Pine Hills homeowner Eric White has realized significant savings on his utility bills since taking advantage of OUC’s Efficiency Delivered program.
Escalating home utility bills often point to inefficiency issues related to insufficient attic insulation, leaky ductwork and other energy wasters that could be easily and affordably remedied through OUC’s Efficiency Delivered® program. All homeowners serviced by OUC—The Reliable One are eligible to participate in the program, which offers substantial savings on recommended upgrades in energy and water efficiency.
Through Efficiency Delivered®, some could save either 50 percent or 85 percent on the total cost – up to $2,500 – of selected efficiency improvements. For example, homeowners with an annual household income of $40,001-$60,000 could receive the lower contribution from OUC while homeowners with less than $40,000 in annual income could receive the maximum amount. OUC also allows eligible homeowners to spread payments over a 12-month period, interest free, on their utility bill.
Meanwhile, residential customers whose household incomes exceed $60,000 can take advantage of the program’s free energy audit, the first step in assessing a home’s efficiency needs, and receive rebates on selected upgrades.
Retired Pine Hills homeowner Eric White requested a free energy audit in 2018 in response to high utility bills for March and April. Shawn Spriggs, an OUC conservation specialist, inspected White’s home and recommended adding attic insulation, sealing ductwork, caulking around windows and installing weather stripping in door frames to reduce energy loss. Total cost of the project was $1,508, with White having to pay only $226.20, or 15 percent.
A year later, White realized the cost effectiveness of Efficiency Delivered®. His March and April OUC bills fell by more than 50 percent compared with the same months the previous year. “My bills were $350 a month last spring, now they’re about $170,” says White, adding he’s expecting to see drastic energy savings this summer.
Spriggs, who handled White’s Efficiency Delivered® project from start to finish, says several factors could influence the efficacy of energy and water efficiency upgrades. “Results depend on things like what kind of improvements the homeowner elected to do, age of the home and equipment, and personal consumption habits. Some homeowners may see dramatic differences while others don’t.”
Still, says Spriggs, participating in the program is a win-win for homeowners. “Regardless of their income level they can take advantage of the free audit to find out how they could reduce energy and water use at home,” he says. “We give the homeowner a breakdown of recommended upgrades and what percentage of the project they will be responsible for, and we arrange for the work to be done through our preferred contractor.”
Efficiency Delivered® covers improvements to:
- A/C tune-up
- Air filter replacement
- Attic insulation
- Attic pull down stair ladder cover
- Blower door testing*
- Caulking and weather stripping
- Choice of thermostat replacement
- Duct leak repairs
- Evaporator coil cleaning
- Hot water pipe & A/C refrigerant line insulation
- Irrigation repairs
- Minor plumbing repairs
- Toilet replacement
- Water flow restrictors
- WaterSense labeled irrigation controller
- Window film installation
To schedule a home evaluation by an OUC conservation specialist, call 407-423-9018. After determining what improvements would be the most beneficial, the specialist, with the homeowner’s approval, will bring in a preferred contractor to handle repairs and upgrades.
To participate in Efficiency Delivered®, OUC customers must have at least six months of continuous usage history at their address. To qualify OUC’s monthly payment plan, customers must be current on their utility bills.
