Energy Efficiency

AEP Ohio offers commercial customers incentives to upgrade equipment in eligible facilities to more energy efficient models. The program is open to all non-residential customers of AEP Ohio. Incentives are offered on a prescriptive and custom basis. Eligible prescriptive equipment includes heat pumps, air conditioners, exhaust equipment, energy management systems, occupancy sensors, chillers, variable speed drives, motors, refrigeration equipment, food service equipment, window film and agricultural equipment. Custom measures may include certain efficient equipment or processes that are not available under the prescriptive program. Custom incentives are $0.08/kWh first year savings and $100/first year peak kW reduction. Visit the program web site for additional qualifications and application information.

Small businesses, below 200,000 kWh annually, are eligible for incentives as well through the AEP Express program.  After an energy assessment, AEP approves a proposal with the customer to install recommended equipment, including Indoor and outdoor lighting retrofits, occupancy sensors, refrigeration controls and other technologies.  A variety of incentives are eligible for such projects, which will reduce the cost of implementation for the building owner.  The AEP Ohio Express Program is part of the gridSMART initiative offered to help residential and commercial customers use less energy.

*Ohio passed its Energy Efficiency Standards May 2008 (SB 221) requiring utilities to implement energy efficiency programs that achieve over 22% energy savings by 2025 (with incremental benchmark savings required each year). The same bill established Ohio's Alternative Energy Resource Standard (AERS) requiring that 25% of the total number of kilowatt hours of electricity sold to customers come from renewable and alternative energy resources, including efficiency. 

AEP Ohio offers commercial customers incentives to upgrade inefficient equipment in their facilities.* The program is open to all non-residential customers of AEP Ohio. Interested customers must apply for pre-approval before purchasing any equipment or carrying out the project to reserve funds. Types of high efficiency equipment eligible under this program include industrial process improvements, refrigeration, controls, non-standard lighting (those that do not qualify under the Commercial Lighting Program), HVAC system replacements, and other technologies that reduce energy consumption and peak demand. The incentive payment is capped at 50% of the total project cost. 


*Ohio passed its Energy Efficiency Standards May 2008 (SB 221) requiring utilities to implement energy efficiency programs that achieve over 22% energy savings by 2025 (with incremental benchmark savings required each year). The same bill established Ohio's Alternative Energy Resource Standard (AERS) requiring that 25% of the total number of kilowatt hours of electricity sold to customers come from renewable and alternative energy resources, including efficiency

The no-cost Commercial Solutions Program is designed to help businesses, cities and counties address rising energy costs through energy efficiency improvements. The program offers objective, third-party consulting on energy usage and efficiency. This support helps customers identify cost-effective projects, properly evaluate vendor proposals, and leverage the resulting energy savings and cash incentives to finance additional improvements. Eligible customers include any commercial AEP distribution customer who owns or operates a site with a maximum peak demand of more than 50 kW. An incentive of $0.060/kWh and $175/kW is available for projects which result in verifiable energy savings. Technical assistance, program management, and communications support services are also offered through this program. Cities, private schools, counties, manufacturing, hospitals, retail, hotels, restaurants and other facilities are eligible for this incentive. 

Xcel Energy offers rebate programs for Colorado commercial and industrial customers for a wide range of energy efficiency technologies including but not limited to heating and cooling, motors, lighting, and refrigeration. In many cases, Xcel energy will cover at least part of the cost of the assessment, in addition to the equipment and installation rebates. Xcel Energy can also connect business customers who are interested in financing to several third-party lending institutions. 

Information on incentive amounts and efficiency specifications can be found at the program website; for more information on the rebate programs, customers should contact their account manager.

Custom Energy Efficiency Program

Energy efficiency measures that exceed standard options but aren’t covered under prescriptive rebate programs fall under the Custom Energy Efficiency Program. Pre-approval is required to be reimbursed for custom measures. Eligible projects receive rebates up to $400 per kilowatt (kW) and $0.04 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

Energy Efficient Building Program

Colorado businesses can take advantage of Energy Efficient Buildings (EEB), a prescriptive approach to obtaining rebates for new construction, major renovations and additions. EEB rebates are based on Xcel Energy’s prescriptive programs, such as motors, cooling, and heating. EEB also rebates for approved non-prescriptive (custom) measures which are based on Xcel Energy’s custom program.

