New funding helps customers reduce energy waste and save money
PUEBLO—The year got off to a strong start for Black Hills Energy, which launched a new demand-side management program to help customers improve their overall energy efficiency. The program was made possible thanks to funding approval from the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, which is enabling the utility to spend $6.5 million each year, over the next three years, on DSM.
The program, which began Jan. 1, increases Black Hills’ current low-income DSM program investment by 70 percent and increases its energy-savings goals by 30 percent. The program will not increase customers’ monthly bills.
James Dillon, Black Hills Energy’s senior manager of energy efficiency and DSM, noted, “We’re excited about the opportunity to place more emphasis on—and investment in—energy efficiency, helping customers reduce wasted energy and save money.
“Through a holistic approach to home energy efficiency programs,” he continued, “we’ll provide customers with increased incentives to implement multiple bundled energy efficiency measures.”
Specifically, the program will allow Black Hills Energy to:
The DSM program was developed in cooperation with a wide range of government agencies and consumer organizations, including the City of Pueblo, Pueblo County, the Colorado Energy Office, Energy Outreach Colorado and the Office of Consumer Counsel.
To further inform and communicate with customers and stakeholders, Black Hills Energy is hosting community meetings for those interested in learning more about energy efficiency efforts. In addition, the utility also is pursuing feasibility studies concerning new energy efficiency programs proposed by Pueblo County and the Colorado Energy Office.