Appliance Recycling Program Exceeds 15,000 Mark in Its First Year for PPL Electric Utilities

ALLENTOWN, Pa., Nov. 29, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- PPL Electric Utilities estimates that its customers saved 26,000 megawatt-hours of energy over the past year -- enough for 2,600 homes for a year -- by participating in the company's E-power appliance recycling program.

Since the program's launch in November 2009, PPL Electric Utilities customers have recycled more than 15,000 older, energy-wasting refrigerators, freezers and room air conditioners.

The company contracts with JACO Environmental to manage its appliance recycling program. Customers are paid $35 for a refrigerator or freezer, and pickup is free. Customers receive a $25 incentive for recycling their old room air conditioners, but those must be recycled along with a refrigerator or freezer. Ninety-five percent of the materials are recycled and reused.

"Participating customers saved an incredible amount of energy in the past year by having those 15,000 appliances recycled, and they reduced their carbon footprint and saved valuable natural resources," said Michael Dunham, director of energy and environmental programs for JACO Environmental. "This is a great start, but there's tremendous potential left out there to multiply those benefits many times over."

PPL Electric Utilities' goal is to recycle about 70,000 appliances by May 2013.

Older refrigerators or freezers typically are kept in garages and basements and used to store extra food or beverages. Most are underused and can cost as much as $150 a year to operate.

In addition to incentives to recycle, E-power also offers customers rebates on certain energy-efficient appliances such as refrigerators and clothes washers. For more information, visit www.pplelectric.com/e-power.

"Upgrading to more efficient appliances has real energy and financial benefits," said Thomas C. Stathos, director of Customer Programs and Services for PPL Electric Utilities. "E-power is all about using tools, programs and incentives to educate our customers on how to best manage their energy use. These programs are gaining some real momentum."

Participating in PPL Electric Utilities' appliance recycling offer is as easy as calling 1-877-270-3522 to schedule the pickup of an older refrigerator or freezer. Customers can also schedule a pickup online by visiting www.pplelectric.com/e-power.

The program is limited to the removal of two units per household and is available to PPL Electric Utilities residential electric customers. To qualify, refrigerators and freezers must be in working order with an inside measurement of 10 cubic feet or more.

PPL Electric Utilities, a subsidiary of PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL), provides electric delivery services to about 1.4 million customers in Pennsylvania and has consistently ranked among the best companies for customer service in the United States. More information is available at www.pplelectric.com.

SOURCE PPL Electric Utilities