Texas

CPS Energy, San Antonio's municipal electric utility, offers energy efficiency rebates for commercial electric customers. Rebates are available for several defined energy efficiency improvements, but may also be available for customized measures that reduce electricity demand. Rebates vary by the specific improvement measure employed. 

The following types of improvements are not eligible to receive a rebate:

Plug loads (i.e., office equipment)
 

Self generation or cogeneration
 

Measures that rely on behavioral changes and require no capital investment
 

Fuel switching to electric 
 

Measures receiving a rebate through other CPS Energy programs

All commercial rebate applications must be completed online. Equipment must be new and used equipment must not be used within the San Antonio service area. Generally, rebates are limited to 50% of the total cost. All applications require both a pre- and post- site inspection by CPS Energy personnel. In addition all improvements must exceed local, state, and national minimum efficiency standards and comply with all applicable codes and permits. The overall CPS efficiency rebate program is subject to funding limitations and annual expiration of details and guidelines. Customers should ensure the availability of rebate funds prior to purchasing or installing items. All commercial customers are also eligible for a low-cost energy audit on qualifying facilities. This process will identify areas of improvement for energy savings in participating facilities and recommend measures.

CoServ Electric Cooperative provides rebates for commercial and industrial customers who upgrade to high efficiency lighting for the workplace. A rebate of $0.30/watt saved is available on custom lighting upgrades and a rebate of $1.50 - $2.25/bulb is available for upgrading T8 Fluorescent bulbs. A variety of lighting fixtures are eligible for custom rebates. Contact CoServ to inquire about eligible technologies and fixtures. A CoServ Field Technician must also inspect the place of business before and after the installation to insure compliance with rebate program guidelines. Each year, rebate funding is provided on a first-come, first-served basis until funding is depleted. 

CenterPoint Energy's Commercial & Industrial Standard Offer Program pays incentives to service providers who install energy efficiency measures in commercial or industrial facilities that are located within its service territories. Participation is a Five-Step Process described in detail in the Program Manual. 

Large commercial customers with a total, single-site maximum peak demand of more than 100 kW or multiple sites with a combined maximum peak demand greater than 250 kW are eligible to participate. Small commercial customers with a total, single-site maximum peak demand of less than 100 kW or multiple sites with a combined maximum peak demand no greater than 250 kW are also eligible Project Sponsors. The project must be implemented at a facility that is operated by a commercial or industrial CenterPoint Energy distribution customer. This "host customer" must be willing to commit to the project, enter an agreement with the Project Sponsor, and provide access to the facility for inspection. Standard Offer incentive vary based upon the technology implemented. 

All projects must include a total estimated summer demand reduction of at least 20kW during peak summer hours (1 pm to 7 pm May 1st- September 30th excluding holidays). Project Sponsors are required to meet minimum eligibility criteria and sign a standard agreement with CenterPoint, which includes an estimate of how many kW and kWh the project will save and the associated incentive payment amount. Detailed information, including eligible measures and application materials may be found on the web site listed above. 

The Retro-Commissioning (RCx) Market Transformation Program offered by CenterPoint Energy promotes the tune-up of major energy-consuming systems in existing commercial buildings, including manufacturing facilities, hospitals, educational campuses, retail stores etc. Typical RCx Measures include HVAC Temperature Reset, Outside Air Reduction, Optimize HVAC Start-Up, Lighting (de-lamping, day-lighting, etc.), VFD’s; etc.

Austin Energy offers a special incentive for its small-to-midsize and not-for-profit business customers to increase the energy efficiency of facilities through the Small Business Rebate Program. Through this program, qualified customers can receive a 30% bonus on all the rebates offered through Austin Energy's standard Commercial Rebate Program.  Rebates are available for qualified HVAC equipment, ceiling/roof insulation and cool roofing, chillers, custom technologies, energy recovery ventilators, lighting equipment, motors, variable frequency drives and window treatments.

A separate rebate is also available for lighting equipment. Small business customers are welcome to take advantage of the standard lighting incentive mentioned above, with the added 30% bonus, but could save even more time and money through the Small Business Lighting Program. Improvement costs of up to 90% percent may be covered by the program. 

Austin Energy offers a special incentive for its small-to-midsize and not-for-profit business customers to increase the energy efficiency of facilities through the Small Business Rebate Program. Through this program, qualified customers can receive a 30% bonus on all the rebates offered through Austin Energy's standard Commercial Rebate Program.  Rebates are available for qualified HVAC equipment, ceiling/roof insulation and cool roofing, chillers, custom technologies, energy recovery ventilators, lighting equipment, motors, variable frequency drives and window treatments.

