Ohio Edison offering efficient light bulbs

Customers should take advantage of offer, they're already paying for efficiency efforts on their bill

Ohio Edison offering efficient light bulbs

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Ohio Edison is offering kits that include nine compact fluorescent light bulbs of various wattages, two LED night lights, one smart power strip

Consumers might as well partake — they’ve already paid for them.

The Ohio Edison effort is part of the company’s programs to support Ohio Senate Bill 221, which is Ohio’s energy efficiency law that is designed to reduce customer’s energy use, said Chris Eck, spokesman for the company.

The average customer pays a rider of about $1.50 a month to pay for this and all other energy efficiency programs. There is no additional charge for ordering the efficiency kit, he said.

“We’re not calling this a free program, because customers are paying for it through the rider on their electric bill,” Eck said.

Other incentive programs that are paid for through the rider include a home energy analyzer, which would track usage and determines way to reduce it, incentives to install more efficient units, a recycling program for old refrigerators and freezers and other efforts.

“This program helps us reach the goals of Ohio Senate Bill 221,” said Dennis Chack, president of Ohio Operations for FirstEnergy in a statement. “These kits allow customers to learn about energy efficiency in their homes without needing to go out to buy these devices. This is one of the easiest ways customers can start saving energy and money.”

CFLs use up to 75 percent less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and can last up to ten times longer, which saves customers up to $40 over the life of the bulb, according to the U.S. government’s Energy Star program.

Customers will need their FirstEnergy utility account number to place their order.

FirstEnergy utility customers in Ohio can now call (877) 639-0218 or visit www.ohioenergykit.com to request an energy conservation kit.

To learn more about this and other energy efficiency programs in Ohio, visit www.energysaveOhio.com.