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This article from Ohio caught my eye this morning and reminded me that, not only is the Ohio Consumers Council dissatisfied with FirstEnergy's Energy Efficiency program in that state, but FirstEnergy is proposing an even more useless farce in West Virginia.

What the FirstEnergy talking head doesn't tell the consumer is that they're paying for this program.  Sure, you can buy a CFL light bulb for 50 cents, or get a small rebate on a new appliance, but all FirstEnergy's costs for the program are recovered from ratepayers, including their marketing costs for the program.

As part of their merger settlement in West Virginia, FirstEnergy was required to offer energy efficiency and demand response programs in the state.  Because consumers like you saving electricity cuts into their profit margin, FirstEnergy has proposed an ineffectual, weak energy efficiency program that's going to cost more than its potential savings.  And because out-of-state energy companies view the WV PSC as their champion against the citizens of this state, FirstEnergy expects their proposal to sail through PSC approvals.  Read about the program at Energy Efficient West Virginia's website. 

You will be paying for this program in your "Potomac Edison" bill, but unless you're a commercial/industrial customer who wants to change out the lighting in your business, or a low-income customer who needs a few free lightbulbs or a faucet aerator, you will get absolutely nothing in return for the monthly fee you will be charged for this program.  Why isn't this meager program offered to everyone?  Is FirstEnergy afraid that your electric bill might go down, along with their revenue?

FirstEnergy customers need to take action with the WV PSC to make FirstEnergy's Energy Efficiency program better.  PATH opponents know all about getting involved at the PSC, and we need to share our knowledge with all our neighbors.  We're not going to be asking anyone to intervene this time, merely to participate in public comment.  You PATH opponents know how easy that is (compared to all we've been through over the past 3 years!)

Energy Efficient West Virginia and the Coalition for Reliable Power will be co-hosting a series of public meetings designed to solicit input from FirstEnergy customers around the state beginning this month.  The first meeting will be held at the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Library on Tuesday, August 23, beginning at 6:45 p.m.  Come join us and save some money on your "Potomac Edison" bill!  More information can be obtained from The Coalition for Reliable Power or Energy Efficient West Virginia.

Read more about the upcoming meetings, including our meeting agenda, format and attendees, by checking the blog at Coalition for Reliable Power regularly.  If you are tired of constantly rising electric bills, come and find out how and why rates go up and the simple steps you can take to make your electric provider work for you to save money for your business and reduce your residential costs for power.


 


Comments

Pam
08/05/2011 6:15am

Here's another way Potomac Edison is fleecing its customers. My hairdresser told me yesterday her mother-in-law received an electric bill for one month for $110.00. Problem is, she's not living in her house and the only thing that runs all day is the refrigerator and they have an outside and inside light come on at night on a timer. So my hairdresser called and they said that due to all the storm damage, they have been estimating the bills and if they would read the meter, they would make an adjustment. Now maybe I'm not the smartest person in the world, but I thought there were specific people who read meters and specific people who made repairs. Sounds like just another excuse to me. I know my bill is usually estimated every other month, they come out every other month and read the meter but to tell a consumer it's because of storm damage and they don't have time, give me a break.

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Keryn
08/05/2011 7:17am

I got a giggle out of my bill this month. They warned me that my average cost per day is higher than my previous bill, while also telling me that their surcharges have changed and that my bill was estimated this month.

Yup, the rising cost of electricity must be due to my use patterns...

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bh link
08/07/2011 7:36am

Take a look at this link on the Coalition for Reliable Power site - http://forreliablepower.com/1/post/2011/06/pa-forcing-firstenergy-to-reduce-peak-load.html

The PA legislature found a cheap and easy solution for increasing efficiency in PA. All power companies, including FirstEnergy, must reduce their peak load 4.5% by May 31, 2013. Period. FirstEnergy immediately hired EnergyConnect, a company specializing in demand management, to reduce load on the system of its West Penn Power Company.

This is simple and effective, unlike the complex and ineffectual plans that FE is proposing in OH and WV. If they can do it in PA, we can do it in WV.

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bh link
08/07/2011 7:43am

We need to be clear when we talk about rate impacts of efficiency programs. Everyone wins when we have good, effective efficiency programs. In a regulated state, that means that rate payers will have to pay for many of these programs.

However, that also means, under WV law, that the WV PSC must insure that these programs provide real benefits to WV power consumers and that these programs are economical and efficient themselves.

What First Energy has produced so far meets none of these requirements.

If you don't think energy efficiency has real benefits for West Virginians, consider that a study two years ago indicated that about 300 people in our state die premature deaths every year from respiratory diseases caused by particulate matter emitted from coal fired power plant stacks. Lower electricity use in WV literally saves the lives of many of our neighbors.

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