PSE Helps Customers Save Energy and Money

Puget Sound Energy’s residential and business customers can now take advantage of more than 80 money-saving energy-efficiency rebate and grant programs. For homeowners, up to $2,200 in PSE support is available for energy-efficient upgrades to their residences. For businesses, PSE support can amount to as much as 70 percent of the cost of installing energy-efficient lighting, heating and other improvements.

"In a challenging economy, energy efficiency is a vital way for homeowners and businesses to save money,” said Cal Shirley, vice president of Energy Efficiency Services for PSE. "In 2008, PSE doubled its energy-efficiency budgets, and increased our targets for the electricity and natural gas savings we want to help our customers achieve.”

During the past five years, PSE customers have increased their electricity savings by 47 percent and their natural gas savings by 23 percent, as measured by the first-year savings from new energy-efficiency steps. For example, in 2003 PSE-supported energy-efficiency measures helped customers save 17.3 average megawatts (aMW) of electricity and 2.2 million therms of natural gas in the first year those measures (such as improved lighting, heating and air-conditioning) were installed, with on-going energy savings continuing throughout the service life of the improvements. By 2007, the first-year savings for PSE-supported energy-efficiency measures had risen to more than 25 aMW of electricity and to 2.7 million therms of natural gas, with further savings over time.

"We expect to see even greater electricity and natural gas savings in 2008 as energy efficiency proves its worth in business and at home every day,” said Shirley. "Wise use of electricity and natural gas is essential in today’s economy, and for tomorrow’s environment.”

PSE’s energy efficiency programs are expected to help homeowners and businesses save 53.3 average megawatts (aMW) of electricity and 5.3 million therms of natural gas in the next two years -- or the equivalent of the energy use of approximately 40,000 homes. By reducing energy use, PSE will help its customers save money and safeguard the environment.

PSE predicts that its residential and business energy efficiency programs will save enough energy over the next 20 years to supply electricity to all the residences in Seattle, Bellevue, Bellingham, and Olympia combined and will negate the need for building two additional mid-sized, 250-megawatt power plants.

A significant part of the energy savings achieved by PSE customers is due to the more than 8 million compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs distributed by the utility since 2002. By early 2009, PSE expects to have distributed nearly 10 million CFLs.

For residential customers making significant home improvements, a total of more than $2,200 in rebates is available, including:

• $1,600 for improved insulation,
• $350 for a high-efficiency furnace or heat pump,
• $150 for a high-efficiency tankless water heater and
• $100 for a premium efficiency clothes washer.

Additional rebates of $2 to $20 are available for CFL bulbs and lighting fixtures, up to $300 for the purchase of an EnergyStar manufactured home, and a $30 payment and free pickup of any operating, older refrigerator.

In business, grants from PSE can range from 50 to 70 percent of the installed cost of improvements in such areas as lighting, heating, ventilation and cooling, as well as efficient motors and controls for commercial and industrial operations. In new construction, PSE offers grants for as much as 100 percent of the cost of measures that raise efficiency significantly beyond current codes.

In addition to financial support, PSE residential and business customers can also benefit from the utility’s knowledge and expertise.

Homeowners can call 1-800-562-1482 to speak with a PSE Energy Advisor, while business customers can work with the utility’s energy management engineers, who help analyze and design energy-efficient work spaces and facilities. Customers who have benefited from PSE programs include manufacturers, hospitals, grocery stores, office and commercial space owners and managers, and many smaller businesses.

For more information about the energy-efficiency programs available to PSE’s residential and business customers, please visit PSE.com.

About Puget Sound Energy

Washington state’s oldest and largest energy utility, with a 6,000-square-mile service area stretching across 11 counties, Puget Sound Energy (PSE) serves more than 1 million electric customers and 737,000 natural gas customers. PSE, a subsidiary of Puget Energy (NYSE:PSD), meets the energy needs of its growing customer base primarily in Western Washington through incremental, cost-effective energy conservation, procurement of sustainable energy resources, and far-sighted investment in the energy-delivery infrastructure. PSE employees are dedicated to providing great customer service to deliver energy that is safe, reliable, reasonably priced, and environmentally responsible. For more information, visit www.PSE.com.