Duke receives approval to continue its energy-efficiency programs

PLAINFIELD -- Duke Energy has received approval from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to continue offering a comprehensive portfolio of energy efficiency programs for its customers.

"Since the early 1990s, Duke Energy has offered its customers programs to save energy and save money," Doug Esamann, Duke Energy state president -- Indiana, said. "We will continue to offer energy-efficiency programs and I encourage our customers to take advantage of these opportunities to lower their bill while conserving power."

The programs Duke will offer its residential customers for 2015 include:

-- Residential Smart Saver -- offers rebates to customers who maintain or upgrade their home heating and air conditioning units, who insulate attics and ductwork or add high-efficiency lighting.

-- Agency Assistance Portal -- provides homeowners and renters who apply for the federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and sign-up for Agency Assistance Portal with a 12-pack of compact florescent lights.

-- Appliance Recycling -- removes older, less-efficient refrigerators and freezers from customers' homes and pays them a $50 incentive.

-- Energy Education for Schools -- targets elementary students with energy efficiency information and provides a take-home kit of low-cost energy-saving devices.

-- Residential Neighborhood -- provides energy-efficient and weatherization improvements for income-qualified customers.

-- Multi-Family Energy Efficiency Products and Services -- offers a variety of energy efficiency measures, including lighting, for apartments and other multi-family buildings.

-- My Home Energy Report -- informs customers about their energy use as compared to similar homes in their community and gives energy-saving tips.

-- Power Manager -- pays customers who voluntarily reduce their use of air conditioning during times of high demand for electricity.

-- Home Energy House Call -- assesses homes with electric heat or electric water heaters for their efficiency and provides a kit of energy efficiency devices.

To learn more, including how to sign-up for the programs, go to: www.duke-energy.com/indiana/savings.asp. Customers may also call Duke Energy at 1-800-521-2232.

There are no separate fees for customers to participate in these programs. Program costs will be included in customers' monthly utility bills under an energy efficiency rider.

In addition, the company will continue to offer both prescriptive and custom energy-efficiency programs and incentives for commercial and industrial customers.

Duke Energy Indiana's operations provide about 7,500 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 800,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it the state's largest electric supplier. More information about the company is available at: www.duke-energy.com.