Every fall, Energy Trust reviews its incentive offerings to determine incentive levels, requirements and availability for the following year. Energy Trust will finalize incentive changes over the next few months as part of our annual budget development process. Many factors are influencing the incentive review this year. These factors include more stringent codes and standards, and the sunset of Oregon’s Residential Energy Tax Credit on December 31, 2017.
We have identified several incentives facing cost-effectiveness challenges—influencing Energy Trust’s incentive level, requirements and ability to provide an incentive for some measures in 2018. Some of these measures will sunset at the end of 2017. Energy Trust submitted requests to the Oregon Public Utility Commission to maintain incentives for measures that fall under the cost-effectiveness threshold but provide significant other benefits to customers. OPUC staff has recommended the commission approve Energy Trust’s requests, and the commission is seeking comments from stakeholders now through Thursday, October 26. Email and mailing address for comment submissions can be found on the OPUC website.
Energy Trust is required by legislation to invest in cost-effective energy efficiency. This means that for Energy Trust to provide an incentive for a project, the benefit must meet or outweigh the cost for all utility customers. The OPUC has directed Energy Trust to apply two tests to determine whether energy efficiency is the best energy buy for all utility customers. Read more about these calculations in our cost-effectiveness fact sheet.
This is a preliminary list of potential Existing Homes measure changes in 2018. It is not comprehensive of all potential changes, which will be determined through Energy Trust’s annual budget development process in November and December. Incentive changes will go into effect on January 1, 2018, and will be shared with trade allies through Insider articles in November and December, email notifications and at the fall Trade Ally Forums. More information will be shared at the fall Trade Ally Forums and in the November and December Insider emails.
Measures to change in 2018:
- Heat pump upgrade, standard and Savings Within Reach—Qualifications for this measure are changing. New heat pumps must replace an existing heat pump operating with an electric forced air furnace as backup heating systems. This measure requires a qualified thermostat to be installed and programmed with a 35 degree lockout. Participants completing PTCS or Check Me projects are eligible for this measure as long as they meet the above requirements. However, PTCS or Check Me are not required for eligibility. There is no longer an HSPF requirement for this measure. The incentive level is $250.
- Heat pump replacement—Incentives for upgrading from an electric furnace, baseboard heat, a wall heater or ceiling heat are being merged into one incentive offer of $700 for heat pumps of HSPF 8.5 and above.
- Heat pump replacement, Savings within Reach—Savings within Reach incentives for upgrading from an electric furnace, baseboard heat, a wall heater or ceiling heat will be merged into one incentive of $1,000 for heat pumps of HSPF 8.5 and above.
- Heat pump advanced controls, professional installation—The incentive for professionally installed heat pump advanced controls will be increased to $250.
- Heat pump optimization—Incentive requirements will change; see heat pump upgrade measure.
- Heat pump lockout controls—Incentive requirements will change; see heat pump upgrade measure.
| Measure | 2017 Details | 2017 Incentive | 2018 Details | 2018 Incentive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat pump upgrade If upgrading from existing heat pump with an electric forced air furnace backup | Upgrading from an existing heat pump or replacing non-electric heat, HSPF 9.0 | $250 | Projects must include an eligible thermostat programmed with a 35° lockout | $250 |
| Upgrading from an existing heat pump or replacing non-electric heat, HSPF 9.5 | $500 | |||
| Heat pump replacement If upgrading from an electric furnace, baseboard heat, a wall heater or ceiling heat | HSPF 9.0 HSPF 9.5 | $450 $700 | HSPF 8.5+ | $700 |
| Heat pump upgrade, Savings within Reach If upgrading from existing heat pump with an electric forced air furnace backup | Upgrading from an existing heat pump or replacing non-electric heat, HSPF 9.0 | $550 | See heat pump upgrade measure | $250 |
| Upgrading from an existing heat pump or replacing non-electric heat, HSPF 9.5 | $800 | |||
| Heat pump replacement, Savings within Reach If upgrading from an electric furnace, baseboard heat, a wall heater or ceiling heat | HSPF 9.0 HSPF 9.5 | $750 $1,000 | HSPF 8.5+ | $1,000 |
| Heat pump advanced controls, professional installation | Resistance heat lockout at 35°, see qualified product list | $150 | No changes | $250 |
| Heat pump optimization (PTCS or Check Me) | Resistance heat lockout at 35°, see qualified product list | $150 | Requirements will change; see incentive eligibility for heat pump upgrade measure | $250 |
| Heat pump lockout controls | Resistance heat lockout at 35°, see qualified product list | $150 | Requirements will change; see incentive eligibility for heat pump upgrade measure | $250 |
Measure pending OPUC approval that could have potential changes in 2018:
- Ductless heat pumps: Energy Trust submitted a request for a cost-effectiveness exception to the OPUC to maintain incentives in 2018 for ductless heat pumps installed in Existing Homes and manufactured homes.
Energy Trust will provide ongoing information on the measures listed above and any other measure changes. Updates will be provided in November and December Insider emails and at the November Trade Ally Forums in Klamath Falls, Grants Pass, Portland, Bend, Pendleton and La Grande.
For more information about incentive changes and effective dates, contact the Existing Homes program at 1.866.365.3526, option 8.