It’s no secret that Texas can get quite hot. It takes a significant amount of electricity to keep your home and office cool during the summer. That’s why regular maintenance of HVAC systems is always recommended – it keeps the equipment you depend on working efficiently. Not only does this keep you cool when needed, but you’ll also save money. A clean HVAC system only uses the electricity that it needs, while a dirty system will have to work harder to push air through clogged filters.
Keeping your HVAC system clean is a great way to save money, but can you take your savings even further? There are a number of energy saving rebates that apply to Texas residents that everyone in this great state should explore.
We’ll be detailing a few of the energy saving rebate programs that are worth your time.
The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT)
PUCT is an organization that was created to oversee that energy saving incentives that are considered “standard offers” throughout the market. They help manage and administer the different incentives available in different cities and counties in Texas.
The programs that PUCT manages are funded by a collaboration of utility companies. The purposes of these energy savings rebates is to help promote alternative energies, in addition to encouraging alternate energy usage habits.
While PUCT helps manage and oversee the rebates, the Texas Energy Efficiency website will help break down different offers on a utility-by-utility basis. Every Texan will benefit from looking through the Texas Energy Efficiency website in addition to PUCT’s offerings.
The Commercial and Industrial Standard Offer Program (CISOP)
These programs are offered through utility providers. They provide special incentives to those who implement specific energy efficient measures during renovations and new construction projects. Some of the Texan utility companies that offer CISOP incentives are:
- Oncor
- Sharyland Utilities
- El Paso Electric
- AEP
- Texas-New Mexico Power
CISOP incentives are offered both as a savings rebate and as price reductions for off-peak electrical usage. There are a number of different energy efficient technologies that can be employed to earn a CISOP energy savings rebate:
- Lighting controls
- Chillers
- Heat pumps
- High efficiency lighting
- Variable speed drives
- Refrigeration units
The types of CISOP incentives offered for each of these energy efficient technologies varies based on the region and utility company. As a baseline, the basic energy efficient program requires that customers have a minimum peak demand of 100-250 KW.
Based on state legislation, the utility companies themselves do not perform energy efficiency services. This means that they are not the ones who will come install a new HVAC system or refrigerator. Instead, contractors, developers and individuals are responsible for implementing their own measures. In order to qualify for CISOP incentives, the changes made must provide at least 10 to 50 KW savings of summer peak demand.
What Energy Saving Rebates Apply to Me?
With multiple programs being offered by each utility company in every region of Texas, understanding how you can save can become confusing. Both CISOP and PUCT incentives may be applicable to your situation.
The best place to begin is with your utility companies. Ask about which incentives are available in your area, and what you must do in order to earn them. You’ll likely be given a set of criteria that must be met, such as making use of new energy efficient technologies. Your next step will be to install a new high efficiency HVAC system and start reaping your energy saving rebates.