would have paid on the standard ComEd residential rate, and participants said that saving money with ESPP was simple and convenient. ESPP participant Jo Volkening of Burlington says she has been happy with the program.

“I’ve definitely saved money, and I like knowing when energy prices are high so I can make my own choice about conserving energy during peak hours,” she says. Volkening says she has recommended the program to friends.

The Cooperative estimates that this year typical ESPP participants can expect to reduce their electricity costs by approximately 10 to 15 percent, even if they do not change their energy use patterns. In addition, participants could save more by reducing their energy use during peak hours. For example, many participants have saved energy during high price hours by taking simple actions such as adjusting the thermostats on their air conditioners or waiting to do laundry in the evening after prices dropped.

ESPP is an experimental program that tests a strategy for saving people money, maintaining reliability, and protecting the environment. When ESPP participants conserve electricity during high price hours, they not only save money, they also reduce stress on the local the electricity transmission and distribution systems at times when demand is greatest. Even small reductions in demand during peak hours can help reduce the need for new infrastructure such as new power lines, substations, and peaker plants, providing benefits that are particularly relevant to rapidly expanding communities in Kane County. On a large scale, a program such as ESPP could even have the potential to reduce the need for new power plants. So far, the results of ESPP have been promising. Participants have saved money, and shown that they can and do respond to hourly prices.

Information about participating in the Energy-Smart Pricing Plan is available at www.energycooperative.org/espp or by phone at (773) 269-4037.

The Community Energy Cooperative is launching an initiative to promote the Energy-Smart Pricing Plan into Kane County. With support from ComEd, the Cooperative will add up to 500 new ESPP participants in Kane County.

The Energy-Smart Pricing Plan, the nation’s first residential real-time pricing program for electricity is beginning its second year. The program commenced in January 2003 and had 750 participants in its first year. The program offers consumers access to hourly market energy prices which provides lower prices for most hours and the option to control their usage during the few high priced hours of the year.

In the first year, ESPP participants saved an average of 20% on their electricity bills, while at the same time significantly reducing their electricity use on summer days of peak demand.

“We know that electricity demand on hot summer days is what drives the need for new infrastructure – power lines, substations, etc.,” said Kathryn Tholin, General Manager of the Community Energy Cooperative. “Plus peak power is much more expensive. When some people reduce their use of peak power, everyone benefits through lower costs and reduced transmission and distribution needs. ESPP gives consumers a real incentive to reduce their energy use in a way that benefits the whole community.”

Kane County residents and local governments have recently been discussing the options for meeting the county’s growing energy demand, including the possible construction of new high-voltage power lines. “Programs like ESPP can’t answer these questions by themselves,” said Tholin. “But implementing energy efficiency programs and demand reduction programs like ESPP for residents and businesses in Kane County can have a large impact on overall energy use and the need for new investments in the long run. It’s a question of giving people the right incentives to use energy wisely.”

The Cooperative will be marketing the Energy-Smart Pricing Plan in Kane County during the spring and fall of 2004. Anyone interested in getting more information about this initiative should call the Cooperative at 773-486-7600, x 137