Don’t let Energy Vampires ruin your Holidays
Standby or vampire power as it is most commonly referred to, wastes $10 Billion of Electricity Annually in the United States alone. The average US household has about 25 electronic devices that constantly draw small amounts of power, costing on average $100 per year.
Top 10 Energy Vampires in Your home
- Laptop computers (when they are plugged in)
- Answering machines
- Computer printers
- TVs and cable boxes
- Video games
- Cell phone chargers
- Internet hubs and routers
- Plugged-in electric toys
- Night lights
- Holiday lights and decorations
How to slay the energy vampires in your home?
Minimize the amount of lights you use to decorate this year, switch to LED lights and most importantly use a timer for your holiday lights both inside and out.
Use a power strip as a central “turn off” point when you are done using equipment, which completely disconnects the power supply.
Unplug your chargers: cell phone chargers, camera chargers, battery chargers or power adapters, etc. These are drawing energy even when not in use (and even when not connected to an end-use product).
Check out the biggest Vampire Energy offenders
Sources:
Energy Star, Standby Power and Energy Vampires
Energy.gov, Are Energy Vampires Sucking You Dry?
Standby Power, Ranges of Standby Power
AOL, Energy Conscious Holiday Lighting
Greenhouse gas emissions are decreasing thanks to Natural Gas
According to the EPA Press Release on October 23rd, greenhouse gas emissions are decreasing due to an increased use of natural gas in power generating plants. Utilities have shifted from using coal to using clean burning natural gas, a major factor in causing a decrease in carbon emissions.
The EPA collects annual greenhouse gas information from over 8,000 facilities including power plants, gas and oil production and refining plants and landfills. The EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, which started in 2010, collects facility-level greenhouse gas data from major industrial sources across the US.
Greenhouse gas emissions from power plants have decreased 10 percent in two years. This decrease is largely due to electricity generation switching from coal to natural gas, as well as a slight decrease in electricity production.
Sources:
United Sates Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Releases Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data from Large Facilities
The Washington Free Beacon, Feds: Natural Gas Production Decreasing Greenhouse Emissions
U.S Energy Information Administration, U.S. Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions, 2012
In Response to “10 US natural gas export projects you should watch”
Written by Michael Vrtis President of Realgy Energy Services in response to the CNBC article 10 US natural gas export projects you should watch
This article is recognition of the “game changing” affect that natural gas fracking has had on the US.
As recently as 5 years ago; the talk was about importing natural gas. A slew of LNG terminals were proposed to import liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Today, not 1 of those proposed LNG import terminals is on the table or under permit. Rather there are over 15 LNG terminals being proposed or under siting consideration ALL to export LNG.
Quite a turn of events that technology has brought to the US and the world.
Check out the CNBC article: “10 US natural gas export projects you should watch“
In Response to “After six-year dispute, court orders $37 million ComEd refund”
Written by Michael Vrtis President of Realgy Energy Services in response to the Crain’s article After six-year dispute, court orders $37 million ComEd refund
So how do all the various entities work in overseeing a regulated utility or why does it take 6 years to refund overcharges?
This Crain’s article provides a great example, let’s look at the 3 steps:
STEP 1
The utility; ComEd has a monopoly to delivery electricity in its area and is overseen (regulated) by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). ComEd wants to be paid more for providing service and goes to the ICC requesting an increase in fees from customers in exchange for providing better and more useful service.
The regulator; ICC approves a rate increase (and the improved service) for which ComEd begins charging customer
STEP 2
The Consumer Advocate; Citizens Utility Board (CUB) is an agency that seeks to ensure ComEd treats its customers (mainly residential) fairly. Remember ComEd is a monopoly and can only charge what the ICC (in some cases politicians) approve. The CUB sees that the ICC approval of the rate increase unfairly treated the consumer to the benefit of ComEd. So, CUB sues ComEd and wins.
