How Does it Work?
From new lighting to industrial process improvements, we’ll work with you to develop a plan that will help you save the most money—earning back up to $100,000 per year. Customers receive incentives based on the reduction in peak demand that their project achieves, plus first-year energy savings.
Lighting Projects
Earn $250 per kW of demand reduction for any indoor lighting projects.
Non-Lighting Projects
Get $550 per kW of demand reduction, plus $0.032 per kWh for qualifying first-year energy savings.
Customized Support
We’ll work with your goals to create and implement the best plan for your business.
Qualifying Energy-Saving Measures
Part of the project requirements is choosing an energy-efficient measure. The following is a table of approved measures.
End Use | Potential Demand Reduction Measures |
---|---|
Cooling | Packaged cooling unit replacement |
Chiller replacement | |
Air-side and water-side economizers | |
Fan and pump motor efficiency upgrades | |
Thermal storage cooling systems (conditions apply) | |
Lighting | LEDs |
Industrial Process | Any industrial process improvement that reduces the demand for electric power |
Warehouse Lighting Retrofit Example
In this example, the project cost of $42,000 was reduced to $34,500 with the OUC Commercial & Industrial Incentive Program. The program paid for $7,500 in rebates (30x$250/kW rebate). Plus, the facility achieved annual energy savings of $13,018.* The payback period was 2.65 years or 32 months.
Lighting System | Peak Demand (kW) | Annual Energy Consumption (kWh) |
---|---|---|
Original | 90 | 402,480 |
New | 60 | 268,320 |
Savings** | 30 | 134,160 |
* ($12 monthly demand charge x 12 months x 30 kW) + ($0.06483 kWh charge x 134,160 kWh)
** Demand savings incentives are paid for the maximum one-hour average demand reduction that occurs when the newly installed system is operating at peak conditions during the summer period.
*** Operating hours of 4,472
Before You Get Started
- Request an Applicant Number.
- Register for an account if you do not already have a myOUC account.
- Log in after receiving the applicant number and registering your account.
- Need help? OUC has a trusted range of Preferred Contractors we recommend.
The Process
Before the Work Begins:
- Prepare and submit a project application via our online portal. Be prepared to upload savings calculations, specs sheets, estimated project costs, pictures of existing lighting, etc. Once received, we will review your application and contact you to discuss the next steps.
- Schedule onsite inspection(s) and meeting(s) with OUC to review the proposed project.
- Work with OUC through the incentive funding commitment and approval process.
- Receive OUC project approval and incentive funding commitment.
- Perform any required pre-installation Measurement and Verification (M&V).
After the Work is Complete:
- Submit an installation report with final invoices, pictures of the improvement(s) and updated savings calculations.
- If required, schedule an onsite post-inspection with OUC.
- Obtain final approval from OUC and receive the rebate in the form of a billing credit on your OUC monthly statement.
Rebate Requirements & FAQs
Requirements: Project must achieve permanent demand reduction in addition to providing energy savings during our summer demand period, defined as weekdays between 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., from April to October. Customers must submit project savings calculations, specs sheets, estimated project costs and final invoices, as well as pictures of existing and new lighting, and pictures of new HVAC equipment as well as other upgrades. Simple return on investment must be greater than two years. Energy and demand conservation measures should have a useful life of at least 10 years.
Eligibility: This program is available to any commercial OUC customer, existing facilities with retrofit opportunities and new facilities constructed to exceed minimum code requirements. This includes individual customers who install energy and/or demand reduction measures in their facilities, national or local companies that provide energy-related services or products (such as lighting or HVAC equipment) for OUC customers, local contractors, design/build firms, architectural and engineering firms, and commercial property developers working on behalf of OUC commercial customers.
Reimbursement: Maximum of $100,000 per customer per year (October – September). Incentives shall not exceed 50% of project cost. Incentives may be paid 50% at project completion and the remainder at one year, depending on performance results and the project. Customers will receive an approval email once the application has been submitted, reviewed and approved by one of our conservation support specialists. All incentives will be paid as a credit on the customer’s OUC statement.
Exemptions: Not available to OUC residential electric or water-only customers. While OUC reserves the right to deny any measure, projects that are specifically excluded include those that:
- Involve plug loads (i.e., office equipment)
- Involve self-generation or cogeneration (renewable technologies may be covered under a separate OUC program)
- Involve electric equipment with decoupled self-generation
- Rely on changes in Customer behavior and require no capital investment
- Result in negative environmental or health effects
- Involve fuel switching
- Involve non-permanent load shifting
- Involve power factor correction (OUC does not penalize, meter or bill kvar)
- Do not meet applicable permitting or code requirements
- Are lighting projects not in conformance with Florida Energy Efficiency Code standards
- Are eligible to receive incentives under any other energy efficiency program offered by OUC
Customers are encouraged to submit applications on any potential electric demand reduction measures not specifically excluded from consideration.
Ready to Apply?
Submit a project application via our online portal.