Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Energy Deregulation

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Costing more by doing good

Green Mountain Energy Resources (1-888-246-6730) isn't trying to save customers money. Instead, the Vermont company says, it is trying to save the planet. The company is offering three different "blends" of power. None use electricity produced by coal or nuclear plants. Each includes varying amounts of power generated from renewable sources such as water or wind.

Green Mountain's electricity will cost customers more than they are paying now, but a portion of each bill will be used to build new wind-powered turbines and those fueled by natural gas (methane) recovered from landfills. Burning less fossil fuel to produce electricity will help keep the air cleaner, the company says.

Energy Blend	Price	Premium over today's rate*
Eco Smart 99% to come from traditional natural gas and large-scale hydro power, 1% from newly built wind and landfill gas facilities	3.87-4.8 cents/kilowatt hour	$0.24 more per month

Enviro Blend 50% from traditional natural gas and large-scale hydro power, 50% from renewable sources, including 3% from newly built wind and landfill gas facilities	4.85-5.7 cents/kilowatt hour	$5.64 more per month

Nature's Choice 100% from renewable sources, including 5% from newly built wind and landfill gas facilities	5.46-6.23 cents/kilowatt hour	$8.04 more per month

*Premium is based on typical Duquesne Light Co. customer using 600 kilowatt hours per month. The exact premium is different in each utility and varies according to usage.