PEORIA, Ill., July 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Business customers throughout the Ameren Illinois Utilities service territory now have a new, reliable source of up-to-date information that can help them realize significant financial benefits.
"We have created ActOnEnergy.net, a dynamic new Web site to provide the most current information about our electric energy efficiency programs and how they can save our business customers money on energy efficiency projects as well as on their future electric bills," said Keith Martin, manager of Customer Service and Energy Efficiency for the Ameren Illinois Utilities.
Details of new programs for business and residential customers as well as energy savings tips will be added to the ActOnEnergy.net Web site on a regular basis.
Martin explained that all Ameren Illinois Utilities electric distribution business customers who choose to participate in the Act On Energy program may realize these benefits:
-- Energy efficiency modifications to buildings and operating systems can reduce energy use, which will lower energy bills.
-- Typically, energy efficiency projects boost employee comfort and help improve productivity.
-- Reductions in energy use have an environmental impact by reducing a business' carbon footprint and helping decrease the need for new or expanded electric generating plants.
"We now are offering a standard incentive program to our business customers who install energy-efficient lighting, heating and cooling systems, refrigeration and motor systems," Martin said.
"Some business customers will be able to take advantage of our custom business incentive program which covers such projects as variable-frequency drives on process fans and pumps, compressed air system improvements, improvements to reduce energy use in manufacturing processes and other initiatives," Martin said.
Businesses are eligible for standard and custom incentives of up to a combined maximum of $100,000 between now and May 31, 2009.
Complete information, including application forms, is available at ActOnEnergy.net in the "For My Business" section.
Publicly funded customers such as governmental bodies and public schools must participate through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) energy efficiency programs. Complete information is available at the http://www.illinoisenergy.org/ Web site.
Martin said businesses that provide electric energy efficiency products and services now have the opportunity to become an Ameren Illinois Utilities Program Ally. These include architects, engineers, general contractors, electrical contractors, mechanical contractors, vendors, suppliers and manufacturers.
"Program Allies pass along the cash back incentives to our business customers who participate in the standard and custom incentive programs," Martin said. "Complete enrollment information is available at ActOnEnergy.net.
"This is an opportunity for Program Allies to build their business while helping their customers save money by cutting energy consumption."
Martin said the details of electric energy efficiency programs for Ameren Illinois Utilities residential customers will be announced later this month. The residential customer programs will be featured in the "For My Home" section of the ActOnEnergy.net Web site.
Among the programs to be offered to residential customers are rebates and incentives for energy efficient lighting and the Energy Star qualified appliance rebate program.
"Working together, we can make our businesses and homes more energy efficient, lower our energy bills and have a positive impact on the environment," Martin said.
The Ameren Illinois utilities serve 1.2 million electric customers and more than 840,000 natural gas customers in a 43,700-square-mile area of Illinois.
SOURCE: Ameren Illinois Utilities
CONTACT: Leigh Morris, +1-217-535-5228, or Neal Johnson,
+1-309-677-5284, both of Ameren Illinois Utilities
Web site: http://www.actonenergy.net/