Energy Incentive Programs, North Dakota
Updated December 2011
North Dakota utilities budgeted roughly $2 million n 2010 to promote energy efficiency in the state.
What public-purpose-funded energy efficiency programs are available in my state?
North Dakota has no public-purpose-funded energy efficiency programs.
What utility energy efficiency programs are available to me?
Otter Tail Power Company offers rebates for efficient electric water heaters and certain thermal storage technologies.
The North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives offers rebates to commercial customers of local electric cooperatives through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act for purchase of specified efficient lighting equipment, motors, variable speed drives, heat pumps, thermal storage and renewable technologies. The rebate application form provides additional details.
What load management/demand response options are available to me?
Xcel Energy offers two demand response programs that may be of interest to federal customers:
Xcel's Electric Rate Savings programs are for customers willing to curtail load (by as little as 50 kW) at Xcel's request. The June-September discount ranges from $5.29-$7.23 per kW of controllable load, and the October-May discount is $1.95-$3.89 per kW. The ranges relate to the number of hours the customer is willing to be curtailed.
The Saver's Switch program permits Xcel to adjust customers' air conditioners so that they cycle off and on at 15- to 20-minute intervals. Customers are credited with a monthly discount of $5 per ton of enrolled air conditioning from June through September.
Otter Tail Power Company offers the following demand response programs:
The Released Energy Access Program pays large customers (500 kW minimum peak demand) for voluntary load curtailments. When Otter Tail expects peak conditions and high energy prices, it will alert program participants by e-mail of the price offered for curtailed energy. Customers who wish to accept the offer reply by making their commitment to curtail a specific amount of power at the required time.
The Energy Control program offers about half the standard electricity rate to customers who allow Otter Tail Power to control specific equipment on their system during on-peak times. This only applies to customers who are signed up for special off-peak electricity prices.
Water Heating Credits and discounted off-peak water heating rates are available for customers with separately metered water heaters that permit the utility to directly control their water heating for up to 14 hours per day.
Otter Tail's Real Time Pricing Rider alternatively credits or charges customers, based upon day-ahead projections of hourly electricity costs, for usage below or above a pre-determined customer baseline load profile. Customers may be able to reduce their electricity bills by curtailing load during high cost periods or shifting load to times when prices are lower.
Utilities in the footprint of MISO (formerly the Midwest Independent System Operator) may enroll interested customers in any of MISO's various demand response offerings, from which they can receive payments for reducing load. Federal customers should contact their local utility representative to inquire about participation.
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 be of interest to federal customers:
The North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives offers rebates to commercial customers of local electric cooperatives through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act for PV, wind and geothermal installations. The rebate application form provides additional details.
North Dakota provides a 3% per year tax credit for five years to customers who install renewable energy systems of various kinds on their property. Although federal agencies can not use this tax credit directly, it can be assigned to a tax-paying entity, such as an energy service company (ESCO) or other project developer.
Are there energy efficiency programs sponsored by state government?
No state energy efficiency programs are currently available to federal customers. For information on future opportunities, contact the Energy Programs Office
What additional opportunities are available to me?
Federal customers whose utilities have area-wide contracts through GSA (such as Montana-Dakota Utilities) may be able to take advantage of 3rd-party financed energy efficiency projects called utility energy services contracts (UESCs). Information is available on GSA's Energy Center of Expertise Library Page. Federal facilities should contact their account executive to determine the level of each utility's participation.