FirstEnergy Electric - Energy Conservation Kit Program (Lancaster: sales, transfer)

[psurangers11]

Hello All,

Not sure if anyone knows of this or even if their electric company (PPL, et al.) participates, but if you're looking to switch our regular bulbs with more energy efficient bulbs then this is somethign you need to check into.

FirstEnergy offers an "Energy Conservation Kit" for it's customers... one per account. All you need to do is fill out a quick form with your account info and within 4-6 weeks they mail you the following:

The kit includes nine compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), a smart strip/surge protector, a furnace filter whistle, and two LED night lights.

The program is no additional cost to you... ***
You will not be charged separately if you receive this Energy Conservation Kit. But please know, the cost of these kits, as with the costs of all other mandated PUCO-approved residential energy efficiency programs, is paid for through a charge included in all residential customers' bills. Offering these kits is one part of our Ohio Energy Efficiency Program, which was approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. These programs are necessary to comply with state mandated energy efficiency requirements included in Ohio Senate Bill 221.

I encourage you to check it out... definitely legit... since I got my kit yesterday:

[toobusytoday]

Looks like the one from PPL is tied to income: https://www.pplelectric.com/save-ene...ower-wise.aspx[/b]

[PacoMartin]

Originally Posted by psurangers11

The kit includes nine compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), a smart strip/surge protector, a furnace filter whistle, and two LED night lights.

The program is no additional cost to you... ***

I am wary of any freebies from electric utilities. Your average person uses 12,000 kWh per year (our is 2,276 kWh per month).That free stuff is not very expensive, and even 1 penny extra per kilowatt hour can add up drastically over the course of the year.

The plans that give you a $75 Visa card, or Free electricity on Saturdays are difficult to make up the freebies. The free Saturday program implies that you can save money by shifting a single load of laundry to Saturday (which doesn't add up).

[toobusytoday]

My SIL, in Lancaster county, has an electric company with free or discounted weekend rates and she told me that they took advantage of it by doing all of their laundry on weekends, cranking up the heat or a/c and even cooking meals for the rest of the week on weekends. I doubt that many people do that, or at least do it consistently for very long. We invested in solar panels instead and our electric bills have been below $20/month since then.

[blazerj]

Originally Posted by toobusytoday

My SIL, in Lancaster county, has an electric company with free or discounted weekend rates and she told me that they took advantage of it by doing all of their laundry on weekends, cranking up the heat or a/c and even cooking meals for the rest of the week on weekends. I doubt that many people do that, or at least do it consistently for very long. We invested in solar panels instead and our electric bills have been below $20/month since then.

Was that when solar panels were subsidized? I'd like to do that, but think it's too expensive now.

[psurangers11]

Originally Posted by PacoMartin

I am wary of any freebies from electric utilities. Your average person uses 12,000 kWh per year (our is 2,276 kWh per year).That free stuff is not very expensive, and even 1 penny extra per kilowatt hour can add up drastically over the course of the year.

The plans that give you a $75 Visa card, or Free electricity on Saturdays are difficult to make up the freebies. The free Saturday program implies that you can save money by shifting a single load of laundry to Saturday (which doesn't add up).

hahaha... hey listen.. at no additional cost there was no need in my eyes to be "wary" of anything... all these bulbs are GE brand CFL's at various wattages... all it took was a 1 minute application to confirm that I have an account and they sent me this package... no brainer in my eyes.

[PacoMartin]

Originally Posted by toobusytoday

My SIL, in Lancaster county, has an electric company with free or discounted weekend rates and she told me that they took advantage of it by doing all of their laundry on weekends, cranking up the heat or a/c and even cooking meals for the rest of the week on weekends. I doubt that many people do that, or at least do it consistently for very long. We invested in solar panels instead and our electric bills have been below $20/month since then.

Direct Energy has a plan where you get free Saturdays and pay $0.0950/kWh for the other 6 days / week. PPL Energy is charging us $0.0781/kWh for 7 days per week.

I'm not saying you can't exploit that. If you saved up your dishes, and all your dirty laundry, turned down the oil heat to 35 degrees and cranked up the electric space heaters, you would certainly come out ahead. My objection is that the advertising leads you to believe that transferring a single load of laundry to Saturday is all that is necessary to come out ahead.

---
If you are happy with your power generation company, then you should accept their freebies. But I am cautioning against selecting a company based on freebies.

===
The "Clean Energy Option" is to purchase wind generated power, usually at a 25% higher price. I guess my feeling about this option is that it is probably a better use of your money (combined with an efficient gasoline engine) than purchasing a Prius. Having your electric bill go up $30-$40 per month because you are using a renewable energy source is better than spending $7000 on a battery that will be worthless in 4 or 5 years.

Prius $24,200 51/48 mpg
Corolla $16,800 29/37 mpg

[quiet life]

Originally Posted by psurangers11

Hello All,

Not sure if anyone knows of this or even if their electric company (PPL, et al.) participates, but if you're looking to switch our regular bulbs with more energy efficient bulbs then this is somethign you need to check into.

FirstEnergy offers an "Energy Conservation Kit" for it's customers... one per account. All you need to do is fill out a quick form with your account info and within 4-6 weeks they mail you the following:

The kit includes nine compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), a smart strip/surge protector, a furnace filter whistle, and two LED night lights.

The program is no additional cost to you... ***
You will not be charged separately if you receive this Energy Conservation Kit. But please know, the cost of these kits, as with the costs of all other mandated PUCO-approved residential energy efficiency programs, is paid for through a charge included in all residential customers' bills. Offering these kits is one part of our Ohio Energy Efficiency Program, which was approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. These programs are necessary to comply with state mandated energy efficiency requirements included in Ohio Senate Bill 221.

I encourage you to check it out... definitely legit... since I got my kit yesterday:

Already jumped on this last month No brainer in my eyes as well. On another note, I have invested in LED bulbs. Not pocket friendly at all. 4 Bulbs=80 bucks Suppose to last 22.8 years. I guess I'll find out.

[PacoMartin]

Originally Posted by quiet life

I have invested in LED bulbs. Not pocket friendly at all. 4 Bulbs=80 bucks

I think LED nightlights pay off. At $2-$3 apiece for ones with a night sensor, they are cheap to operate. That way you don't have to turn on a bunch of lights when you are walking around.

The bulbs were $30 apiece last year, and are closer to $20. If they are going to last for over two decades, you have to think about future sales prices.

While a couple of well placed LED bulbs can't hurt, I have a serious issue with replacing 100 light bulbs in the house. They could be priced at $10 apiece in two years. What if they are broken? Some lights are not turned on all that often. I can't see a payback for the $2k

[PacoMartin]

Originally Posted by psurangers11

hahaha... hey listen.. at no additional cost there was no need in my eyes to be "wary" of anything... all these bulbs are GE brand CFL's at various wattages... all it took was a 1 minute application to confirm that I have an account and they sent me this package... no brainer in my eyes.

Generally, I am wary of anybody that offers me free things. But looking at their website it says

PPL Residential Customers! 7.50 cents/kWh through June 2016

which seems like a good rate. I have never seen a sign up period of 2.5 years before, as they are usually 12-15 months. But a variable rate jumped up to 9.50 cents/kWh in June, so it may be worthwhile to lock in at 7.5 cents.

This comment is regardless of the free gifts.