Energy Incentive Programs, Idaho

Updated November 2009

Below you will find questions and answers regarding Idaho's utility energy efficiency programs, including options for load management, demand response, and distributed energy resources, and information about state-sponsored energy efficiency programs.

What public-purpose-funded energy efficiency programs are available in my state?

Idaho's Conservation Program Funding Charge of 1.5% of customer electricity bills is collected and administered by Idaho's electric utilities following a 2002 ruling by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission. Idaho budgeted more than $27 million in 2008 to promote increased energy efficiency in the state through programs administered by Idaho utilities and the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance.

What utility energy efficiency programs are available to me?

Avista Utilities offers Energy Efficiency Incentives for electric efficiency, natural gas efficiency, and fuel-switching projects. Available opportunities include:

The Demand Controlled Ventilation Incentive Program provides incentives at a rate of $0.25 per square foot with a cap of 2,500 square foot per sensor.
The Side-Stream Filtration Incentive Program pays $18 per ton or 50% of installed cost, whichever is less, for implementing a cooling tower water filtration scheme.
Vending Machine Controller Rebates offers a $90 rebate per controller.
The EnergySmart Program offers free audits and incentives of 20% to 100% of the cost of energy-saving measures.
Site-Specific Incentives provide custom incentives based on the first-year energy savings and include measures such as HVAC equipment and controls.
The Commercial Lighting Incentive Program offers varying incentives depending on the type of replacement lamp.
Food Service Equipment Rebates provide a business and occupation tax credit for purchase of certain energy-efficient commercial appliances.
Commercial HVAC Variable Frequency Drive Incentives provide $80 to $100 per horsepower for primary pumps and fans depending on the type of equipment installed.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification provides an incentive for LEED certified projects of $1.25 per conditioned square foot for LEED-NC and $0.25 per conditioned square foot for LEED-EB facilities.
Premium Efficiency Motors Rebate offers rebates and incentives for installation of qualifying premium electric motors.
Power Management for Personal Computer (PC) Networks offers a $10 incentive per controlled PC for installation of software solutions that provide qualifying energy management and reporting functions.
An LED Traffic Signals program provides a cash incentive of $10 to $55 per signal to reduce the initial cost of LED traffic signals.
The Refrigerated Warehouse Incentive Program offers incentives for a variety of efficiency measures, including fast-acting doors, dock seals, variable frequency drives, fan motors, bi-level lighting, and more.
Steam Trap Replacement/Repair Rebates are offered for repair or replacement of failed steam traps.
Electric to Natural Gas Water Heater Conversion Rebates provide $150 for converting an existing electric water heater to an energy-efficient natural gas water heater.
Commercial Clothes Washer Rebates of $250 to $400 are offered for purchase and installation of ENERGY STAR® or CEE-certified commercial clothes washers. Rebate amounts depend on type of equipment.
A Green Motors Initiative, in conjunction with the Green Motors Practices Group, provides incentives of $1 per horsepower for repair/rewinds that improve reliability and efficiency of NEVA-rated motors from 15 horsepower to 500 horsepower. Incentives are paid as an instant rebate on the invoice from a participating service center.
A Retro-Commissioning Program offers incentives to customers and qualified commissioning agents. Qualifying buildings must have a minimum of 50,000 square feet of conditioned space, be older than five years, have an energy management control system (EMCS), have an Energy Use Index (EUI) greater than 100% of normal according to Avista's EUI calculator, and have a minimum average occupancy rate of not less than 50% over the previous two years.

Idaho Power sponsors three programs that may be of interest to Federal facilities:

The Easy Upgrades program offers incentives of up to $100,000 per site per year for qualifying energy-saving projects in commercial and industrial buildings. Eligible projects cover typical improvements to lighting, HVAC, motors and motor controls, the building shell, plug loads, and more.
The Custom Efficiency for Complex Projects program provides large commercial and industrial customers financial incentives based on $0.12 per kWh savings for up to 70% of the project cost.
The Building Efficiency program provides an incentive of up to $100,000 per project to offset a significant share of additional capital expenses for new construction projects. Pre-application is required.

PacifiCorp/Rocky Mountain Power offers several energy efficiency programs for commercial, industrial, and irrigation customers:

Idaho Energy FinAnswer offers cash incentives for energy efficiency retrofits, major renovation, and new construction projects equal to $0.12 per kWh of the projected annual savings plus $50 per average monthly on-peak kW savings. Incentives are capped at 50% of the project cost. The program also incorporates a variety of energy efficiency services, including facility energy analysis, detailed design assistance, competitive financing, commissioning, and post-installation savings verification. These services are tailored to the specific needs of the project.
Idaho FinAnswer Express provides pre-calculated cash rebates for energy-efficient lighting, HVAC, motors, and other upgrades. The incentives depend on the equipment installed and are capped at 50% of measure costs.
The Irrigation Load Control Program offers financial incentives to irrigators who agree to curtail electricity use during certain periods.
The Energy Exchange Program is an Internet-based voluntary demand reduction program for customers with 1 MW or more of connected load.

