Energy Rebates Info

Chances are your energy provider would like to pay you to use less of their product. It could be thousands of dollars!! Yes, it is an odd concept, but trust us, it is often true. Why, you might ask? There are two basic reasons: federal incentives and cost avoidance. Energy providers in the mid-west are controlled in great part by public utility commissions. The utilities commission’s generate electricity, determine how it is generated and when capacity is running low, getting permission to build is not a decision that is made totally on their own. 

Because of this situation, power companies often find themselves in circumstances where they do not have enough capacity to cover peak periods of power. During peak periods, they buy capacity from other providers. This capacity travels hundreds or thousands of miles over high transmission lines. In nearly all cases, this costs more than the power they generate with their own plants. Power companies are trying to reduce the amount of energy required during peak periods through promoting energy saving projects in our businesses, as well as in our homes. The business reason for rebates is that it is more cost effective to give you a rebate than to buy extra capacity. It also allows power companies to delay construction of expensive power generating facilities.

The process to get your credit for “going green” with your energy provider varies by company. First, you need to locate the right department at the provider. Next, they will have forms to fill out where you need to describe and validate the energy consumption of your current IT infrastructure. Next, you are required to forecast the energy requirements of your new infrastructure and calculate the reduction in energy consumption. The forms are often followed by an interview with the power company’s officials and then a rebate grant is provided or declined.   

Let Sovran help you through the Energy Rebate process. We have experience working with energy providers, and much of the data you need to complete the forms is often hard to come by. Perhaps, it can be a source of funding for your next IT initiative.