LANSING -- Michigan's major utilities are unveiling financial incentives for households to lower their bills by becoming more energy-efficient, and some local power companies will follow suit.
DTE Energy will pay customers $50 to recycle old refrigerators, which will be picked up for free. Consumers Energy plans a $30 rebate for old fridges. The utilities announced their plans Monday afternoon at an event in Lansing hosted by state regulators.
Customers also will get discounts for buying energy-efficient washers, air conditioners, compact fluorescent light bulbs and other products.
Local utilities are implementing similar programs under a 2008 state law aimed at reducing power consumption to forestall the need for new power plants, restarting efficiency programs canceled more than a decade ago.
"We're in the process of developing our program right now," said Ed Rice, executive director of Traverse City Light & Power Co. Light & Power officials said their rebate plan is waiting approval from the Michigan Public Service Commission that's expected this week. They said the rebate amounts will be similar to those offered by the other utilities, as regulators want the programs to be consistent throughout the state. Several publicly owned utilities in the state filed a joint "energy optimization" plan with the MPSC outlining their energy savings programs, Light & Power spokesman Jim Cooper said.
There will also be financial incentives for businesses to reduce their energy use by installing high-efficiency boilers, motors, air compressors and other industrial equipment, he said.
"These are based on programs that have been done in other Midwest states," Cooper said. "We're all going to have somewhat similar plans."
Rice said the city utility will formally unveil parts of its rebate program this summer.
Cherryland Electric Cooperative, a member-owned utility based in Grawn, also launched a $50 refrigerator rebate plan a couple months ago and will expand it to other appliances, general manager Tony Anderson said. Customers can also get financial incentives for energy-saving items like CFL bulbs and new hot-water heaters, and can get free pipe wrap from Cherryland.
"We've been building up slowly," Anderson said. "We've got them up and running. We're going to start pushing them harder."
The utility also developed a package with Members Credit Union where customers can receive an energy audit from Cherryland, and get financing from the credit union to pay for energy-saving items like new windows or appliance upgrades.
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