'Most Progressive City' Awards Presented by Ameren Illinois Act On Energy Program

PEORIA, Ill., Nov. 22, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of significant energy efficiency achievements, Ameren Illinois has presented the Act On Energy® Most Progressive City Awards to cities in each of the six Ameren Illinois operating divisions.

Receiving awards were the following: Peoria in Division I, Jacksonville in Division II, Decatur in Division III, Champaign in Division IV, Granite City in Division V and East St. Louis in Division VI.

"Between June 1, 2008 and May 31, 2010, businesses in these six cities completed 388 Act On Energy projects that received nearly $3 million in incentive payments," said Cheryl Miller, Act On Energy business program manager.

"These projects are now saving the businesses in these communities almost 60 million kilowatt-hours of electricity every year. That is enough electricity to meet the annual power demands of about 5,900 single family homes.

"Through these projects, power plant emissions and carbon footprints are reduced, resources are conserved and businesses become more competitive, all of which benefit employees, consumers and the community at large," Miller said.

Since Act On Energy was launched in 2008, the amount of annual incentive dollars available to business customers has grown from $3 million to $10.5 million. A total of $5 million in business incentives still is available for the current program year. The program is funded through a small charge (Rider EDR for all electricity customers and Rider GER for residential and small business natural gas customers) on customer bills. These charges are mandated by state law.

Act On Energy offers business customers – including private schools and nonprofits – energy efficiency incentives for lighting, refrigeration, motor systems and HVAC systems. Incentives also are available for retro commissioning, multi-family buildings, commercial kitchen equipment and hotel and motel guest room energy management systems.

There is a program for grain and livestock farmers, providing incentives for lighting upgrades, livestock waterers and such high-efficiency equipment as circulation fans, water heaters and exhaust fans.

Act On Energy also offers the Small Business Online Store, small business commercial kitchens program, grocery/convenience store incentives and custom incentives.

"Our business customers can realize significant savings when they participate in our program," said Cheryl Miller, Act On Energy business program manager. "For example, replacing a standard T-12 fluorescent light fixture with a high-efficiency T-8 fluorescent fixture can reduce electricity consumption by 33 percent.

"Our energy efficiency professionals are ready to help our customers take advantage of the Act On Energy incentives so they can spend less on energy by using less."

Complete business program information is available at ActOnEnergy.com, by calling 1-866-800-0747 or by sending an e-mail to [email protected].

Act On Energy offers incentives and rebates to residential customers. A total of $14.7 million in incentives is available for residential customers during the current program year which ends of May 31, 2011. For more information on residential programs, visit ActOnEnergy.com, call 1-866-838-6918 or send an e-mail to: [email protected].

Ameren Illinois has been providing energy delivery service for more than a century. We deliver energy to 1.2 million electric and 813,000 natural gas customers in downstate Illinois, and our mission is to meet their energy needs in a safe, reliable, efficient and environmentally responsible manner. Our service area covers more than 1,200 communities and 43,700 square miles. For more information, visit AmerenIllinois.com.

SOURCE Ameren Illinois