NJBPU marks key milestone for Comfort Partners program
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) marked a key milestone as 125,000 homes have participated in its Comfort Partners energy efficiency program.
To mark the occasion, NJBPU President Joseph Fiordaliso was among a contingent of officials that traveled to the home of Sonia Barata in Hillside. Fiordaliso was joined by Hillside Mayor Dahlia Vertreese, PSE&G President and COO Kim Hanemann, and Deborah Franco, vice president of rates, regulatory & sustainability for Elizabethtown Gas/South Jersey Industries.
Comfort Partners is a partnership between NJBPU and the state’s electric and gas utilities to help income-qualifying families and individuals make their homes more energy efficient, thus saving them money. Since the program began in 2001, there has been a total of 140,901-megawatt hours and 1,322,197 dekatherms of energy savings. Currently, more than 125,000 homes have participated in the program.
“Comfort Partners is one of New Jersey’s most important energy efficiency programs,” Fiordaliso said. “New Jersey’s housing stock is one of the oldest in the nation, and often these homes are located in environmental justice communities. It is vitally important that the Comfort Partners program is able to make health, safety, and energy efficiency improvements in these homes to benefit the homeowner or renter. Thank you to Ms. Barata for hosting us at your home.”
Barata’s home, built in 1947, posed health, safety, and energy efficiency challenges. It had almost no insulation in the attic, leaking ductwork, and safety risks with her aging furnace and clothes dryer. The Comfort Partners program team was tasked with addressing these concerns and saving her money on her energy bills. All of the upgrades were performed free of charge through the program.
“Comfort Partners has been an important mainstay of New Jersey’s energy efficiency and environmental justice efforts for decades,” PSE&G President and COO Kim Hanemann said. “This program delivers savings and support where they are needed most – to our low-income community members. PSE&G is proud to be a part of the program that is so critical to the health and well-being of our communities. And we’re eager to continue to deliver this and all our programs that fulfill on our vision for a future where people use less energy, and it’s cleaner, safer, and delivered more reliably than ever.”
Program representatives work personally with customers in their house or apartment, reviewing the factors that affect energy use and evaluating the home’s current level of energy efficiency. Among the services, Comfort Partners may do insulation, caulking, weather stripping, energy-saving showerheads, and light bulbs at no cost to the customer.
“Energy efficiency enhancements are an effective way for customers to reduce their environmental footprint, save money, and decrease their energy consumption, all while contributing to a more sustainable future,” said Melissa Orsen, president of SJI Utilities and SVP, SJI.
