Black & Veatch, a corporation known for its global engineering and construction, recently released its 2011 Electric Utility Survey. Black & Veatch surveyed 700 electric utility industry executives about their thoughts about the future of industry, such as utility pricing, electric vehicles, nuclear and wind power and much more. In terms of electricity, 70% of these industry executives said electricity prices will be rising considerably over the next five years. This isn’t great news for consumers who have to use electricity every day! What is even more disheartening is that these industry leaders also said that because the United States does not have a national energy policy, they have no incentive to spend more on creating new technology or more energy efficient appliances. The biggest incentives to invest in new technology are “regulatory requirements” and “government incentives.”

So what can we do to prepare for this increase in electricity prices over the next five years? Start making cuts in electricity consumption now! Much of our electricity comes from lighting, so why not invest in LEDs? Many LED lamps consume 70-80% less energy than incandescent lamps. An 12-watt LED typically gives off the same amount of light as a 60-watt incandescent lamp! The warm, bright LED lamps are also more durable than incandescent lamps and are not harmful to the environment like CFLs. Invest in LED lighting now… It will save you a lot now and even more in the future!