Progress Energy offers $1,000 for solar water heater volunteers

By Jim Brumm
StarNews correspondent

Published: Friday, July 10, 2009 at 9:04 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, July 10, 2009 at 9:04 a.m.
Progress Energy wants to know more about solar water heating and is willing to pay up to 150 homeowners $1,000 each to help gather the information.

The utility said it is now accepting applications from customers for its SunSenseSM Solar Water Heating research study, which will test the energy-saving potential of solar water heating systems in the Carolinas.

Cape Fear region homeowners eligible to participate in the pilot program are those living in New Hanover County, along with the nearly 12,000 Progress Energy customers in Brunswick County and some 15,000 in Pender County.

Others in Pender and Brunswick counties are not Progress Energy customers. They buy electricity from cooperatives – Four-County EMC and Brunswick EMC, respectively, while Southport is supplied by a municipal system.

The $1,000 incentive is in addition to the state of North Carolina’s 35 percent tax credit for solar hot water systems, Progress Energy spokesman Scott Sutton said.

The incentive is offered because the utility is seeking data on electricity use both before and after the solar hot water equipment is installed, Sutton explained.

Progress Energy Carolinas will use the data gleaned through the program to help determine regional energy-saving capabilities for larger-scale programs, the company said in a news release.

It said applications will be reviewed in order of the postmark dates on the envelope. For more information and to download the application form, Progress Energy asks that you click on www.progress-energy.com/swh.