PSC approves We Energies efficiency programs

From a media release issued by the Public Service Commission:

MADISON – Today, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) approved We Energies proposal to implement voluntary electric energy efficiency and demand response programs beginning January 1, 2009.

The initiatives, ten in total, include the continuation of five existing programs and implementation of five new programs at a total estimated savings of 26,900 Megawatt hours of energy and 24.8 Megawatts of capacity during the first year. The projected energy savings are enough to power 3,000 Wisconsin homes. . . .

Among the approved We Energies programs are:

􀂃 Information Displays Program – provides customers with an in-home display with such information as the current price of electricity, cost of the electricity used to date in the month, and variance relative to a customer’s energy budget;

􀂃 Benchmarking Program – will develop peer groups for residential and small commercial customers and then identify how the customer’s electric usage compares to that of its peer group;

􀂃 Small C&I Program – provides technical and financial assistance to We Energies Cg1 and Cg2 rate class customers to help them identify and install energy efficiency equipment;

􀂃 Critical Peak Pricing – will be an optional tariff for residential customers that adds a high priced “critical peak” period to We Energies’ existing three part time-of-use tariff; and

􀂃 Peak Time Rebate – will provide residential and small commercial customers a rebate or bill credit for reducing load below a customer-specific baseline during peak hours.