Mayor Announces Dramatic Energy Improvements at Palmer Field

Mayor Daniel T. Drew is pleased to announce the success of energy improvements made at Palmer Field this past season.

For the period August through November 2011, the cost of the lighting at Palmer Field was $18,566. For the same period in 2012, the charge was $3,578. This saving of approximately $15,000 over a four-month period will continue to grow over the remainder of the year; and will be realized in all future years, according to Drew.

All of this was made possible by a one-time expenditure of $4,600 to install a dedicated meter for the Palmer Field lights.

This change to the electrical meter allowed the city to take advantage of a new electricity rate for outdoor recreational lighting. Rate 29 allows the city to avoid “demand charges” for the field lights. Demand charges are costly since they show up on each month’s bill, regardless of the amount of electricity used in that month.

The city is investigating many other ways to reduce energy expenses, involving lights at other athletic playing fields, street lights, and parking lots, as part of the mayor’s overall program to make city government more efficient.

Drew encourages city residents and businesses to take advantage of the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund programs to reduce energy costs, protect the environment, and mitigate global climate change.

For more information, call the City of Middletown’s Energy Coordinator, John Hall, at (860) 344-3503 or email John.Hall@MiddletownCT.gov.