Business & Finance
Business and Finance
Business and Finance
Tue, September 22, 2009 Con Edison Co. of NY, Inc.: Summer Bills Were Cool & Down; Customers Still Need to Save Energy and Stay Green
NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - September 22, 2009) - Con Edison electric bills for New York City and Westchester dropped this summer over last summer due to lower energy supply costs, but the company is still reminding customers that it's as important as ever to continue energy-saving practices.
For the typical New York City customer using 350 kilowatt hours (kWh) per month this summer's bills between June and September averaged $95.05, down from $104.23 last year. For the typical Westchester customer using 500 kWh, bills averaged $118.55, down from $127.13 a year ago. Lower bills may lull customers into ignoring energy saving practices, creating rude awakenings if or when fuel costs ultimately rise and bills go up.
"Customers should still make sure that their homes are as energy efficient as possible," said Marilyn Caselli, Con Edison's senior vice president of Customer Operations. "Con Edison does not control energy supply costs, which are generally driven by fuel prices that can fluctuate month to month. Always use energy wisely; doing the little things can help. Use Energy Star appliances, install compact fluorescent bulbs and check out our remote thermostat program."
Customers experienced this summer's bill declines even though large increases in taxes were added to customer bills. Sixty percent of Con Edison's delivery rate increase approved by the state Public Service Commission in April was used to fund additional government taxes. Over $239 million, or 33 percent, of the $721 million increase went for property tax increases, and another $198 million, or 27 percent of the increase, was charged to ratepayers as part of a special assessment to help New York State cover its budget deficit.
Con Edison has the largest underground electrical system in North America with 94,000 miles of underground cables and over 264,000 manholes. The company also maintains 36,000 miles of overhead cables, and spends over a billion dollars annually on its electric delivery system to maintain reliability and support the economic growth projected for its service area.
Energy efficiency and other programs designed to help customers cut energy use and peak demand usage create savings in multiple ways. Aside from the savings for individual homes and businesses, Con Edison can defer substation or other costly capital investment that would be otherwise needed to meet peak electricity demand, thus creating more favorable circumstances for keeping customer rates lower over longer periods. The triple-win situation benefits the environment, consumers, and company shareholders.
For more energy-saving tips for homes and businesses -- as well as links to information about renewable energy and green power -- visit The Power of Green, at [ www.conEd.com/thepowerofgreen ].
Con Edison is a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. (
