Media contact
Chris Gleason, Community & Media Services manager, (253) 502-8222
Food retailers trying to keep their businesses afloat in a tough economy can get some relief in the form of substantial cuts to their utility bills. Tacoma Power’s new EnergySmart program offers incentives to help owners of grocery stores, convenience stores, restaurants and other similar business reduce their energy costs.
EnergySmart provides businesses an energy analysis at no charge and financial incentives for those that upgrade their existing refrigeration and lighting to more energy-efficient models. Tacoma Power generally covers at least 20 percent of the cost for any of the recommended energy efficiency upgrades and may cover up to 100 percent.
Retailers who have participated in this program in other utility service areas have reported energy cost savings of up to $2,000 a month per store.
Tacoma Power is working with Portland Energy Conservation Inc. (PECI) to administer the EnergySmart program. On behalf of Tacoma Power, PECI contacts stores, performs a no-cost energy analysis and prepares customized energy savings reports that include a list of potential changes a store owner could make with financial savings and a payback timeframe for each. Store owners select which measures to implement and then arrange for a contractor to perform the work.
All of Tacoma Power’s commercial customers with refrigeration equipment can participate in the EnergySmart program. For more information, visit www.energysmartonline.org or call (800) 230-9420.
