North Western Electric Cooperative offers incentive rebate programs to our member-owners to encourage energy and cost savings.
Residential Member-Owners Only
ENERGY STAR® Appliance Rebates
Do you need to replace your existing refrigerator, stand-alone freezer or central air conditioning unit? ENERGY STAR®-certified refrigerators and stand-alone freezers (10-30 cubic feet) can qualify for a $100 rebate from NWEC when purchased and installed at a residential location served by the cooperative. ENERGY STAR®-certified air conditioning units (a maximum of two) with a minimum 16 SEER rating and a cap of six tons can qualify for up to a $150 rebate per unit from NWEC. All rebates are issued in the form of a credit to the member-owner's electric account.
It is the joint interest of North Western Electric Cooperative (NWEC) and its member-owners to reduce electricity demand. NWEC now offers a rebate to encourage energy efficiency for approved ENERGY STAR® smart thermostats. It must be new and installed in a residence receiving electric service from NWEC. A rebate request form, proof of purchase, and proof of ENERGY STAR rating must be submitted to NWEC within 60 days of the purchase of the appliance. If approved, the rebate will be issued in the form of a bill credit.
Residential or Commercial & Industrial (C&I) Member-Owners
Geothermal & Air Source Heat Pump Rebates
Have you considered replacing an existing fossil fuel heating system? Why not check out the most efficient and economical resource that is right in your back yard?
NWEC is offering rebates to member-owners who install a new geothermal ($800) or air source heat pump ($400 - $600) heating and cooling system in a home, office, or other building that is serviced by the cooperative. The equipment must meet specific energy standards upon installation. All rebates are issued in the form of a check payable to the owner of the structure where the equipment has been installed.
The participating contractor or member-owner shall be required to submit to NWEC, within 60 days of installation of the equipment in the structure, the following documents:
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A completed Rebate Request form.
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A contractor invoice showing the name of member and address where equipment would be installed.
Geothermal Heating & Cooling System Rebate Details and Request Form
Air Source Heat Pump System Rebate Details and Request Form
Purchase & Installation Loans (Residential member-owners only)
A low interest loan is available to our residential member-owners directly from North Western Electric Cooperative, Inc. for the cost of the equipment and the installation of a geothermal or air source heat pump system.
Program features:
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6 percent annual interest rate
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5 year loan term
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Loan amount is limited to 80 percent of the installed cost after any rebates
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A maximum of $10,000 may be borrowed
Program Guidelines:
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System requirements must be met (see guideline links above)
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A pre-approval form must be submitted
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Loan approval will only be granted to the member-owner who owns the residential structure
Electric & Heat Pump Water Heaters
It is the joint interest of North Western Electric Cooperative (NWEC) and its electric member-owners to reduce the demand for electricity and promote the use of high efficiency appliances.
NWEC will offer a $250-$400 rebate to encourage energy efficiency for approved water heaters.
To qualify for a water heater rebate, the member-owner must agree to adhere to the terms of the Electric Water Heater Rebate Agreement and submit a Rebate Request Form.
Electric Water Heater Rebate Agreement and Request Form
Digital Thermostat Water Heaters:
Important Information for Water Heater Radio Control Switch (RCS) Program Participants
NWEC’s current RCS Program offers rebates and monthly bill credits to those member-onwers who allow a RCS to be installed in their homes. We want all our member-owners to be aware that due to advances in water heater technology, some changes to our program are necessary.
If you are participating in our RCS program and you are not planning to replace your water heater, then you will not see any changes. If, however, you need to replace your current water heater then these changes may affect your participation in our program.
Water heater manufacturers are producing units that are more energy efficient. The newest water heater technology incorporates digital controls which allow the homeowner to program the run time and temperature of the water heater units based on their individual needs. Unfortunately, your Cooperative has become aware of a potential conflict when these digital control type water heaters are connected in conjunction with our RCS.
If you will be installing a water heater with digital controls the RCS must be removed prior to the water heater being energized. Contact our office at (419) 636-5051 to schedule an appointment for the free removal of your RCS.
