Progress Energy, Inc. : Enlist Uncle Sam's help to become energy efficient

Turn that tax refund into rebates and save money all year

ST. PETERSBURG, Fl. (March 26, 2012) For many Floridians there are certain rituals of spring: baseball's spring training season; college spring break; and perhaps the most anticipated: a spring tax refund check from Uncle Sam. When those checks arrive, Progress Energy urges customers to consider using those greenbacks to make an investment that will not only give them a return in energy savings, but also earn rebates and tax credits in the future. Customers who make qualifying energy-efficient improvements will save on their energy bills and may be eligible for Progress Energy incentives and federal tax credits of up to $1,500.

Progress Energy encourages customers to look at the big picture - start with the air conditioning system. Essential to comfort in Florida, it's the largest energy user in the home, and the most likely source of energy waste. Proper maintenance is the key to keeping a home's heating and cooling system operating at its highest efficiency, and that means changing out the A/C filter once a month. Operational problems with your A/C system can lead to huge increases in a customer's bills, so if the A/C isn't running quite right, the best thing to do is call in a professional for a tune-up.

If and when it's time to replace the A/C, opting for an energy-efficient model can make a significant difference in a customer's energy bill. Replacing an older unit with a heat pump rated at 15 Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) can trim heating and cooling costs by nearly 20 percent. In addition, customers who make the switch may qualify for valuable Progress Energy rebates of up to $350 toward the purchase of the new heat pump.

There are many more opportunities to improve, upgrade and save. After the A/C, the company urges customers to inspect the air ducts. Replacing an aging A/C unit is useless if the air used to heat and cool the home is escaping into the attic. Properly sealed ducts can help customers save up to $280 a year in energy costs. Progress Energy can inspect a customer's air ducts and, if a duct test is recommended, the company will pay half of the typically $60 test and up to $150 toward duct repair, if needed.

Energy-efficiency home improvements

Energy-efficiency is one of the few investments that can help you gain a return on your energy bill and on the value of your home, so that tax refund can save you money all year long. Here is short list of home improvement rebates offered by Progress Energy:

Duct repair - Get up to $150 back

Attic insulation upgrade - Get $75 or more back

Heat pump replacement - Get up to $350 back

Energy-efficient windows, window screens and window film - Get up to $250 back

Wall insulation upgrade - Get up to $300 back

Reflective roofing - Get up to $150 back

Contact Progress Energy Florida for a no-hassle, no-cost Home Energy Check easy. Through the Progress Energy service - which can be performed online, over the phone or in person - a highly-trained Energy Advisor will do all the work for you and provide customized, energy-saving advice and determine your eligibility for company rebates toward energy-efficient home improvements. A Home Energy Check is a prerequisite to all Progress Energy rebates for energy-efficient home improvements.

To sign up for a no-cost Home Energy Check or to learn more than 100 energy-saving tips, visit progress-energy.com/save or call 1.877.364.9003.

Progress Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN), provides electricity and related services to more than 1.6 million customers in Florida. The company is headquartered in St. Petersburg, Fla., and serves a territory encompassing more than 20,000 square miles including the cities of St. Petersburg and Clearwater, as well as the Central Florida area surrounding Orlando. Progress Energy Florida is pursuing a balanced approach to meeting the future energy needs of the region. That balance includes increased energy-efficiency programs, investments in renewable energy technologies and a state-of-the-art electricity system. For more information about Progress Energy, visit http://www.progress-energy.com/

Media contact: Progress Energy Florida 24-hour media line (866) 520-6397

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