While this program is intended for buildings with square footage between 5,000 to 50,000 square feet, any building above 5,000 square feet may apply to the Energy Efficient Building program. Amounts vary depending on equipment purchased and installed.

Energy Management Systems Program

Colorado businesses can earn rebates on improvements to building controls with the Energy Management Systems (EMS) program. Pre-approval is required.

Xcel Energy offers its Minnesota commercial customers a variety of rebates for energy efficient technologies. The incentive amounts for specified technologies can be found on the program web site and include motors, lighting equipment, HVAC systems, variable speed drives, building controls and others. Xcel Energy also offers design assistance for energy efficient buildings. Customers purchasing multiple energy efficient motors are now eligible for increased rebates. Xcel Energy also offers a Saver's Switch program for commercial customers to encourage curtailment of energy usage during peak periods. Customers have a device installed on their air conditioners and Xcel Energy cycles the system on and off during periods of high energy demand. Customers who participate receive a bill credit during the summer months. 

Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association offers a range of rebates to non-residential customers who purchase and install approved energy efficient equipment. Rebates are available for motors, geothermal, air-source, and water-source heat pumps, air conditioning, lighting, variable frequency drives, and custom measures. All equipment requirements must be met in order to be eligible for rebates. Rebate amounts and equipment requirements can be found on the program web site listed above. Eligible customers can receive incentives worth 50% of the project cost, up to $100,000. 

Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (SMMPA) is a joint-action agency which generates and sells reliable electricity at wholesale to its eighteen non-profit, municipally-owned member utilities:

Austin Utilities

Blooming Prairie Public utilities

Fairmont Public Utilities

Grand Marais Public Utilities

Lake City Utilities

Litchfield Public Utilities

Mora Municipal Utilities

New Prague Utilities Commission

North Branch Municipal Water and Light

Owatonna Public Utilities

Preston Public Utilities

Princeton Public Utilities

Redwood Falls Public Utilities

Rochester Public Utilities

Saint Peter Municipal Utilities

Spring Valley Public Utilities

Waseca Utilities

Wells Public Utilities

SMMPA develops innovative products and services to help them deliver value to customers. With help from SMMPA, Wells Public Utilities provides incentives for its commercial and industrial customers to improve the energy efficiency of facilities. Rebates are available for a variety of energy-efficient equipment: lighting, HVAC, replacement motors, variable speed drives, anti-sweat heater controls for cooler/freezer doors, food service equipment, and custom measures.

Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (SMMPA) is a joint-action agency which generates and sells reliable electricity at wholesale to its eighteen non-profit, municipally-owned member utilities, and develops innovative products and services to help them deliver value to customers. With help from SMMPA, Waseca Utilities provides incentives for its commercial and industrial customers to improve the energy efficiency of facilities. Rebates are available for a variety of energy-efficient equipment including appliances, lighting, cooling, motors, variable speed drives, anti-sweat heater controls for cooler/freezer doors, food service equipment (including ENERGY STAR rated), and custom measures. Each type of equipment has minimum efficiency and performance ratings which must be met in order to qualify for the rebate. Rebates on ENERGY STAR appliances are also available under the Residential Rebate Program. 

Wabash Valley Power Association (WVPA) is a generation and transmission cooperative which provides wholesale electricity to 28 distribution systems in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Illinois. View the WVPA membership webpage to view all participating members of the association. WVPA offers a number of rebates to its business, school, and farm customers through its "Power Moves" program. Rebates are available on air-source heat pumps, geothermal heat pumps, air conditioners, programmable thermostats, lighting measures, and agricultural equipment. A signed application and installation invoice must be received by Wabash Valley Power within 60 days of the installation completion date. 

Wabash Valley Power Association (WVPA) is a generation and transmission cooperative which provides wholesale electricity to 28 distribution systems in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Illinois. View the WVPA membership webpage to view all participating members of the association. WVPA offers a number of rebates to its business, school, and farm customers through its "Power Moves" program. Rebates are available on air-source heat pumps, geothermal heat pumps, air conditioners, programmable thermostats, lighting measures, and agricultural equipment. A signed application and installation invoice must be received by Wabash Valley Power within 60 days of the installation completion date.