City partners with Efficiency Smart

Partnership goal is to benefit city's electric customers

Wapakoneta city officials announced earlier this year they had partnered with Efficiency Smart to help residents and businesses save money on their electric bill.

Carrie Hoover, marketing director for Efficiency Smart, said the savings can be realized on multiple levels.

“On the residential side, we have free programs for residents to help with energy savings with no cost to them,” Hoover said, listing programs such as electric bill consultation, an on-line energy assessment and simple advice, such as adding weather stripping to stop air drafts from entering the home.

Efficiency Smart offers a rebate program for residents who are replacing their home appliances.

“We offer rebates for products that have higher energy efficiency standard,” Hoover said. “If someone is replacing an outdated appliance, choosing a more efficient product over a comparable product that may cost less is a no brainer when you get the difference in a rebate.”

All of the programs are outlined on the Efficiency Smart website.

“We encourage Wapakoneta residents to go to our website to see all the programs we can offer that will help save on energy bills and make products work more efficiently ,” Hoover said.

Simple things that residents can implement right away include:

* Installing 10 LEDS, which can save approximately $40 annually;

* Plugging appliances and electronics into an advanced power strip, which could save up to $100 in annual electric costs; and

* Managing electric usage with a smart thermostat, which could save approximately $70 in annual electric costs.

“Those savings can add up,” Hoover said. Efficiency Smart is in process of partnering with a Wapakoneta retailer to offer LED light

bulbs as a discounted rate of 99 cents per bulb. While that program is “coming soon,” Hoover said, it will also also help city residents implement cost savings.

The company also has an online store, which carries pre-vetted products such as smart thermostats and light bulbs.

“Our goal is to help our customers lower their electric bills,” said Tom Stinebaugh, mayor of Wapakoneta. “We’re a public utility, meaning we are not for profit. We charge customers what it takes for us to run our system. The most effective way we can help our community save on their electric bills is through energy efficiency education and services. It’s a win for our customers, and a win for our electrical system.”

Wapakoneta is expected to save approximately 2,197 megawatt-hours (MWH) of energy over the course of its threeyear contract period. The 2,197 MWH savings is roughly equivalent to the annual electric usage of more than 260 homes. In addition, Wapakoneta is expected to reduce its summer peak by 530 kilowatts (kw). Peaks occur when electric use is at its highest, typically weekday afternoons in the summer. Reducing both electric usage and summer peak lowers costs for the city and its electric customers.

The cost-savings are not limited to residential customers. Hoover said business customers are offered many ways to save energy and money. Efficiency Smart offers hands-on support, including technical assistance and financial incentives to encourage the installation of energy-efficient technologies. Example projects include lighting, compressed air and HVAC.

“We are excited for the opportunity to partner with the City of Wapakoneta,” said Sean Clement, director of Operations for Efficiency Smart. “The city has shown a commitment to energy efficiency, which is a very cost-effective way for communities to reduce their customers’ electric bills, reduce power supply costs, and contribute to local economic development. We look forward to working together with the city to ensure a successful partnership.”

Wapakoneta is one of 17 Ohio communities partnering with Efficiency Smart. Surrounding municipalities include St. Marys, Minster, Jackson Center, Lakeview and Versailles.

The program is open to all Wapakoneta Electric Department customers; the website is www.efficiencysmart.org/wapakoneta-ohio; you can call the company at 877-889-37777 They are based in Columbus.