07-30-2007 - UI Plays Role in ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" Stop in Bridgeport

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New Haven, Conn. – The United Illuminating Company (NYSE:UIL) is playing an integral part in ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition's stop in Bridgeport.

“For over 100 years, UI’s core business has been the safe and reliable delivery of electricity to its customers,” explained Tony Marone, UI’s associate vice president – client services.   “During this time, UI has also been a willing community partner so it was an easy decision to show our support and be involved in this special event for the city of Bridgeport.”

UI’s involvement started well before the official “door knock” festivities on Wednesday.  Through the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund (CEEF), UI offers programs to its customers to encourage the purchase and installation of energy-efficient measures and products.  

UI’s Conservation and Load Management (C&LM) team provided technical expertise to the show’s producer and builder (Gulick Associates) about the various energy-efficient measures and products for the actual construction of the home. UI’s C&LM staff also solicited donations of the energy-efficient products for the home from various vendors around the region.

“Being energy efficient helps save money on customers’ electric bills, but it also helps save the environment,” explained Marone.  “An ENERGY STAR-qualified home is typically 15-20 percent more energy-efficient than a traditional home based on the overall building design that has more efficient insulation, lighting, windows, heating and cooling, and appliances.”

UI also played an important role in the site preparation.  To enable safe access to the Hollister Avenue home for the various demolition and construction equipment, UI’s power delivery crews performed work to existing electric equipment, including the rerouting of a pole and primary wire.  UI crews were also “on-call” during the actual demolition phase on Friday, July 27.  And, once the home is built, crews will energize the electric service to the Brown home.

“Assisting the project team to meet its goal and doing it safely, and in an environmentally-friendly manner is normal, good business practice for UI,” added Marone.  “Since many different aspects of UI’s organization played a role to help one of our customers, it makes our involvement even more rewarding.”

Each episode of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition features a race against time involving a team of designers, contractors, and hundreds of workers who have just one week to totally rebuild an entire house – every single room, plus the entire exterior and landscaping.  The episode “Brown Family” will air on September 30, 2007 at 8 p.m.

UI is a New Haven-based regional distribution that provides electricity and energy-related services to more than 320,000 customers in municipalities in the Greater New Haven and Bridgeport areas. UI’s World Wide Web address is http://www.uinet.com/.  UI’s parent company, UIL Holdings Corporation, is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol UIL.

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