Columbus Light and Water is putting together a large incentives package to lower energy use before a Tennessee Valley Authority billing switch.
CL&W General Manager Todd Gale said the utility has received a verbal approval from TVA to use hundreds of thousands of dollars of the utility”s money to increase TVA efficiency incentives.
If approved, CL&W would be able to “piggyback” on TVA incentives, offering larger incentives than it possibly ever has before, Gale said.
“Ultimately, we”re just trying to help our customers,” he added.
The utility would likely offer incentives to replace motors, pumps, HVAC units and lighting fixtures, among other things, said Gale, who is still researching how many incentives are available.
The incentives would primarily reduce commercial costs, although they could benefit residential customers also, Gale said. High-demand customers include Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle, Omnova Solutions and the Mississippi University for Women.
One of the ways residential customers can reduce their bills, sometimes by 10 percent or more, is by scheduling an in-home energy evaluation, Gale said.
While customers can reduce their bills permanently by becoming more energy efficient, the measures would also reduce energy demand for CL&W.
If demand is lower, CL&W will not be as affected by a TVA billing switch in April 2011 and October 2012. TVA will begin charging utilities either seasonal or time-of-use rates in April, meaning utilities will pay more during certain seasons or certain hours of the day.
By October 2012, utilities will only pay time-of-use rates, which means CL&W can reduce its bills by reducing energy use during high-demand hours.
For more information about incentives, contact CL&W at 1-866-441-1430 or pick up literature at the Fifth Street office.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
