What is Energy Management?
We offer energy management programs to our members to reduce wholesale energy costs and provide members with a low-cost electric rate for space heating, cooling, water heating, and electric vehicle charging. Energy Management members allow Meeker Cooperative to control their energy use during peak demand times in exchange for lower rates.
Load Management
Load Management occurs whenever our power suppliers and Meeker Cooperative deems it necessary. Control periods are often related to extreme weather, market prices, and transmission capacity. Controls can happen anytime from early morning to around 10:00 p.m.
A separate load control meter is mounted on your house. Energy Management participants are eligible for cash rebates when installing or converting existing equipment.
Eligibility
All energy management programs are voluntary.
To be eligible for rebates and the energy management electric rate, members' equipment must be interconnected to the Co-op’s energy management system, and the system must be checked and approved by the Co-op.
Members must remain in the energy management program for a minimum of five (5) years. If the member chooses to opt out from a program within the first 5 years, the member will repay the Co-op any rebates with a prorated amount based on the date of enrollment and opt-out date of the program.
Energy Management Agreement
To participate in Meeker Co-op's Energy Management Program, please fill out the agreement form.
ENERGY MANAGEMENT REBATES
Electric Vehicle Chargers
- Install a Level-2 EV Charger – $500 Rebate
- Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) are controlled/interruptible similarly to the Peak Shave Water Heating and/or Dual Fuel Heating programs.
- Metered separately at the energy management rate ($.057/kWh Sept-May, $.062/kWh Jun-Aug)
Curious about Electric Vehicles?
Apply for an EV Charger Rebate
Electric Water Heating
- Controlled up to 8 hours per control period & may be controlled for more than one 8-hour period in a day.
- Minimum efficiency - 0.90 Energy Factor (EF)
- Metered separately at the energy management rate ($.057/kWh Sept-May, $.062/kWh Jun-Aug)
- $800 credit/rebate toward purchase of an electric water heater with a capacity of 80 gallons or larger.
Water heaters must be interconnected to the Co-op’s energy management system, checked, and approved by Meeker Cooperative within 3 months from delivery date or picked up at the Co-op. If the unit is not interconnected within 3 months, the unit will be billed out at the full price.
Members purchasing a replacement water heater (80-gallons or larger) that is installed and enrolled on either the Storage or Peak Shave Water Heater programs, qualify for a rebate credit towards the purchase, if the water heater is more than 10 years old.
Please call Meeker Co-op at 320-693-3231 for more information on the Electric Water Heater Progam
Air Source Heat Pump with Quality Installation (QI) Requirement
| Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) - This is the ratio of heat output to electricity used over an average heating season. The higher the HSPF, the greater the energy efficiency. | Rebate |
| ≥ 8.2 HSPF / 7.0 HSPF2 | $650 |
| ≥ 8.8 HSPF / 7.5 HSPF2 | $925 |
| ≥ 9.5 HSPF / 7.7 HSPF2 | $1,200 |
HSPF – The Heating Seasonal Performance Factor is the ratio of heat output to electricity use over an average heating season. The higher the HSFP, the greater the energy efficiency.
On January 1, 2023, the Department of Energy (DoE) began using a new testing procedure to rate the efficiency of air conditioners and air source heat pumps. These changes require new metrics (SEER2/EER2/HSPF2) that were derived from the DoE’s new test procedure (M1) rather than the historical metrics (SEER/EER/HSPF) from the old test procedures (M).
Quality Installation (QI) Requirements (must be performed by a QI-registered HVAC contractor)
- The indoor coil and outdoor unit must be matched.
- Must provide the 6-digit AHRI (Air Conditioning Refrigeration Institute) Reference number.
- Proper equipment sizing with a completed load calculation on file.
- Performance tests and measurements of the airflow and refrigerant charge
- Sealing of the exposed ductwork in the mechanical room area
- Must be controlled on Cycled Air Conditioning and Dual Fuel with qualified backup heating system.
