Central Electric Cooperative
 
 
 
CEC Energy Newsletter
July 2007

 


 

 

CEC Conservation & Renewable Energy Programs
Source: CEC Energy Specialist
People ask us all the time if we have conservation and renewable energy programs. Yes we do! You can find out about our current offerings just by visiting the Central Electric Cooperative (CEC) website, www.cec.coop, or by calling CEC at 541-548-2144.

Funding for most of our programs comes from our power supplier, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), which is part of the federal Department of Energy. BPA funding currently allows us to offer financial incentives for residential weatherization, heat pumps, electric water heaters, Energy Star appliances, Energy Star new homes, irrigation hardware, irrigation pump motors, solar water heating, and solar photovoltaics. In many (but not all) cases, measures installed through our programs qualify for tax credits from the State of Oregon or from the federal government.

As you might expect, when funds come from the federal government, there are certain requirements that need to be met before incentives can be paid out. For some programs, like the heat pump program, the requirements are quite detailed, so a pre-approval is needed. In other cases, appliances and irrigation equipment for instance, requirements are simpler, so applying for the financial incentive is easy. If you have any questions about our programs please call us before you get started, to get the most current information. Up to date information is also posted on our website.

Residential Weatherization

Financial incentives are available to help control heating costs in existing, electrically heated homes by adding insulation, sealing forced air duct systems and upgrading windows. The amount of money available varies by the weatherization measure chosen and a free, professional, onsite energy analysis is available for qualifying homes. Call us to get on the home energy audit list. Brochures and step-by-step instructions are also available on the CEC website, but the analysis is still needed to get the process started.

Heat Pumps

Compared to an electric furnace, heat pumps can save 30-50% of the energy used to heat a home in Central Oregon, if they are designed and installed properly. Heat pumps are "installer sensitive" when it comes to comfort and performance which is why we include quality control features in our program. Any home, new or existing, can qualify for the heat pump program. Although the brochure and application materials are available on the website it is imperative that the job be pre-approved in order for CEC to award the BPA incentive which in most cases amounts to $800.00.

Water Heaters

Water heating is typically the second largest use category in the home and water heaters in our area can last a long time which means the cost to run your water heater over its lifetime is many times what you'll spend to buy one. So, when the time comes to purchase a new electric water heater we have a $50.00 rebate to encourage you to buy a more efficient model. You'll need to fill out a rebate application, attach the receipt for the water heater and send it all to CEC. Once we verify that the water heater qualifies we'll send you a check for $50.00. Simple!

Energy Star Appliances

If your home has an electric water heater, certain higher efficiency, Energy Star clothes washers and dishwashers can qualify for appliance rebates. New Energy Star refrigerators are also included (and you won't need the electric water heater). Basically all we need is a completed application and a copy of the appliance invoice. The appliance rebate application is available from our offices, through the mail or from the website and contain complete directions and a short application. Energy Star rated clothes washers are eligible for a $60 rebate, Energy Star rated dishwashers $25, and Energy Star rated refrigerators can get a $25 rebate.

Energy Star New Homes

Energy Star site-built homes and Energy Star manufactured homes are at least 15% more efficient than current building codes and they can also qualify for financial incentives. For the Energy Star site built home program we're partnering with the local Energy Star/Earth Advantage home specialist, Bruce Sullivan, 480-7303. Once Bruce qualifies the home, and it is certified by the Oregon Department of Energy, CEC awards the builder the $800-$1000 BPA rebate.

If you buy an Energy Star certified manufactured homes with electric heat you can get a cash rebate of $800.00. The energy efficient construction details and most inspections are handled in the factory as the home is built. A certificate of Energy Star compliance will come with the home so keep it handy. An application is available on our web site or from our offices and all we need is a copy of the Energy Star certificate, and a completed application. Once the home is set up we do a quick on-site inspection before awarding the rebate.

Solar Hot Water Heaters

We've already mentioned that water heating is a big energy user but you can cut that big energy use by up to 70% with a properly installed solar water heater. Central Oregon has lots of sunshine for heating water so if you install a qualifying solar water heating system, and if you have an electric water heater, you are eligible for a $500 discount off of the cost of the system. Brochures and application materials are available from our offices or on the website. Pre- approval of your application and the use of pre- approved contractors is required.

Net Metering / Solar Photovoltaic Program

Customers installing their own solar, wind, hydroelectric or fuel cell generation (25KW maximum) are eligible to interconnect with CEC's system by entering into a Net Metering agreement. This agreement allows excess energy generated by the customer to backfeed into CEC's grid and the customer is only billed for the "net" energy consumed over a billing period. In addition, if the customer is net metering with solar photovoltaics (PV) they can also apply for a cash rebate of $0.50 per watt of PV system. An approved application and net metering agreement is required. These documents are available from our offices or on the web site.

Green Power

CEC is part owner of a clean, non-polluting electricity generating plant in the Willamette Valley that creates nearly 5.0 megawatts of power by burning methane gas from a nearby landfill. If this gas wasn't used to produce electricity, it would have to be wasted by being burned in the open atmosphere to meet federal Environmental Protection Agency regulations. This environmentally friendly source of energy is available to CEC members to help meet their energy needs. You can buy as much, or as little, Green Power as you want (in 100 kWh blocks) for an extra cost of $1.80 per 100 kWh. An application is available at our offices or on our website.

Conservation and renewable energy programs are really a win-win proposition for CEC and CEC members. When you install conservation and renewable energy measures through our programs, you usually reduce your own energy costs and you also help CEC earn a discount off its power bill from BPA. CEC then takes those discount dollars and uses them to fund our local conservation and renewable programs, returning those conservation and renewable dollars to our members and local businesses in Central Oregon in the form of rebates and discounts. If you are thinking of upgrading your home or appliances, or are interested in renewable energy options, please contact us to see if the Co-op's programs may be able to help you.