Company expanding its energy efficiency plan and programs
Mississippi Power is strengthening its commitment to energy efficiency and customer service with its energy efficiency plan approved today by the Mississippi Public Service Commission. The programs, originally filed in January, provide a variety of incentives to residential and commercial customers to promote energy savings.
“The expansion of programs will add immediate value and enhance our established offerings such as home energy audits and low-interest rate financing on energy efficient home improvements,” said Customer Services Organization Vice President Jeff Franklin. “Mississippi Power has long supported energy education and we believe these new programs will encourage our customers to use energy wisely to get the most out of their energy dollar, especially during the summer months.”
“We expect more than half of our customers to take advantage of Mississippi Power’s new energy efficiency programs,” Marketing Principal Chad Ihrig said. “The new suite of programs has been designed to encourage smart energy use through education and low-cost energy savings steps such as installing compact florescent light bulbs, and having an air conditioner tune-up performed.”
The various programs are expected to begin by early fall, with full roll out by year’s end.
Customers have a wide variety of energy efficiency information available on MississippiPower.com, at customer service offices or by calling the 24/7 customer service line at 1-800-532-1502.
Mississippi Power Enhanced Energy Efficiency Program Details
Residential Energy Audit and Direct Install Program – will increase energy awareness by offering home energy assessments to residential customers. The program will seek to help homeowners achieve savings by consulting with a participating trade ally or contractor who will help customers analyze their energy use, identify energy efficiency improvement projects and install low-cost, energy saving measures in the residence.
Residential and Commercial Air Conditioning Tune-Up and Replacement Program – will encourage customers to make the most efficient use of energy by operating their heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems as close to possible to peak performance levels, achieved by a digital high performance HVAC tune-up. The program will also seek to encourage replacement of older, more inefficient HVAC systems through the use of incentives.
Small Business Direct Install and Incentive Program – will educate and provide direct-installed efficiency measures to business customers that fall under a 100kW peak demand threshold. In addition, incentives will be provided toward the purchase of measures such as efficient lighting products and high-efficiency appliances.
School Kits and Education Program – will provide education and energy conservation materials to 4th and 5th grade students in an effort to teach children how to make informed decisions about energy usage in anticipation that they will adopt long-lasting energy conservation behaviors. Schools may be eligible for mini grants based on student participation.
Residential and Business Lighting Program – will provide compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs and light emitting diode (LED) bulbs to residential and business customers through Mississippi Power bill payment offices as well as various community events throughout the service territory. The program will also educate customers on lighting, thermostat settings, and low-cost measures to use electricity more wisely.
Large Commercial and Industrial Prescriptive and Custom Program – will provide facility walkthroughs and incentives toward a suite of energy efficiency measures, allowing for simple approaches to customers with peak demand in excess of 100kW. Prescriptive measures may be installed at the facility and incented on a per unit basis, while the custom program assists customers in identifying opportunities, analyzing associated costs and savings and provides incentives toward the installation of custom measures.
Neighborhood Efficiency Program – is an extension and enhancement of the pilot program launched in September 2013 to educate and promote energy efficiency to income-qualified customers. Mississippi Power conducted more than 1,000 energy audits, installed efficient lighting and insulation upgrades. The Neighborhood Efficiency Program will continue making those services available to customers along with providing HVAC tune-ups and duct sealing.
Behavioral Analysis Program – will deliver customized energy reports to residential households to provide customers with information on their energy use and will seek to motivate customers to use less energy and save money on their monthly bills. The program will also encourage participation in other programs in the Quick Start portfolio.