Consumers Energy Provides $4.3 Million in Energy Efficiency Incentives

JACKSON --  Consumers Energy awarded $4.3 million in incentives to fund 888 projects in the third quarter of 2011 to help Michigan commercial and industrial customers become more energy-efficient.

Statewide, these projects are saving these 653 participating customers an estimated $2.9 million in energy costs annually. This represents savings of 52.9 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and more than 106,005 thousand cubic feet  of natural gas annually.

That's enough energy to serve about 6,488 residential electric customers and about 1,097 residential natural gas customers.

Business Solutions, the energy efficiency program for commercial and industrial customers, is part of Consumers Energy's comprehensive energy efficiency program, which has been launched in accordance with the 2008 energy law.

"Our Business Solutions program continues to be very popular among our commercial and industrial customers," said Fred Alatalo, the utility's business energy efficiency operations director.

"Utilizing our incentive program to improve energy efficiency is a great strategy that provides long-term value for our customers. The program supports Michigan's economic recovery by helping our business customers reach their goals of becoming more energy-efficient and reducing their operating expenses," Alatalo said.

Consumers Energy's goal for 2011 is for Business Solutions energy savings to reach 134 million kWh and 366,000 Mcf. So far this year, 66.5 million kWh and 205,113 Mcf have been saved.

Learn more about energy efficiency programs for businesses as well as residential customers and how to apply for incentives by visiting www.consumersenergy.com.

The amounts of the distributed incentives are listed below:

Allegan County
-- Allegan General Hospital, Allegan: $25,368 for prescriptive electric - HVAC, saving 128,072 kWh annually.

Calhoun County
-- Lakeview School District, Battle Creek: $4,929 for efficient lighting, saving 52,000 kWh annually.
-- Flex N Gate, Battle Creek: $41,002 for efficient lighting, saving 569,051 kWh annually.

Genessee County
-- University of Michigan - Flint: $1,170 for efficient exterior lighting, saving 6,968 kWh annually.
-- Online Tech, Inc., Flint: $13,824 for efficient UPS units, saving 172,800 kWh annually.

Ionia County
-- Ionia Public Schools, Ionia: $7,630 for efficient lighting, saving 73,616 kWh annually.

Jackson County
-- Baker College of Jackson: $1,206 for HVAC tune ups, saving 98 Mcf annually.
-- Allegiance Health, Jackson: $3,103 for lighting upgrades, saving 38,800 kWh annually.
-- Michigan Center Schools: $24,080 for lighting upgrades, saving 286,916 kWh annually.
-- Jackson Public Schools: $1,090 for lighting upgrades, saving 13,600 kWh annually.

Muskegon County
-- Quality Tool & Stamping Co., Inc., Muskegon Heights: $31,231 for lighting upgrades, saving 36,000 kWh annually.

Oakland County
-- Holly Foods Supermarket, Holly: $14,952 for appliance motors, efficient lighting, anti-sweat heaters and night covers, saving 223,277 kWh annually.

Shiawassee County
-- Shiawassee County, Corunna: $26,768 for efficient lighting, saving 353,118 kWh annually.
-- Shiawassee County Agriculture Association, Corunna: $11,623 for efficient lighting, saving 159,533 kWh annually.

Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, provides natural gas and electricity to 6.8 million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

For more information regarding Consumers Energy, visit www.consumersenergy.com