Southern
Company's Energy Efficiency Programs Continue To Keep Energy Demand
Below Peak
Oct 18, 2005 - PR Newswire
ATLANTA, Oct. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Southern Company continues
to see successful results from its comprehensive demand- side management
and energy efficiency programs currently in use across its system. This
summer, Southern Company established consecutive new record peaks for
its system on July 25 and 26. On each of those days, Southern Company
was able to reduce its peak demand by more than 400 megawatts, the
equivalent of the peak demand for 80,000 homes, as a result of these
programs.
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"Demand-side management is a valuable resource for reducing the need
for new generation," said Leonard Haynes, chief marketing officer for
Southern Company. "Over the years, we've been able to educate customers
about the importance of energy efficiency to modify electricity usage,
while customizing our demand-side programs to meet their individual
needs."
As part of its demand-side management efforts, Southern Company
offers a range of innovative rates to its business customers including
real time and time-of-use pricing options. Under these programs,
customers pay higher prices for their electricity when they operate
during periods of high demand. Customers manage their energy use based
on pricing information received from their utility.
While the bulk of the demand-side reductions come from business
customers, Southern Company subsidiaries also offer programs ideal for
residential customers. Popular residential programs include Power Credit
and GoodCents Select. Power Credit is available at Georgia Power and
Savannah Electric. GoodCents Select is offered by Gulf Power.
With Power Credit, a switch is installed on a customer's home central
cooling unit. When power usage is at its peak, a signal is sent to the
switch, temporarily reducing the run time of the air conditioner.
Customers receive an initial $20 credit off their electric bill when
they are installed on the program and a $2 credit each time the switch
is activated.
With GoodCents Select, customers have the option of managing their
energy use with a company-provided programmable thermostat. This
programmable thermostat allows customers to easily control their central
cooling and heating system, their electric water heater and another
major appliance, such as a swimming pool pump. GoodCents Select
customers receive a special rate that is lower during most hours of the
year than the standard residential rate for participating in the
program.
"Each individual customer decides whether or not they are a good fit
to participate in a demand-side management program," said Haynes.
"Participants are then able to modify their energy use to meet program
requirements. We have found that customers are more comfortable when
they're able to exercise some control over program options."
Southern Company also works to build awareness among its customers on
the benefits of energy efficiency, as well as specific steps customers
can take to save money and energy. The company promotes the use of
energy efficiency appliances, improved thermal standards in homes and
general conservation ideas for homes and businesses. Additionally,
Southern Company is a partner with ENERGY STAR(R), the government's
nationally recognized program focused on helping businesses and
individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.
With more than 4 million customers and nearly 39,000 megawatts of
generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the
premier super-regional energy company in the Southeast and a leading
U.S. producer of electricity. Southern Company owns electric utilities
in four states, a growing competitive generation company and a
competitive retail natural gas business, as well as fiber optics and
wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent
customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are
15 percent below the national average. Southern Company has been ranked
the nation's top energy utility in the American Customer Satisfaction
Index six years in a row.
Southern Company has more than 500,000 shareholders, making its
common stock one of the most widely held in the United States. Visit the
Southern Company Web site at
www.southerncompany.com. SOURCE Southern Company
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