Delaware Electric Cooperative - Green Energy Program Incentives

November 18, 2009

Summary

Note: The program website indicates that due to high program demand, DEC members can expect to wait approximately 18 months for rebates. The Delaware Electric Cooperative (DEC) offers rebates to their customers for the installation of residential and non-residential photovoltaic (PV), solar water heating, small wind, geothermal heat pump, and fuel cell systems. These rebates are a component of a larger state-wide Green Energy Program, which consists separate programs for Delmarva Power & Light (DP&L), the state's only investor-owned utility; the DEC; and programs offered individual municipal utilities. This separation arises from the state's renewables portfolio standard (RPS) legislation, which permits municipal electric companies and rural electric cooperatives to opt out of the RPS requirements in favor of contributing to the existing Green Energy Fund or creating their own independent funds. Both the municipal utilities and the DEC opted out of the RPS and chose to create their own funds. Funding for all three programs is separate although they are all administered collectively by the Delaware Energy Office. Customers may only apply for incentives from the fund to which they contribute through a surcharge on their utility bills. All systems must meet a set of standardized equipment, warranty, and installation requirements and be installed by a program approved contractor. Both on- and off-grid renewable electricity systems are eligible for incentives. Although there are no specific wind resource requirements, wind energy applications may be rejected if it is determined that the wind resource is not adequate for reasonable utilization of the equipment as recommended by the manufacturer. The DEC has the freedom to determine certain aspects of the program for its own members. As a result, rebate amounts and maximum incentives are different for the DEC, DP&L, and the municipal utilities. Incentive amounts for DEC members are determined according to the following schedule:

• PV: 33.3% of installed costs up to $15,000 for residential systems and $30,000 for non-residential systems
• Wind: 33.3% of installed costs up to $15,000 for residential systems and $30,000 for non-residential systems
• Solar Water Heating (domestic hot water): 50% of installed costs up to $3,000 for residential systems and $10,000 for non-residential systems.
• Solar Water Heating (radiant heating): 50% of installed costs up to $5,000 for residential systems and $10,000 for non-residential systems
• Fuel Cells: 33.3% of installed costs up to $15,000 for residential systems and $30,000 for non-residential systems
• Geothermal Heat Pumps: $500 or $600 per ton (based on efficiency), up to $2,500 or $3,000 for residential systems (based on efficiency) and $20,000 for non-residential systems

Please see the program website for additional information on program rules, incentive applications and program status.