PSEG Long Island customers have saved $330 million on energy bills since 2014

PSEG Long Island proudly announces that business and residential customers throughout Long Island and the Rockaways have saved an estimated $330 million on electric bills over the past seven years by taking advantage of PSEG Long Island’s energy efficiency programs.

In recognition of National Cut Your Energy Costs Day – Jan. 10 – PSEG Long Island commends its customers for making a commitment to the environment by making cost-effective, energy-saving upgrades to their homes and businesses. National Cut Your Energy Costs Day encourages people to look for ways to reduce energy costs and save on their energy bills.

There are several energy cost saving programs and products available to PSEG Long Island customers. If it is time to replace an old inefficient cooling/heating system, the PSEG Long Island Home Comfort Program offers options to save on the purchase of new, high efficiency air source heat pumps that will lower energy usage, save money and provide greater comfort.  Rebates are available for ducted air source heat pumps, ducted geothermal heat pumps, and ductless mini split systems. 

Customers can also save money by making simple DIY updates. Here are some tips that can help save money and energy on National Cut Your Energy Costs Day and every other day of the year:

• Replace old inefficient light bulbs with LED bulbs. A single LED bulb will save a household approximately $230 over the lifetime of each bulb. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, lighting accounts for 15% of home electric use. Replacing incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs and fixtures will save energy and money.
• Use energy efficient power strips. Items plugged into outlets can waste electricity just by being plugged in, even when turned off. This is sometimes referred to as “phantom power.” A simple way to eliminate this avoidable usage is to use an energy efficient power strip or unplug electronic devices when not in use.
• Install timers and motion detectors. Automatically turning indoor and outdoor lights on and off by using timers or motion detectors is another way to save energy.
• Lower your thermostat by just 1 degree. This has the potential to reduce your heating bill by up to 3%. Save even more by lowering your thermostat 2 degrees during the day and 5 to 10 degrees at bedtime, if health conditions permit. PSEG Long Island offers rebates on smart thermostats that can be programmed to lower your thermostat automatically.
• Ceiling fans aren’t just for the summer. In the winter, slowly spinning ceiling fans can be set to rotate clockwise, pushing the air upward towards the ceiling. This will circulate warm air near the ceiling down the walls and towards the occupants in the room.
• Seal up windows and door frames. Use weather stripping or caulk to seal up cracks and prevent drafts. Also be sure to remove or cover window air conditioners to reduce drafts.

Independent annual evaluations by Opinion Dynamics Corporation have found PSEG Long Island’s energy efficiency and renewable energy programs generate energy savings that are cost-effective. In its evaluation for 2019, Opinion Dynamics found that the PSEG Long Island Energy Efficiency Program generated $2 in benefits to the utility and its customers for every $1 in costs to operate the program, including rebates.

For additional information and to learn how to cut energy use every day visit, https://www.psegliny.com/efficiency. Be part of the conversation on National Cut Your Energy Costs Day by using the hashtag: #CutYourEnergyCostsDay. 

Is hidden energy waste costing you? Some energy losses are easy to spot, while others may be concealed behind walls or in dark corners. Carefully examine your home. What you find may surprise you — and save you money. Here’s what to look for.

Holes in the attic

You may not spend much time in your attic, but it’s a great place for air (and your energy dollars) to escape. While you’re up there, make sure there’s no air leaking through gaps and holes. Pull back attic insulation to find cutouts from ceiling fans and recessed light fixtures and seal them with caulk or expandable foam. Check for and seal gaps around plumbing vents, furnace flues and ductwork. Also, seal the attic door or access with weatherstripping.

Gaps underground

Airflow through holes in your basement can undermine your energy budget and reduce comfort. Air can escape through gaps and cracks in the rim joists and where the wall meets the ceiling, as well as through plumbing and wiring holes on outside walls. Caulk is best for sealing small holes or cracks. Use spray foam insulation to fill larger gaps.

Insufficient insulation

If your home isn’t insulated properly, you’re spending more to be less comfortable. Check your attic. If there’s no insulation, contact a qualified contractor right away. If you have insulation, make sure the R-level matches that recommended for your climate zone. What about your walls? A qualified contractor can perform an inspection and advise whether you need to add insulation.

Phantom loads

Many electronic devices in your home, such as smartphone chargers and video game consoles, continue to draw power even when they’re turned off. Unplug devices when they’re not in use or plug them into advanced power strips, which automatically power off unused devices.

