During a day-long tour of three locations receiving energy efficiency improvements, Governor Terry McAuliffe challenged Dominion Virginia Power to accelerate outreach efforts by attending 400 events in the next 12 months, reaching as many as 240,000 people.
This would double the number of events held and people reached by Dominion compared to last year. The outreach is intended to educate Virginians about the value of energy efficiency in reducing energy consumption and lowering their power bills.
“The progress we have made over the past year demonstrates the impact simple, low-cost energy efficiency measures can have on lowering energy bills,” said Governor McAuliffe, speaking at the first of three stops today. “In addition to working directly with consumers to use energy more efficiently, I am challenging Dominion to expand its efforts to educate people on the value of energy conservation and how reducing energy consumption can save them money. Our electric utilities are in the perfect position to drive this education and outreach, which is what this challenge is all about.”
“We accept Gov. McAuliffe’s challenge to reach even more low-income customers with solutions to reduce energy consumption,” said Robert M. Blue, president of Dominion Virginia Power. “We will continue to place strong emphasis on the energy efficiency measures that any consumers can take to reduce energy usage and save on their bills.”
As part of the challenge, Dominion will expand the educational component of EnergyShare, the company’s program to lower the energy bills of customers who need the most help. Dominion will provide training and materials to dozens of employees who will serve as energy efficiency representatives to speak at schools, professional organizations and other community venues. To schedule a speaker for your community event, please visit www.dom.com/speaker.
“Those who are least able to afford their energy bills are the Virginians who can benefit the most from energy efficiency improvements,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones. “The programs being implemented by the electric utilities, especially in multi-family buildings, will lower the energy bills for our vulnerable populations. But it’s equally important that the utilities increase their efforts to educate citizens on how making these improvements will reduce their power bills and keep more money in their pockets.”
The Governor will travel to sites in Alexandria, Virginia Beach and Petersburg. The project in Northern Virginia is making improvements to the Fairfax County home of two U.S. Army veterans, one who served in Vietnam and the other who served in Korea, Germany and the U.S. The project in Virginia Beach is improving the efficiency of a home operated by Vetshouse, an organization that provides transitional housing for military veterans. The project in Petersburg is making energy efficiency upgrades to multiple houses on the same block. At each location, Dominion will be providing energy efficiency demonstrations and handing out efficiency kits to neighbors and attendees.
September 1st marks the one-year anniversary of the commencement of an energy efficiency initiative required by legislation passed in 2015. The bill that was signed by the Governor requires Virginia’s investor-owned electric utilities to conduct programs that improve the energy efficiency of housing and lower electric bills for low-income, elderly, disabled and veteran citizens in the Commonwealth. The utilities must use non-ratepayer funds to implement the program.
Both Dominion and Appalachian Power have worked closely with state agencies such as the Department of Social Services, Housing and Community Development, and Military Affairs to identify the most vulnerable Virginians who can benefit from this program.
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