For Immediate Release: March 6, 2012
Contact: Cynthia Adams, 434.825.0232, cynthia@vaeec.org

Virginia Energy Efficiency Council Supports Efforts to Enhance, Expedite Cost-Saving Energy Efficiency Programs for Residents, Businesses

Hearing Before State Corporation Commission Considers New Demand-Side Management Programs from Dominion

Richmond, Virginia – Several representatives from the trade organization Virginia Energy Efficiency Council (VAEEC) will testify today before the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) in support of a suite of residential and commercial energy efficiency programs proposed by Dominion Virginia Power. VAEEC believes these Demand-Side Management programs – including a “Residential Bundle Program” that supports Home Energy Check-Ups, duct testing and sealing and heat pump tune-up and upgrades – would save consumers money, help Virginia meet its 10% efficiency goal by 2022, and hold down energy costs whether or not you participate in the program by reducing the need for costly new power plants.

“Current regulatory burdens have long put the brakes on sensible, cost-saving energy efficiency programs. The SCC can speed that up by approving this suite of initiatives from Dominion that incorporates best practices and proven results from across country,” said Cynthia Adams, Executive Director of the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) and a member of the VAEEC Steering Committee who testifies before the SCC today.

“Clearly, the energy we have to create is more expensive than the energy we don’t use.  Energy efficiency is the cheapest resource for energy.  We support the funding of Dominion’s programs as they give consumers the opportunity to choose it,” says Adams in her prepared testimony.

“The Richmond Region Energy Alliance supports Dominion’s DSM programs as the incentives will help homeowners lower the energy bills and will help towards meeting the state’s energy efficiency goal of reducing residential electricity consumption by 10 percent by 2022, based on usage during the year 2006,” said Bill Greenleaf, Executive Director of the Richmond Region Energy Alliance and member of the VAEEC Steering Committee who also testified today.

The Virginia Energy Efficiency Council is a newly formed trade organization whose mission is to promote policies, programs, and technologies that expand investment in energy efficiency, our most affordable domestic energy resource. www.vaeec.org