RICHMOND, Va., Sept. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominion Virginia Power has begun offering residential customers new energy conservation programs, including a Home Energy Check-Up with a rebate that is based on the energy efficiency measures installed.

"We encourage customers who want to make their homes more energy efficient to take a close look at these programs," said Ken Barker, Dominion vice president of customer solutions and energy conservation.  "Along with helping customers save money, there also is an environmental benefit to using less energy."

In addition to the Home Energy Check-Up program, Dominion is offering programs to test and seal heating and cooling system duct work, to tune-up heat pumps and to upgrade heat pumps to more efficient units.  The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) has authorized the company to offer these programs. 

In each program, the customer selects and works directly with a contractor from an approved list. Details on each program, including the names of approved contractors in the customer's area, are available on www.dom.com, search: Energy Conservation.  Information is also available by calling toll-free at 1-866-DOM-HELP, (1-866-366-4357).

Each program offers a rebate to participants.  The amount of the incentive varies.  In the Home Energy Check-Up program, a qualifying customer will receive a personalized report with findings and recommendations for saving energy, as well as a rebate based on improvements involving the water heater, sinks and showerheads, lighting, air conditioning filters and other items.  The company estimates that the average one-time incentive will be approximately $230 for customers making improvements that are based on the check-up results. 

The average incentives are $125 for the residential Duct Testing and Sealing program and $90 per unit for a residential Heat Pump Tune-Up program.  The average incentive is $200 for the Heat Pump Upgrade program for installing a unit with an efficiency rating of 14.5 to 15.9 and $250 for a rating of 16 and higher.

These new programs join the other energy conservation initiatives that the company is offering.

Citing the success of the Smart Cooling Rewards program, in which air conditioning units are cycled off and on for certain hours during very hot days, Dominion recently asked state regulators to extend the program for five years. The program reduces peak demand by nearly 60 megawatts of power, equal to the output of a small generating station. 

The company also asked to extend for two years the Income-Qualifying Home Improvement program to identify and install energy conservation measures at homes of qualified customers.

Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 28,000 megawatts of generation. Dominion operates the nation's largest natural gas storage system and serves retail energy customers in 15 states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's website at www.dom.com.

Follow us on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/DomVAPower
'Like' us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dominionvirginiapower

SOURCE Dominion Virginia Power