Clogged filter

Forget to change the air filter on your furnace? The added heating and cooling costs will leave a lasting impression. To ensure efficient airflow and comfort, change your air filter monthly during the heating and cooling season, or according to manufacturer’s guidelines.

Bare pipes

If the hot water piping coming out of your hot water tank isn’t insulated, you’re wasting energy and money. Fitted pipe insulation is available at your local DIY retailer, and it’s an easy and affordable project. Click here to see how.

You’ve covered a lot of ground and uncovered a lot of ways to reduce your energy bills and make your home more comfortable. Take it a step further and hire a qualified professional to perform an energy assessment of your home. You’ll receive a targeted set of recommendations to save energy and make your home more comfortable.

Giving Tuesday is a powerful opportunity to set aside holiday shopping and support nonprofits that help the community, and the PSEG Foundation is maximizing our impact by providing a 2:1 match today for all employee contributions.

While today’s donations will certainly add up, PSEG Long Island employees carry our company’s mission of strong community involvement all year long, and they have already been busy making contributions of a different kind to put food on the tables of neighbors in need.

Despite the pandemic, our employees collected and donated thousands of pounds of nonperishable food, along with hundreds of Thanksgiving turkeys, to help people facing food insecurity. This was part of the Bethpage Federal Credit Union’s (BFCU) annual turkey drive on Nov. 20, which supports Island Harvest Food Bank.

Navigating through the contactless donation drive-thru set up to ensure donors’ safety, Long Islanders dropped off a whopping 3,157 turkeys in total – far more than the 2,100 collected last year! We’re especially proud of the PSEG Long Island employees who contributed 265 of the donated birds. 

The turkeys were distributed to families across Long Island to help make their Thanksgiving meals special and complete.   

Along with all of those turkeys, PSEG Long Island’s efforts provided Island Harvest with 3,000 pounds of nonperishable food to help fight hunger in our area.

Our employees collected canned and packaged foods – some they donated themselves and others brought by the public to several recent food drives at PSEG Long Island offices in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

During three weeks at the end of October and beginning of November, employees, customers and community members were invited make donations of food and household essentials at Island Harvest drop boxes set up outside our offices, which remain closed to protect public health.

The customer turnout at the Patchogue office is worthy of an honorable mention. Thank you to the people in the area who came out in force to drop bags and boxes of cheer for our neighbors in need.

While Giving Tuesday is one day in a busy holiday season, food insecurity is a year-round concern and COVID-19 has exacerbated the problem. That’s why supporting this cause is so important.

If you would like to donate to Island Harvest or are struggling with food insecurity, call 631-873-4775.

To learn more about PSEG Long Island’s support of the community, click here.

View photos from the 12th Annual Turkey Drive

PSEG Long Island has experienced an uptick in scam reporting recently and encourages customers to stay alert and informed about scammers to #StopScams.

This year has presented many challenges, and scammers prey on us when we are distracted. We are pleased to participate in the UUAS awareness campaign to educate and help decrease the number of customers that fall victim to the scammers.

Scammers have become more brazen with their tactics and all customers need to be aware. It is our hope that information about scams will be widely shared throughout our service communities so no one falls prey to these unscrupulous people.

“Customers need to be on high alert as we continue to see impostor utility scams rise across North America,” said UUAS Executive Director Monica Martinez. “Scammers demand money or personal information on the spot—usually with threatening language—and indicate that service will be disconnected immediately. Anyone and everyone, from senior households to small business owners, is at risk of being targeted.”

Protect yourself against scams:

Be alert to the telltale sign of a scam: someone asking by telephone or email for payment in pre-paid debit cards or through a MoneyGram transfer, or to send money to an out-of-state address. Never arrange payment or divulge account or personal information, including Social Security numbers or debit or credit card information, over the telephone unless you are certain you are speaking to a PSEG Long Island representative.

Customers should also know what PSEG Long Island will and won’t discuss over the phone. A genuine PSEG Long Island representative will ask to speak to the “Customer of Record.” If that person is available, the representative will explain why they are calling and provide the account name, address and current balance. If the person on the phone does not provide the correct information, it is likely the customer is not speaking with a PSEG Long Island representative.

