Mahoning Valley Forum

FIRSTENERGY OHIO UTILITIES TO
DISTRIBUTE ENERGY-EFFICIENT LIGHT BULBS

http://www.firstenergycorp.com/NewsReleases/2009-10-05%20CFL%20giveaway%20NR.pdf

Excellent! Perfect timing, as I need a couple more.

CFLs that I bought over two years ago are still going strong.

I hope the bulbs are AMERICAN MADE.

Keep dreaming!

Its just 2 bulbs and according to the press release they are free ... I'm not about to quibble when they want to give me something for free.

Arthur Godfry once said: "For free take, for buy waste time."

There is a good opportunity to test run these new bulbs before going out and buying them at your favorite supermarket.

No one is cheaper than me when it comes to burning lights even when it means stubbing my toes in the dark, so if these new bulbs are what they say they are, maby I can at least turn on one light after dark and leave it on till I go to bed.

Again, if First Energy is willing to give me two free light bulbs I'll not complain where they were made. The big question is, will they save me money. Only the next billing will answer that question.

Cleanup and Disposal Guidelines
For Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs)

http://www.energystar.gov/ia/products/lighting/cfls/downloads/CFL_Cleanup_and_Disposal.pdf

According to the Plain Dealer these "Free" light bulbs are not free.

First Energy will be billing residential customers 60 cents per month for 3 years to cover the cost.

The bulbs were made in China because FE could not find an American manufacturer.

The bulbs are being distributed by a company based in California.

Quote from: Plain Dealer
The utility will charge average users 60 cents a month extra on their electric bills for the next three years -- $21.60 all together. That covers the cost of the bulbs ($3.50 each), their delivery and the delivery of the power consumers would have used if they didn't have them.

Is there a way to opt out? Most of my lightbulbs are already compact flourencents and I certainly don't pay for the power I WOULD HAVE USED.

Apparently there isn't a way to opt out. It's been mandated by the PUCO.

IT's a perfect example of the greenies pushing an agenda at the cost of the people.

Thanks Dennis.

edited to remove offesiveness

how you react to me says a whole lot about you and your lack of character, why? Town?,,,,,,,

Hold on there buddy, I didn't mention your name, just posted the info.

As a matter of fact, all I said was that I'd try them.

If you've got a bone to pick get your facts streight.

In many respects, I don't disagree with some of your positions, and have absolutely no intention in bashing you or anyone else, so don't lump me in with those you have a grudge with.

I wouldn't have a problem with FE passing on the costs of the bulbs and their delivery, as the savings one would get from using them would far outweigh those costs. But to tack on ASSUMED revenue lost is over the line and not acceptable. I wonder if we could get a large number of FE customers organized to turn off and unplug as many electronics as possible for 30 minutes to an hour over peak energy usage periods for a couple weeks. The savings would offset the extra costs to the consumers and put an immediate damper on FE's bottom line. Maybe then they'd reconsider pushing any future involuntary programs on their customers.

towntalk......

my response was to why?town......


not you!

Accepted.

By the way, did you see the photos of the wind turbine that were in the UrbanOhio link I posted? Seems like some Ohio folks are taking your advice. :)

you should google green energy ohio and look at their website which features their latest magazine tour of solar and wind homes.......amazing at the number of folks who are seriously beginning to see and take advanrage of solar power here in the buckeye state.

Now wait a minute.....Who are they adding this extra charge to? those who receive the "free" light bulbs, or all their customers?

I just heard a radio news report stating that First Energy bought 4,000,000 bulbs to give away.

Just think how many chinese workers were employed making those bulbs.  Also, all of the production profits went to the chinese company/government.

First Energy's corporate HQ is in Akron.  We could just take our bulbs and throw them on their front lawn.  Its not littering, just returning their property to them.  We could call it the Akron Bulb Party!

We should be calling our State reps and Senators since it was them who dreamed up this hair brained scheme.  If they can get away with lightbulbs, next they will be buying new appliances for you and making you pay ten times the going rate for them! 