The Court; orders the ICC to review the matter. Again, the court won’t get into the technical review (that’s why they sent it to the ICC for re-review).
STEP 3
This step is about appealing (delaying) the previous decisions….. in this case the ICC agrees with CUB and removes those funds from the rate base which means ComEd (having already collected them) has to return them. They don’t have to return them as they were received but by some form of distribution of the funds.
Of course, ComEd appeals to the appellate court (they review lower court decisions) and lost. The appellate court would have to overturn the ICC on technical issues to agree with ComEd.
So let’s see if the money is returned. This example illustrates that a regulated utility has many people who watch them and those who watch and act to hold all sides accountable really do serve the public interest.
How does this affect Realgy’s customers; they will receive a refund (depending on how ComEd disperses them) as this was a charge related to distribution of the wholesale supplied energy in part provided by Realgy.
Check out the Crain’s article: “After six-year dispute, court orders $37 million ComEd refund”
Realgy Proposes $2.6 Million in Savings for Indianapolis Public Schools
PRESS RELEASE October 16, 2013 | By: Realgy, LLC
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, October 16, 2013 – Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) has issued a request for proposals for natural gas to serve its 90 schools. Realgy Energy Service, a wholesaler or third party supplier in the Citizens Gas Energy Select program responded with a proposal that would have saved the school district over $2,588,000 for the last 3 years.
“We are thrilled to be able to offer IPS nearly 3 million dollars in savings,” said Michael Vrtis, President of Realgy Energy Service. “We submitted our proposal and even if we are not selected, the savings IPS can expect to receive from purchasing their natural gas directly from a supplier, without any Citizens Gas markup, will provide significant cost reductions.”
The Energy Select program was initiated by Citizens Gas to “reduce the energy cost of Citizens Gas customers.” This was in keeping with their charter which states; “We maintain the lowest possible rates with sound financial management.”
The Citizens Gas Energy Choice program is not well known but it provides all municipal, commercial, and industrial customers a choice between purchasing their natural gas from Citizens Gas or directly from a registered third party supplier of natural gas such as Realgy Energy Services.
In April 2009, Realgy Energy Services received approval as a third party supplier in Citizens Gas. Unlike other suppliers, Realgy Energy Services extends customer choice to commercial and small businesses.
“The benefits from receiving your gas service with Realgy Energy Services as your wholesale supplier instead of Citizens Gas has been demonstrated every month over the last 3 years,” said Michael Vrtis, President of Realgy Energy Services. “From November 2010 through to October 2013, Realgy Energy Services has delivered nearly 16.79% savings compared to purchasing from Citizens Gas. For the average commercial customer that is an annual savings of $7,120.86.”
The bidding for natural gas service was opened October 16, 2013 with service expected to begin January 1, 2014. Additional information on the bid and the bid results can be obtained by contacting the IPS Purchasing Agent at 120 E. Walnut Street, Rm. 117 Indianapolis, Indiana 46204.
Realgy Energy Services is an energy marketer serving retail customers in Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan. They began serving Indiana customers in April 2003; since that time they have a perfect record (certified A+) with the Better Business Bureau; http://ct.bbb.org and no complaints before the IURC http://www.in.gov/iurc or OUCC http://www.in.gov/oucc/
Contacts:
Michael Vrtis
President
Realgy Energy Services
860-233-2270
www.realgyenergyservices.com
Nicole Werner
Media Contact
Realgy Energy Services
860-233-2270
www.realgyenergyservices.com
In Response to Chicago can’t beat ComEd price. So raise it?
Written by Michael Vrtis President of Realgy Energy Services in response to Chicago can’t beat ComEd price. So raise it?
Realgy DOES NOT support changing how the Illinois Power Agency buys power, so that our prices can be more competitive.
We already are:
- Realgy has been below ComEd monthly pricing since January 2012, Twenty-one straight months in a row!
- Our average commercial customer has saved $3,741.41
- Our average residential customer has saved $90.02
We compete in serving our customers, not just with lower priced energy but smarter buying strategies.
