Residents encouraged to participate in SCE's discount plan

Southern California Edison is encouraging customers to enroll in its Summer Discount Plan now so that they can be eligible for bill credits during June through September, in return for allowing SCE to interrupt their air conditioner during power-supply emergencies.

There are already more than 213,000 customers participating in the program, but SCE is reemphasizing its efforts to increase that number so that more customers with central air conditioners can sign up for energy savings.

A small, radio-controlled device installed by SCE on the air conditioner temporarily turns it off when needed. The program only turns off the designated A.C. and leaves on the power for lights, fans, cooking, entertainment and other appliances.

The re-emphasis was prompted by a California Public Utilities Commission order directing SCE to secure an additional 225 megawatts of demand-response capacity by summer 2007.

Demand-response programs lower the consumption of electricity when supplies are tight. A megawatt is enough electricity to power approximately 650 homes.

"Having your air conditioner possibly shut off for a few hours on a hot day doesn't sound very appealing," said Lynda Ziegler, SCE senior vice president for customer service. "But, historically, our air conditioner program has only been activated a few times a year, on average about three times annually, if you discount 2000, the year of the California energy crisis. Even last summer, with all the record heat and all the record electricity usage, our a/c program was only activated twice."

There are two residential plans available. The Base Plan allows for a maximum of 15 possible temporary shutdowns or "cycling" times per year for up to a $100 bill credit, and the Enhanced Plan provides twice the base credit amount for allowing an unlimited number of times per year for the possible cycling of a customer's air conditioner for a credit of up to $200.

For more information, call (800) 497-2813 or visit www.sce.com and click "Rebates & Savings." Information and applications can also be obtained by contacting SCE region manager Rudy Gonzales at (805) 497-5616.