FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.., July 16, 2012 – Free energy assessments and available rebates are just two of the reasons area schools, commercial and manufacturing facilities are participating in SWEPCO’s Commercial & Industrial Energy Efficiency Program.

• Armedica Manufacturing in Greenwood completed two energy efficient lighting projects with a combined annual savings of 94,008 kWh, and received a cumulative project rebate of $9,333.
• Aldi Food Store in Fayetteville’s new store construction included lighting retrofit, efficient refrigeration and freezer cases.  Project savings calculated 116,436 kWh annually and paid a rebate of $11,172.
• The Horatio School District in southwest Arkansas installed energy efficient lighting saving 80,637 kWh and received a rebate of $5,487.  This success has prompted them to evaluate opportunities for retrofits in existing facilities.

This program is available to SWEPCO’s business, government, education, nonprofit, small and large manufacturing, food service and hospitality customers until December 2013.  Incentives are available for existing buildings and new construction and are based on the verified energy savings.  Through the free energy assessments, SWEPCO’s Energy Advisors are able to provide customers with customized solutions to reduce electric peak demand and annual energy consumption. 

“We are pleased to help our business and government customers reduce their energy use,” says Phil Watkins, Energy Efficiency and Consumer Programs Manager. “Energy efficiency is one of the most cost-effective ways to help businesses reduce operating costs and also benefits our community through reduced carbon emissions.” In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, energy represents the single largest operating expense for commercial buildings, with about 30 percent of building energy used inefficiently or unnecessarily.

The Commercial and Industrial Energy Efficiency Program is just one way SWEPCO is helping its customers reduce their energy use and to elevate the standards of building energy performance in the state of Arkansas. Assessments are first-come, first-served. For more information about a no obligation site assessment or program details contact Ryan Parrish at rmparrish@geavistagroup.com. For more information about all of SWEPCO’s energy efficiency programs, visit http://www.SWEPCOgridSMART.com.

SWEPCO serves 520,400 customers in three states, including 113,700 in Arkansas.