SOLANCONEWS.com -- Cutler's Commentary

Cutler's Commentary: Sustainable Lighting Rebates Being Offered to PPL Business Customers
By Bryan Cutler, State Representative, 100th Legislative District
HARRISBURG -- Owning a small business can be a daunting task with many challenges. Small business owners must be able to balance the needs of their customers, both internally and externally, while hopefully realizing enough of a profit to make owning their business worthwhile.

The costs can quickly spiral out of control if one is not careful and practical. Business owners must always ask themselves if certain improvements to their business are affordable and will pay off in the long run. Simple enhancements, such as adding new lighting to the building where the small business operates from, can be quite costly.

Thankfully, help is available. PPL Electric Utilities in cooperation with the Sustainable Energy Fund offers small business owners who use PPL's service rebates to replace old or inefficient lighting systems. Employers can keep costs low, limit consumption and pass along savings to their customers with programs like these.

Projects costing between $5,000 and $10,000 are eligible to be compensated for 20 percent of their expenses, up to $2,000. Business owners will receive the rebate at the completion of the project. Businesses must employ fewer than 100 individuals in order to be eligible for the program. Additionally, those applying for the rebate must have been a customer of PPL Electric Utilities for at least three years.

It has become exceedingly important for businesses and consumers alike to limit their consumption of energy and reduce other expenses as gasoline prices top $4 per gallon. This initiative can help one of our state's largest employers, small businesses, to weather the ongoing energy crisis and continue driving our local economies.

There are also several ways that small businesses can save money and energy without spending a penny:

Make sure heating and cooling equipment is energy-efficient.

Program the thermostat to automatically turn down the heat or air conditioning when a building is not occupied.

Make sure doorways and windows are well sealed.

Install automatic occupancy sensors in areas where people seldom work or timers when an area is used only during certain times of the day. Warehouse and storage areas are ideal for these technologies.

For more information or an online application for the rebate, visit my Web site at RepCutler.com and choose "Sustainable Lighting Rebates." Applications are due by Aug 31.

Editor's Note: Cutler's Commentary is a monthly column, written by Rep. Cutler.

Past Articles:
Cutler's Commentary: Protecting the Future of Farming in Pennsylvania
Cutler's Commentary: Preparing Your Child for a Summer of Bicycling
Cutler's Commentary: Beware of Tax Refund Scams
Cutler's Commentary: Primary is Approaching
Cutler's Commentary: In the Pennsylvania Legislature, 2008 Got Started with a Bang!
Cutler's Commentary: New Hunting Laws Enacted This Year
Cutler's Commentary: Are Gun Rights in Danger in the Commonwealth?
Cutler's Commentary: Turkey Hunting With Dogs Has Its Day
Cutler's Commentary: Wishing You an S.O.S. – Summer of Safety!
Cutler's Commentary: A Thank You to Those Who Keep Society Moving
Cutler's Commentary: Hoping to Keep a Deer Friend
Cutler's Commentary: Seeking Citizens' Suggestions
Cutler's Commentary: A Review of My First Month in Office