February 9th, 2009
Northerners dread opening up those utility bills this time of year. On the flip side, Southerners hate seeing theirs in summer. The local utility company is their arch nemesis. …Or is it?
More and more utility companies are working to help customers save money when it comes to energy — even though it’s counter-intuitive because when customers trim their energy bills, utility companies collect less money.
Setting up a less profit-bound system involves a concept called “decoupling,” in which states step in to help the power companies become agents for change. Typically, the state offers incentives to companies to help customers become more energy efficient. When electricity demand falls, the state might replace profits or extend other financial assistance to the power company, thereby “decoupling” the profits from usage.
“When the bond is broken between energy sales and profit. It’s win-win for everyone,” says Katie Romans, a Pacific Gas & Electric Company, which serves northern California, the state at the forefront of decoupling.
PG&E, which serves northern California, offers an online home energy analyzer for residents. “Customers are overwhelmed with all the green info out there,” says Romans. “They don’t know where to begin. Our online tool gives them a start.”
Customers visit the website, equipped with their most recent energy bill, and answer 14 questions about their appliances – their size, their age, etc. Based on their responses, PG&E will examine how a customer compares to similar size households in the neighborhood and offer easy and affordable steps toward reducing their energy bill.
WATCHING OUT FOR WALL WARTS IN CALIFORNIA
“Nothing too overwhelming,” says Romans. One step might be to put in CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs) into the home’s five most used sockets. Another suggestion might be to install a programmable thermostat. “We advise that the thermostat be set at 68 degrees when you’re at home and lowered to 55 when you are away or asleep,” says Romans. “Obviously, if you are already disciplined to resetting your thermostat, you don’t need this.”
PG&E also offers on-site energy analyses for businesses and low-income residents (as well as an education area for teachers and kids called “Energenius“).
Businesses, she says, “are really taking advantage of the audits. They see they can control energy costs which helps control the bottom line.”
For both residential and business customers, says Romans, “it’s all about teaching them to make smart choices.” Simple things such as unplugging what she calls “wall warts” – shavers, electric toothbrushes, cell phone chargers, hair straighteners, coffee makers, toasters – are another easy step. The energy drain from these small appliances adds up. There are items in the home, however, that shouldn’t be unplugged, she notes, such as a plasma TV.
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