Dear ratepayers and consumers,

As People’s Counsel for the District of Columbia I want to thank you making this year’s event an amazing success. On Saturday, November 14, 2009 an estimated 1,200 persons joined us to make our 14th Energy Expo, “Moving Toward an Energy Efficient Future,” the most successful Expo ever.

As People’s Counsel, I conceived of DC Energy Expo over a decade ago as a way to educate consumers on what they can do to manage their home energy costs. This year, Expo was co-sponsored by the DC Office of the People’s Counsel, your public advocate for natural gas, electricity and telecommunications utility ratepayers, and the DC Department of the Environment/DC Energy Office, which manages both environmental programs and energy efficiency programs targeted to District consumers.  And in many ways, Expo 2009 exceeded our wildest dreams as to what could be done to help consumers preserve some measure of control over their utility bills.

OPC and DDOE thank our partners, the U.S. Department of Energy, PNC Bank, YMCA National Capital, and Greenswitch/Ideal Energy Inc., for their sponsorship of Home Energy Expo.  Special thanks also due to Giant Food for donating reuseable grocery bags which we are giving away today.

What began several years ago with several exhibitors featuring displays on insulation and window products is now a full blown exposition. Expo now features dozens of exhibitors with hands-on demonstrations and product displays ranging from the latest tankless water heaters, high efficiency appliances, solar energy production, solar heating and home energy audits.

With winter bearing down, any consumer who pays a utility bill is concerned with what it will cost to keep the heat on. Energy Expo offered consumers two things;

1) hands-on exposure to measures that can be undertaken at different cost points to improve a home’s energy efficiency and comfort

2) the opportunity to learn about and apply for programs, on site, providing funding and assistance to make energy efficiency improvements and undertake renewable energy projects in consumers’ homes  

This year, thanks to millions in additional funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, District consumers are eligible for amazing financial incentives to move forward with energy efficiency upgrades or renewable energy projects. To assist consumers in getting started, Expo featured presentations on funding for specific energy efficiency and renewable energy programs throughout the day. This opportunity to link consumers directly with the experts operating the programs proved to be a highlight of the day.

Among our key presentations was the work being done by the Mt. Pleasant Solar Cooperative to bring solar power to the Mount Pleasant community and teach other startups around the city to expand solar presence to the benefit of all residents.

Expo featured 15 programs administered by DDOE under the Clean and Affordable Energy Act of 2008 and a residential lighting program administered by Pepco specifically designed to offer funding or rebates to residential consumers, including programs to assist consumers at all income levels.

Yet, it would not have be an “Expo” without the more than 65 dedicated exhibitors who brought with them demos and information on the latest in home energy products. Displays ranged from high efficiency appliances, windows, plumbing systems, insulation, energy auditing and diagnostics to solar electricity systems, high efficiency lighting and even energy efficiency home loans.

On behalf of the entire Office of the People’s Counsel, I want to thank all the residents who came out and put in the time to become “educated consumers.” I want you to know we are already planning to build on our success for next year!

Sincerely,

Elizabeth A. Noël
People’s Counsel