Standard would encourage efficiency

Each summer, everyone faces the same dilemma: Do I turn on my air conditioner and run up my utility bill, or do I open the windows and hope that I get a breeze?

We are paying too much for our energy. Louisianans have one of lowest utility rates in the United States, but we have some of the highest energy bills because of the absence of energy- saving measures. Right now, the Louisiana Public Service Commission is considering an Energy Efficiency Resource Standard, which would help lower our energy bills and make our energy use more efficient.

An EERS is not about making huge sacrifices; it’s about being able to use energy, like your air conditioner, but more efficiently, resulting in a lower cost. Because we reduce the need to produce more energy, like a new coal-fired power plant, we won’t have to spend billions on new construction. An EERS provides incentives to weatherize homes, install efficient appliances, all resulting in lower bills. By adopting the EERS, we would put money right back into our wallets.

The commission has the opportunity to save us some money, but they have been sitting on this proposal for months! They need to stop stalling and vote on this important issue that could benefit all Louisianans.

Emily Cardinas

student

New Orleans

Comments

1) Comment by speakthetruth - 03/10/2012

bourbon soda - I think it would be like gas prices, the more we save the more they will charge because they have to make a certain amount of money to meet costs. When cars got 12 miles to the gallon we paid $1.00 per gallon. Now they get 25 mpg and we pay $3.50. Making lots of money trumps rewarding those who try to save and have lower bills. I speak the truth

2) Comment by bourbon-soda - 29/09/2012

Could it be that the low utility rates cause the absence of energy-saving measures?