For more information and photographs:
Warranty Claims:
If your water heater is leaking and it is still covered under the manufacturer's warranty, please click on the link below to view claim details.
Water Heater Problems:
If you have lukewarm water or no hot water, please click on the link below for general water heater trouble shooting.
Commercial & Industrial (C&I) Member-Owners Only
C&I Custom Lighting Rebates
Need to replace the inefficient lighting in your facility to reduce the demand for electricity and save on operations costs? NWEC may be able to help by providing a rebate based upon the number of watts reduced.
NWEC's Commercial & Industrial (C&I) Lighting Rebate Program helps replace inefficient internal and external lighting at member-owner business facilities. The program provides a rebate (up to $25,000) based upon the number of lamp watts reduced when replacing old lighting with new, energy-efficient lighting, and member-owners are eligible for the rebate when specifications are met.
This program is applicable to commercial and industrial business facilities only. Residential member-owners are not eligible. To qualify, lighting at the facility must be used a minimum of 1,800 hours per year. All projects must be a retrofit interior or exterior lighting installation. All equipment must be new; used or rebuilt equipment is not eligible. Pre-approval is required. C&I businesses should contact NWEC prior to beginning the lighting upgrade installation.
An on-site visit is required to confirm installation of the project.
C&I Energy Audit Rebate
The first step towards saving money on your facility's electric bill is understanding where you are currently spending your energy dollars. A professional auditing firm can provide detailed recommendations which could save a business hundreds of dollars a year. NWEC offers a rebate on the cost of that service, plus an additional rebate is available for businesses that install energy improvements recommended by the audit.
Pre-approval of the project is required prior to the audit. The pre-approval application form must be submitted along with the contractor's detailed quote with the project cost estimate. The proposed audit must be completed by a professional auditing or engineering firm and must include an audit of electricity use.
Once the audit has been completed, businesses must submit a copy of the auditing company's final invoice and the completed audit. A rebate of 50 percent of the total cost (up to a maximum of $4,000 per audit) will be issued when all requirements have been met. Energy audit rebates are restricted to one audit per business facility within a five-year period.
C&I Energy Audit and Energy Improvements Program Details
C&I Energy Audit and Energy Improvements Program Pre-Approval Form
C&I Energy Improvements Rebate
IMPORTANT! NWEC must receive the approved and completed C&I Energy Audit report and it must be approved for rebate before proceeding with the request for the C&I Energy Improvements Rebate.
NWEC also offers funding when improvements recommended during an approved energy audit are made within one year of the date the energy audit was performed that was part of this program. The improvements made must increase the energy efficiency of the facility.
An NWEC employee or representative must visit the member-owner facility and confirm installation of improvements made. All equipment must be new and meet program specifications. Used or rebuilt equipment is not eligible. This program is not applicable for new construction or facility additions.
A detailed invoice from the installing contractor or an invoice from the equipment company (if equipment was installed by member-owner business) must accompany the rebate application. Internal labor costs are not applicable for rebate. Rebate requests will not be processed until all required documentation is received by the cooperative.
For complete rebate program details, please see the C&I Energy Audit and Energy Improvements Program Details and Pre-Approval Form available in the C&I Energy Audit Rebate section above.
C&I Improvements Program
This rebate offers C&I member-owners the opportunity to receive funds when replacing specific energy efficient equipment in their facility, which assists in reducing the demand for electricity. The building must use electricity from NWEC and only the equipment specified in the REBATE section of the document provided below is eligible.
All equipment must be new. Used or rebuilt equipment is not eligible. The rebate amount may not exceed 50% of equipment cost (excluding labor), up to a total maximum rebate amount of $5,000 per rebate application. Only one rebate for improvements will be granted per facility per fiscal year (July 1 - June 30) and cannot be combined with other incentive programs.
The rebate application must be accompanied by a copy of the contractor or equipment company DETAILED invoice of improvements installed. Labor and/or installation costs are not eligible for rebate, and are not to be included as part of equipment cost submitted.
An NWEC employee or representative must perform an onsite visit to the facility to confirm installation of improvements.