News Release

www.efficiencymaine.com

Contact:

Linda Viens, MPUC (207) 287-7327

Mechanical Services First Contractor To Utilize Program

Augusta, Maine -- (June 24, 2003) Tom Welch, Chairman of the Maine Public Utilities Commission announced today that the first cash incentive check from the Efficiency Maine Small Business program was awarded to an Augusta real estate holding company for equipment installed by Mechanical Services, Inc. The company received the $1,000 incentive because Mechanical Services is a Program Ally of the Efficiency Maine program and identified the installation as qualifying for the program.

Installing energy efficient equipment will save energy and money. These are the goals of the Efficiency Maine Programs launched this year by the Maine Public Utilities Commission. The Efficiency Maine Small Business Program offer those companies with 50 or fewer full time equivalent employees cash incentives for making a variety of energy efficient upgrades. A small Maine business could receive up to $20,000. The deadline to qualify is December 31, 2003. Convenience stores, restaurants, laundromats, commercial landlords, and manufacturers from Madawaska to York are some of the businesses already applying.

Contractors are effective allies for the program, because they understand the technical requirements of an installation or upgrade and can advocate on behalf of their customers. Mechanical Services hosted a training session at their Portland office in April where Efficiency Maine staff explained how to apply for the incentives. Service department personnel learned about refrigeration, lighting and heating equipment that qualifies for the program.

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“I see the Efficiency Maine Small Business program as everything that is good about doing business in Maine,” remarked Mechanical Services President Chris Green. “The program offers significant savings to small businesses; contractors benefit by making these recommendations to their customers; and ultimately, we all benefit from the conservation of resources.”

Information is posted at www.efficiencymaine.com where business owners can learn how to qualify for the program, and contractors can find out how to become a Program Ally. The Web site also contains ideas on how to save energy, such as the Energy Star lighting, and the forms to apply for the program.

“Maine small business owners can encourage their contractors to learn more about our program and become an Efficiency Maine Program Ally,” said MPUC Efficiency Maine Small Business Program Manager Linda Viens. “We’d like to save money for as many qualifying businesses as possible!”

Efficiency Maine is a statewide effort to promote the more efficient use of electricity, help Maine residents and businesses reduce energy costs, and improve Maine’s environment. Efficiency Maine is funded by electricity consumers and administered by the Maine Public Utilities Commission.

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