Tampa Electric customers will soon benefit from several new and updated energy-efficiency programs, including the return of a popular program, now called Prime Time Plus.
“Tampa Electric is proud to offer more innovative ways for customers to reduce their energy use and save money, especially during these difficult times,” said Nancy Tower, president and chief executive officer of Tampa Electric. “We encourage customers facing hardship to take advantage of the company’s new or existing programs, such as a free Online Energy Audit or Phone-Assisted Audit that can help pinpoint ways to save even more.”
The Florida Public Service Commission unanimously approved Tampa Electric’s energy-efficiency plan this week. Most of the new programs and rebates will take effect Nov. 2.
New programs for residential customers:
- Energy Star Smart Thermostat program will offer a rebate up to $50 for installing a qualifying smart thermostat in their home.
- Energy Star Pool Pump program will provide a rebate up to $350 for installing a high-efficiency pool pump.
- Prime Time Plus is an updated version of a popular load-management program that was previously discontinued. Tampa Electric will use its smart meters to control a customer’s air handler, water heater and/or pool pump at times of high energy use, such as extremely hot or cold weather. Customers will receive a programmable thermostat and a bill credit of up to $12 a month. This program will start in 2022, after all smart meters are installed.
New programs for commercial customers:
- Facility Energy Management System program will provide a rebate up to $25,000 for installing a system that enables the customer to reduce energy consumption and demand.
- Smart Thermostat program will offer a rebate up to $4,500 for installing smart thermostats to help reduce demand.
- Variable Frequency Drive Control for Compressors program will provide a rebate of $50 per horsepower for installing qualifying equipment on a customer’s new or existing refrigerant or air compressor motors.
- Tampa Electric will install an Integrated Renewable Energy System as a pilot program to study its performance and to maximize energy-saving benefits. The system will incorporate an 800-kilowatt (kW) photovoltaic solar array, two 250-kW batteries and several vehicle and industrial truck battery-charging stations. This pilot program also will be used for educational purposes.
Tampa Electric also will expand the existing energy education program to include renewable energy education for both residential and commercial customers.
Tampa Electric has been encouraging sustainability for nearly 40 years. In that time, the company has performed more than 575,000 energy audits that help customers use energy more wisely and become more energy-efficient. Including these new programs, Tampa Electric will offer 35 programs to help residential and business customers reduce their overall energy usage, and ultimately their energy costs. To participate, customers can call Energy Management Services at 813-275-3909 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or they can sign up online at tampaelectric.com/save.
The programs and rebates listed in this news release are subject to change. For current program and rebate status, visit tampaelectric.com/save.
Tampa Electric, one of Florida’s largest investor-owned electric utilities, serves about 780,000 customers in West Central Florida. Tampa Electric is a subsidiary of Emera Inc., a geographically diverse energy and services company headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
