This year’s 10th annual REAP meeting of the Richards Energy Group, called for its Richards Energy Affinity Program members to take “presponsible” measures in regards to the lifting of Electric Utility Rate Caps in the end of 2009 (for PPL customers) and the end of 2010 (for First Energy customers). Chairman Cawley of the PUC was the keynote speaker and had several interesting things to say about deregulation, rate mitigation, the new energy bill, House Bill 2220, and insights on how PJM and FERC are handling things.

To download a PDF of the Presentation slides, please click here.

Public Utility Commission Chairman James Cawley to Address Group

With PPL electric rate caps expiring at the end of 2009, substantial cost increases are in the works which will affect all electric consumers in Eastern PA. A consortium of over 250 industrial and commercial companies, centered in Lancaster County, united 10 years ago through an organization called REAP to harness joint purchasing power. Existing members average $25,000/month in electrical utility charges. REAP’s 10th annual meeting will feature PA Public Utility Commission Chairman James Cawley on October 17th at Four Seasons in Landisville.
REAP was founded by Richards Energy Group, Landisville, eleven years ago, to help industrial and commercial businesses take advantage of group purchasing clout. REAP has tallied over $7 million savings since deregulation began in 1999. Frank Richards, President, stated “the challenges coming in 2010, fueled by expiration of PPL price caps, provide the consortium with new opportunities to achieve firm pricing with lower increases. But to mitigate these increases, it is imperative that we help Members consume less electricity through cost-effective conservation measures.” REAP is broadening its impact even more through its association with CPEC, the Central Pennsylvania Energy Consortium. This large group of non-profit businesses with its epicenter in Mechanicsburg, has tapped into REAP to enable electric power purchasing for its entire membership.
While REAP was formed to shop for power for its members, a strong secondary benefit has emerged…ongoing bill-auditing currently results in further member savings of $1 million per year through resolution of billing issues.
The Consortium meeting agenda on October 17th includes presentations by Chairman Cawley as well as subject matter experts on the Value of “Negawatts”, Current Energy Legislation, Commission Rulings, Demand-Side Response Programs that bypass the local utility, Intervention in Rate Filings, and Lighting Retrofit Options that add value to businesses.
Prospective members are welcome to attend, but pre-qualification and registration are required. Call 898-6330, extension 104, or email tgentzler@richardsenergy.com before October 15.

For Immediate release
Contact: Frank Richards
Business: 898-6330 x101

The Phillips Group reduces greenhouse gas emissions with lighting change

The Phillips Group of Middletown, Pa., has received the Orion Energy Systems Environmental Stewardship Award for a lighting change that substantially reduces electricity use and the emission of greenhouse gases.

Orion presents the award to companies that significantly reduce harmful greenhouse gases through the use of Orion’s patented lighting products and systems.

Phillips, a leading independent office products company, retrofitted its corporate office and warehouse with Orion’s patented high-efficient fluorescent platform, reducing electricity usage by 223,439 kilowatt-hours. The reduction in energy is expected to save The Phillips Group $19,190 annually in light-related energy costs.

“We’re honored to be recognized by Orion with this award,” said David Fleischer, Phillips’ chief information officer and director of facilities, “particularly because it symbolizes our company’s commitment to being good corporate citizens and caring for our environment.”

Added Peter Phillips, president of The Phillips Group: “We’ve found that reduced energy use and increased recycling don’t just make us feel good, but they’re really integral to the efficient and successful operation of our businesses.”

In addition to the energy cost savings, the lighting retrofit will keep 175 tons of carbon dioxide and 42 tons of carbon from entering the atmosphere annually. The reduction in greenhouse gases over 20 years equates to planting 820 acres of trees, removing 660 cars from the road or saving 423,640 gallons of gasoline, according to the EPA.

The environmental benefits and energy cost savings of the Phillips Group project are possible because Orion fixtures have been engineered to use a specially formed, highly reflective surface to harvest light emitted from all sides of a fluorescent tube and direct it downward.

“Making changes to your lighting is one of the fastest ways to cut costs and conserve energy,” said Frank Richards, president of Richards Energy Group, a Landisville, Pa., energy consultant that handled the Phillips retrofit. “We are happy to assist in the process and consider the outcome an extreme success.”

“We’re glad to have helped The Phillips Group benefit from energy efficiency,” said Orion President and CEO Neal Verfuerth. “We’ve worked hard over the years to develop products that save energy and money, while helping the environment and at the same time provide better and stronger light without our customer having to sacrifice; so it’s not exactly a surprise to us.

“The best part was that to get all this, The Phillips Group didn’t have to do without or give up anything. That’s the way we like to see things work.”

Photo from left to right: Frank Richards, president of Richards Energy Group and David Fleischer, chief information officer of The Phillips Group.

About The Phillips Group

Based in Middletown, Pa., The Phillips Group is a provider of office supplies, office furniture and document management products, serving central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland. Phillips also includes Overnight Office, an office furniture installation and moving company at 800 Paxton St., Harrisburg, and Full Circle Copier Outlet at 100 Market St., Lemoyne. For more information visit buyphillips.com.

About Richards Energy Group

Richards Energy Group (REG) is an independent ‘energineering’ firm dedicated to cutting energy costs for industrial, commercial, and institutional users. We work for energy consumers, not suppliers, vendors, or utilities. Using our many years of utility-related experience, we are able to minimize the energy bills paid by our clients. REG offers a full spectrum of consulting services: a power-purchasing consortium; energy, sales tax and billing audits; lighting retrofits; and real-time metering. Visit our website at richardsenergy.com/reg.

Orion Energy Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: OESX)

is a leading power technology enterprise that designs, manufactures and implements energy management systems, consisting primarily of high-performance, energy efficient lighting systems, controls and related services, for commercial and industrial customers without compromising their quantity or quality of light. Orion has deployed its energy management systems in 3,762 facilities across North America. Since 2001, Orion technology has displaced more than 357 megawatts, saving customers more than $402 million and reducing indirect carbon dioxide emissions by 3.6 million tons. For more information, visit http://www.oriones.com.

Media Contact
Linda Diedrich
Director Corporate Communications
920-482-1988
ljd@oes1.com

Facility Contact
David Fleischer
Chief Information Officer
717-948-5220
dfleischer@buyphillips.com