Idaho Falls Power's Commercial Energy Conservation Program offers 0% interest loans or rebates to qualifying commercial customers for installing efficient lighting and other electric energy conservation measures (e.g., electric HVAC system improvements, energy-efficient motors and drives, appliances, and building envelope improvements). The program loans up to 100% of the actual cost of installing energy conservation measures for qualifying customers, not to exceed $25,000, or provides rebates of up to 50% of the cost of qualifying measures.

Smaller cooperatives in Idaho, such as Kootenai Electric Cooperative (a Touchstone Cooperative), Northern Lights, Fall River Electric Cooperative, and others offer various rebates to their customers for installing energy-efficient equipment.

Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) offers numerous energy conservation programs:

BPA provides funding for various energy efficiency activities to utilities in its service territory through its Conservation Rate Credit (CRC) and the Energy Conservation Agreement (ECA). As of September 30, 2009, the ECA replaces the Conservation Acquisition Agreement (CAA).
BPA's Technical Services Proposal program offers customers the opportunity to submit a proposal for energy efficiency technical services in the agricultural, commercial, or industrial sectors. The project should be instrumental in the implementation of an energy efficiency project under one of BPA's conservation programs. A technical service proposal generally consists of (but is not limited to) energy audits, feasibility studies, plant assessments, conservation project identification, implementation project proposal development, and measurement and verification tasks at agricultural, commercial, or industrial facilities.
BPA's Commercial and Industrial Lighting for energy-efficient lighting is available through public utilities participating in the BPA program.
BPA's Energy Smart Design program offers incentives for new, small offices via participating BPA utilities.
BPA offers energy efficiency retrofits to Federal agencies under its Federal Conservation Acquisition Program. In 2009, program funding was renewed through September 2011. Under this program, BPA identifies and implements energy-saving measures at Federal facilities. Federal facilities located in load following areas, areas that are served 100% with BPA power, receive all design, engineering support, and contracting services free of charge, as well as financial incentives. In addition, a financing option is available to help Federal agencies meet cost-sharing requirements. Projects at sites served by utilities procuring only a portion of their power from BPA may still take advantage of services but must reimburse BPA for its costs. Interested Federal agencies can contact Frank Brown at febrown@bpa.gov or 206-220-6774 for more information.

What load management/demand response options are available to me?

PacifiCorp/Rocky Mountain Power sponsors two load management/demand response programs for Idaho customers:

The Energy Exchange program is an Internet-based, voluntary demand reduction program. Rocky Mountain Power posts a price for each hour load reductions are needed, and customers may respond by pledging to curtail a specified amount of their load. Participants are paid the posted price per unit of measured energy reduction in each hour of the curtailment. Eligibility is limited to customers with at least 1 MW of connected load.
The Irrigation Load Control Program offers financial incentives to irrigators who agree to curtail electricity use during certain periods. Irrigators choose which sites to enroll in the program and which load control option best suits their needs. Rocky Mountain Power installs an electric timer at participating sites. From June 1 through September 15, the timer interrupts power to the pump according to the pre-determined curtailment schedule. Participants are awarded a participation credit equal to $11 per kW per year.

BPA is assessing a variety of load management/demand response programs in partnership with local distribution utilities. Currently, BPA is conducting a pilot called Open-Automated Demand Response (OpenADR), which works with large commercial and industrial facilities to automatically reduce at least 10% of peak demand through a custom strategy specific to each facility. Participants can opt out of specific events if necessary. This pilot is a partnership with Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory and Seattle City Light. However, customers of additional interested utilities are eligible to participate.

What distributed energy resource options are available to me?

The Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE) provides information on programs that offer incentives for renewable distributed generation. The following program may of interest to Federal customers:

Using revenues generated from the sales of Green Tags (renewable energy credits), the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, accepts proposals for funding for renewable energy projects located in the Pacific Northwest. Any facility located in the Pacific Northwest (including Idaho) may participate.
For facilities that already have small solar photovoltaic (PV) systems installed, the Northwest Solar Cooperative, managed by Solar Oregon, purchases Green Tags through arrangements with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation from entities that produce power through a grid-connected solar PV system of up to 50 kW.

Are there energy efficiency programs sponsored by the state government?

No energy efficiency programs are available to Federal facilities at this time. For possible future opportunities, consult the Idaho Department of Water Resources and the Idaho Office of Energy Resources.

What additional opportunities are available to me?

Pacific Northwest investor- and publicly-owned utilities, as well as public representatives, have banded together to offer energy efficiency market transformation initiatives under the auspices of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA), a nonprofit organization. Federal customers should be aware of NEEA initiatives that could benefit their facilities, such as commissioning of public buildings, building operator certification, efficient building practices, Lighting Design Lab, Northwest Energy Education Institute, Compressed Air Challenge, and Motor Drive Power.

Federal customers whose utilities have area-wide contracts through the General Services Administration (GSA) (e.g., Idaho Power Company and Intermountain Gas Company) may be able to take advantage of third-party financed energy efficiency projects called utility energy service contracts (UESCs). Information is available through the GSA Energy Center of Expertise Library. Federal facilities should contact their account executive to determine the level of each utility's participation.

NOTE: Energy efficiency funds and demand response programs are updated at least annually. Please contact the FEMP webmaster if changes are needed between updates.

Printable Version