DENVER, Colorado (Feb. 5, 2019) -- The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has identified five of Xcel Energy’s energy-efficiency programs as some of the best in the country. In a national review, ACEEE recently selected these programs to receive an Exemplary Program Award, based on their effectiveness and innovation in helping customers achieve greater levels of energy efficiency.

The programs span a diverse group of categories: low income, residential, small commercial, new construction, and utility partnerships. The programs recognized are:

  • CO Low-Income Program: Offers income-qualified residents and nonprofit building owners energy-efficiency assistance from program partner and implementer, Energy Outreach Colorado. The program leverages collaborative efforts, allowing the company to serve a wide range of customers across the state.
  • CO and MN Partners in Energy: Provides free support over a two-year period to help communities develop energy action plans to meet their unique needs and goals. Plans typically include marketing, customer awareness efforts and implementation.
  • MN Home Energy Squad: Matches homeowners with an energy-efficiency expert to identify energy-saving opportunities in their home and install high-efficiency measures in a single visit.
  • MN One-Stop Efficiency Shop: Delivers full-service lighting and rooftop air handling unit upgrades for small businesses customers.
  • CO Energy Design Assistance: Works with companies in the design phase of new construction or renovation projects to build energy-efficiency measures into the building from the ground up.

“These programs are delivering energy savings that help customers reduce their costs and maintain comfortable, durable, safe homes and productive businesses. They also make an important environmental contribution by reducing pollution from the use of fossil fuels,” said Rachel Gold, ACEEE’s Utilities Program senior manager.

“ACEEE conducted this national review to recognize outstanding energy efficiency programs and honor the people and organizations responsible for their success,” added Seth Nowak, ACEEE’s lead author and project manager of this review.

Xcel Energy has offered energy-efficiency programs for decades for both residential and business customers in many of the communities they serve. There are more than 80 programs in Colorado and Minnesota that offer assistance, including free and reduced-rate audits, below-market rate financing, and significant rebates to offset the cost of high-efficiency equipment. The depth and breadth of these programs is vast, encompassing lighting, heating and cooling equipment, insulation, motors, and a variety of other mechanicals, systems and controls. Every program is designed to help customers use less energy and save money.

“Our programs are all about saving energy to help our customers keep their bills low and to help Xcel

Energy achieve its vision to serve customers with zero-carbon electricity by 2050,” says Karen Rhodes, Xcel Energy director of Customer Solutions. ”Receiving this recognition from ACEEE is especially meaningful as it is a tribute to the ongoing innovation and cost-effectiveness that are hallmarks of our energy efficiency business.”

Xcel Energy’s five energy-efficiency programs are among 53 nationwide outstanding programs profiled in

the full report, The New Leaders of the Pack: ACEEE’s Fourth National Review of Exemplary Energy Efficiency Programs (external link).

The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy is a nonprofit research group based in Washington, D.C.

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About Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) provides the energy that powers millions of homes and businesses across eight Western and Midwestern states. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company is an industry leader in responsibly reducing carbon emissions and producing and delivering clean energy solutions from a variety of renewable sources at competitive prices. For more information, visit xcelenergy.com or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.