Company selling cheaper 'green' energy
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Used to be those who wanted to get their electricity from renewable "green" power sources like wind or solar had to pay more, sometimes much more, to feel less guilty about switching on a light, watching television and running the dishwasher.
Not anymore.
At least not in the Duquesne Light Co. service region in Allegheny and Beaver counties, where Citizen Power Inc., a Pittsburgh nonprofit, has partnered with Houston, Texas-based TriEagle Energy to offer a 100 percent wind energy electricity plan that provides residential customers the cheapest two-year electricity rates now available to residential customers. Duquesne Light delivers electricity to all customers in the service region; in addition it is the default provider, so customers can choose Duquesne Light or another company as a provider.
The low rate is possible because Citizen Power, which approached TriEagle with the program proposal, is not taking a commission, which would typically add to the kilowatt per hour price. Citizen Power also is keeping marketing costs low and signing up new customers to the Green Energy Collaborative program only via the Internet.
More than 300 customers have signed on to the Green Energy Collaborative program since August when it started, said Titus North, Citizen Power executive director.
"We're a nonprofit and this fits into our charitable mission of helping low-income customers and promoting renewable energy," said Mr. North, who noted that the program is open to all customers in the Duquesne Light Co. service area. According to Citizen Power, the collaborative's program, marketed under the product name "Green Eagle," will provide electricity to customers under a two-year contract at a rate of 7.08 cents a kilowatt hour compared to the 9.33 cents per kilowatt hour price now paid by Duquesne Light Co. subscribers.
If a Duquesne Light customer uses an average of 500 kilowatt hours of electricity a month, he or she would save $11.25 a month or $290 over two years, assuming Duquesne Light's kilowatt hour price remains the same. Residential customers who use more electricity would save more money.
First Published November 20, 2011 12:00 am
