Program Energy Savings to Date Sufficient to Power over 600,000
Homes for One Year
This week, Tampa Electric filed with the Florida Public Service
Commission (FPSC) the company’s proposed energy-efficiency goal of 200
million kilowatt-hours (kWh) for the next 10 years – an increase of 70
percent over the company’s current goal. To achieve this aggressive
goal, the company plans to enhance several of its current 27 customer
programs and explore new program opportunities for all customer sectors:
residential, commercial and industrial.
“These are challenging times for everyone, and we know our customers are
keenly aware of their energy bills and are looking for ways to save,”
said Chuck Black, president of Tampa Electric. “With this goal, Tampa
Electric remains committed to not only continuing its national
prominence in the area of conservation but also to exploring new
programs that can meet the needs of a growing, diverse customer base
that maintains a greater consciousness of energy costs than ever before.”
Tampa Electric began promoting energy efficiency in the late 1970s –
before any state legislation required electric utilities to engage in
conservation activities. Since that time, it has emerged as a national
leader in the area of energy-efficiency accomplishments by reaching a
recent performance level in the 96th percentile nationally.
The company’s overall energy-efficiency and conservation efforts have
reduced the need for more than three 180-megawatt power plants. The
aggregate energy savings from all programs have been enough to power
over 600,000 homes for one year.
Related to this effort, Tampa Electric has been expanding its renewable
energy programs for residential and business customers. The company
currently enables its customers to purchase a portion of their
electricity from renewable sources, including for one-time events. In
March, the company announced its intent to purchase the energy output
from a proposed 25-megawatt solar facility to be constructed in Polk
County, with production expected to begin in 2011. In 2008, Tampa
Electric, along with the University of South Florida and Lowry Park Zoo
announced plans to launch a new, two-part renewable energy project at
the zoo that will generate 15 kilowatts (kW) of electricity for the
electric grid and serve as an educational tool for students and the
community.
The FPSC will rule on Tampa Electric’s energy efficiency goal proposal
in the coming months. Implementation of programs will begin in early
2010. Through this recent filing, Tampa Electric expects to continue its
leadership in the area of energy efficiency.
For more information on the company’s current energy-efficiency and
renewable energy programs, visit online: www.tampaelectric.com.
Tampa
Electric Company is the principal subsidiary of TECO
Energy, Inc. (NYSE:TE), an energy-related holding company, with
regulated utility operations in Florida including both Tampa Electric
and Peoples
Gas System. Other subsidiaries include TECO
Coal, which owns and operates coal production facilities in Kentucky
and Virginia, and TECO
Guatemala, which is engaged in electric power generation and
distribution and energy-related businesses in Guatemala.
Tampa Electric
Rick Morera, 813-228-4945
