In response to the customers’ need for clean, inexpensive energy, AmerenUE (UE) announced that it is conducting energy efficiency programs for residents. UE has allotted $90 million to its residential and business energy efficiency programs through 2011.

"Our customers have asked us for cleaner and renewable energy," said AmerenUE President and Chief Executive Officer Warner Baxter. "In fact, there's nothing cleaner than the power that isn't used and isn't produced. Energy efficiency has become a key part of UE's energy portfolio, which also includes hydropower, nuclear, natural gas, coal, and renewable,” he added. Baxter said that the program will give customers control over their energy costs as prices rise.

With the tagline “It starts with U,” the program was launched with a website (www.UEfficiency.com) to illustrate how residents can save money through energy efficiency.

Two of the current programs include:

• Lighting and Appliance – program featuring layered incentives, consumer education, partnerships with retailers and manufacturers, and campaigns on the benefits of ENERGY STAR®-qualified lighting and appliance products.
• Multifamily Program – program that gives energy efficiency services to multifamily properties, focusing on whole building and common area modifications.

The next programs will tackle whole house energy savings improvements and solutions for low-income customers.

Baxter said that their programs will inform customers and give them incentives for buying ENERGY STAR® appliances. Changing 10 standard light bulbs to CFLs can save a household $60 a year, according to Baxter. He added that exchanging a window air conditioner for an ENERGY STAR®-qualified can save $20 per summer. UE partnered with retail stores so that residents can now easily purchase ENERGY STAR® products.

"Active participation in energy efficiency programs by our customers will allow us to delay the need to build a costly new generating plant to meet their needs," said Baxter. "It will also provide more time for cleaner coal and renewable technologies to develop and give us greater options when the time comes to replace our aging baseload coal plants."

Benefits of the program include $286,000 cash incentives to customers, electricity savings of 9.4 million kilowatt-hours—equivalent to one year without electricity for 700 homes, and 30-40 jobs for Missouri employees.

AmerenUE, a subsidiary of St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation, serves 1.2 million Missouri electric customers and 127,000 Missouri natural gas customers.

- Sunshine T. Santiago