Tampa Electric Gets Florida Public Service Commission Approval to Expand Energy-Efficiency Programs

Tampa Electric Gets Florida Public Service Commission Approval to Expand Energy-Efficiency Programs and Incentives - MarketWatch

The New Programs, to Be Available to Customers in the First Quarter
of 2011, Include $1.5 Million in Incentives Tampa Electric Will Offer
Each Year for Five Years to Help Customers Install Photovoltaic (PV)
Solar Systems and Solar Water Heating

TAMPA, Fla., Dec 01, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
Tampa Electric received approval yesterday from the Florida Public
Service Commission (FPSC) to expand its current lineup of
energy-efficiency programs for customers. In addition to the new
programs and enhancements to existing programs, $1.5 million in
incentives will be offered by Tampa Electric each year for five years to
help customers install renewable technologies. Those measures include:

Residential Solar Water Heating -- Provides customer incentives
up to $1,000 for installing new solar water heating systems.

Solar PV Systems -- Provides incentives to customers who install
PV systems at their homes or businesses.

PV for Schools -- Tampa Electric will install five 10-kilowatt
(kW) systems with battery backup power (one school per year over five
years) at schools that also can function as emergency shelters. The PV
technology will provide educational opportunities to teachers and
students.

Low-Income Solar Water Heating -- Solar water heating systems
will be available for installation on new construction in
collaboration with nonprofit building organizations.

The new programs should be available to customers in first quarter of
2011. The availability of these incentives is limited and will be
offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations will be
accepted online at tampaelectric.com.

"Saving energy is important to our customers during these challenging
economic times," said Gordon Gillette, president of Tampa Electric and
Peoples Gas. "In designing these new programs, we considered the growing
interest community leaders and small and large customers have in
renewable technologies, energy conservation and, smart and
efficient-energy management equipment and systems. These new and
enhanced programs can help customers lower their energy bills."

The FPSC also approved the company's plans to add new features or
enhancements to its existing residential and commercial energy
conservation programs, including:

For residential customers:

Free Energy Audits -- An inspection of customers' homes that
identifies areas where they may be wasting valuable energy. The
company provides three convenient audits (Online, Phone-Assisted and
In-Home). Each type of audit includes a free pack of energy-efficient
compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).

Heating and Cooling -- Pays an incentive up to $400 to encourage
the installation of high-efficiency heating and cooling systems in
existing dwellings.

Ceiling Insulation -- Pays an incentive up to $350 when new
insulation is added; up from the previous incentive of $200.

Window Replacement/Upgrades -- Pays an incentive of $2.65 per
square foot with no maximum; the previous maximum amount was $350.

Window Film -- Pays an incentive up to $2 per square foot with
no maximum; an increase from the previous $1 per square foot with a
$200 maximum.

Wall Insulation -- Pays an incentive of $0.31 per square foot
with no maximum; up from the previous $200 maximum for all exterior
walls.

HVAC Maintenance Program -- A new program that pays an
incentive up to $75 for maintenance and tune-up of heating,
ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment to ensure operation
at optimal efficiency.

HVAC Motor Replacement Program -- A new program that pays an
incentive up to $135 for installing a more energy-efficient motor in
an existing air handler.

For business customers:

Free Energy Audits -- A free program designed to increase
awareness of energy use, includes a free pack of energy-efficient
compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).

Commercial Lighting -- Offers an increased incentive of $175 per
kilowatt (kW) for lighting upgrades, as well as $25 for each exit sign
upgrade to LED technology.

Commercial Cooling -- Increased incentives for installing
high-efficiency cooling systems in existing dwellings.

Commercial Duct Repair -- Pays an incentive of $350 for the
repair of leaking duct systems; up from the previous level of $200.

Chiller Program -- Increased incentives to $175 per kW for
replacing inefficient cooling equipment with higher efficiency
equipment.

HVAC Maintenance Program -- A new program that pays an incentive
up to $25 per ton of costs for maintenance and tune-up of HVAC
equipment to ensure operation at optimal efficiency.

Standby Generator -- Pays an increased incentive of $4 per kW
for utilization of a customer's emergency generation capacity during
peak periods.

