Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

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Message from the Consumers' Counsel:

Energy efficiency programs would brighten Ohio's future

With news of energy prices going up, it is vital that our state look at how residential consumers can control their energy usage. Energy efficiency programs can provide us with significant benefits while reducing our demand for electricity and natural gas.

A recent study conducted by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) showed that if Ohio's major natural gas and electric utility companies implement energy efficiency programs, residential consumers could save a total of approximately $1.2 billion on their energy bills through decreased consumption by the year 2010. The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC), along with other organizations throughout the Midwest, sponsored this study to help show the benefits that would likely result from launching energy efficiency programs.

Beyond the direct savings, the report also showed that Ohio would receive a significant economic boost in terms of jobs created when energy efficiency programs are utilized.

The types of programs that could bring savings opportunities include more energy efficient new home construction; rebates on the purchase of efficient furnaces; and promoting a one-stop shopping experience for customers to make heating, cooling and insulation upgrades.

The potential of energy efficiency programs is very encouraging. The OCC recently launched the controlling your energy section of this website. You'll find some innovative ideas that would produce both short and long-term savings.

Controlling your energy also addresses another important concept - the development of clean energy resources and renewable power. These choices have the potential to provide us with increased energy independence, affordable pricing and greater reliability.

I encourage you to explore the OCC's Smart Energy pages and learn about the many existing and evolving programs.

Links:

• "Economic benefits of energy efficiency programs would result in direct savings to Ohio's utility customers" - OCC's Press Release on ACEEE report
• ACEEE Report - "Examining the potential of energy efficiency to help address the natural gas crisis in the Midwest"
• The OCC's Smart Energy Home Page

 

Best regards,

Janine L. Migden-Ostrander