1/20/11- The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) approved an electric efficiency program to serve Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc.'s (O&R) residential customers. The approved program is designed to support the stocking, promotion and sale of high-efficiency air conditioners and dehumidifiers primarily through customer rebates.  The program will also offer removal and recycling of second refrigerators. Each customer participating in the appliance rebate or bounty portion of the program will receive three free compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs.

"Approval of this rebate program will provide residential O&R customers additional energy efficiency options," said Commission Chairman Garry Brown. "These programs will help reduce customers' electricity consumption and will help lead to lower electricity bills.

The program approved by the Commission will provide $50 rebates to customers for purchasing Energy Star rated air conditioners. In addition, a second refrigerator and freezer removal and recycling component would be included as part of the program, which will include a $50 incentive. While the program's focus would be primarily on residential customers, smallbusiness customers are also eligible to participate.

O&R plans to use co-operative advertising with retailers and distributors, point of purchase materials, O&R's website, mass media outreach, in-store demonstrations and promotions, direct mailings, and in-house corporate events. O&R also proposes to leverage and coordinate with federal promotions where appropriate, such as the "Start with Energy Star, Change the World" Campaign, as well as neighboring utility and NYSERDA program promotions.

For this particular program, O&R estimates 3,870 MWh in energy savings with a cumulative budget of more than $1.5 million through 2012.

The fundamental objective of the state's energy efficiency programs is to put in place initiatives that will help reduce New York's electricity usage by 15 percent from forecast levels by 2015, with comparable results in natural gas efficiency, and to provide a variety of other environmental and economic benefits to New Yorkers. Programs are available from the state's electric and gas utilities as well as the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

The Commission's decision today, when issued, may be obtained by going to the Commission Documents section of the Commission's Web site at www.dps.ny.gov and entering Case Numbers 07-M-0548 and 08-E-1128 in the input box labeled "Search for Case/Matter Number."  Many libraries offer free Internet access. Commission orders may also be obtained from the Commission's Files Office, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223 (518-474-2500).

You can click on the link below for a printer friendly version of the press release regarding Orange and Rockland's Energy Efficiency Appliance Rebate Program.

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