2005

RELEASE: IMMEDIATE, April 8, 2005
CONTACT: Jean Donovan
1-866-NYSERDA, ext. 3516 or jmd@nyserda.org

NYSERDA SMALL COMMERCIAL LIGHTING PROGRAM AWARDS COMPETITION PRIZES TO TWO COMPANIES

Albany, NY, April 8, 2005 - The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced that Wolberg Electrical Supply Company of Albany and Warren Electric Supply of Queensbury are the winners in the New York Energy $mart^SM Small Commercial Lighting Program (SCLP) Quarterly Installation Competition for the fourth quarter of 2004. The award recognizes those participating companies (Allies) that are the most active in supplying or installing projects during the previous quarter. The new lighting systems are providing better lit spaces for employees and customers, while saving New York small businesses thousands of dollars in energy and maintenance costs.

"To remain competitive and keep costs down, businesses throughout New York State realize the importance of energy efficiency," said Peter R. Smith, President of NYSERDA. "The lighting distributors and contractors participating in the Small Commercial Lighting Program help thousands of small businesses across the State achieve energy efficiency, and at the same time help them to provide their employees and customers with better illuminated spaces and an improved indoor lighting environment."

Wolberg Electrical Supply received $1,000 in award funds for completing eight lighting projects, or supplying the materials for these projects, in the Small Distributor category. This is the third time Wolberg has won the competition in this category, and since becoming a Small Commercial Lighting Program Ally, it has participated in 35 qualifying projects while saving its clients over 1 million kWh annually.

Warren Electric Supply received $1,000 for completing 8 projects, or supplying the materials for these projects, in the Large Distributor Category. This is the second time Warren Electric has won the Installation Competition in the Large Distributor Category, and the company has been involved in 10 qualifying projects providing an aggregate electricity savings of more than 400,000 kWh annually.

The New York Energy $mart^SM Small Commercial Lighting Program, which is open to lighting distributors, contractors, designers, and manufacturers, promotes effective, energy-efficient lighting products and designs for commercial spaces between 1,000 and 25,000 square feet. The program is changing the way the lighting market designs and manufactures lighting systems by providing businesses the option of improved lighting systems that are designed to reduce energy usage, save the customer money on electric bills, and improve the lighting for employees and customers. To date, more than 2 million square feet of small commercial and institutional building spaces in New York State have been upgraded to effective, energy-efficient lighting through this program.

Funding for the awards comes from the New York Energy $mart^SM program which is designed to lower electricity costs by encouraging energy efficiency. Programs are available to electric distribution customers of Central Hudson Gas and Electric, Consolidated Edison, NYSEG, Niagara Mohawk, Orange and Rockland Utilities, and Rochester Gas and Electric, and to the businesses that seek energy-efficient equipment and services to those customers. All New York Energy $mart^SM programs are funded by a System Benefits Charge (SBC) paid by customers of these utilities.