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DP&L, coalition sign deal to improve home energy efficiency

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By John Nolan, Staff Writer Updated 4:51 PM Wednesday, November 11, 2009

DAYTON — Dayton Power and Light Co. has committed $1 million to support efforts by community action agencies to install energy-efficient appliances and lighting, and improve insulation, in the homes of poor people as part of a long-term effort to reduce the region’s electricity consumption.

Similar programs in other areas of Ohio have made it easier over time for poor and elderly people to pay their monthly electricity bills by reducing power use, said Dave Rinebolt, executive director of Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy, who signed the contract with DP&L on Tuesday, Nov. 10. That, in turn, helps to reduce bad debts that utilities incur, the costs of which are paid by all ratepayers, Rinebolt said Wednesday.

“A lot of these people we help are elderly or disabled,” he said. “Their house is their only asset.”

The program will allow crews — beginning later this month — to replace old refrigerators with new, energy-efficient models in the homes of eligible, low-income consumers and install compact fluorescent light bulbs, at no cost to the resident.

At the same time, the crews can do energy audits in the house and improve insulation. The DP&L program is designed to work with others such as the federally funded home weatherization program and one offered by Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio Inc., the natural gas supplier.

Experience in similar programs has shown these energy efficiency improvements could reduce monthly electricity bills by 12 to 18 percent in older, drafty houses with outdated, inefficient refrigerators and old lighting, Rinebolt said.

“The whole idea is to provide some more financial resources so that local community action agencies can weatherize the homes of people in need,” said Tom Tatham, DP&L’s director of energy programs.

The Community Action Partnership in Dayton will handle the regional program. Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy is a statewide coalition of such agencies. The coalition is involved in similar programs with FirstEnergy Corp., of Akron, and smaller utilities around Ohio, Rinebolt said.

The DP&L-Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy program is for one year, but could be extended by agreement of the parties.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or jnolan@DaytonDailyNews.com.

For more information

Contact the Community Action Partnership agency in Dayton at (937) 341-5000, for residents of Montgomery County, or (800) 617-2673 for residents outside Montgomery County, to obtain information about the program and its eligibility requirements.

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