AEP Operating Companies Recognized with 2016 ENERGY STAR® Awards

Accepting EPA ENERGY STAR awards for AEP are (from left to right): Jim Miller, AEP Ohio; Deanna Gilliland, AEP Ohio; Melissa Proske, AEP Texas; Jonathan Passe, EPA; Sherry McCormack, SWEPCO; and Phil Watkins, SWEPCO. Not pictured – Lisa Puyear, PSO.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized four AEP operating companies with 2016 ENERGY STAR® awards. AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) and Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) were all honored April 13 for energy efficiency programs.

SWEPCO named a 2016 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for Arkansas energy efficiency program

This is the second year in a row SWEPCO has received the ENERGY STAR recognition.

The award recognizes SWEPCO’s successful implementation of the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (HPwES) program in Arkansas, which promotes the use of ENERGY STAR-certified products and technologies that help improve home performance. SWEPCO has been an HPwES partner since 2012.

During 2015, SWEPCO’s Arkansas program generated approximately 5.6 gigawatt hours (GWh) in energy savings, an increase of 238 percent over 2014. With restructured incentives and other changes, 767 single-family homes were completed for 1.8 GWh in energy savings. SWEPCO also began working with multifamily properties in the HPwES program, resulting in 811 units completed for 3.8 GWh in energy savings.

“We are very pleased to receive the ENERGY STAR recognition for a second year,” said Phil Watkins, Energy Efficiency and Consumer Programs Manager for SWEPCO in Arkansas. “The SWEPCO staff, our implementation team from CLEAResult, and our network of contractors are dedicated to making improvements that increase comfort and energy efficiency for residential customers.”

PSO recognized for regional leadership in energy efficiency

Lisa Puyear (right) accepts the ENERGY STAR award for PSO from Jacob Moss, U.S. EPA Climate Protection Partnerships Division Deputy Director. Looking on at left is Ely Jacobsohn, U.S. Dept of Energy Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program Manager.

PSO earned a 2016 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Energy Efficiency Program Delivery Award for its outstanding efforts to increase the adoption of energy-efficient products. An ENERGY STAR partner since 2008, PSO was honored for its support of HPwES. It was the fifth time the company was recognized with a Partner of the Year award in the last six years. PSO completed 3,055 HPwES projects in 2015.

“Public Service Company of Oklahoma truly values our partnership with ENERGY STAR,” said Jeff Brown, Energy Efficiency and Consumer Programs Manager for PSO. “It’s exciting to see the impact we’ve made through our efforts to help customers save both energy and money, while also helping protect our environment.”

“PSO excels in delivering Home Performance with ENERGY STAR to its customers,” said Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program Manager Ely Jacobsohn. “PSO implemented successful approaches that can be replicated in programs across the country to improve the energy efficiency, health, comfort, and safety of America’s housing stock.”

AEP Ohio honored with Partner of the Year—Sustained Excellence Award and Market Leader Award  

AEP Ohio and Columbia Gas of Ohio were honored with a prestigious 2016 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year—Sustained Excellence Award and a Market Leader Award for continued leadership in protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency.

Through its co-branded program EfficiencyCrafted, AEP Ohio and Columbia Gas of Ohio collaborate in overlapping territories to assist homebuilders in incorporating energy upgrades that exceed current code and provide greater energy savings and built-in value. The program also recognizes builders who attain the level of EfficiencyCrafted plus ENERGY STAR Certified.

“We are honored to have our co-branded energy efficiency program for new construction with Columbia Gas of Ohio recognized by the EPA. Collectively, these homes are estimated to have saved over 25 million kWh of electricity and more than 2.9 million CCF of natural gas,” said Jon Williams, manager of energy efficiency and consumer programs, AEP Ohio.

AEP Texas earns sixth consecutive Partner of the Year award

AEP Texas won the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence – Energy Efficiency Program Delivery award for its High-Performance New Homes Construction program. This is AEP Texas’ sixth consecutive year to win the Partner of the Year award (fourth consecutive year for Sustained Excellence) from the EPA.  AEP Texas has been an ENERGY STAR partner since 2008.

The High-Performance New Homes Program provides comprehensive outreach, education and marketing of energy-efficient and ENERGY STAR certified homes.

“We are honored to receive this award for our New Homes program and our work to educate local building trade allies and consumers about the value of homes with energy-saving features that increase comfort, improve performance and reduce costs,” said Melissa Proske, AEP Texas energy efficiency and consumer programs coordinator. “We value our partnership with ENERGY STAR in our continued efforts to help homeowners across our service territory reduce energy costs while also protecting the environment.”

ENERGY STAR has 16,000 partners working to protect the environment through greater energy efficiency, including manufacturers, retailers, public schools, hospitals, real estate companies, and home builders.

For a complete list of 2016 winners and information, and more information about ENERGY STAR’s awards program, visit www.energystar.gov/awardwinners.