October 2006 Rebate Report: Spotlight: EnergyTrust of Oregon, Inc.

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Incentive Programs Promote Efficient Use of Electricity and Natural Gas in Oregon

Energy Trust of Oregon is an independent nonprofit organization helping Oregonians benefit from increased energy efficiency and renewable energy development, serving 1.4 million Oregon customers of Pacific Power, Portland General Electric, NW Natural and Cascade Natural Gas —about 80% of Oregon homes and businesses. The organization grew out of 1999 electric energy restructuring legislation that established a 3% public purpose charge for customers of Oregon’s two investor-owned electric utilities, Portland General Electric and Pacific Power. Energy Trust receives 74% of these funds, about $49 million in 2006. An additional $10 million annually comes from public purpose charges established voluntarily by two of the state’s largest gas utilities, NW Natural and Cascade Natural Gas.

Energy Trust has been very successful. Cumulative energy savings since 2002 exceed 105 megawatts, a third of Energy Trust’s 10-year goal of 300 megawatts— enough to power 81,000 homes. On the gas side, Energy Trust has saved 3.2 million annual therms, about 17% of its 10-year goal. The 2007 session of Oregon's state legislature will coincide with the midpoint of the public purpose charge’s 10-year life. The legislature is likely to consider proposals to increase the public purpose charge and extend its life beyond 2012. e&pm

Electricity and Natural Gas Incentives

Visit our Rebate Report page for archived Rebate Reports, featuring direct links to incentives, program details, rebate applications, and more.

BUILDING EFFICIENCY PROGRAM: SAVING ENERGY AND MONEY FOR OREGON BUSINESSES, INCLUDING COMMERCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FACILITIES.

ELIGIBLE: Non-residential customers of Pacific Power, PGE, NW Natural, and Cascade Natural Gas in Oregon.

MEASURES: Renovation projects in existing buildings focusing on replacement of one energy system.

INCENTIVES: Examples of eligible upgrade projects and incentives offered:

Lighting and lighting controls: Prescriptive (range from $2 to $50/ fixture or sensor) or custom (20% of total approved cost not to exceed 10 cents/annual kWh saved).
Premium HVAC: Prescriptive (Based on rated capacity of equipment. $120 to $300/unit) or custom (up to 25% of incremental cost, not to exceed 12 cents/ annual kWh saved.)
Motors: Prescriptive (incentives of $10/hp for motors < 200 hp) or custom (up to 25% of incremental cost, not to exceed 12 cents/annual kWh saved.)
Foodservice Equipment: Prescriptive (range from $45 to $2,750) or custom (up to 25% of incremental cost, not to exceed 12 cents/annual kWh saved and $1/therm saved.)
Premium Natural Gas Equipment: Prescriptive (range from $1.50/kBtu /hr for unit heaters with electronic ignitions to $1,000/boiler vent damper) or custom (up to 25% of incremental cost, not to exceed $1/therm saved.) Only NW Natural or Cascade Natural Gas territory.
Free pre-rinse sprayers are offered to Oregon restaurants for a limited time.

PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY PROGRAM: INDUSTRIAL INCENTIVES FOR IMPROVING THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF MANUFACTURING PROCESSES.

ELIGIBLE: Industrial customers of Pacific Power or PGE in Oregon.

MEASURES: Incentives for improving manufacturing efficiency, including water and wastewater treatment processes.

INCENTIVES: Standard, custom, and irrigation efficiency programs.

Standard program covers lighting and electric motor retrofits: Lighting and lighting controls: Prescriptive (range from $2 to $50/ fixture or sensor) or custom (20% of total approved cost not to exceed 10 cents/annual kWh saved). Motors: Prescriptive (rebates of $10/hp for motors < 200 hp) or custom (up to 25% of incremental cost, not to exceed 12 cents/annual kWh saved).
Custom programs cover more complex process enhancements. Incentives offered up to 12 cents/annual kWh (up to 20 cents/kWh for municipal water and wastewater projects) saved or 50% of total project costs, whichever is less. Maximum incentive is $250,000.
Irrigation efficiency program offers free equipment and incentives of up to 30% of the upgrade project cost for Pacific Power irrigation customers in the Klamath Basin.

NEW BUILDING EFFICIENCY: EFFICIENCY OF NEW BUILDINGS OR MAJOR RENOVATION PROJECTS ABOVE LOCAL BUILDING CODES AND STANDARD PRACTICE.

ELIGIBLE: Facilities in Pacific Power, PGE, NW Natural, and Cascade Natural Gas territories.

MEASURES: C/I new construction or major renovation projects in which two or more energy systems are being installed.

INCENTIVES: Standard track (max $50,000/project) covers lighting and controls ($6-100/unit), premium a/c ($92 - $1,975 each for units between 1-25 tons), motors ($10 to $2,000 for motors between 1-200 hp), variable speed drives ($700 to $1200 with 3 to 9 hp motors), natural gas incentives ($500 to $1,000 for restaurant cooking equipment and boiler vent dampers), heat pumps ($150 to $5,000 for heat pumps from 1 to 25 tons), air-to-air heat exchangers ($0.60/cfm), chillers ($50 per ton), and demand control ventilation ($0.50/cfm). Additionally, technical assistance incentives of $500 are offered in support of projects earning incentives over $3,000. Custom track incentives are available, up to $200,000 per project, for any efficiency measure exceeding Oregon Energy code that passes Energy Trust’s cost-benefit test. Custom incentives are based on $0.10/kWh and $0.80/therm using calculated savings. Standard track and custom track incentives may be combined, totaling $250,000 potentially available per project. LEED-NC track incentives of up to $200,000 are offered for projects registering for USGBC certification. These incentives may not be combined with standard or custom track incentives.

MULTIFAMILY HOME ENERGY SAVINGS PROGRAM: PROPERTY OWNERS EARN INCENTIVES FOR ENERGY-SAVING MEASURES.

ELIGIBLE: Existing sites consisting of 5 or more units served by Pacific Power, PGE, NW Natural, or Cascade Natural Gas.

MEASURES: Energy-efficiency improvements to existing multi-family buildings earn incentives and tax credit application assistance. Measures include fenestration, HVAC gas furnaces, insulation, water heating, and lighting upgrades. Lighting upgrades must be combined with at least one other measure.

INCENTIVES: Maximum incentive for projects in electrically heated multi-family buildings is $40,000. Oregon Department of Energy tax credits of up to 35% of eligible project cost may be awarded.

NOTES: Contact Energy Trust before equipment purchase to ensure program eligibility (866) ENTRUST, (503) 493-8888, or info@energytrust.org. Other incentive programs are also available pertaining to Renewable Energy use as well as intended for single-family Residential utility customers; these have not been included here due to space restrictions. Visit energytrust.org/ for further information about these and all Energy Trust programs.

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