How to reduce your energy costs with a PECO home energy assessment.
PECO’s Energy Assessment Program Offers Guidance to Energy Efficiency
Electricity rates are rising this year and Philadelphians are feeling the higher energy bills. Whether preparing for the next cold snap or during the soon-to-be summer heat waves, consumers can cut energy costs while still living comfortably in their homes.
The first step? Determine where you’re using the most energy. Beyond turning off the lights and lowering the thermostat a few degrees, some homes have leaks that you feel especially during extreme temperature changes, that need to be professionally addressed.
Since 2009, PECO has offered energy assessment services for its customers. These individualized audits offer recommendations to reduce inefficiency and help you save money. PECO has performed tens of thousands of assessments over the years, serving over 7,000 homes in 2024. The program is open to homeowners, renters and businesses.
During an assessment, PECO advisors may provide smart strips and swap out wasteful equipment, such as incandescent lightbulbs, with more cost-saving LED lightbulbs.
LED bulbs use 90% less energy than an incandescent bulb, and last 25% longer and emit less heat which saves on cooling costs, according to Thomas Hill, a senior energy efficiency manager at PECO.
What To Expect During an Assessment
After a contractor recommended an energy assessment due to an air leak in my house, I recently went through the service, incentivized by a half-off promotional price of the regular $49 cost. I easily and quickly found an appointment online.
The PECO advisor arrived promptly and inspected every room of my house, including the front and back exteriors. He started in the basement, where he noted window leakage and inspected my water heater and furnace.
As he went through various rooms, he replaced several incandescent lightbulbs with LED versions included in the initial audit price. He also shared an easy fix for a space heater that was previously tripping a fuse. (I had to plug it directly into the outlet rather than a power cord.)
He then tackled my main concern of air coming through the floor of a front bedroom. Using an infrared camera, the PECO advisor could see the variation in temperatures due to the air. He discussed various insulation options that could be performed by contractors who honor PECO rebates.
Within a few days, he emailed me a ten-page report of his findings and recommendations. It was in an easy-to-follow table format and detailed the rebates available depending on the work I chose to get done.
For example, if I proceeded with the insulation, there is a one-hundred-dollar rebate for 1000 square feet of space treated. The report also included a list of a dozen contractors’ contact information, areas of expertise, and counties served so I could get multiple quotes.
Find the energy program that’s right for you.
In addition to the assessment I underwent, which PECO refers to as the market rate assessment, there are a few other programs available depending on your energy system and income level. Each of these programs are also available for businesses at no upfront cost.
Energy Assessment Plus
For customers with electric heating systems such as an electric heat pump or furnace
Includes:
- Diagnostic testing to detect air leakages
- Inspection of insulation
- List of vetted contractors
- Personalized report of findings and recommendations which includes rebate incentives
Time: Two to three-hours
Cost: $99
Free Energy Checkup
For residents with incomes within 0-150% of the federal poverty level. The checkup is required for any customers on the Customer Assistance Program (CAP)
Includes:
- Same services as in the market rate energy assessment
- Recommended work and upgrades will be completed at no cost to the customer
Customers who meet usage and income eligibility requirements can also receive an assessment, repairs and upgrades through the Low Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP) at no cost.
How to save energy – and money – right now
Want to take action to save money during the colder months? Although each home will have its unique scenario, advisors have found several common issues customers should be aware of.
- Limit use of space heaters. “We tend to think the small space heaters couldn’t use a lot of energy,” Hill said, “but they can actually use twice the amount of an [window] air conditioner.”
- Monitor game system usage: Hill called PlayStation systems and the like, “big proponents of high energy usage,” in the same vein as computers and other electronics
- Locking windows instead of simply closing them. Caulking and sealing is good, but Hill also suggests customers lock windows as air is still able to seep in or out,
Additionally, there are seasonal actions you can take that will help mitigate costs.
PECO customers who have completed recommended weatherization work have noticed more comfortable temperatures, and “heating and cooling energy bills have decreased year over year.” I cannot attest to the value of the assessment since the work is yet to be done.
Whether you complete the next step or not, receiving the free bulbs and power trips tends to exceed the cost of the program, according to Hill. You can check the PECO website for discounts on their energy assessments.
Photo by Anton Belashov on Unsplash
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