U.S. EPA, DOE Honor Electric Utility Companies for Energy Efficiency Results

Washington, DC () - Recognizing their outstanding accomplishments in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have presented 12 electric utility companies with ENERGY STAR awards for 2007.  The winning electric utilities were selected for their sustained excellence, individual programs, and for their promotion of ENERGY STAR products.  More than 80 businesses and organizations in all were selected as award winners from among 9000-plus participating ENERGY STAR partners.

The 2007 ENERGY STAR award winning electric companies are listed below by category:

Sustained Excellence

• CenterPoint Energy
• Nevada Energy Star Partners (included Sierra Pacific and Nevada Power)
• TXU Electric Delivery

Partner of the Year - Energy Efficiency Program Delivery

• Arizona Public Service
• Pacific Gas & Electric
• Southern California Edison

Excellence in ENERGY STAR Promotion

• Georgia Power (Southern Company)
• Northeast Energy Star Lighting and Appliance Initiative (included Northeast Utilities {Connecticut Light & Power and Western Massachusetts Electric Co}, National Grid, United Illuminating, and NSTAR).

Energy STAR Award for Excellence in Home Improvement

• National Grid

"Congratulations to the winning companies," said Thomas R. Kuhn, President, Edison Electric Institute.  "They are enabling their customers to get more value from every dollar they spend on electricity.  And in doing so, they are helping to protect the environment.  The nation's electric power industry has long encouraged the efficient use of electricity, and the awards demonstrate that these efforts are making a difference."

Electric utility programs and services have helped residential, commercial, and industrial customers to take control of their energy bills since the early 1970s.  From 1989 to 2005, electric utility energy efficiency programs saved more than 796 billion kWh of electricity-enough to power nearly 74 million average U.S. homes for one year, according to the EIA.  These savings are equal to the annual electricity output of slightly more than 336 baseload power plants (rated at 300 megawatts each).  During the same period, the electric utility sector spent more than $30 billion on efficiency programs.  In 2005 alone, electric utilities spent more than $1.9 billion on programs-an increase of more than 23 percent from 2004.

"Looking ahead," Kuhn said, "EEI is now leading an effort driven by its member companies to re-invent the role energy efficiency plays within our industry.  We are pursuing a variety of innovative business and regulatory approaches that will encourage the use of state-of-the-art-energy efficiency technologies and services. 

"At the heart of this effort are the efficiency advances that new technologies are now making possible.  When coupled with innovative approaches to rates and ratemaking design, energy efficiency, demand response, and smart technologies will expand the industry's portfolio of resource options.  They will be able to help mitigate the effects of volatile fuel costs.  And they will make regulated retail markets more responsive to competitive wholesale markets.  The result will be a foundation for a dynamic partnership between utilities and their customers to achieve the mutual goals of greater reliability, power quality, environmental protection, cost control, and risk management."

A more comprehensive look at the electric utility industry's energy efficiency programs can be found at: www.eei.org/industry-efficiency/programs. 

EPA introduced the ENERGY STAR program in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency.  Today, in partnership with DOE, the program offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations.  For more information about the ENERGY STAR awards, please visit:
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=pt_awards.pt_es_awards_2007

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The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) is the association of U.S. shareholder-owned electric companies. Our members serve 95 percent of the ultimate customers in the shareholder-owned segment of the industry, and represent approximately 70 percent of the U.S. electric power industry. We also have more than 65 International electric companies as Affiliate members, and more than 170 industry suppliers and related organizations as Associate members.