Green Electricity & Your Home, Part I
February 17, 2010
You don't need to be like Ed Begley, Jr. to take advantage of green sources of energy for your home. If you don't know, Begley is an actor who has outfitted his home -- and his life -- with all kinds of technologies and gadgets that are very environmentally friendly. He's even got a reality show about it.
Many people don't have the resources or the time to go the extra mile like Begley has.** But you do have the chance to positively impact our environment here in the mid-Atlantic, by buying "green" power.
Our CleanSteps℠ Windpower electricity offering (brought to you by Washington Gas Energy Services - WGES) is now available for your home, at rates that are lower than you might think. If you live in Maryland, the District of Columbia or Delaware, you can now buy electric power from wind farms that operate right here in the mid-Atlantic -- in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, to be specific.
More than 10,000 residential customers are already helping to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and their carbon footprint, by purchasing local wind power. Now, you can purchase local wind at 50% of your total electric load, or at 100%.
Best of all, it's very easy to do.
Here's some frequently asked questions about our green local-wind offering:
Does this wind power actually make its way to my home for use?
Not directly, no. Here’s what actually happens:
- Electricity from regional wind farms is fed into the "power pool" supplying the regional electrical grid
- WGES buys Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) from regional wind farms equal to the customer’s -- your -- energy demands, for its CleanSteps℠ Windpower program
- After you sign up with WGES through EA and Electric Advisors, you’ll receive a confirmation with the percentage of wind power you buy, after your WGES enrollment is submitted and your account is accepted
- Your utility bill will then show your WGES CleanSteps℠ Windpower purchase of 50% or 100% on a single line.
- How else does wind power help the environment?
- In two other major ways:
- Renewable Energy Source: Wind is an unlimited resource with inexhaustible suppl
- Improves Overall Fuel Mix and Promotes Energy Independence: Choosing wind displaces power generated from "conventional" sources of electricity such as coal and oil with a cleaner, domestic "renewable" energy source
A Beginner's Guide To RECs
The PJM Interconnection serves the Mid-Atlantic, as well as parts of the Midwest and Southern U.S.
As businesses start the budgeting process for 2025, electricity supply costs across the PJM Interconnection region are rising, driven largely by an increase in capacity charges. Capacity charges, which ensure enough power is available during peak demand, have seen a sharp uptick, leading to higher rates, especially in the DC and Maryland areas. Both residential and commercial customers are facing these increases, with supply prices potentially rising by as much as 20%, significantly impacting operational costs. However, there is still time to mitigate the coming increase in supply rates. From simple energy efficiency upgrades, such as LED lighting or smart thermostats, to longer-term projects like solar panel installations and power walls, businesses have a range of options to reduce their energy consumption and control costs. These strategies can offer significant savings over time and position companies for more sustainable energy use. We encourage you to talk with business owners and decision-makers in your network about these rising costs. This is a great time to introduce them to Electric Advisors, where we can help them navigate these changes and find ways to reduce their energy expenses. Your referrals can play a crucial role in helping those in your network become more competitive. Best,