If the “Customer of Record” is not available, the PSEG Long Island representative will not discuss the account at all and ask that a message be left for the “Customer of Record” to call 1-800-490-0025.

If a customer has doubts about the legitimacy of a call or an email — especially one in which payment is requested — call the company directly at 1-800-490-0025. 

PSEG Long Island is a member of the UUAS collaborative. UUAS, a consortium of more than 145 U.S. and Canadian electric, water, and natural gas utilities and their respective trade associations, has helped to create awareness of common and new scam tactics and to cease operations of nearly 5,000 toll-free numbers used against utility customers by scammers.

For more information on various payment scams reported in the PSEG Long Island service area and around the country, visit psegliny.com/scam.

The coronavirus pandemic has significantly reshaped the workplace. So much so that going back to business as usual may not be an option. As we look ahead towards “the new normal,” what will offices look like? Here are some ideas.

More space

Whether this means more space between individual workstations or fewer desks in smaller areas, it’s likely that work areas will shift. Open-plan offices with few barriers between desks will likely need to rethink interior design.

Occupancy in small, closed-in spaces is also a concern. Small meeting rooms that won’t allow for employees to properly social distance may need to become dedicated offices, while large meeting rooms will have much smaller occupancy limits. Areas where furniture can’t be adjusted — like bathrooms, elevators and hallways — will also need occupancy limits and rules to allow employees to distance themselves.

Staggered in-office attendance

Instead of moving desks, some companies may opt to instead stagger employee attendance. Rethinking seating arrangements to only allow certain employees to come into work during set times can account for safety and social distancing without having to rethink office design entirely.

This plan also allows employees to continue to work from home — a perk that is likely here to stay. Now that companies have invested in the technology and tools that allow remote work to be possible, it’s unlikely they’ll return to the old way of doing business.

Updated safety design and procedures

It’s likely anti-infection barricades and technology will become an integral part of back-to-office plans. Some may consider adding walls or even plexiglass divider screens — those often seen at checkout counters in stores — between desks to act as “breath barriers.” Others will invest in touchless technology for doors, elevators, light switches and more to prevent virus transfer on commonly touched surfaces. As far as HVAC systems go, ventilation air fans will run continuously using 100% outdoor air, and air sanitation will need to be maintained using ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) or air ionizers.

Offices can further prepare for the new normal by purchasing touchless thermometers, cleaning products and sanitation supplies — think anti-bacterial soap and hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Giving employees the necessities to keep themselves and their workplaces clean and germ-free will be essential to maintaining safety in the workplace.

Permanent signage and distance markers

To communicate that safety procedures aren’t just temporary solutions, more permanent signage and markers will likely need to be added to shared spaces. Signage indicating company expectations for hand washing, mask wearing, sanitizing procedures and more could carry company logos and be just as thought-out, well-designed and permanent as other in-office posters and printouts.

Changes such as these may present a learning curve in company workplaces, but they’ll be essential to maintaining the health and safety of employees. For more information about returning to a workplace setting, see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s employer information for office buildings.

PSEG is fortunate to count many military veterans among our 13,000 employees – men and women who have served their country proudly and are now dedicated to carrying out PSEG’s vision of providing safe, reliable energy. This Veterans Day, we salute them and all Americans who have served.

One such employee is Rachel Lane, principal project manager at PSEG Long Island, who received her commission as second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force in September 2000 after graduating from Lehigh University with a degree in electrical engineering. Lane comes from a military family and the idea of service appealed to her.

“I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself,” Lane said. “I wanted to travel and have adventure.”

Assigned to a garrison duty station in Oklahoma City, Lane commanded about 50 airmen. A year after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, she was deployed to a small base on Masirah Island, off the coast of Oman in the Arabian Sea.

“We were supporting special operations and resupply missions that ran into Afghanistan,” Lane said. “We deployed tactical communications infrastructures, setting up satellite communications, telephones, computers and air traffic control systems for air bases.”

Lane remained in Oman until February 2003. Her active duty service ended in October 2004, when she retired as a captain. But her adventures were not finished. In 2007, while working for a major defense contractor, she embedded with a U.S. Army unit to maintain an intelligence gathering and processing system. She was responsible for repairing the equipment and training soldiers to operate it.

She worked in former Iraq ruler Saddam Hussein’s palace, a massive building surrounded by a moat.

