Pennsylvania Power Co., Pennsylvania Electric Co. and Metropolitan Edison Co. have filed plans that, if approved, will help customers reduce energy demand and consumption. The filing was made with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PPUC) under Act 129 of 2008, which outlines goals to reduce energy use through May 31, 2013. The companies are subsidiaries of FirstEnergy Corp. (Akron, Ohio, U.S.).

The plans include campaigns to educate customers about cost-effective ways to save energy, support for energy audits, and rebates and other incentives for efficiency upgrades. The filing also provides information on the estimated cost to develop and implement those plans, and a cost-recovery mechanism to pay for the programs.

The companies currently expect the cost to develop and implement the plans to be nearly $200 million. Public input hearings on the plans will be held later this summer in the companies' service territories. PPUC approval of the plans is expected later this fall.

Act 129, which was passed in October 2008, requires electric consumption to be reduced by 1% by May 31, 2011, and by 3% by May 31, 2013. In addition, the demand placed on the companies' system during peak usage periods must be reduced by 4.5% by May 31, 2013.