UEC offers a variety of energy efficiency (EE) programs that align with UEC’s wholesale power determinates and member usage patterns. Energy Efficiency programs help members implement measures that reduce their overall electrical usage, including during peak demand periods. These EE programs primarily focus on reducing energy consumption related to space cooling and heating, water heating as well as large irrigation pumping costs. Typically, space conditioning and water heating account for most of the energy consumed by a residential consumer. Incentives are also targeted to save energy in the commercial and industrial sectors by targeting critical custom projects (i.e., pumps, compressors, evaporators, condensers, refrigeration, and lighting).
Under UEC’s current EE programs, UEC offers a 2-fold solution portfolio by providing rebates that focus on the (1) mechanical aspect and the (2) structural aspect. The programs targeting the mechanical component include a Level 2 EV charger, smart thermostat, lighting and refrigeration systems, variable frequency drive (VFD) irrigation pumps, HVAC heat pumps, and heat pump water heater rebates.
The programs targeting the structural element include weatherization rebates, energy-efficient manufactured home rebates, and access to free home energy assessments. If a member installs a heat pump or water heater that is more efficient than the base standard and/or utilizes a smart thermostat, it is likely those units are using less electricity during peak demand periods than they otherwise would. Ensuring that a member’s structural envelope is as tight as possible also reduces energy usage, potentially during peak demand times.
UEC also encourages that a heat pump be installed as part of the manufactured home replacement program. The use of a heat pump will reduce usage associated with space heating that would have otherwise used resistance heat strips.
Additionally, UEC offers rebates to its commercial, industrial, irrigation, and agricultural members that incentivize choosing more efficient options when replacing or installing new equipment. This includes UEC continuing to incentivize the use of variable frequency drives (VFDs) for their irrigation members.
Called the Scientific Irrigation Scheduling (SIS) Program, UEC recognized the benefits of the program and continued to offer and fund it to its members after federal funding was discontinued in 2018. In 2022 alone, the SIS program assisted 17 irrigators in reducing water usage by 8,761 acre-feet and produced 7,810,880 kWh savings on nearly 40,000 acres of land. That equates to nearly 3 billion gallons of water – enough to fill 4,602 Olympic-sized swimming pools – and the same energy needed to supply 565 all-electric homes for 1 year.
Lastly, UEC offers solar energy rebates and net metering for those members with distributed generation facilities. Solar photovoltaic systems are the dominant distributed energy resource within UEC’s service territory. The energy generation profile of solar photovoltaic systems aligns reasonably well with peak demand periods, helping to reduce the member’s usage, especially during peak demand periods.
UEC’s existing and expected future Energy Efficiency Measures operate to promote the use of demand-response and demand flexibility practices by commercial, residential, and industrial customers to reduce electricity consumption during periods of unusually high demand. UEC’s existing practices are adequate and sufficient to promote demand response for its members and are consistent with the goals of PURPA.