Energy Efficiency News – Week of February 27th

In issue 32 we have acquisitions for Corix Group and Fortis Inc, positive results for energy efficiency in San Diego and Tulsa, and an ACEEE report on real-time energy feedback studies.

Utilities

Corix Group of Companies’ utilities arm has bought US utility Hydro Star LLC for an undisclosed sum. Hydro Star owns Utilities Inc, which is a water and wastewater company serving over 290,000 customers in 15 states.
Source: Business in Vancouver

The CEO of Great Plains Energy and Kansas City Power & Light has announced his intention to retire in May 2012. Michael J. Chesser will remain a member of the Board, with Terry Bassham selected to replace him.
Source: Yahoo Finance

Pacific Gas & Electric has appointed Edward Halpin to the position of SVP and Chief Nuclear Officer. Halpin joins PG&E from his current position as the President & CEO of STP Nuclear Operating Co.
Source: Power Engineering

Commonwealth Edison’s Anne Pramaggiore officially assumed her position as President & CEO today. Pramaggiore joined ComEd in 1998, and takes over from the retiring Frank Clark.
Source: Chicago Tribune

A report from the Vermont Law School’s Institute for Energy and the Environment lauds the smart meter rollout of Central Vermont Public Service Corp. The study highlights the collaborative approach of the $63 million project, to develop recommendations for similar rollouts.
Source: Rutland Herald

Fortis Inc has agreed to buy CH Energy Group for $968 million in cash, an 11% premium over the utility’s closing share price on Friday, and assume $500 million in debt. CH Energy subsidiary Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp serves around 300,000 electric and 75,000 natural gas customers in New York State.
Source: Wall Street Journal

Portland General Electric announced 2011 earnings up 17.6%, reaching $147 million for the year. Performance was boosted by high hydro levels and the 2011 rate case, with total revenue up 1.7% at $1.8 billion.
Source: Portland Business Journal

Energy Efficiency Companies

AlertMe was named the ‘Best Home Energy Monitor’ at the 2012 Smart Metering UK and Europe Awards. The company was singled out for having a usable and intelligent energy management platform.
Source: Smart Meters

Institutions, Cities & States

Puget Sound Energy is awarding the cities of Olympia and Lacey $30,000 for helping them sign up more than 500 people to its green-power program in 2011. The money can be used for solar projects in the cities.
Source: The Olympian

Eleven US states have sued the EPA in an effort to force the agency to issue new standards on fine particulates – soot – in the air. The EPA was required to revise existing standards by the federal Clean Air Act, but failed to meet its deadline.
Source: PublicPowerWeekly

San Diego Gas & Electric presented a $2.4 million check to UC San Diego for energy efficiency efforts. The university completed 10 efficiency projects in conjunction with the UC/CSU/IOU Energy Efficiency Partnership.
Source: La Jolla Light

Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) have saved $4.2 million from energy efficiency in just two years, earning Energy Star certification for 15 schools. TPS is projected to save more than $30 million over 10 years.
Source: KTUL

North America

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy released a summary of results from recent real-time feedback studies. Results ranged from negligible to 19.5%, with average savings of 3.8% across the pilots.
Source: ACEEE

The Environmental Protection Agency announced results from its Energy Star Leaders program, in which 90 organizations have improved the energy efficiency of their building portfolios by 20% or more. This represents a $150 million saving on utility bills, and meets President Obama’s Better Buildings Challenge to improve energy performance 20% by 2020.
Source: Environmental Leader

Please send any story suggestions, questions or comments about Energy Efficiency News to Peter Cavan