##PRESS RELEASE##
For Immediate Release
Local Organizations Collaborate to Reduce Household Energy Waste, Increase Utility Savings
Charlottesville, VA
Dominion Energy Virginia is launching a new residential tariff on January 1 known as Time-of-Use pricing that has led to a new collaboration between local Charlottesville clean technology organizations. Consisting of the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP), Charlottesville Renewable Energy Alliance (CvilleREA), SunDay Solar, and Lumin, the collaboration will help local Dominion Energy customers save on their electricity bills – and reduce carbon emissions – by allowing them to manipulate when they pull power from Dominion Energy’s grid.
Katie VanLangen, Executive Director of CvilleREA, commented, “This is a great opportunity for Greater Charlottesville residents to utilize renewable energy and locally created technology to take control over their energy usage and carbon footprint.”
How will this work?
The new Time-of-Use pricing plan to be offered by Dominion Energy incentivizes its customers to reduce power consumption at higher or “peak” demand times (3-6PM in the summer) and shift it to low or “off-peak” demand times (12AM-5AM all year round). The cost of electricity is significantly lower at the “off-peak” times – 90% cheaper in some cases – while the cost at “peak” demand time would be around double the current normal rate. Customers who can shift demand by doing laundry at night time or cooling their homes earlier in the day can end up saving substantially on their electricity bills. The program also creates an opportunity for utilizing a large home battery system to arbitrage the different rates, while adding safe and clean back-up power to residents’ homes.
A home battery that pays for itself?
Yes, a home battery would eventually pay for itself by pulling and storing power from the grid during off-peak pricing and then either utilizing it for your home during peak times or sending it back to the grid. Lumin offers a special panel with technology that controls the battery and the on/off circuits to electric appliances in your home, which allows for the programming of the battery and appliances to maximize the potential of the rate arbitrage. SunDay Solar, an experienced residential solar installer, also installs home batteries and is familiar with pairing the Lumin panels with batteries. Â
Jon Proffitt, Director of Applications Engineering at Lumin, is looking forward to getting started, “Lumin is excited that its technology can finally be utilized to a much greater potential now in our home here in Charlottesville.”
Why here in Charlottesville?
Statewide, not all Dominion Energy customers will be able to participate in the new Time-of-Use program because it requires a smart-meter. Luckily, these have already been deployed to most of Charlottesville’s residences. Also unique to Charlottesville is the combining of this program with Lumin’s technology and the implementation expertise of SunDay Solar, notes LEAP’s Executive Director Chris Meyer.Â
“Nowhere else is putting this opportunity together yet for Dominion Energy customers to save on their utility bills while also reducing their carbon footprints. I’m happy LEAP catalyzed this collaboration to help this community continue to both be at the forefront of fighting climate change and also lower their electricity bills,” stated Meyer.
More information about the Dominion Energy Time-of-Use program can be found here: https://www.dominionenergy.com/tou
More information about the collaborative battery storage offering can be found here: https://solarizeva.org/tou/
CONTACT: Erin Morgan, Marketing and Outreach Manager, Local Energy Alliance Program, erin@leap-va.org, 540-407-2412‬
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The Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Charlottesville, VA. As a trusted nonprofit, LEAP delivers direct education and services for improved energy performance that address climate change; create cost savings for families and businesses; healthier, safer, and more durable buildings; and local jobs and economic growth.
Website: leap-va.org | energysmarthomesva.org
Email: info@leap-va.org
Facebook:Â Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP)
Twitter: @LEAP_VA
Instagram: @leap_va | @solarizevirginia
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