"By using Carrier's ComfortChoice energy demand management solution, NewPower is demonstrating its progressive and proactive efforts to reduce electricity demand during peak periods, ensuring a more reliable power supply and mitigating the need for increased production capacity," said Ken Fox, vice president and general manager of Carrier Electronics. "This in turn preserves natural resources and lowers harmful air emissions."
As part of the pilot, Carrier's communicating, programmable EMi
thermostats have been installed in 100 homes in the Philadelphia
and Pittsburgh areas. Carrier provided NewPower with a software
application that allows them to initiate a "curtailment"
via the Internet. NewPower has the ability to adjust current thermostat
settings, specifying the number of degrees and for what duration,
to reduce demand and better manage their energy usage and costs.
The customer always remains in control and may instantaneously
override the adjustment at any time. All communication to and
from the thermostat is achieved via the wireless two-way paging
network. The two-way wireless technology enables energy providers
to send curtailment messages, verify system operation, message
receipt, curtailment participation and overrides.
"As NewPower has advocated since its inception, energy restructuring
leads to technological innovation, efficiency and environmental
benefits," said H. Eugene Lockhart, The New Power Company's
president and chief executive officer. "The nation's move
to energy restructuring makes it possible for consumers to better
manage their energy needs."
With nearly 3,000 EMi thermostats installed in New York City
and Long Island this summer, resulting in a three-megawatt potential
energy savings, ComfortChoice is becoming a familiar player in
the national energy management arena.
NewPower Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: NPW),
through its subsidiary, The New Power Company, is the first national
provider of electricity and natural gas to residential and small
commercial customers in the United States. The Company offers
consumers in restructured retail energy markets competitive energy
prices, pricing choices, improved customer service and other innovative
products, services and incentives.
