PECO’s 2011 residential rates have been published for the first quarter of 2011, and all the suppliers are basing their offers on that price.   Another change is coming for electric heating customers – the special winter rates will be phased out by the end of 2012 (article).  This applies to residential customers who have the Residential Heat tariff.

The Philadelphia Inquirer recently reported on the retail energy suppliers that are making offers to PECO customers (article).  If you are a PPL or First Energy customer many of these suppliers have an offer for your service area too. If you don’t go jump to the article, these are the suppliers that have listed rate offers with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission

BlueStar Energy Solutions; 1-866-258-3782, https://www.bluestarenergy.com.

Champion Energy Services; 1-877-404-0842, http://www.championenergyservices.com.

Commerce Energy; 1-877-226-5392, 1-800-556-8457; http://www.commerceenergy.com.

Dominion Energy Solutions; 1-888-863-9936, http://www.dom.com/products.

Energy Cooperative Association of Pennsylvania; 1-215-413-2122, http://www.theenergy.coop/Electricity/electricity.htm

Gateway Energy Services Corp.; 1-888-601-3141, http://www.gesc.com/PA.

North American Power; 1-888-313-9086, http://pa.napower.com.

Palmco Power PA; 1-877-726-5862, http://www.palmcoenergy.com.

Respond Power; 1-877-973-7763, http://www.respondpower.com.

Spark Energy; 1-877-374-8011, http://www.sparkenergy.com.

Verde Energy USA; 1-800-388-3862; http://lowcostpower.com.

To learn more about electric choice, go to http://www.papowerswitch.com).  You can also go to the Pennsylvania Office of the Consumer Advocate and get a free Peco shopping guide ( http://www.oca.state.pa.us.)  If you have questions, contact me.

Fall is the time to prepare for the heating season.  Have you looked at the windows and doors to see if the seals and weatherstripping are OK?   Have you scheduled a furnace cleaning and tuneup?  Have you changed your air filter?    These are the simple things that you can do to prepare for the heating season.

If you are thinking of making improvements to take advantage of the 2010 tax incentives for home energy retrofits, do you know which changes are the best choice for your home?  How can you determine if its best to add insulation, replace a furnace, replace windows?  How do you get the information you need to make the decision?  This is what a thorough energy audit can provide.  The energy audit looks at your home’s condition, and provides a range of improvement choices and the payback you will receive.  Get an energy audit and be an informed consumer.  Learn what you can do to reduce your energy consumption, and reap the benefits of lower costs and a smaller carbon footprint.

Leaky ducts running through unconditioned attics and/or crawlspaces can result in serious energy and money waste, and potential indoor air quality issues.  Leaky ducts pull air into the house, and you don’t know from where.  I have seen many homes with significant gaps and openings in the ducts that pull in air from damp crawlspaces and musty attics.  A well sealed system will improve the comfort of your home, reduce the operating costs, and save money.   Take a look for yourself.  Check your ducts (if you can) and look all the connections.  Are they sealed? Duct tape does not count since it doesn’t seal.  Proper sealing uses a thick mastic that is painted onto every connection and seam, and in some cases has mesh tape embedded in the mastic.  I bet you will be able to find places where you can see the leaky seams, holes and gaps in the ducts.  A good clue is to look for dust gathered around a small opening in the return lines, or moving cobwebs around supply lines.  Learn more from the Energy Star brochure on Duct Sealing. Click Here

How leaky are your ducts?  The best way to find out is with a duct pressure test.  In a full home energy audit, a duct test evaluates the duct leakage and determine how much leakage goes outside the home (serious energy loss).

Please contact your house of representatives member TODAY and let them know you support the bill.

The Message To Your Representative:

• The Home Star legislation, H.R. 5019 is coming to the floor and I ask for your support.
• This vote does NOT provide funding but provides authorization. I am as concerned about the use of tax dollars as anyone, but we MUST pass this bill so we can get contractors back to work retrofitting homes.
• This is not about politics; this is about jobs for my business/friends/family/community.
• Home Star is a bi-partisan bill that deserves bi-partisan support on the House floor.
• Home Star WILL create jobs, but delaying cannot be an option. We need the jobs today!

Call  your local Congressional Representative:

Go to the house of representatives and find your representatives contact information  Link to House of Representatives

CALL TODAY

“DSB Energy Services helps our customers cut their energy bill and their federal tax bills,” said David Berg, founder and owner of DSB Energy Services. “We provide honest, expert advice and we do not take commissions on the products or services that we recommend.”

Homeowners are often confused by the many ways to waste less energy in their homes. Air sealing, spray foam insulation, blown insulation, fiberglass insulation, duct sealing, weather stripping, compact fluorescent light bulbs, Energy Star appliances, and other items all help to some degree. But each home is different and there is no “one size fits all” solution.

“For homeowners who want to cut their gas and electricity bills, getting a home energy audit is a smart first step,” Berg said.

DSB Energy Services works with homeowners to produce a roadmap to saving energy, saving money, and improving the comfort of their home. Those who own energy efficient homes take pride knowing that they are doing their part to prevent pollution, too. We work with you, the homeowner, to find answers to the following questions:

• How is energy utilized in your home?
• Is the home properly sealed for air leaks and effectively insulated?
• What are your options to make cost effective improvements?
• What loans and other financial incentives are available to help you make your investment?
• What tax credits would you be eligible for once the work is done?

“Often homeowners can save more money with inexpensive repairs than they can with new windows or other big ticket items,” Berg said. “And most homeowners are eligible for tax credits, utility rebates, or low interest loans for the big ticket items that are necessary.”

Visit DSB Energy online to get a free quote for a home energy audit in Bucks or Montgomery counties in Pennsylvania. Or Contact DSB Energy Services directly at 215.997.7186 or write dberg@dsbenergy.com.