Utility promotes geoexchange with own HVAC company
What started as Delta-Montrose Electric
Association’s plan to market an energy-efficient heating
and cooling system to its members grew into a successful geothermal
heat pump contracting business on Colorado’s Western Slope.
The co-op’s Co-Z
Energy Plan offered members long-term loans to finance complete
ground-source heat pump systems, including installation and all equipment,
for up to 30 years. However, with few local HVAC contractors familiar
with the technology, DMEA decided that starting its own company was
the best way to jumpstart the market.
Intermountain Energy opened for business in 1998 and
installed 26 systems that year. The number of installations has grown
almost exponentially each year for a total of 300 systems. Some of
those systems were installed for other area co-ops. Grand
Valley Power, Gunnison County
Electric, and San Miguel Power
Association have joint marketing agreements with Intermountain.
The company’s business came primarily from residential
customers but is now attracting more light commercial customers. Montrose
County government installed a 120-ton geoexchange system in its new
Health and Human Services building in 2003.
