WMECo expands energy efficiency offerings

Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECo), which serves part of The Berkshires, is helping Massachusetts get greener every day thanks to innovative energy legislation and policies enacted in the commonwealth.

Pioneering legislation promoted by Massachusetts Governor Deval L.Patrick has allowed investor-owned utilities across the commonwealth to provide more programs and services to customers than ever before.

Since 2008, expanded energy efficiency programs alone have helped WMECo customers save nearly $300 million on energy costs.

“As an energy delivery company in Massachusetts, WMECo plays an important role in promoting a cleaner environment,” said Penni Conner, chief customer officer for Northeast Utilities, WMECo’s parent company.

“The leadership provided by Gov. Patrick and the state legislature has helped to shape this role, beginning with the enactment of the Green Communities Act,” Ms. Conner said.

The Green Communities Act and the green legislation that followed have brought about landmark changes, enabling WMECo to offer enhanced energy efficiency programs and increased support for renewable energy projects and electric vehicles.

These changes have encouraged utilities and their customers to explore new ways to save energy and money by becoming greener and more efficient.

For 2010 and 2011 combined, programs offered by WMECo under the GCA are helping customers save more than one billion kilowatt-hours over the life of the energy efficiency measures installed. This equates to approximately $162 million in energy and other related benefits to consumers over the life of these measures.

WMECo also developed and operates two of the largest utility-owned solar facilities in the Northeast. The 1.8 MW Silver Lake facility in Pittsfield came online in 2010 and the 2.3 MW Indian Orchard facility began operation in 2011.

Understanding how important a safe and reliable electric delivery system is to local communities, WMECo also continues to invest in the infrastructure that delivers service to customers. The company spends about $40 million annually upgrading and maintaining its system to ensure customers receive the high quality service they expect.

WMECo serves approximately 210,000 customers in 59 communities throughout western Massachusetts.

Posted by George C. Jordan III on September 27, 2012. Filed under News,State News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry