Madison (Maine) testing the heat of the night (off-peak electric ceramic heaters) [View All]

http://www.pressherald.com/news/madison-testing-the-heat-of-the-night_2011-09-18.html?pageType=mobile&id=1

Maine's heating season has begun and average fuel oil prices are already high, above $3.35 a gallon. But in the central Maine town of Madison, residents who burn oil have a new option to consider: electric space heaters that run on discount power equal to oil at $2.20 a gallon, with the rate locked in until the end of 2013.

A mid-sized version of these heaters costs roughly $3,500 installed. But if oil prices remain high, the fuel savings could help pay off the purchase price in four years or so.

With Madison as a pilot program, advocates hope to roll out similar rate plans statewide next year. They foresee thousands of Maine homes and businesses cutting oil use with "thermal storage" heaters that take advantage of the cheaper electricity available at night in New England. In time, they see the heaters complementing development of wind power in the region, which tends to be most available in winter and at night.

"It's going to ultimately serve as a template for programs across the state," said Sam Zaitlin, an owner at Thermal Energy Storage of Maine LLC in Saco.

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