Ecova’s Utility Solutions division has helped our clients reach many impressive milestones for moving compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs) through participating retailers. Duquesne Light, a utility company serving Allegheny and Beaver counties in Pennsylvania, recently announced it had sold its two millionth CFL. Through its “Watt Choices” program, Duquesne Light reached this milestone just one-and-a-half years after launching its ENERGY STAR^® residential lighting initiative. The Watt Choices program helps Duquesne Light customers conserve energy and lower their electricity costs. The program also helps Duquesne Light reduce demand for electricity which is an important goal of the utility.

The Ecova staff, in collaboration with Duquesne Light, works hard developing fruitful relationships with area retailers and their suppliers – from small independent hardware stores in rural areas to major home improvement retailers – to implement year-round promotions that help customers instantly save on the cost of purchasing CFLs. Ecova also hosts events and community activities to provide interactions with Duquesne Light’s customers. This holistic approach to supporting retail partners and customers is the cause for our success in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

The most notable facet of this achievement is the compact size of Duquesne Light’s service territory, which serves approximately 500,000 customers. Two million CFLs in less than two years is an impressive adoption rate, translating to an average of four CFLs per household. The CFLs account for 100,000 MWh of energy savings for the utility’s customers, which is equivalent to the amount of electricity needed to power more than 166,000 homes for a month. According to ENERGY STAR, CFLs can typically save an average of $40 in energy costs over their lifetime.

For more information on this achievement, click to visit Duquesne Light’s news room.