Jul 31 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Spencer Soper The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa.


A plan proposed by PPL to reduce the energy consumption of its customers should include more options and not rely so heavily on compact fluorescent light bulbs.

That was the prevailing sentiment Thursday at a public hearing that drew 30 people to downtown Bethlehem to discuss the four-year, $246 million plan, which will affect 1.4 million PPL customers. About 10 people testified regarding the proposal, which the state Public Utility Commission is scheduled to vote on by the end of October.

Alfred Siess of Coopersburg said many people are already using fluorescent bulbs and therefore would not benefit.

"I already use fluorescent bulbs. I have for 20 years," he said. PPL is "not going to realize any net savings from me, as long as my wife wants the lights on."

Others suggested the plan should promote solar water heaters or more aggressively promote making older homes more energy-efficient.

PPL attorney David MacGregor, meanwhile, said the plan was compiled after seeking input from various experts in the field of energy conservation as well as stakeholders.

The company has proposed curtailing power consumption by 1.3 billion kilowatt hours by mid-2013. That's the equivalent of all PPL's residential customers killing their power use for a month, according to the company.

At issue is a PPL plan to charge customers $246 million over four years to implement energy conservation programs mandated by the state. The typical residential customer would pay an extra $24 a year beginning in December to pay for the programs.

PPL and six other large electric providers in Pennsylvania are under a state mandate to reduce electric consumption 1 percent by mid-2011 and by 3 percent in mid-2013. In addition, the companies have to reduce peak-demand energy use 4.5 percent by 2013.

Harrisburg resident Gene Stilp, a frequent critic of PPL who wears a large cardboard plug on his back, said PPL has a conflict of interest in proposing conservation strategies since it makes money by selling electricity. He urged the judge presiding over the public hearing to host more of them, saying one was not enough for a subject that affects so many people and businesses.

The state law allows electric companies to pass the energy conservation program costs directly to customers. The goal is that savings achieved through energy conservation will outweigh the overall investment.

Electric customers can achieve savings both by utilizing the energy efficiency programs to lower their bills, and the wholesale cost of electric is expected to be lower if the state achieves its goal of reducing consumption, according to the public utilities commission.

The company submitted a 300-page report to the state this month that highlights 14 programs the company says will reduce energy use.

It includes initiatives for residential customers as well as small and large businesses.

One goal is to distribute 7 million compact fluorescent light bulbs that use 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs, and offer cash to people who junk their old, inefficient refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners.

The added cost of the energy conservation program would be in addition to a 30 percent rate hike customers are expected to see in 2010 when state-imposed caps on electric rates expire.

(c) 2009, McClatchy-Tribune Information Services