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Energy Management Tips for Commercial Property Owners

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Commercial property owners may find it challenging to determine what energy management benchmarking tool to use as well as ways to reduce energy consumption per square-foot to remain more competitive. These issues along with other sustainability and efficiency topics were the focus of the 2011 BOMA International Convention and The Every Building Show last month.

During the convention, Allen Kenney, managing editor of REIT.com, stopped me to ask a couple of questions about energy procurement and energy management alternatives for commercial property owners. To find out more…
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Gross Receipts Taxes Passed Through to Businesses in Pennsylvania

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Typically, taxes that are collected on your electric bill are kept separate and apart from the revenue on which those taxes are applied. However, in Pennsylvania, the Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) is passed through to the consumer and considered to be part of the revenue base against which the GRT is calculated.

The new total GRT calculation is broken down as follows:
GRT (Gross Receipts Tax)                                           4.40%
PURTA (Public Utility Realty Tax Act Surcharge)      0.16%
RNR (Revenue Neutral Reconciliation)                    1.50%
TOTAL                                                                              6.06%

It is common practice in Pennsylvania for electricity suppliers to use an adjusted rate to…
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Why Electricity Customers in Pennsylvania Should Consider Hourly Vs. Forward Pricing This Fall

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As temperatures and the humidity indices have skyrocketed to above-normal levels throughout most of this summer, demand for electricity and the hourly wholesale price can also increase. During a heat wave, Pennsylvania business customers shopping for competitive electricity supply may be tempted to put off the decision to lock in supply.

But that may be a mistake. Today’s temperature and even the forecast in the upcoming fall months have little impact on future energy prices related to a long-term contract.  

Forward prices are determined by expectations for the future supply and demand of electricity based on economic trends…
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Ten Private Schools in Maryland Utilize Energy Strategy to Power Facilities

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As schools nationwide begin a new year, it's not too late to start thinking about long-term energy strategy.

The end of August is approaching quickly and back to school shopping is in full swing. As schools around the nation gear up for the new academic year, Roland Park Country School and the nine other private schools in Maryland recently agreed to receive electricity supply from Constellation NewEnergy for the next two years.  

By engaging in a long-term energy strategy and locking in a competitive rate…
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Competitive Energy Retail Market Is a Hot Topic in Pennsylvania

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In Pennsylvania, businesses and public sector customers continue to be engaged in a lively conversation about the wide array of opportunities available for managing energy costs within a competitive energy retail market as PECO, Met-Ed, Penelec, and Allegheny Power rate caps expire at the end of the year. Recently I attended two fantastic events, the Delaware Valley Association of Physical Plant Administrators (DVAPPA) Spring Meeting on June 16 and a PECO LC&I Meet and Greet on June 17.

At the DVAPPA meeting, I was asked to serve on a panel of experts to discuss what the industry has…
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Pulling Back the Curtain on the Electricity Buying Process

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Constellation NewEnergy participated in GlobalCon, an event in Philadelphia, PA. presented by the Association of Energy Engineers, designed specifically to educate individuals interested in the latest developments in the energy field, explore new technologies, and compare energy supply options.  

As a panel speaker at the event representing Constellation, I pulled back the curtain on the electricity buying process for first time energy shoppers in the Pennsylvania market.  Here are a few highlights of the presentation that may help you when considering switching suppliers:

A fixed price product is low risk– fact or fiction?

Fiction.  Both…
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