A separate rebate is also available for lighting equipment. Small business customers are welcome to take advantage of the standard lighting incentive mentioned above, with the added 30% bonus, but could save even more time and money through the Small Business Lighting Program. Improvement costs of up to 90% percent may be covered by the program. 

Austin Energy offers incentives for the construction and major renovation of commercial buildings within its service territory. The program rewards customers by using a tiered payment format, which provides incentives to customers for using efficient measures and techniques throughout the entire construction process. Tier 1 payments are based upon assessments of the planning and design phases of construction. Tier 2 payments are based upon conditions after the project receives building permits but before receiving the certificate of occupancy. Tier 3 rebates are awarded based upon conditions after the certificate of occupancy has been issued. These incentives levels are based upon the percentage of rebates for which the customer qualifies under Austin Energy's commercial rebate program. 

Austin Energy offers incentives for commercial customers to increase the energy efficiency of facilities through the Commercial Rebate Program. Rebates are available for qualified HVAC equipment, ceiling/roof insulation and reflective coating, chillers, custom technologies, energy recovery ventilators, lighting equipment, motors, solar technologies, variable frequency drives, and window treatments. Austin Energy has also created an incentive schedule for new construction projects, which awards incentives based upon specific project conditions. Custom measures include wire-up sizing, day lighting controls, elevator drives, desuperheater heat recovery water heaters, cooling towers and others. 

Interested businesses must first fill out a Customer Information Request Form. An Austin Energy Representative will then contact the business to schedule an initial assessment of the facility, during which, project related documentation, applications and additional energy saving opportunities will be discussed. A rebate application accompanied by the required technical documentation on the proposed equipment must then be submitted before any new equipment is installed. Austin Energy will then perform a preliminary inspection of the existing equipment, followed by a final inspection after the work is complete.

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. 

The TNMP SCORE/CitySmart program helps school facilities and local governments identify energy efficiency opportunities in existing and newly planned facilities and provides financial incentives to help implement the projects. The programs are funded by the TNMP and offered at no cost to participants. No products or services are sold through the CitySmart or SCORE Programs. Non-financial incentives include customized energy performance benchmarking, energy master planning workshops, technical energy efficiency assistance, and communications and public relations support. Cash incentives of $200-$325 per kilowatt (kW) reduction in peak demand are available.

Commercial Solutions

The TNMP Commercial Solutions program provides incentives for new construction or the retrofit installation of a wide range of measures that reduce customer energy costs, reduce peak demand, or save energy in non-residential facilities.  Incentives are paid to energy efficiency service providers on the basis of standardized savings calculations according to the Texas Technical Reference Manual or on the basis of measured and verified savings. Cash incentives vary by technology and are based on a project’s reductions in peak demand (kW) and energy consumption (kilowatt-hours (kWh)), as follows:

Lighting: $100/kW + $0.02/kWh

LEDs*: $125/kW + $0.03/kWh

HVAC DX: $125/kW + $0.03/kWh

Chiller: $150/kW + $0.03/kWh

Motors*: $150/kW + $0.03/kWh

VFD*: $100/kW + $0.02/kWh

Window Film*: $50/kW + $0.02/kWh

Roofing*: $150/kW + $0.03/kWh

Other: $125/kW + $0.03/kWh

*  Retrofit projects only

Small Business

The Open for Small Business Program is designed to offer contractor and customer education on energy efficiency technologies, equip participating contractors with the tools they need to succeed in generating revenue from projects in the small business market, and offer substantial incentive rates needed to move small (≤100 kW) and very small (≤10 kW) businesses to install energy efficient products such as high efficiency lighting and refrigeration measures. The program overcomes market barriers by providing incentives to help pay for energy efficiency upgrades. In addition, Open for Small Business Program connects customers with participating contractors that are qualified to provide design and installation services for energy efficient technologies and give customers any additional technical support to make them comfortable with the implementation of efficiency measures in their facilities.

Pedernales Electric Cooperative offers equipment rebates to its members who install energy efficient HVAC equipment. Eligible equipment includes:

A/C Systems 

Air-Source Heat Pumps

Dual Fuel Heat Pumps

Geothermal or Water-Source Heat Pumps

The amount of the rebate varies according to which type of system is installed. The rebate only applies to replacement equipment, and both indoor and outdoor units must be replaced on the same installation date to be eligible for rebates. The replacement of those systems must include the outside condensing unit, indoor evaporator coil, fan section, and heating system (except those with a gas furnace).