BGE Smart Energy Savers Program® FAQs
1. What is BGE's Smart Energy Savers Program®?
2. What are the benefits of the BGE Smart Energy Savers Program®?
3. Can customers participate in more than one of the BGE Smart Energy Savers Program®?
4. Who pays for these programs and how much do they cost?
5. Why do BGE customers have to pay the surcharge?
6. Does the BGE Smart Energy Savers Program® have money and energy saving programs for renters?
1. What is BGE's Smart Energy Savers Program®?
BGE’s Smart Energy Savers Program® is a family of smart choices that will help you conserve energy, save money and improve the environment. By providing a variety of programs, services and incentives, we are working to accomplish these goals together with you, our valued customers.
2. What are the benefits of the BGE Smart Energy Savers Program®?
BGE’s Smart Energy Savers Program® enables customers to control energy use, especially during peak periods, leading to more efficient use of electricity and potentially lowering the energy bills. Collectively, the Programs help contain the cost of energy and improve reliability. They also help to reduce peak demand and slow the growth in energy consumption to reduce the need for more power plants.
3. Can customers participate in more than one of the BGE Smart Energy Savers Program®?
Yes. Visit BGESmartEnergy.com to review other offers.
4. Who pays for these programs and how much do they cost?
Demand response and energy efficiency programs, like PeakRewards and the ENERGY STAR® rebates and discounts offered as part of BGE’s Smart Energy Savers Program® benefit all BGE customers. They help to control energy use and reduce energy costs. Using less energy reduces the need for new power plants and distribution system upgrades, saving money for all customers. Everyone reaps the environmental benefits of reducing emissions from electricity generation plants and reducing the amount of electricity that generation plants need to provide. Through purchase and installation of energy efficient measures since the launch of these programs, BGE customers will save over 7.4 million lifecycle MWh of gross energy usage through BGE’s energy efficiency programs.
To provide customers with these cost-saving programs, nominal surcharges have been added to customers’ monthly bills. The, “EmPower Md. Chg”, which includes the combined electric Energy Efficiency and PeakRewards surcharges is $0.203 per kWh or about $2.03 per month for a typical home that uses 1,000 kWh per month. The average residential gas customer who consumes 58 therms per month will see a monthly gas surcharge (as of January 1st, 2012) of $.93 at the 1.61 cents per therm rate for the energy efficiency programs. These rates may be modified during 2012 as the programs for 2012 are finalized.
You can easily offset this cost through simple measures such as purchasing four CFL bulbs, participating in PeakRewards, Quick Home Energy Check-up, or the Lighting and Appliances Program. Visit www.BGESmartEnergy.com or review your Connections newsletter to see how you can take advantage of PeakRewards, energy efficiency and conservation programs designed to help you conserve energy, save money and protect the environment.
5. Why do BGE customers have to pay the surcharge?
All BGE customers benefit either directly or indirectly from these programs. The BGE Smart Energy Savers Program® was introduced, first and foremost, to help individual customers save money, improve reliability and help the environment. The Program provides customers a variety of ways they can save, including rebates, discounts and incentives on equipment as small as a CFL bulb or as large as an ENERGY STAR® refrigerator or electric heat pump. The old counterparts, like the incandescent bulb, on the surface, may appear to be cheaper but the long-term investment will save money and energy for customers.
6. Does the BGE Smart Energy Savers Program® have money and energy saving programs for renters?
Yes, as a renter, you have many options for saving energy in your home. BGE offers a host of empowering choices to help you conserve energy, save money, and protect the environment. For an overview of all the programs available to renters and more information on how to participate, Click Here. Some programs require landlord consent.
