The Cooperative Exchange– February 2022 CCL CEO Article
By Jim Herron, MVEA CEO
This month, I am excited to highlight Mountain View Electric Association’s 2022 rebate program that helps co-op members save on their energy use through innovations in energy efficiency and beneficial electrification technologies. The rebate program is made possible through a partnership with our wholesale power supplier, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association.
What is beneficial electrification? It is an increasingly important concept to energy producers and end users alike as it refers to innovations in energy technologies that reduce overall emissions by replacing direct fossil fuel use (e.g., propane, natural gas, gasoline) with electricity in a way that reduces overall emissions and energy costs AND benefits the end user (in this case, electric co-op members). Beneficial electrification efforts rely on energy-efficient technologies and products to allow the energy required or produced to go further and last longer.
Now, I know that rebates for products like energy-efficient LED bulbs and appliances may not seem exciting at first glance. But, these rebates provide an opportunity for each member of the co-op to offset the cost to GO ELECTRIC! and save on their energy use at home while helping to conserve energy generation resources on a larger scale. A good example of an energy-efficient product that can make a big difference on large-scale energy generation needs is the LED bulb.
According to recently published numbers provided by the U.S. Department of Energy, “Residential LEDs use at least 75% less energy, and last 25 times longer, than incandescent lighting. Widespread use of LED lighting has a large potential impact on energy savings in the United States. By 2035, the majority of lighting installations are anticipated to use LED technology, and energy savings from LED lighting could top 569 TWh (terawatt-hour) annually, equal to the annual energy output of more than 92 1,000 MW power plants.”
Those are impressive numbers that make a big difference and they are made by a simple lighting switch! (Of note: MVEA’s LED bulb rebate is currently 50% of the bulb cost, capped at $8 per bulb, 500 lumens or greater, up to 50 bulbs per MVEA account per year.)
Beneficial electrification also includes the efficient use of renewable energy. Renewable energy, paired with beneficial electrification practices, can address emissions and environmental concerns. In Colorado, this concept is very important because it extends the “reach” of renewable energy production — allowing us to do more with less to meet the increased carbon-emissions regulatory demands by our state legislature. Additional beneficial electrification product examples include: electric vehicles, water heaters, appliances (large and small), and outdoor power equipment.
While many popular product rebates have been carried over this year, the program has also been expanded to include rebates for smart thermostats, induction cooktops, and whole house fans. I suspect that we will see a lot of smart thermostat rebates submitted as they are great tools for managing your home heating and cooling costs (especially if you have central air conditioning running during the warmer summer months).
Last year, MVEA processed more than 4,300 residential and commercial rebates and issued over $160,000 back to our co-op members. Were you one of them? To learn more about MVEA’s rebate program, visit our Rebates page. From appliances to LED bulbs, and electric mowers to electric vehicle charging equipment, so many electric products have rebates that there is one to fit the needs of nearly every member who wants to save money and energy.
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