The Missouri Energy Efficient Natural Gas Equipment Rebate Program offers AmerenUE's 120,000 Missouri gas customers rebates for a portion of the cost of installed Energy Star(R) qualified products and certain other energy-saving equipment. Products include programmable thermostats, low-flow shower heads/aerators, water heater wraps, hot water pipe insulation, residential natural gas furnaces and boilers, combined water heater/furnace units, and commercial natural gas equipment.
This pilot program was developed by a collaborative team that included representatives of AmerenUE, the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC), the Missouri Office of Public Counsel, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Energy Center. It is aimed at promoting more effective use of natural gas by encouraging the replacement of inefficient natural gas equipment with highly-efficient Energy Star(R) products.
"The goal of this program is to educate our customers and help them see that energy efficiency does make a difference," says Greg Lovett, managing supervisor, Products and Services, for Ameren Services. "We also want to generate awareness for the Energy Star(R) label and encourage our customers to purchase energy efficient equipment."
Lovett adds that the collaborative team will evaluate how well this pilot program worked and make adjustments as necessary for the next two years.
AmerenUE is funding the program as part of a natural gas rate case settlement approved in 2003 by the PSC and other parties.
The program applies to the following energy-efficient products:
• Programmable auto setback thermostats. The rebate will provide 50 percent of the cost of purchasing one Energy Star(R) qualified thermostat, up to a maximum rebate of $25.
• Low-flow shower heads/aerators, hot water heater wrap and hot water pipe insulation. The rebate will provide 50 percent of the cost for any combination purchase of up to three, low-flow shower heads/aerators, one water heater wrap, and one hot water pipe insulation (five feet in length), up to a maximum rebate of $10.
• Energy-efficient natural gas boilers and furnaces. Customers may receive up to 50 percent of the cost of an installed Energy Star(R) qualified natural gas boiler, furnace or combined water heater/furnace unit. For boilers, the maximum rebate is $200, while the maximum rebate for furnaces is $250, and the maximum rebate for combined water heater/furnace units is $400.
• Energy-efficient commercial natural gas utilization equipment.
Commercial customers may receive a rebate of up to 50 percent of the cost of purchasing and installing one Energy Star(R) qualified product\-such as a furnace, fryer or steam cooker\-up to a maximum rebate of $750.
AmerenUE natural gas customers can obtain rebates by purchasing Energy Star(R) qualifying products and then submitting a rebate form with required documentation to the address given on the form. For the higher-cost items\- Energy Star(R)-rated furnaces, boilers and hot water heaters, and commercial natural gas utilization equipment\-the products must be installed.
Rebate forms and full program details are available by visiting the Ameren Web site (www.ameren.com) and going to "Natural Gas Center." The Web site provides a link to a list of Energy Star(R) products that qualify for the rebates.
Customers can also get information and request rebate forms by calling 314-342- 1111 in the St. Louis area, or 1-800-552-7583 elsewhere.
Because this is a pilot program, and funding is limited, customers who wish to take advantage of the rebates are urged to apply early. Rebate checks will be mailed within eight to 10 weeks after the submission of a completed rebate form.
Energy Star(R) was originally introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce air pollution through increased energy efficiency. Today, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Energy, the program offers businesses and consumers energy efficient solutions to save energy and money, and to help protect the environment. More information about Energy Star(R) can be found at the following Web site: www.energystar.gov.
AmerenUE is a subsidiary of St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation. Ameren, through its subsidiaries, serves 2.3 million electric customers and 900,000 natural gas customers in a 64,000-square-mile area of Missouri and Illinois.
# # #