ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pepco Energy Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings Inc. (PHI) and a leader in energy savings performance contracting, announced today that it has entered into an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) with Horry County, South Carolina. Under the contract, Pepco Energy will install $8 million of energy conservation measures (ECMs) in over 100 Horry County facilities that are guaranteed to save the County more than $600,000 in the first year, and nearly $11 million over the financing term, while also addressing critical infrastructure needs.
“This project with Pepco Energy will enable us to improve the energy efficiency of our buildings and repay the investment with the savings provided through the energy savings performance contract,” said Gary Watson, director of construction and maintenance. “The ESPC model is the perfect solution for Horry County when faced with a challenging annual budget. Horry County will use funds that would have gone to compensate the County’s utility providers to pay for the installation of energy conservation measures that will reduce the County’s energy usage and cost.”
The ECMs include retrofitting, upgrading or replacing nearly 18,000 lighting fixtures – 93 percent of which will be upgraded to light-emitting diode (LED) technology; retrofitting, upgrading or replacing nearly 1,400 plumbing fixtures with water saving equipment; HVAC equipment replacements; installation of a laundry ozone injection system at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center; variable frequency drive (VFD) installations; replacement of power transformers with high efficiency models; central energy plant operation improvements; retrofitting, upgrading, replacing or installing 21 building management systems which interface with the county-wide energy management system; and the retro-commissioning of existing building management systems that serve the County’s facilities. Construction is expected to be completed in 16 months and will reduce the County’s energy costs by 22.5 percent.
“PES is pleased to have been chosen to assist Horry County with this exciting project,” said Mark S. Kumm, chief operating officer, PES. “This project not only demonstrates the financial responsibility of Horry County, but also establishes Horry County as a leader in energy efficiency, carbon footprint reduction and sustainability within the state of South Carolina.”
Overall, the installed measures will reduce the County’s annual carbon footprint by 3.48 million pounds per year – equivalent to the annual CO2 absorbed by over 1,000 acres of trees – and reduce annual water consumption by 5,694,000 gallons – equivalent to the annual water consumption of approximately 90 single family homes.
For more information about PES, please visit www.pepcoenergy.com. To inquire about how ESPC and other energy-related services may benefit your facilities and buildings in South Carolina, please contact Eric Crawford, business development manager, at 843-297-2206 or by email at ecrawford@pepcoenergy.com.
About Horry County
Horry County, South Carolina, located on the east coast of the United States, is bounded on the north by the state of North Carolina and is approximately 100 miles north of Charleston, South Carolina, and approximately 150 miles east of the State Capital, Columbia, South Carolina. It encompasses 1,134 square miles of area.
The County was incorporated in 1801 with an estimated population of 550. Since the County was almost completely surrounded by water and its inhabitants were forced to survive virtually without any assistance from the "outside world", they became an extremely independent populace and named their County "The Independent Republic of Horry." The County was named after Peter Horry who was a descendent of Huguenot settlers and whose family owned several large plantations in the area. He served as Brigadier General of the Militia and a member of the South Carolina General Assembly during the American Revolution under General Francis Marion, who was called the Swamp Fox.
In the 211 years since its incorporation, Horry County has grown from a rural hamlet into one of the most dynamic counties in South Carolina. According to the 2011 Census estimate, the population has grown to 276,291 and accounts for about six percent of the state’s population.
Pepco Energy Services, Inc. (Pepco Energy), a wholly owned subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POM), provides institutional, government and industrial customers with competitive energy efficiency services, including renewable energy and combined heat and power projects/plants.
Pepco Energy Services is not the same company as Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco), the regulated utility; the prices and services of Pepco Energy are not set by the Public Service Commission; and you are not required to buy energy or other products and services from Pepco Energy Services in order to receive the same quality service from Pepco.
