RSVP to Summer Workshops Online

Get ready to save on summer energy bills

You are invited to attend a workshop and get the information you need to keep summer energy bills under control.

• Get tips on managing your summer electricity usage and costs with the Power Smart Pricing program.
• Discover no-cost and low-cost ways to save energy.
• Learn which energy-saving home improvements could offer the best return on your investment.
• Find out about programs that could help cover the cost of energy-saving home improvements.
• Get advice on how you can protect the environment by using energy efficiently.

Workshops are free of charge and refreshments will be provided.

2011 Workshop Schedule:

• May 9, 6:30 p.m., Bloomington Public Library, 205 E. Olive St., Bloomington, IL
• May 9, 6:30 p.m., Southern Illinois University, Student Center, Illinois Room,1255 Lincoln Dr., Carbondale, IL
• May 10, 6:30 p.m., Southwestern Illinois College, Liberal Arts Building, Room 2120, 2500 Carlyle Ave., Belleville, IL
• May 10, 6:30 p.m., Peoria Public Library, Lake View Branch, 1137 W. Lake Ave., Peoria, IL
• May 11, 6:30 p.m., Collinsville Public Library, 408 W. Main St., Collinsville, IL
• May 11, 6:30 p.m., Galesburg Public Library, 40 E. Simmons St., Galesburg, IL
• May 17, 6:30 p.m., Decatur Public Library, 130 N. Franklin St., Decatur, IL
• May 18, 6:30 p.m., Jacksonville Public Library, 201 W. College Ave., Jacksonville, IL
• May 19, 6:00 p.m., Litchfield Carnegie Library, 400 N. State St., Litchfield, IL
• May 23, 6:30 p.m., Mattoon Public Library, 1600 Charleston Ave., Mattoon, IL
• May 24, 7 p.m., Champaign Library, 200 W. Green St., Champaign, IL
• May 25, 6:30 p.m., Danville Library, 319 N. Vermilion St., Danville, IL

RSVP to 1-877-655-6028 or info@powersmartpricing.org or sign up online at www.powersmartpricing.org/rsvp2011/.

Great Post from PSP Participant

Here's a quick link to a post by one of our participants on their own blog. It features a ton of really good information on energy savings tips and how to succeed on hourly pricing. Great stuff!

Although one tip on reducing vampire power around your tv is plug everything into a power strip except for the cable box. That way when you shut everything down for the night you won't lose all your channels. It's definitely more trouble than it's worth, but this you can still get some of the savings without the hassle.

http://midwestgreen.wordpress.com/2011/03/18/saving-money-on-electricity/

Industry Wondering If Customers Will Like Dynamic Pricing

Power Smart Pricing has been around since January 2007 and has accumulated over 11,000 customers. Year after year our participants have told us they find the program to be "quick and easy." Our high satisfaction rates should give confidence to other utilities to offer a similar program. However, throughout the country there is a large discrepancy in what industry leaders are saying about these types of programs.

A recent online panel discussion, hosted by Restructuring Today, highlighted the differences of opinion. While all the speakers agreed there was great potential in dynamic pricing, some felt that it was best to wait for "enabling technologies" to catch up and make it easier and more automated. Power Smart Pricing has enhanced its offering of online technologies to create easier access to prices, however the fundamental way of saving money on the program still rests in the hands of the participants (99% of which are saving money).

So the bottom line is that customers already love dynamic pricing. The need is to get it out to more customers and trust the existing programs that have shown great results.

For more coverage >> Why Consumers Will Love Dynamic Pricing - Katherine Tweed, GreenTechMedia

Refreshed Ameren ActOnEnergy.com

If you haven't been to Ameren Illinois' Act On Energy website now is as good a time as ever. They recently refreshed the site. It's easy to navigate and has a ton of great resources to get rebates and bill credits for participating in one of Ameren's energy efficiency programs. Check out this list below:

Get discounts on lighting


Save on ENERGY STAR products


Earn a rebate for your spare fridge


Cash in on HVAC incentives


Build and ENERGY STAR home


Improve home energy performance

If you're interested in learning more, go to ActOnEnergy.com to get all the details.

PSP Gets National Attention

We were at the Midwest Energy Solutions Conference talking about the great success our customers have had with Power Smart Pricing and the story got picked up by the national issues blog, Grist.

Overall, they did a good job of capturing the benefits of the program. The article was mostly focused on the amount PSP customers tend to lower their overall usage without mentioning the total the bill savings. Citing the "conservation effect" of using Day-Ahead hourly pricing is great, but it's even better when considering that those customers are saving an additional 16% (on average) on their bills.

The real moral of the story is that our customers are great. They are pioneers and truly leading a national effort for the availability of this kind of program for more and more utility customers. Well done!

Check out the story here:
http://www.grist.org/article/2011-01-14-whats-the-real-potential-for-behavior-change-programs