SCE Program Helps Lower Bills and Energy Use

Being energy efficient around the home can significantly reduce electric bills - it's all about using less energy to perform the same tasks. Southern California Edison's Energy Savings Assistance program aims to do just that.

The program helps residents reduce their energy consumption through a range of energy-saving home improvements at no cost to income-eligible customers.

Here's how it works:

• Head to sce.com/esa and fill out the application.
• If approved, a contractor will reach out to do a walk-through of the home and determine which appliances can be upgraded to increase energy efficiency.
• The contractor will then install the new appliances or provide weatherization services.
• For the final step, an SCE team member will do an inspection to make sure the installations meet quality standards.

Some of the common upgrades include refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, heat pumps and LED lighting.

"By offering these upgrades at no cost, we are helping to reduce energy bills and improve comfort for families," said Brian Stonerock, director of Advanced Energy Solutions at SCE.

To qualify for the ESA program, customers must meet specific household income guidelines and live in a single-family home or mobile home within SCE's service area. Residences like duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes with four or fewer units are considered single-family homes. Both homeowners and renters are eligible.

Extra energy-efficiency facts:

• Upgrading to appliances with the ENERGY STAR label can save a typical household hundreds of dollars annually.
• Switching to LED bulbs can use up to 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
• Installing a programmable thermostat can save up to 10% on energy bills.
• Many devices consume power even when turned off. Unplugging them or using power strips to turn off multiple devices at once can reduce your energy use by up to 10%.

For more information and how to apply, visit sce.com/esa.