Bowling Green approves three‑year EfficiencySmart renewal with American Municipal Power

Bowling Green — The council approved Resolution07‑2025‑01 in July 2025 to renew a three‑year contract with American Municipal Power (AMP) for the EfficiencySmart energy‑efficiency program, at a proposed charge of $1.40 per megawatt‑hour of retail sales covering the 2026–2028 term. The vote was unanimous.

The EfficiencySmart program provides incentives, technical assistance and a performance guarantee for reductions in electricity consumption. The city’s utilities director recommended renewing the contract after the current agreement expires at the end of 2025, noting the program has been offered locally since 2011 and serves residential, commercial and industrial customers.

Program administrators and local account staff said EfficiencySmart produces measurable cost‑of‑service benefits and strong customer engagement. Adam Ward, senior vice president of member services and environmental affairs at American Municipal Power, reviewed AMP’s role as a joint action agency that supplies wholesale power and oversees the EfficiencySmart program. Tom Coyle, director of account management for EfficiencySmart, said the contract is performance‑based and includes guaranteed savings targets "both in megawatt hours and in summer coincident peak," with each target carrying a partial guarantee. Coyle added, "We guarantee those savings."

Officials described recent local results and the program’s reach. Program staff reported about $58,000,000 in lifetime customer savings from measures installed since 2011, 1,118 households that received direct rebates, distribution of roughly 60,000 efficient light bulbs, and 30 completed commercial/industrial projects under the current contract with 14 more expected to close within months. Staff presented current‑contract lifetime savings of about 126,000 megawatt‑hours, equal to roughly $12.5 million in customer bill savings, with an estimated $7.5 million utility power‑cost benefit versus $2.1 million in program cost (a reported 257% return on investment). The proposed three‑year renewal projects about 102,000 lifetime megawatt‑hours in new savings and an estimated 267% return if contractual goals are met.

Council members and staff discussed local outreach and customer uptake. Council member questions focused on how customers learn about rebates and on the program’s role in economic development packets for prospective businesses. Staff said outreach is handled via social media, utilities billing messages and community events, and highlighted Joey Boston as the local EfficiencySmart account manager who coordinates business and residential engagement.

Formal action: a motion to approve Resolution07‑2025‑01 authorizing the utilities department to enter the AMP EfficiencySmart contract was made and seconded. Michelle (clerk) called the roll; members Newlove, Jesse, Wagner, Hogan and Susiek all voted yes. The motion carried and the contract renewal was authorized.

The city will move forward with the three‑year contract while AMP and EfficiencySmart continue local outreach and third‑party verification of reported savings. Staff said the program’s performance verification is conducted annually by an independent contractor under AMP’s separate verification agreement.