Wisconsin-based customers of WPPI Energy member utilities benefit from access to Focus on Energy (Focus) programs. Focus works with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses to install cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. In the past 12 months, customers of WPPI Energy member utilities have saved more than 25 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) and 152,800 therms, and received energy-saving incentives totaling $2.4 million, through Focus programs. Customers of WPPI Energy members in Michigan and Iowa have access to similar funding and programs.

Reducing costs through energy savings is always a smart business strategy, but it is one that gains even greater urgency during times of economic downturn. By helping businesses lower energy costs, we can help local economies remain competitive.

As the largest users of electric power, business and industrial customers also have the opportunity to contribute to a clean, secure energy future by adopting conservation and efficiency measures. We offer a number of programs to assist businesses in reaching their energy management goals.

Efficiency Improvement Incentives are designed to encourage commercial and industrial customers of member utilities to invest in energy saving measures. In the past year, member utilities of WPPI Energy have issued almost $600,000 in incentives to help offset some of the upfront costs of installing energy efficiency improvements such as lighting, motors, HVAC equipment and air compressors. The funding is expected to result in an average demand reduction of approximately 2.5 megawatts (MW). The program is budgeted for expansion again in 2010.

Through the RFP for Energy Efficiency Program, we awards grants for energy efficiency projects to various business, industrial and municipal customers served by WPPI member utilities. This competitive bid program invites large power customers to submit proposals for cost-effective, energy-saving upgrades to equipment and systems within customers' existing facilities. The seventh round of grant funding concluded in July, 2009 with a $55,000 grant to Uniek, Inc., a customer of Waunakee Utilities, for the replacement of a 20-year-old central chilled process cooling water system with a more efficient cooling system.

To date, we have issued more than $431,000 in RFP for Energy Efficiency Grants to 10 projects, resulting in demand reductions of 875 kW and energy consumption decreases of 4.5 million kWh. The commitment to this program continues, with additional rounds of RFP bidding open to qualifying projects of customers of WPPI Energy member utilities.

WPPI Energy's New Construction Design Assistance Program helps prospective building owners deliver high performance buildings that achieve improved energy efficiency, reduced peak loads, optimized systems performance and greater comfort. Designing and building for energy efficiency from the start can provide cost savings and environmental benefits over the long term. Since program's inception, we have provided assistance to 28 projects, with an additional 30 now in progress.

Education is a key to energy conservation, and to that end, WPPI Energy offers a variety of learning opportunities to business and industrial customers. These include programs hosted by Focus on Energy and The Energy Center of Wisconsin at various locations across Wisconsin. Customers can attend conferences and technical workshops on topics such as industrial ventilation, energy efficient lighting, practical energy management and more.

Our sponsorship of the Energy Center University, powered by the Energy Center of Wisconsin, has made it possible to train more than 4,000 commercial, industrial and residential building professionals in the last year. The award-winning professional education programs hosted by the Energy Center of Wisconsin are expected to lead to a strong, local energy efficiency knowledge base and, ultimately, a long-term transformation of the energy market.