“I never had to leave” she said. “The biggest threats we faced were rockets and mortars that were launched onto the base.”

Life at Home

Lane’s time in Iraq included another kind of adventure: meeting her future husband, an Army soldier and contractor. Their shared experiences in the Middle East are a strong foundation for their lives back home today.  

“He understands what I’ve been through, and is a good teammate and partner,” she said.

At PSEG, Lane has been able to apply her experience as an Air Force officer and military contractor – especially her leadership skills and ability to oversee complex, mission-critical jobs.

In managing capital construction projects, such as new or expanded substations in western Suffolk County, Long Island, she coordinates the design, permitting, construction, service sector and public affairs teams, enabling them to meet each project’s scope, schedule and budget.

On Veterans Day, she looks back on her military service with pride.

“Doing some of the things I had to do at such a young age gave me a lot of confidence in my ability to take on challenges and adapt to situations,” she said. “Being in the military and traveling all over the world has given me a lot of love and appreciation for my country.”

PSEG’s deep connection to veterans is intertwined with the fabric of our company and its rich history. PSEG is proud to be named as a Top Military Friendly Employer for seven consecutive years by ROI-NJ. We also are the proud recipient of the Military Friendly Employer award, the 7 Seals award, the New Jersey “We Value Our Veterans” Governor’s Award, and recently joined the Victory Media Military Spouse Friendly Employer ranks.

October is Energy Awareness Month, a nationwide effort to focus attention on energy efficiency and the importance of conservation to our prosperity and the health of the environment. Energy Awareness Month promotes smart energy choices and highlights the fact that we can all make decisions every day that can reduce energy use and increase sustainability.

Take action now

How can you help? Here are five simple measures you can take to save energy this month and all year long.

• Install LEDs. Replace incandescent bulbs in your home with high-efficiency LEDs. LEDs use 80% less energy than conventional bulbs and last much longer. Remember to turn off lights whenever you’re the last one to leave a room. Purchase LED light right here.
• Adjust the thermostat to save energy at night or when no one’s at home. If you have a programmable thermostat and you’re not using it, now’s a great time to start. Smart thermostat models include advanced features, such as remote control.
• Pull the plug on standby power. Many electronic devices continue to use power when they’re turned off. Unplug chargers and other electronic devices when it’s convenient. Advanced power strips automatically shut off power to plugged-in devices when they’re not being used.
• Go low flow. The typical shower sends 30 to 50 gallons of hot water down the drain. Save water and energy by installing low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators. Also, take shorter showers and reduce the temperature on your water heater to 120°F.
• Run full loads. Your dishwasher and clothes washer use a lot of water and energy. Make the most of it by waiting until you have a full load to operate them. Air dry clothes when you can. It reduces energy use for drying and is easier on fabric, making your clothes last longer.
• Uncover the savings in your home with PSEG Long Island’s Home Energy Analyzer, Click here to get started.

Call for help

You’re off to a great start reducing your energy use; now it’s time to call in the pros. Hire a qualified technician to inspect and clean your heating system to ensure efficient performance.

October is also a great time for a home energy audit. A qualified auditor will examine your home and provide a targeted set of recommendations to improve the efficiency and comfort of your entire house.

It may be Energy Awareness Month, but conservation is a year-round commitment. Little things, such as taking the time to turn things off when you’re not using them, can make a big difference for your family and for the environment.

Kudos to our schoolchildren. They are resilient and they’re committed to the causes they care about – like the environment and our planet’s future.

In March, PSEG Long Island launched an educational pilot program entitled: “I Am EM-Powered” in dozens of schools across our service area. Third through sixth grade teachers in 35 schools were excited to begin teaching the lessons we provided on environmental awareness and energy conversation. Students were equally excited, especially about the grand finale: Creating videos and vying for prizes and bragging rights in a coordinating public service announcement (PSA) contest.

The program and contest were to be part of a month-long celebration in April to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of Earth Day. Also included were flower seed, tree and reusable bag giveaways and cleanup and beautification projects in towns and villages across Long Island and the Rockaways.

COVID-19 canceled these other activities – but not this program.

When the pandemic closed schools, a few educators were so energized about the program that we quickly adjusted the lessons to accommodate a new virtual learning format. Rather than working in groups in their classrooms, the quarantined students were resourceful – summoning their brothers, sisters, moms and dads to participate. Some said the project helped make life under quarantine a positive family bonding experience.

