In this issue
		Energy Services Bulletin home page
		Online Key Account Tool Box supports public utility programs
		Fuel cell plant joins Alameda County renewable energy collection
		Revitalized communications promote efficiency, ease rate hikes
		New cooling technology aids South Dakota's pursuit of efficiency
		Fort Mojave tribal casino gets cooling system makeover
		Brigham City bike promotion raises energy efficiency awareness
		Lompoc LED light rebate promotes efficient holiday decorating
		Dairy, utilities learn from South Dakota's first digester
		Outreach programs help busy utilities educate consumers
		Energy Services seeks customer input
		Topics from the Power Line: Radiant heater a good choice for auto repair shop
		Energy shorts
		Technology spotlight: Low-mass, surface-mounted radiant heating panels in homes and offices
		Calendar of events

Lompoc LED light rebate promotes efficient holiday decorating

Shimmering LED light strands turn a house plant into a festive—and energy-efficient—holiday decoration for the office. (Photo by Lompoc City Electric)

The tradition of brightening our homes with holiday lights during the darkest days of the year can add strain to a winter-peaking utility's load or, in Lompoc, Calif., it can be an opportunity to introduce customers to a festive way to save electricity.

Residents of the central California coastal city enjoy cool summers thanks to ocean breezes and low electric rates thanks to Lompoc City Electric Utility. "We don't really use air conditioning here," said Energy Conservation Manager Mary Kammer. "Our load has more in common with San Francisco than our inland neighbors. It peaks in the winter—Dec. 16, at 6 p.m., to be specific."

Innovative rebate introduces safe, economical lights

That date just happens to coincide with the city's annual Christmas decorating contest, which inspired the municipal utility's latest energy efficiency rebate. In October 2005, the city council approved one of the nation's first incentive programs for decorative LED lights. Customers could receive $4 for up to a 70-foot strand or $8 for a longer strand.

LED lights are more expensive than conventional lights but cost pennies, rather than dollars, to operate over the holiday season. According to the Energy Services Holiday Lighting fact sheet, an 8-foot tree lighted with LED lights for five hours a day would add only 12 cents to a monthly electric bill, compared to $7.09 for traditional lights. Also, the lights last up to 100,000 hours indoors and will remain cool to the touch no matter how long they are on.

The rebate is well-suited to a city with only 13,000 meters and very little local industry. Demand-side programs that help small business and residential customers control costs can be a very effective tool for managing the load of a small municipal utility.

Local retailers support program

The small-town atmosphere made promoting the offer easy. The utility sent postcards announcing the rebate to past participants in the holiday decorating contest. Newspaper ads and a short story in the Lompoc Record helped get the word out. "And word of mouth has always been good for letting customers know about a new program," Kammer observed.

The Lompoc WalMart posted signs that the utility provided near the product and offered the personal touch as well. "When I bought a strand for my home, the clerk told me about the rebate," said Kammer. "WalMart was very supportive."

The local hardware store also carried the energy-efficient lights. Kammer noted that Lompoc doesn't have a lot of retail outlets, but that didn't deter some determined residents. "They drove 30 miles to get their LED light strands," she recalled, adding, "This year, our Home Depot will be stocking them."

The city paid out a total of 190 rebates on the lights. "Requests for rebates kept coming in through March," recalled Kammer.

Latest in line of successful rebates

Lompoc has a history of responding to resource shortages with programs that promote community action. The city's first rebate program, launched in 1990, addressed California's drought conditions with rebates on low-flush toilets.

Deregulation and the 2001 power shortages spurred the city's first electric efficiency rebate program. Funding for incentives for energy-efficient refrigerators and lighting came from California's Public Benefits Fund, Kammer stated. The city also pays $35 for old refrigerators and provides pick-up and disposal at the landfill for replaced units.

Customers replacing old washing machines and dishwashers with Energy Star models became eligible for rebates in 2003. The city offers a $100 rebate for converting electric clothes dryers and water heaters to natural gas, and there are programs to help low-income customers with their utility expenses. "Since we implemented the rebate programs, the average monthly residential load dropped from 389 kWh to 349 kWh," said Kammer.

Lompoc City Electric recently implemented a program to encourage customers to generate their own power. Solar systems complying with the city's interconnection agreement and California Energy Commission requirements may receive a rebate of $3.50 per watt up to half the cost of the system or a maximum of $15,000.

With all those programs, a few energy-efficient Christmas lights may seem like only a drop in the bucket. Kammer noted, "This LED light program is more about raising awareness than saving energy, but it helps customers save a little on their electric bills when they need it most. Even small gains add up."

And that is something to celebrate.