Barnstable Representative – Audrey Loughnane
Richard Elrick, Alternate
The Cape Light Compact was formed in 1997 following two years of study and votes of town boards of selectmen and town council. It is organized through a formal intergovernmental agreement signed by all 21 member towns and Barnstable and Dukes counties. The purpose of the Cape Light Compact is to advance the interests of consumers in a competitive electric supply market, including the promotion of energy efficiency. Each participating municipality has a representative on the Compact Governing Board, which sets policy and works with staff, technical and legal support to advance the Cape Light Compact programs.
In 2003, there were about 6,974 metered electric customers in Barnstable. The electric customers who established accounts after March of 1998, formerly on Default Supply service, saved approximately $206,690 through the competitive electricity supply contract negotiated by the Cape Light Compact with Mirant. For calendar year 2003, rebates and other efficiency incentive programs provided to the Town by the Compact totaled approximately $624,894 brought savings to 1,465 participants of $246,734 or about 1,762,385 kilowatt-hours of energy saved for 2003.
Funding for the various energy efficiency programs (i.e. energy audits for homes and businesses, rebates on the purchase of energy efficient appliances and energy education in our schools) comes from a monthly customer “energy conservation” charge ($0.0025 cents multiplied by the number of kilowatt hours used during the month) that appears on each customer’s bill.
This year, the Compact sponsored a regional efficiency awareness campaign. This campaign was targeted toward citizens who attend town meeting. Prior to the start of town meeting, each attendee received a free energy efficient light bulb and a pamphlet explaining ways to save on monthly energy bills, replacement appliances and home improvements.
Other Cape Light Compact efforts include: