July 2007 Rebate Report: Spotlight: Motor Controls

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Motors that run continuously or near continuously can have high annual energy costs even when utility rates are low. Increased energy efficiency may not be enough to justify motor replacement on its own. However, installing an adjustable speed drive (ASD) on a motor whose load is highly variable may save a significant amount of energy and offer an excellent payback.

Energy-efficient motors and drives are an ever-increasing component of utility incentive programs. According to a recent survey of utilities conducted by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE), many programs are transitioning away from stand-alone motor rebate programs to a more varied set of approaches featuring ASDs, motor management services, and educational initiatives directed at both customers and vendors.

As the following table suggests, motor and drives-related incentive programs apply to a wide variety of customer segments, such as supermarkets and grocery stores, manufacturing settings, and commercial buildings. Programs typically limit incentive eligibility to certain horsepower motors, minimum operating hours, and/or minimum estimated energy savings per year. Some programs go even further and require that any existing throttling device (e.g., inlet vane, bypass damper, or throttling valve) be removed or permanently disabled before the ASD incentive is paid. e&pm

Spotlight on Motor Control

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

AVISTA — ID
www.avistautilities.com•(800) 227-9187 or AskAvista@AvistaUtilities.com

SUPERMARKET AND GROCERY STORE REFRIGERATION REBATE PROGRAM: Increasing the effi ciency of existing refrigeration systems is valuable since refrigeration is the primary electricity expense for a supermarket or grocery store. Similarly, the effi ciency of new stores can be improved beyond standard practice. Avista Utilities offers rebates to help offset the cost of many refrigeration system improvements. Incentives of $170/hp are offered for either new construction or retrofi t installation of condenser fan VFDs, while evaporator fan variable speed controllers for 25-W individual rated output motors earn $2 per fan watts. Additional incentives are available.

CONNEXUS — MN
www.connexusenergy.com•(763) 323-2600 or info@connexusenergy.com

COMMERCIAL / INDUSTRIAL ADJUSTABLE SPEED DRIVE (ASD) REBATE: ASDs from 1 hp up to 200 hp used in conjunction with HVAC fans, pumps, cooling towers, process equipment, and industrial fans tied to an automated control system are eligible for an incentive. ASDs greater than 200 hp will be evaluated under the Custom Energy Program. Rebates are only for new adjustable speed drives. Incentive is $35/hp and is based on either the rated ASD controlled horsepower or horsepower of motor, whichever is lower. The maximum rebate amount is 50% of the project cost up to $5,000. This program is applicable to the commercial / industrial and agricultural customers of Connexus Energy.

ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE — AZ
www.aps.com/•(866) 277-5605 or APS.solutionsforbusiness@kema.com

APS SOLUTIONS FOR BUSINESS: Motors incentives range from $1.50 to $10 per hp, and VSD incentives are $50/hp. Incentives cannot exceed 75% of incremental measure cost. New chillers with integrated VSDs are also eligible as long as the installation is accompanied by the permanent removal or disabling of any throttling devices such as inlet vanes, bypass dampers, and throttling valves. Additional restrictions apply. This program is currently funded through 2007 and incentives are available on a fi rst come, fi rst serve basis. Prescriptive and custom measures for both retrofi t and equipment replacement are eligible, as well as major renovation and new construction projects. Program is being implemented by KEMA on behalf of APS.

