The city of Chelsea is now in its third year of the
Chelsea Energy Optimization Plan
for residential, commercial, and industrial customers, and utilization
of the electrical savings incentive program is increasing.
Chelsea, a public power community (meaning that it owns its own
electrical utility), is taking part in the program as part of the
Michigan's adoption of Public Act 295, which requires all electrical
utilities to develop energy optimization and energy efficiency programs.
This year the city is budgeting $60,743 towards the program, which is
projected to save electric customers 626,989 kilowatt-hours, according
to city documents.
"With any program, particularly on the residential side, I think people
don't quite get the fact that 'Wow, there is no catch. They are offering
these services up for free,'" says Hanifan. "With the business
community and the industrial community here...we've seen the number of
applications increase every year of the program. I think the response
has been great. We've met our target goals for 2009 and 2010 and we
fully expect to meet them for 2011, so by that measure the program's
been successful."
In 2012, the city will be putting $100,000 towards the program, Hanifan
says, at a projected savings to customers of 919,581 kilowatt-hours of
electricity.
Commercial and industrial customers receive incentives for a wide
variety of projects, such as installing various lamps and equipment.
Residential electric customers are eligible to receive a complementary
CFL kit, rebates on high-efficiency HVAC equipment and
appliances, and $30 rebates for the recyling of old refrigerators and
freezers.
Source: John Hanifan, Chelsea City Manager; city of Chelsea
Writer: Tanya Muzumdar
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