Estimating Your Clean Energy Reward

How much of a reward will I get for my home or apartment?

It depends.  Your reward is based on how much clean energy you use.  As a residential consumer you will get a reward of $0.005 (half a cent) per kilowatt hour (kWh) of clean energy consumed up to the limit of 20,000 kWh per year.  Let’s say you consume 12,000 kWh of electricity per year, and 100 percent of that is clean energy, your reward will be $60!  Here’s the math so you can estimate your reward:
 
Reward Rate x Energy Use (kWh) x Percentage of Clean Energy = Reward Payment

$0.005 x 1,000 kWh per month x 100% = $5 per month

If you choose a 50 percent clean energy product, then you will get rewards for half of the electricity you use.  For example:

$0.005 x 1,000 kWh per month x 50% = $2.50 per month, or $30 a year.  

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How much of a reward will I get for my business or community organization?

Similar to a home, your reward is based on the clean energy consumed. Non-residential consumers receive a reward of $0.005 (half a cent) per kilowatt hour (kWh) up to the limit of 400,000 kWh per year. Let’s say your business use 100,000 kWh per year and 50 percent of that is clean energy.   The reward will be $250!  Business and organizations can use this equation to determine their reward:
 
Reward Rate x Energy Use (kWh) x Percentage of Clean Energy = Reward Payment

$0.005 x 8,300 kWh per month x 50% = $20.75 per month

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How much more does clean energy cost?

It depends.  It depends on how much you pay for electricity now, and which clean energy product you choose.  If you change your energy supplier it will depend on whether you choose 50% clean energy (about 11 cents per kWh), or 100% clean energy (about 12 cents per kWh).  If you buy RECs you will be able to tell based on the price of the REC and the number of RECs your purchase.

	Cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh)	Total Cost per Month (1,000 kWh)	Total Cost After Rewards	Environmental Impact
Standard Electricity	$0.1176	$117.60	$117.60	1,293 lbs. CO2 8 lbs. sulfur dioxide 3 lbs. nitrogen dioxide*
Average Monthly Cost** 100% wind power	$0.12	$120	$115	0
Average Monthly Cost** 100% REC purchase	$0.02	$20	$15	0

*Based on regional fuel mix for electricity generation.
**Cost of clean energy products are averaged across participating suppliers.  Actually cost of clean energy will vary per supplier and product selected, i.e., 100% wind power, 50% wind power, etc.  Prices updated 4/3/09.

Bottom line -- after Clean Energy Rewards you will be saving a couple dollars a month for clean energy and helping to:

• Reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into our air  
• Reduce particulate matter in our waterways and soils
• Reduce smog/ground level ozone
• Reduce pollutants that aggravate people with pulmonary issues and the elderly
• Reduce acid rain?

Additionally, choosing clean energy is personally satisfying.  By making the switch you know that you are doing your part to improve our air quality and slow climate change, and are leaving a cleaner environment for future generations.

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Updated April 3, 2009.