This price question is a result of municipal aggregation, where cities like Chicago want to be able to raise money by adding a surcharge onto the electric rate customers pay, and still show savings compared to the utility!
Municipalities select an energy marketer as their preferred vendor and require they add a surcharge to their cost which they pay to the city. The surcharge provides no value to the customer or the energy marketer.
Perhaps instead of looking to raise everyone’s price of power they should just get out of the aggregation business or look to actually add value for their surcharge.
Check out Crain’s article: “Chicago can’t beat ComEd price. So raise it?”
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5 ways to save energy and stay cool this summer
1. Close your blinds!
Closing your blinds in the summer reduces radiant heat from the sun entering your house or office.
Even if you close the blinds only during peak sun hours this trick will help decrease the amount of radiant heating caused by the summer sun.
2. Set the thermostat to 78 degrees
Air conditioners will run at their optimal performance level when set at 78 degrees. Making it even 5 degrees lower will result in your AC using up to 40% more energy. Keep that thermostat at 78 degrees during the day and turn it down at night, to conserve the most energy.
3. Use passive cooling techniques
To reduce the need to turn on the AC try out some passive cooling techniques.
Passive cooling techniques include but are not limited to planting trees or hedges, installing window awnings, the use of fans, and opening and closing windows and blinds at the appropriate times of day. For example you would open windows at night for the cool breeze and close them along with blinds during peak sun hours.
4. Upgrade your windows
Replacing old single-pane windows with new dual-pane ones that include Low-emissivity (Low-E). The Low-E coating reduces energy loss by as much as 50%, and as a bonus you could be eligible for tax credits for buying energy star rated windows.
5. Reduce your energy costs
Enroll with Realgy Energy Services to save on your natural gas and electricity
These simple tricks coupled with Realgy Energy Services low rates can drastically reduce your energy costs this summer.
Check out Realgy Energy Services rates and see how much you could be saving www.realgyenergyservices.com Or Call one of our Energy Brokers today 877-300-6747.
Sources:
U.S Department of Energy, Energy Savers, Thermostats and Control Systems
The Daily Green, Close Your Blinds to Beat the Heat
Earth 911, 9 Ways to Ready Your home For Summer
Houzz, Life Without Air Conditioning? These Passively Cooled Homes Say Yes
U.S Department of Energy, Energy Savers, Window Types
In response to “How ComEd’s rate design benefits suburbs over the city”
Written by Michael Vrtis, President of Realgy Energy Services in response to Crain’s article “How ComEd’s rate design benefits suburbs over the city”
ComEd is one member of a larger group of utilities called PJM. Each utility that makes up the power pool of PJM sets how its own method of collecting the costs of running the power plants and transmission lines. This makes the PJM pool a low-cost producer with great reliability.
PJM has notified its members (who voted for it years ago) about his change.
ComEd can allocate capacity costs in any manner it wishes; however, ComEd chooses not to change its collection approach which has stayed the same for more than 20 years.
ComEd doesn’t need smart meters to make this change, it needs smarter policy.
Allocating capacity based on aggregate demand of the load center serving a municipality is possible as well as more equitable than the broad and out-dated policy of ComEd.
Realgy already operates under PJM capacity allocation rules and we will continue to be the residential and business choice where energy is all about price, information, and service.
Check out Crain’s article: “How ComEd’s rate design benefits suburbs over the city”
Electric Paint
A group of students from the Royal College of Art in London have created an electrically conductive paint. This electrical paint called “Bare Paint” makes it possible to apply liquid wiring to paper, plastic, metal, fabric and even skin.
The electrical paint was even used in a video “Humanthesizer” by DJ and producer Calvin Harris featuring his song “Ready for the Weekend”. Dancers who had been painted with the electrical paint triggered audio loops from the song by dancing.
Read the whole story “Liquid lights and musical posters: Welcome to the world of electric paint”