Energy efficiency credit program takes off for Sangre De Cristo
When Sangre De Cristo Electric Association hired Bill Green as member services director two years ago, he had the blueprint of Tri-State Generation and Transmission's Energy Efficiency Credit program, and he had years of experience implementing similar programs at other utilities. But he had no idea how popular energy efficiency credits would be with SDCEA's members.
"The first step was just doing the paperwork so our members could get the rebates available through Tri-State," Green recalls of his early days heading up SDCEA's then new member services department. "The response was good, so we started looking at ways to make the program even more attractive."
Members drive decision to sell equipment
The Buena Vista, Colo., cooperative offers its members credits for installing energy-efficient space and water heating equipment. "These systems fit the best with our membership," Green explained, noting for example, that members showed little interest in heat pumps. "There's no real demand for cooling in a mountain climate. Air conditioning is opening the window," he joked.
It was member interest, however, that ultimately led SDCEA to stock Marathon brand water heaters. Before May 2002, Mountain Parks Electric, Inc. in Granby was the only Marathon outlet in western Colorado.
"Members were doing research on-line for the most efficient water heating units and coming up with Marathon," said Green. "Mountain Parks called to let me know that two of our members had contacted them about buying water heaters, so why didn't we sell them? My thoughts exactly."
SDCEA contacted local vendors to see what energy efficient units they carried. "We didn't get much response," Green stated. "One plumber in Salida had a brand that met Department of Energy standards, but it was not as efficient as we'd like. Our program is geared toward high efficiency, so we wanted to give our members access to the best technology available."
In the six months since SDCEA has been offering water heaters for sale, the utility has sold 22 units and 18 customers have applied for energy efficiency credits on their installation.
Contractors advocate energy-efficient heating systems
Another 30 members have taken advantage of rebates on space heating equipment. Green attributes a large part of the success to word-of-mouth advertising. "Two local builders, Knight and Sons Construction and Vista Builders, promote electric heating systems for new homes," he said. "And the homeowners who have gone with the units are giving us great feedback. You can't buy better publicity than that."
In fact, adds Green, "The owner of Vista installed an electric thermal storage heating system unit in his own home. He can speak from experience and when the questions get technical, he refers them to me."
Green too, speaks from experience: his own home, built last December, is heated by ETS. "People can be skeptical when a representative from the electric co-op tells them that an electric heating system is the way to go. But when I show them my utility bills, they know it's not just a pitch."
2003 guidelines offer more savings
Tri-State and SDCEA updated the credit program guidelines this year to require timers that operate equipment only during off-peak hours. Members can receive an additional $25 credit for installing the timer with the electrical heating unit and get the benefit of SDCEA's time-of-use rates.
The change, noted Green, was good for everyone. "Tri-State wins by selling off-peak power they have to generate anyway. We win by being able to add load without impacting our peak, and of course, the customers win by having an economical heating system and a little more cash to apply to the cost of the equipment."
With more savings for consumers, more local contractors seeking training in energy-efficient technology and more happy customers spreading the word, it looks like another great year for SDCEA's Energy Efficiency Credit program.