BEGWS to offer customers fluorescent light bulbs

PHOTO BY ROB PRICE Matthew Benesh, director of utilities for BEGWS, displays an energy-efficient fluorescent light bulb the utility company will provide to customers in conjunction with the Independent Energy Efficiency Program.

BATH - Bath Electric, Gas & Water Systems, in conjunction with the Independent Energy Efficiency Program, Inc., will offer two Energy Star labeled compact fluorescent lamps to their residential electric customers.

IEEP assists municipal utilities facilitate the installation of energy efficient technologies throughout New York State.

"Bath Electric, Gas & Water Systems creates a winwin situation by working with the IEEP to offer our customers energy efficient products like compact fluorescent light bulbs," said Matthew Benesh, director of municipal utilities. "Energy efficiency has a positive effect on our environment, reduces our customer's electric costs, and our peak load."

The fluorescent lamps available to BEGWS customers use 75 percent less energy than standard light bulbs, last about 9,000 hours longer, and provide high quality lighting. By offering these bulbs to residential consumers, BEGWS said it hopes to encourage its residential customers to continue to make energy efficient improvements to their homes.

Residential electric customers will receive a coupon and letter in the mail that will enable them to receive two Energy Star bulbs at Bath Plumbing and Hardware and Longwell Lumber and Building Company, Inc.

Bath Plumbing and Hardware is located at 106 Liberty Street, in Bath, and Longwell Lumber and Building Company, Inc. is at 31 West Steuben Street, Bath. The lamps will be offered on a first-come, firstserve basis, and will be available beginning Nov. 26.

Benesh added: "Bath Electric, Gas and Water Systems maintains some of the lowest electric rates in the country and by participating in these programs we are demonstrating our respect for preferential hydroelectric energy that we receive."