The students became producers, actors and news anchors, cinematographers, videographers and video editors, and all told, there were 142 videos submitted by students from five schools. 

Thank you to teachers: Carol W. of Hempstead SD, Mark G. and Nick N. of Hicksville SD, Diana H., Suzanne G. and Frank S. of Oyster Bay-East Norwich SD, Elaine M. of South Huntington SD, and Karla M. of Uniondale SD.

Despite the unusual circumstances the coronavirus pandemic created, these teachers continued to engage their students to be advocates for protecting and saving the earth. Conserving natural resources, reducing dependency on fossil fuels and seeking renewable energy sources are essential teachings, especially for this generation. We appreciate the collaboration and commitment to spreading the word about environmental stewardship and are excited to share  a few of the students’ videos with you below:

Emma, James H. Vernon School, Oyster Bay

Madeleine, James H. Vernon School, Oyster Bay

Adiyat, Hicksville Middle School, Hicksville

Check out the rest of the videos here.

To bring this course or any of our other educational programs to your school, after-school or camp program, please contact communityli@pseg.com or visit https://www.psegliny.com/inthecommunity/communitypartnership/educationalprograms.

Through our Community Partnership Program, we offer educational programs for children of all ages related to energy conservation, electric safety and preparing for emergencies. While our in-person programs are currently paused, we are adjusting some of them to accommodate a virtual learning format and are hopeful the PSA contest will be relaunched – either in classroom or virtually – in the spring.

Linda D. – 20 year Breast Cancer Survivor, and PSEG Long Island Sr. Real Estate Representative

October 13, 2000, 20 years ago today. This is the date of my mammography – the day my breast cancer journey began. I remember it as if it were yesterday.

My former husband and I were hoping to start a family. Before any treatment, the fertility specialist ordered a battery of tests – starting with my first mammography. Two weeks later, in the office of my new breast surgeon ─ not my fertility specialist ─ I learned there was a 2.1 cm tumor growing in my right breast – “invasive ductal carcinoma.” My treatment plan was surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and then adjuvant therapy (Tamoxifen) for five years.

Nearly a year into my treatment, the terror attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon occurred. I felt a somewhat deeper connection to this tragedy as my dad helped build the Twin Towers. I also knew people who were lost their lives that day. Along with grief, sadness, fear and anger we all were feeling, I also faced the reality that I was 41-years-old and battling breast cancer. As Ground Zero still smoldered, I participated in the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer at Jones Beach for the first time in my pink “survivor” shirt. Walking the boardwalk, I found myself surrounded by a sea of pink ribbons and photos of others who had breast cancer, mixed with hundreds of American flags and snapshots of those lost on 9/11. I wondered how many of these victims had survived cancer only to be taken by this horrific event. 

Getting pregnant was no longer in my life’s plan. My cancer was an “estrogen receptive positive cancer,” which means the estrogen hormones can actually fuel cancer growth. While the early detection of the mammogram likely saved my life, pregnancy could do the opposite.I have always been outspoken about certain causes. Breast cancer became one of them. I joined a “young survivors” advocacy group – a coalition for women diagnosed by age 40 – because younger women with breast cancer have different issues and concerns. Most specifically, breast cancer in younger women frequently grows faster and often has a not so great prognosis. Also the stigma of losing your breast, self-consciousness about body image and concerns about pregnancy after breast cancer come into play.

In March 2002, with 9/11 still weighing heavily on everyone’s mind, I went to Albany for State Lobby Day. The first lawmaker I visited was on the New York Senate Health Committee. As I tried to explain to her the unique issues facing the younger breast cancer patient, she replied ─ without missing a beat ─ “Now is not the right time.”

It’s now 2020 and a global pandemic continues to change the lives of so many.. Some may once again argue that now is not the right time to think about breast cancer, but it is. It is always the right time.

Unfortunately, COVID-19 caused many canceled mammogram appointments, breast surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Some people may have breast cancer right now and not even know it because they haven’t been screened. Later stage diagnoses can result in worse outcomes.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month – a time to educate people that breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. It’s never the right time to be told you have breast cancer, and it’s never the right time to be fighting breast cancer.

Please consider joining or supporting my team, PSEG LI Pink Transformers, because it’s always the right time to help breast cancer patients and survivors through research, education, advocacy and services.