Cleaner Energy Idea Not Supported

This summer the city council will have look at ways to conserve energy.. before a federal deadline. But while it may cost City Water Light and Power.. it could be cheaper for us. Theres five clean energy standards the city must reject or approve under a 2005 federal act. To help you conserve and save ... One group is pushing for a system that would charge you depending on the time of day you flip on your lights or air conditioner. Smart metering .. a system that would increase costs during peaks times .. which CWLP says is between 2 and 7pm. And lowering the cost during the off hours .. could save you money and use less energy. "Your air conditioning doesnt need to be at 68 or 72 or whatever you keep it at while you are not there. This gives you an incentive, a greater incentive to install a programmable thermostat." Said Greg Claxton, Clean Energy Springfield member. However CWLP says that can be too costly and relying customers to conserve is too risky. But its recommending at least ten businesses have the chance to opt into the smart metering. And conservationists say they need to start targeting developers. "If they start requiring some type of time of use metering on new development that will give developers an incentive to build around that which will in affect. Regardless of what residents do that will lower the peak demand. They can do that through an incorporation of solar panels they can do it through flat out improved installation, improved building design." Said Claxton. Meantime CWLP is encouraging businesses to go solar ... They say its clean and itll reduce your monthly bill. "I would love to have a solar water heater I think if people had solar water heaters around here they would probably save a lot of money on their power bill." Said Kate Hawkes, Dowtown Springfield Business Owner. CWLP says reducing the demand would actually give solar power producers the chance to sell their excess power on the grid. Although CWLP has made its recommendations, they will take your comments till next Thursday. The city council needs to approve or reject the five standards before the August 8th deadline.