Folsom, NJ — In October, South Jersey Gas (SJG) received approval from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to implement a Conservation Incentive Program designed to encourage customers to use natural gas more efficiently. As part of the program’s first phase, SJG conducted a number of outreach efforts including a personalized letter to customers outlining their potential saving if they implement energy efficiency measures and the formation of the “Energy Savings Club.” To date, more than 2,000 customers have enrolled in the Energy Savings Club, designed to provide facts and tips on energy efficiency. Additionally, SJG is promoting low-cost, no-cost energy efficiency tips on the Weather Channel, during the “local on the 8”s” segment.
Phase II, which begins this spring, includes financing programs to upgrade existing gas heater systems to high efficiency units. These programs will offer no down payment and 0% financing.
An additional and important element of CIP includes outreach to low-income customers. Through the state’s Comfort Partners Program, of which SJG is a member, customers on fixed or limited incomes can receive personal visits by experts who will conduct thorough home energy audits. Audits have been successful in discovering cracked furnaces and other key factors that can lead to the improper heating of a home. Once these discoveries are made, steps are taken to replace broken parts, which sometimes lead to the direct installation of a new energy-efficient heating system for those homes whose systems have been failing.
Customers that exceed the financial requirements for the Comfort Partner’s Program can take advantage of another statewide New Jersey Clean Energy initiative, Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® program. This program offers access to trained, certified home improvement contractors that deliver state-of-the-art energy efficiency improvement to their home to save money, energy and the environment. Consumers can reduce energy consumption in their homes by up to 30% through this program. In addition, the program provides extensive technical training, financing incentives and business development support to established contractors and building professionals, with the purpose of increasing market opportunities for energy efficiency services within the state.
For more information about CIP programs, please visit www.southjerseygas.com or call 1-800-648-0138.
South Jersey Gas, the principal subsidiary of South Jersey Industries (NYSE:SJI) provides natural gas service to over 330,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Salem, and significant portions of Gloucester, Burlington and Camden counties in New Jersey. Visit www.sjindustries.com to learn more about South Jersey Gas.
###