How to choose CFL bulbs

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/october-2009/home-garden/compact-fluorescents/how-to-choose/compact-fluorescents-how-to-choose.htm

What to do if a compact fluorescent lightbulb breaks

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/home-garden/home-improvement/hardware-building-supplies/lightbulbs/compact-fluorescent-lighting-10-07/safe-removal-of-broken-cfls/bulbs-safe.htm

The facts on compact fluorescent lightbulbs

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/home-garden/home-improvement/hardware-building-supplies/lightbulbs/cfls/overview/cfl-ov-.htm

Here is the response I got from First Energy when I asked about opting out of the "Free" light bulb program.  I can refuse the bulbs or give them to someone else, but I will still have to pay for them.

Thank you for utilizing FirstEnergy's Customer Care website for youraccount needs. This CFL program is part of a statewide effort under Ohio'snew energy law (Senate Bill 221) to reduce the amount of electricitycustomers use. As with most state-mandated programs that are designed tobenefit all residential customers – such as energy efficiency programs andenvironmental projects – the costs incurred by the utilities to implement the program are included in residential customer rates. So all customers share the costs of the programs over a period of several years.

If a delivery person comes to your house when you are home, please simplyask them not to deliver the bulbs to your home, and they will move on. Ifyou do receive bulbs – either through the mail or at your door – feel freeto give them to a neighbor, friend or a family member. If you want todispose of them, check if your municipality permits you to put CFLs in thegarbage. If so, seal the bulb in two plastic bags and put it into theoutside trash, or other protected outside location, for the next normaltrash collection. If not, you will need to properly recycle the bulbs.CFL recycling is available free of charge at The Home Depot stores – oryour municipality might have other CFL recycling programs available. 

Should you have additional comments about this matter, contact us by usingyour e-mail "Reply" function. Please make sure your message's "Subject"field refers to the Request Number below. If you need to speak to a Customer Service Representative, please call ustoll-free at 1-800-633-4766. Sincerely,  Customer Service

From the front page of today's newspaper

The bulbs cost $9

The utility is selling them to you for $21

>:(

Utility to sell you $9 bulbs for $21

http://www.vindy.com/news/2009/oct/07/utility-to-sell-you-9-bulbs-for-21/?newswatch

State Sen. Capri Cafaro of Liberty, D-32nd, encouraged consumers who don't like FirstEnergy's plan to register their complaint with the Ohio Consumers' Counsel at (877) 742-5622.

Here's what to look for.

I bought a five-pack of the 13 watt compact flourescent bulbs at the Home
Depot last week, for about $10..that's about 2 bucks a bulb.

I've read about the mercury, etc in these bulbs and I think that they should
be recycled, just like we do with computers and other electronics...even
old fashioned light bulbs (incandescent) have a little solder in them - which
contains lead.

The glass from both types of light bulbs, and the aluminum in the base of
each, are easily melted down and recycled.

I replaced my bulbs several years ago. I have a 6 pack on hand in case one blows out. I do not want to buy 2 more for $21. Maybe we should get together and start a class action, There is no way it can be legal to make us buy something that we do not need.

The intention was good.  But the execution of the idea is horrible.

The whole thing is that these bulbs are being forced on us, and we'll be paying through the nose whether we get them or not.

>:( I'm not against CFL's BUT I'm totally against having them forced on me.  >:(

The PUCO handed First Energy a gift without any concern for its impact on the people of Ohio.  >:(

Rep. Dennis Kucinich seeks federal investigation of FirstEnergy bulb program

http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2009/10/rep_dennis_kucinich_seeks_fede.html

The Governor has issued an order this afternoon SUSPENDING the lightbulb scheme. It will not go forward.

Governor Calls for Postponement of First Energy Light Bulb Program

http://governor.ohio.gov/News/PressReleases/2009/October2009/News10709/tabid/1269/Default.aspx

Governor Strickland is having the PUCO review this program.

Based on my experience with the base rate issue, I have no faith in the PUCO.

Yes!!! The people have spoken and have been heard!!!  This is wonderful!  I hope First Energy has to eat 4 million Chinese bulbs.

Pllllllllllllllllllllease... I wouldn't wish that sorry fate (eating mercury laced light bulbs) on anyone ......... anyone except Vegans ... tree huggers ... the Save the Whale crowd ... and the Fairness Doctrine crowd.

No offense Dennis, you're not included  :) .

Too bad that story made a huge false statement.  We are still in a Monopoly situation in OH.  There are no choices to be made.  So, the statement of FE avoiding a failure from Monopoly days is crap.