Commercial Energy-Efficient Motors -- Pays an incentive of $6
per horsepower for energy-efficient motor upgrades.

Occupancy Sensors -- Offers $25 per sensor installed to control
indoor lights and reduce energy costs.

Electronically Commutated Motors -- A new program that pays an
incentive up to $180 per horsepower to retrofit and/or replace
inefficient evaporator motors for HVAC or refrigeration equipment.

Roof Insulation -- A new Building Envelope program that pays
$0.15 per square foot of insulation.

Ceiling Insulation and Wall Insulation -- Two existing programs
available as part of the Building Envelope program will offer
increased incentives.

Energy Recovery Ventilation -- A new program that pays an
incentive for installing an energy-recovery ventilation system
designed to reduce indoor humidity.

Cool Roof -- A new program that pays an incentive up to $0.60
per square foot for the installation of a cool roof system designed to
reduce heat transfer.

Commercial Load Management -- Increased incentives for allowing
Tampa Electric to control operation of air conditioning or specialized
equipment during critical energy-use periods.

Low-Income Program Enhancements

Tampa Electric's existing Low-Income program will receive additional
weatherization measures, such as free insulation and duct repair. The
company will work closely with established organizations, such as the
Centre for Women, to identify and mass-deliver free and low-cost
energy-efficiency measures to qualifying neighborhoods throughout the
company's service area.

In addition, Tampa Electric also will partner with neighborhood service
centers to offer free energy-efficient packages to low-income residents
who qualify for assistance with their energy costs. The packages will
include energy-saving light bulbs, air filter change reminders, faucet
aerators, hot water temperature check cards and more.

The company began its conservation program initiatives in the late
1970s, prior to any federal or state energy conservation requirements.
From 1979 through 2009, Tampa Electric has performed more than 390,000
energy audits and paid almost 385,000 incentives and rebates to
customers who have participated in Tampa Electric's conservation
programs -- offsetting the need to generate enough electricity to serve
more than 683,800 average-size homes over a 12-month period.

Learn more about Tampa Electric's energy-saving programs online:

-Residential: tampaelectric.com/residential/saveenergy

-Business: tampaelectric.com/business/saveenergy

In 1999, the company installed an 18,000-watt solar panel array at the
Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa. Additional installations
include a 4,000-watt solar panel array at Walker Middle School in
Odessa; a 7,000-watt solar panel array at Tampa Electric's Manatee
Viewing Center in Apollo Beach; a 10,500-watt solar panel array at
Middleton High School in Tampa; a 15,000-watt photovoltaic array at
Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo; and a 10,000-watt photovoltaic array at the
Florida Aquarium. The energy generated by these arrays helps to serve
the customers participating in Tampa Electric's Renewable Energy program
and reduces the need for energy from non-renewable sources.

Tampa Electric offers a Renewable Energy program that makes it easy for
customers to purchase a portion of their electricity from renewable
sources by signing up for $5 blocks of renewable energy. For each block
purchased, Tampa Electric will distribute 200 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of
renewable energy.

As of the end of July 2010, Tampa Electric customers are purchasing
approximately 3,750 blocks of renewable energy each month. This is equal
to offsetting 750,000 kWh or 641 tons of carbon dioxide monthly -- the
same as removing 80 cars from the road for one year.

Tampa Electric customers, including organizations, also can purchase
renewable energy to power one-time events at a convention center, hotel,
stadium or other location. Participation in the company's Renewable
Energy program helps support technologies that create more energy from
Florida renewable sources.

For more information on Tampa Electric's Renewable Energy program, visit tampaelectric.com/renewable.

Tampa
Electric Company is the principal subsidiary of TECO
Energy, Inc.
(TE
17.00,
-0.04,
-0.24%)
, an integrated energy-related holding
company with regulated utility businesses, complemented by a family of
unregulated businesses. Tampa Electric Company is a regulated utility
with both electric and gas divisions (Tampa Electric and Peoples
Gas System). Other subsidiaries are engaged in coal, and electric
generation and distribution in Guatemala.

SOURCE: Tampa Electric