Tuesday, August 21st 2012 

Pennsylvania’s Act 129, mandating generation and peak load reductions from the state’s major utilities, has just completed phase one and undergone a thorough examination by the Public Utility Commission. After evaluating the benefits and rate-payers costs of phase one, the PUC has suggested that the program continue largely unaltered.

For those of us in the southeast, PECO easily met it’s phase one goals and (barring any unforeseen events) will be required to reduce generation an additional 2.9% compared to (2008) levels by June 2016.

Act 129 has saved Pennsylvania rate-payers almost $300 million since the program began in 2009.

What does all this mean for consumers?

Residents and businesses will continue to pay for energy reduction programs factored into their electric bills for the next four years. They’ll also be able to take advantage of things like rebates for energy efficient lighting and appliances and, the commission hopes, get help with more capital-intensive retrofits that reduce energy demand.

The utilities have to file their phase two plans for commission approval by Nov. 1. The PUC will decide on them by Feb. 28.

Read more in the Pittsburg Business Times