- Metered separately at the energy management rate ($.057/kWh Sept-May, $.062/kWh Jun-Aug)
- Qualified Contractor List
IMPORTANT -Newer high-efficiency air source heat pumps may not be compatible with the Co-ops energy management control program for cycled cooling and dual fuel heating, therefore not eligible for the rebate. Also, if you already have an electric plenum heater, some brands of high-efficiency, air source heat pumps are not capable of interconnecting to the plenum heater so you may no longer be able to use it for space heating. Check with your HVAC contractor to learn if the new air source heat pump is capable of being controlled on the Co-op's energy management program and/or if it is compatible with an existing electric plenum heater.
With our qualified installation program, you will receive the right-sized system for your home, saving you energy and money. At the same time, you will know that the contractor you choose has met rigorous requirements through the HVAC/R Education qualifications and testing. Once they have completed the training, they are added to a list of Qualified contractors. Click here for local Qualified contractors. In order to receive the rebate, you must choose one of the approved contractors registered.
Research shows that two-thirds of all air conditioning system installations are oversized for the home, causing homeowners to spend more than necessary for cooling systems that often run inefficiently. Learn more about Air Source Heat Pumps at Minnesota ASHP Collaborative (mnashp.org)
Air Source Heat Pump
Ducted Split (Non-QI)
- $500 Rebate per unit
- Controlled on Dual Fuel and Cycled AC with a qualified backup heating system
- Metered separately at the energy management rate ($.057/kWh Sept-May, $.062/kWh Jun-Aug)
Ductless
- $500 Rebate per outdoor unit
- Controlled on Dual Fuel and Cycled Air Conditioning with qualified backup heating system
- Metered separately at the energy management rate ($.057/kWh Sept-May, $.062/kWh Jun-Aug)
Ground Source Heat Pump
Ground Source Heat Pump
- Controlled on Cycled Air Conditioning and Dual Fuel heating with a qualified backup heating system
- $400 per ton
- Metered separately at the energy management rate ($.057/kWh Sept-May, $.062/kWh Jun-Aug)
Ground Source Heat Pump
- Controlled for cycle cooling and metered at applicable General Service Rate
- $100 per ton
Note:
Rebates for HVAC equipment being replaced which has been installed and enrolled on the Co-op’s energy management program for more than 10 years qualify for the full current rebate.
Dual Fuel Space Heating
- $25/kW Connected Load
- Must have a qualified backup heating system (LP, natural gas, or electric thermal storage)
- Metered separately at energy management rate ($.057/kWh Sept-May, $.062/kWh Jun-Aug)
Electric Thermal Storage Space Heating
- $25/kW Connected Load
- Central furnace, room units, radiant floor cable
- Metered separately at energy management rate ($.057/kWh Sept-May, $.062/kWh Jun-Aug)
Central A/C or Air-Source Heat Pump Tune-up
- $25 credit
- The unit must be five years or older and in working condition
- Work must be performed by a licensed HVAC contractor
- The following must be performed to qualify:
- Clean conditioner coil
- Check coolant charge
- Check indoor filter
- Check belt and lube motor if needed
- Test all controls
- Blow out drain lines
- Perform visual inspection of entire A/C system
- Educate homeowner on proper system operation
Energy Management Improvement (EMI) Loan
- Loan funds from $500 - $5,000 are available for interruptible dual fuel, storage space heating, air-source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, peak shave water heating, storage water heating, heat pump water heater, and electric vehicle charger and load control equipment installations.
- Interest rates and maximum loan amount
- In place of rebates: 0%, $500 - $3,000 and 3%, $3001 - $5,000
- Maximum loan period of 5 years (60 months)
Sales Tax Exemption for Electric Heat
Electricity sold for residential use is not taxable for the billing months of November through April when sold to metered members who use it as their primary source of residential heat. If more than one type of heat is used, electricity is not taxable if it is the primary source of heat. Click the link below to open a PDF application.