UNITIL — NH
www.unitil.com•(603) 773-6541 or (800) 852-3339

LARGE C&I VARIABLE FREQUENCY DRIVE REBATE — NEW CONSTRUCTION AND RETROFIT PROGRAMS: VFDs offer a method of signifi cantly reducing the energy consumed by fans, centrifugal pumps, and other motor-driven machinery operated under varying loads. Applicants must demonstrate signifi cant load diversity that will result in savings through motor speed variation. The VFD speed must be automatically controlled by differential pressure, fl ow or temperature. Fans/pumps motors must operate a minimum of 2,000 hours a year. VFDs installed on numerous types of applications are eligible, including: Supply fan on supply air handler; Supply fan on VAV packaged HVAC unit; Return fan on return air handler; Return fan on VAV packaged HVAC unit; Building exhaust fan; Process exhaust fan; Fume hood exhaust fan and makeup air fan; Boiler feed water pump; Circulation pump for water source heat pump loop; Boiler draft fan; Process heating & cooling circulation pumps; Hydraulic pumps; and Cooling tower fan and other measures. VFD applications not listed on the applications may be eligible for a Custom Rebate. Rebate maximums are governed by the number of hp controlled by each VFD, and range from $800 at 5 hp to $1,575 at 20 hp.

WE ENERGIES/FOCUS ON ENERGY — WI
www.we-energies.com•(888) 603-5519 or fdreher@franklinenergy.com

PRESCRIPTIVE INCENTIVE PROGRAM: Variable Frequency Drives for HVAC and pool pumping applications up to 100 hp earn $30/hp. Incentives for installations over 100 hp may be available through the custom incentive program. VSD air compressor incentive offers $70/hp controlled. Air compressors purchased and installed for backup or redundant systems are not eligible. Industrial pump and fan VFD incentive amount is the sum of $50 per pumping hp controlled by VFDs plus $50 per fan hp controlled by VFDs, with a bonus of $10/hp included if one week of measured power (kW) readings of the pump or fan motors before and after VFD installation is included with application. Incentives are offered by Focus on Energy and We Energies to qualifying retail electric service customers. Check the Focus on Energy website (www.focusonenergy. com) to verify eligibility. There is a maximum limit of $200,000 per corporate Tax ID per year for all Focus on Energy incentives among all custom or prescriptive applications.

SEATTLE CITY LIGHT — WA
www.seattle.gov/light•(206) 684-3254 or bizcon.scl@seattle.gov

ENERGY SMART SERVICES: Financial incentives to support a variety of energy conserving measures are available for medium and large commercial businesses, manufacturing plants, institutions, and government facilities on the Medium General Service rate and larger. Incentive amounts can range as high as 60% of the installation cost and are based on energy savings. For example, funding for a standard HVAC measure, Variable speed drives for fans, is listed as 23¢ per kWh saved the fi rst year. Rebate value is calculated based on the annual kWh savings multiplied by the posted measure incentive, up to 60% of the Energy Conservation Measure (ECM) installation cost. When labor costs are not available, funding may be limited to 50% of the ECM materials cost.

MOORHEAD PUBLIC SERVICE — MN
www.mpsutility.com•(218) 299-5400 or mps@mpsutility.coms

MOTOR AND VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE PROGRAM: Commercial, industrial, and government customers of the General Service rate class are eligible to participate in the Motor and Variable Speed Drive Program. Eligible VSDs must be new installations, 1 to 200 hp, operate at least 4,000 hours per year, and are limited to fan and pump applications. This includes return/supply fans, blowers, condensate, or chilled-water pumps, or process fans and pumps. Other VSD installations may qualify for a rebate through the Custom Rebate Program. To be considered eligible, the application must not require a drive as a standard mode of operation, must contribute signifi cant energy savings in normal operation, and the drive must vary motor speed automatically. The drive must have a power factor of .90 or greater. Additional restrictions apply. Rebates are $25.00 per hp for new VSD installations. In no case will the rebate paid by MPS exceed 50% of the total project cost, including installation costs. The maximum rebate amount is limited to $10,000 per customer location per year.

Rebate Report is generated by the Financial Incentives National Database® (F.I.N.D.®) exclusively for Energy & Power Management. Copyright © 2007 RealWinWin, Inc. The data contained herein are provided for information purposes only. Accuracy is not guaranteed as programs are subject to change. RealWinWin disclaims any liability resulting from discrepancies. Visit www.realwinwin.com for further information. Submit inquiries to info@realwinwin.com or call 866.799.FIND.

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