Progress Energy is more than just a major electric utilities provider, it’s a Fortune 500 company. The Raleigh, N.C.-based provider pumps out approximately 21,000 megawatts through two electric utilities that serve approximately 3.1 million customers in the Carolinas and Florida. It also makes $9 billion in annual revenues. But recently the company filed a plan aimed at encouraging its customers to use energy-saving products, such as window film, to save on costs related to electricity—a move that doesn’t sound as though it’s aimed at increasing revenues.

The company filed a 10-year plan with the Florida Public Service Commission recently to increase its existing energy-efficiency goal of 412 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) by nearly 50 percent. To achieve its goals, Progress Energy Florida proposes enhancing its existing energy-efficiency programs with new offerings designed to increase customer participation and lower energy bills. And the fact that window film is on the company’s list can only mean good things for Florida dealers.

The plan includes measures aimed at: encouraging customer adoption of solar power and other promising alternative and renewable energy technologies; developing innovative energy-efficiency initiatives;
beginning the transition to a “Smart Grid;” and
enhancing educational opportunities for customers. Progress Energy Florida officials say that the company’s energy-saving efforts are nothing new. In fact, they say that its customers have saved $1 billion since 1981 by participating in these sorts of energy-efficiency programs.

“As the costs of life’s essentials continue to rise, we know our customers want more options for saving on their energy bills,” says Jeff Lyash, Progress Energy Florida’s president and chief executive officer. “And we’re working to design programs that fit a variety of lifestyles and needs.”

Progress Energy Florida’s Neighborhood Energy Saver plan, one of many, includes five energy-efficiency improvements, including: insulation, energy-efficient reflective roofing, an energy-efficient heating system, heating and cooling system maintenance, and, last but not least, window film or solar screens. These measures will be added to the 16 currently provided through the program that company officials say has already assisted thousands of customers living in low-income neighborhoods.