Home Heating Equipment Rebate Program Available For Residential Natural Gas Customers

PITTSBURGH, April 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Equitable Gas Company, LLC, and the Air Conditioning Contractors Association (ACCA) of Western Pennsylvania today announced the availability of monetary rebates for the purchase of new energy efficient natural gas water heaters and furnaces.  The rebates are funded through the new Pennsylvania Home Heating Equipment Rebate Program.  In addition, Equitable Gas Company announced its filing of a three-year pilot energy conservation program with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PA PUC) to assist customers in reducing energy consumption and their home heating bills.  The program, if approved as proposed by Equitable Gas, will be provided to customers at no cost.

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On April 21^st, the Pennsylvania Home Heating Equipment Rebate program opened and consumers can reserve rebate funds by going to the program Web site at www.paheatingrebates.com or calling (877) 592-2061.   Residential consumers must then purchase a qualifying product, have a licensed and registered contractor install it, and submit a completed rebate application within 30 calendar days of the reservation date to receive a rebate from $100 up to $500 depending on the installed product.

Funded by the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the program's more than $11 million in monetary rebates will be available on a first-come, first-served basis to encourage energy efficient ENERGY STAR-qualified heating equipment purchases and help target energy savings throughout the state.  Customers may combine this new rebate program with federal tax credits and/or manufacturer rebates.

"Western Pennsylvania ACCA is delighted to team with Equitable Gas to do our part in educating our citizens about the Pennsylvania Home Heating Equipment Rebate Program," said Steve Woodring, ACCA board member and Vice President of Wade Heating and Cooling.   "We want to encourage energy savings in the Commonwealth and ensure our residents take advantage of this progressive program developed to reduce energy usage in our state."

As part of its new pilot energy conservation program filed with the PA PUC today, Equitable Gas will inform its customers of the availability of programs and resources like the Home Heating Equipment Rebate Program and encourage them to take steps to reduce energy consumption.  In addition, the new Equitable Gas pilot conservation program will provide customers with energy conservation tips and tools through enhanced online information and print materials.

The proposed pilot program, if approved by the PA PUC, will also provide free in-home energy audits to high-use customers not eligible for other programs and information on financial incentives to implement audit recommendations or other energy savings tips.

"Equitable Gas Company is excited about the benefits our pilot energy conservation program will provide our customers and about programs like the Pennsylvania Heating Equipment Rebate Program," stated M. Elise Hyland, President of Equitable Gas.  "Through numerous surveys over the last few years, our customers have expressed an interest in having Equitable Gas assist them in conserving energy and reducing their utility bills.  We hope the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission will review favorably our proposed pilot conservation program and approve it prior to the start of the winter heating season."

Equitable Gas Company is a provider of safe and dependable natural gas service to approximately 275,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers located mainly in the city of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.  Its customer base also includes more than 200 municipalities in nine other counties in western Pennsylvania, 12 counties in central and northern West Virginia, and nine counties in eastern Kentucky.  Additional information about Equitable Gas can be obtained through its Web site at www.equitablegas.com.

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), Western Pennsylvania Chapter is a duly authorized and recognized affiliated chapter of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America located in Washington, D.C.  ACCA is a non-profit trade association comprised of independent heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) contractors.

ACCA-WPA's objective is to promote and protect the interest and welfare of the HVACR industry, its members, and the public which it serves. In doing so, its members maintain the highest ethical standards of selling, advertising, pricing, installation, and service guided by the principles of honesty and integrity. While competing in our free enterprise system, the members of ACCA-WPA share certain goals and aspirations designed to improve the quality of service provided to the American people.  For more information visit www.accawpa.org.

SOURCE Equitable Gas Company, LLC