New rebates offer businesses and farms options to improve energy use

More Midwestern businesses this year have cool new ways to lower their energy costs – literally.

The Power Moves® energy efficiency rebate program this year features more rebates for businesses upgrading refrigeration in their facility. Wabash Valley Power Alliance and its 23 member electric distribution cooperatives offering the program now offer 8 prescriptive refrigeration rebates; previously, only one such rebate was available. WVPA and its member cooperatives implemented updates after an energy analysis company audited the program and recommended changes to strengthen participation and energy savings.

“The Power Moves program helps businesses save money on long-term energy costs in multiple ways,” said Laura Matney, strategic electrification and member relations manager for Wabash Valley Power. “By lowering long-term energy use, we help ensure the reliability of the grid and limit demands on the system. This helps us avoid building expensive power plants, and we can pass those savings along to the families and businesses we serve.”

The program this year also includes a new series of agricultural rebates, including a rebate for high-volume low-speed fans common in animal barns. Previously, the fan upgrades required a custom rebate application; now the farms can simply submit the prescriptive rebate, which is $600 for qualifying upgrades.

“We were getting farmers asking for the high-volume low-speed fans, but some were too late to do a custom project which required pre-approval before purchase,” said Mary Miller, energy engineer for the Power Moves program. “Farms can now purchase and install them, and then apply for a rebate, though people need to be sure to read the application for equipment qualification requirements.”

Additional changes this year include:

• $750 rebate for installing a qualifying heat pump water heater
• $100 per ton rebate for installing a qualifying ductless heat pump
• More outdoor lighting prescriptive rebates

People need to ensure their heating and cooling projects meet Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio 2 (SEER2) and Heating Seasonal Performance Factor 2 (HSPF2) standards. The U.S. Department of Energy in 2023 changed the way heating and cooling systems are tested, resulting in the new rating systems, the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute reported on its website.

Power Moves HVAC rebate applications require the new ratings as part of application submissions. The application worksheet has information to help calculate the efficiency ratings if installed equipment only has original HSPF and SEER ratings.

“The efficiency levels will increase with the new ratings, which will impact projects that qualify for rebates,” Miller said. “The last time the government updated the efficiency levels for equipment was 2018, so it was time for a review, especially given all the changes over the years.”

The Power Moves applications have been streamlined to make it easier for people to complete and submit them. Rebate details are available on PowerMoves.com. Businesses can contact their local electric cooperative’s energy advisor to begin planning and maximize long-term energy savings.“We review the program annually to make sure the program is responsive to meet the needs of the businesses served by our participating cooperatives,” Matney said. “We look forward to partnering with businesses to ensure that we can help them meet their goals and save on long-term energy costs.”

Suggestions for future program changes or additions can be directed to info@powermoves.com, or to the Energy Advisor at your electric cooperative.