LIPA Releases 2007 Long Island Population Survey
LIPA Customer Base Increases Despite Slowdown in Single-Family Home Sales
Uniondale, NY—March 14th, 2008— The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) today
released its 2007 Population Survey. Despite the lull in the residential
real-estate market, the survey still shows growth in Long Island’s population.
The study for Nassau, Suffolk and the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens illustrates a
net increase of 21,172 residents from January 1, 2006 to January 1, 2007,
resulting in the addition of 6,255 households to LIPA’s service territory.
“With more than 6,200 homes and 21,000 residents added to LIPA’s service area
in 2006, it is imperative that we continue to explore new and alternative ways
to satisfy Long Island’s electrical needs," said LIPA President and CEO Kevin S.
Law. “And as our appetite for energy continues to grow, it is incumbent upon all
of us to make energy efficiency a priority. The price for oil and natural gas
continue to skyrocket, and these commodities are central to the production of
electricity. The best way for Long Islanders to keep their electricity costs in
check is through conservation and efficiency,” Law said.
The survey points out that as of Jan. 1, 2007, Nassau County grew by 2,874
persons to a total of 1.35 million; while Suffolk County experienced much larger
growth totaling 9,250 persons for a total of 1.50 million. During the same
period the Rockaway Peninsula added 9,048 persons.
Nassau County’s three towns and two cities all experienced growth in
population, with the Town of Hempstead showing the largest increase at 1,289
persons to bring its total population to 765,111. North Hempstead had the second
largest year-to-year gain, adding 904 new residents to bring its total
population to 224,774 residents.
Suffolk County’s ten towns also expanded in population during 2006.
Brookhaven continued to be the fastest growing town in Suffolk adding 3,960 new
residents. It remains Suffolk’s most populous town and the second most populous
on Long Island with an estimated 489,255 residents. Islip placed second by
adding 1,166 new residents; Huntington added 1,067. The Town of Shelter Island
had the third highest percentage of growth among Suffolk’s ten towns at 1.29%
but the smallest increase in individuals at 32 for a total population of 2,515.
Over the last decade (1997-2006), electric use per-household on Long Island
has increased by almost 20% or 1,600-kilowatt hours (kWh). The increase has been
fueled in large part by extra appliances used in more and larger homes as well
as electric powered conveniences requiring daily charging such as iPods,
Blackberries, and laptop computers.
Also contributing to the increase, household luxury items such as central air
conditioning, High Definition large screen TV’s, fax and photo copiers and
residential pools. In 1997 there were 2.5 televisions per LIPA household; today,
the average is 4.3 and 72% of LIPA households have a television larger than 27
inches, almost half of which are High Definition. Nearly one in four homes on
Long Island have either an in-ground or above-ground pool and more than one in
ten feature a hot tub or home spa.
Another factor in the region’s increasing energy demands are close to a dozen
major projects planned Island-wide over the next five years including Suffolk
County’s Yaphank Center and jail projects, the Nassau Hub and the Heartland
Business Center.
Miscellaneous Factors Contributing to Increased Energy Demand
- PC printers, including those used for photo printing, increased
household use by 85 kWh, 5% of the total increase in electric use per
household.
- Cell phone chargers increased household use by 60 kWh, almost 4% of the
total increase in electric use per household.
- Cordless phone chargers increased household use by 54 kWh, over 3% of
the total increase in electric use per household.
- Telephone answering machines increased household use by 50 kWh, 3% of
the total increase in electric use per household.
- Fax machines and Photo Copiers increased household use by 31 kWh, almost
2% of the total increase in electric use per household.
- 4 out of 5 homes have either a Cable Box or Satellite Dish; and 93% have
a DVD or VCR.
- Today nearly 1 in 4 homes have a swimming pool, and over 1 in 10 homes
have a Hot Tub or Jacuzzi. Hot Tubs and Home Spas increased household use by
8 kWh, less than 1% of the total increase in electric use per household.
- Appliance/Power Tool Chargers increased household use by 5 kWh, less
than 1% of the total increase in electric use per household.
“Continuing to develop more resources and capacity to meet our region’s
increasing power demands remains a top priority for LIPA,” said Law. “At the
same time, it is vital that homeowners and business people become more energy
efficient and get better educated about the energy demands associated with their
planned purchases.”
To meet increased electric demand, LIPA has added over 1,800 megawatts (MWs)
of new electric supply since 2001, including 660MWs from the Neptune Regional
Transmission Cable that came on-line this summer. The Caithness Long Island
Energy Center in the Town of Brookhaven is expected to add 350MWs to our supply
capacity when it comes on-line in 2009.
LIPA’s vast array of energy efficiency programs and incentives for
residential and commercial customers provide many tools to help incorporate
energy efficient practices and technologies in homes and businesses. Visit
LIPA’s Web site for more information.
The annual population estimates for LIPA’s Population Survey are derived from
U.S. Census data and utility records of active residential electric meters. For
each of the approximately 300 communities in Nassau and Suffolk, plus the
Rockaways in Queens, the number of persons per household is determined based on
the most recent census. Also, a relationship is established between households
and residential electric meters. Each year these factors are reviewed and
adjusted to reflect demographic changes.
A copy of LIPA’s 2007 Population Survey may be obtained by sending a request
to: LIPA—2007 POP Survey, Communications Dept.- Suite 403, 333 Earle Ovington
Blvd., Uniondale, NY 11553. The survey may also be viewed or downloaded at
LIPA’s Web site: http://www.lipower.org/company/pubs/popsurvey.html |
