EcoSmart Choice is AMP’s green pricing program, which allows customers of participating member electric systems to support renewable energy development.

EcoSmart Choice enables participating member communities to extend the benefits of renewable generation to their customers, regardless of their power supply mix. Green pricing programs such as this rely on the use of renewable energy certificates (RECs) to offset the customer’s electricity usage. The program is open to both residential and commercial/industrial customers.

Residential customers who choose to join EcoSmart Choice are able to offset 100 percent of their electric usage with renewable energy for an additional 1.3 cents per kWh. Commercial/industrial customers can offset a portion of their electric usage through the purchase of “blocks” of RECs. Each “block” obtained through the EcoSmart Choice program is equal to 1,000 kWh (1 MWh) and is available for an additional $13 per block.

National statistics show a strong correlation between overall utility customer satisfaction and programs that allow the customer to choose to support renewable energy. Because EcoSmart Choice is also available to commercial and industrial customers to offset a portion of their electricity purchases, the program enables participating member electric systems to offer an additional benefit to retain those customers as well as attract new businesses to the community.

Benefits to Member Communities include:

• AMP works with billing departments to make sure that tracking the Eco-Smart Choice customers is simple and straightforward.
• AMP develops and provides billing departments monthly reporting forms and protocols.
• AMP provides marketing materials to help promote the program with customers.
• AMP works with member communities if special mailings, newspaper articles or other communication pieces are needed.

Customers in participating member communities will generally be able to sign up for the program via a Web site link, phone call to the utility office or response form, depending on the options provided by the local utility. Customers can join or drop out at any time, with no penalty. Customers’ participation will be supported by the purchase of wind, hydroelectric, or landfill gas RECs, which helps stimulate new renewable project development.

For more information on EcoSmart Choice, please contact Julia Blankenship, manager of energy policy and sustainability, at 614/540-1111 or send e-mail to jblankenship@amppartners.org.