2010 Rebate Application (PDF)
2010 Resource Conservation Incentive Program (PDF)
2009 Lighting Form (PDF)
2009 Energy Efficiency Tax Credits (PDF)
Energy Saving Tips
Electric vs. Gas Heat
Geothermal Heat Pump Fact Sheet (PDF)
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 Save Energy and $$$ With SMU and ENERGY STAR
Spencer Municipal Utilities is now an official ENERGY STAR Partner! We’re working with the US Department of Energy and the EPA to encourage customers to look for the ENERGY STAR label when shopping for appliances, heating and air conditioning, and lighting! And to make it even easier for customers to choose efficiency, SMU offers rebates for saving energy!
Tax Credits of Energy Efficiency Improvements
There are a number of generous Federal tax credits now available for home improvements that help you save energy. Combined with SMU’s energy efficiency rebates, the tax credits can cut the cost of installing select energy efficient measures by up to half! To find out more, visit the following website: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits.
A printed copy of these credits is also available at the SMU Customer Service Center.
Residential Incentives
SMU Resource Conservation Incentive Program
The SMU Resource Conservation Incentive Program provides financial incentives to encourage customers to make improvements to their homes or businesses that save energy and water.
Home Energy Audits
 Spencer Municipal Utilities now offers home energy audits to customers that heat their home with electricity (heat pump or resistance heat). During a home energy audit, an energy efficiency professional will visit your home to determine the characteristics of your home’s energy usage. Based on the information gathered in the audit, SMU will provide a customized report recommending measures that may be taken to save energy in your home.
Before the home energy audit, you’ll be asked to complete an energy questionnaire that will give the SMU employee information about your energy habits before the actual audit. Home energy audits are available on a first-come, first served basis. Customers are encouraged to plan ahead when wanting to schedule an audit.
The cost of a Home Energy Audit is $100.00 and will be charged to the customer’s utility account. The audit cost may be rebated if as a result of the audit you implement one of the following measures: ENERGY STAR central air conditioner, air source heat pump, or geothermal heat pump; heat pump water heater or solar water heater; or upgrade insulation to recommended levels.
Insulation
 If your home energy audit shows that your home needs additional insulation, SMU will help you pay for it! Customers who heat their homes with electricity (resistance or heat pump) are eligible to apply for rebates on improvements to the home’s insulation. The upgrade must have been recommended by the audit and applies to existing homes only (not new construction).
After the installation is installed, it will be verified by SMU before the insulation rebate is applied to your account.
| Insulation |
| Ceiling |
Increase to R-49+ |
70% of cost up to $750.00 |
| Wall |
Increase to R-13+ |
| Floor (over unheated, un-insulated space |
Increase to R-30+ |
| Foundation or basement (if basement is conditioned) |
Increase to R-13+ |
Heating and Cooling
 Replacing your old heating and cooling system can save your family a lot of money on energy bills, while at the same time increasing your comfort! By switching to a super-efficient heat pump system, you could cut your annual heating and cooling bills by 50% or more, so SMU offers attractive incentives to help offset the additional cost of these systems.
Remember: the best time to replace your heating and cooling system is BEFORE it fails! So rather than take the risk of having a system failure when you need it most, why not make the switch on your schedule and start saving money right away!
| Heating and Cooling |
| Central Air Conditioner |
SEER = 14.5 to 15.9 |
$150.00 per ton |
| |
SEER = 16.0+ |
$200.00 per ton |
| Air Source Heat Pump |
SEER = 14.5 to 15.9 |
$400.00 per ton |
| |
SEER = 16.0+ |
$500.00 per ton |
| Ground Source (Geothermal) Heat Pump |
ENERGY STAR-closed loop only |
$1,000.00 per ton |
| Electric Heat (only when installed with heat pump) |
³ 1,000 watts (1 kW) |
$25.00 per kW |
| ECM Motor (for new or existing furnace; gas, electric resistance, or heat pump) |
$50.00 |
| Programmable (set-back) Thermostat |
Self-Installed |
$25.00 |
| |
With professional installation |
$50.00 |
| Central AC or Heat Pump Annual Checkup |
$25.00 |
Water Heating
  Two new water heating technologies can save you over 50% on your annual water heating bills! A heat pump water heater extracts heat from the surrounding air in your basement or utility room and uses it to heat water in an insulated tank. A solar water heater collects the sun’s rays to heat water and store it in an insulated tank. Both types of water heater are fairly expensive, but with SMU’s incentive and annual savings of up to $200, you’ll pay for the improvement in just a few years!
| Heat Pump or Solar Water Heater |
| ENERGY STAR |
$500.00 |
ENERGY STAR Appliances
  SMU has always provided rebates for the purchase of many ENERGY STAR appliances. In 2010, we’ve added two new ones to the mix…freezers and dehumidifiers! ENERGY STAR labeled appliances use an average of 20% less electricity than the average new appliance of that type. In some cases, replacing your old appliance with a new ENERGY STAR model may cut your cost to operate that appliance in half!
Please keep in mind that in order to get a rebate for a refrigerator, you have to provide proof that you recycled your old one. Why? Because if you simply move your old fridge into the garage to use as a “can cooler”, you aren’t saving any energy. In fact, you are using more than before! The proof of recycling can come from the appliance dealer where you purchased it or from the City of Spencer solid waste division.
| ENERGY STAR Appliances |
| Dishwasher |
$25.00 |
| Refrigerator2 |
$50.00 |
| Freezer |
$25.00 |
| Clothes Washer |
$100.00 |
| Dehumidifier |
$25.00 |
| Window Air Conditioner (limit 3 per account) |
$25.00 |
Energy Conservation Kits
SMU offers free energy and water conservation kits to customers to install in their home. The standard energy efficiency kit includes a water heater blanket (electric water heaters only), pipe insulators, foam switch/outlet sealers, and an information kit filled with energy-saving ideas. The water conservation kit includes two showerheads, two bathroom faucet aerators, and a kitchen faucet aerator.
By just picking up and installing these simple devices, you can save over 500 kilowatt-hours of electricity a year in your home. And you can’t beat the price…the kits are FREE to SMU customers!
Trade-A-Light
 SMU is making it even easier for customers to choose energy-efficient lighting through our new Trade-A-Light program! With Trade-A-Light, you can exchange your standard incandescent lamp for a free compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) of equivalent light output. And to encourage the proper recycling of spent CFL’s (which contain mercury that can harm the environment), SMU will also exchange a spent CFL for a new one!
The Trade-A-Light program applies to spiral CFL’s in the most common wattages (13 watt = 60 watt incandescent; 20 watt = 75 watt, 23 watt = 100 watt). Two different color “temperature” CFL’s will be available-warm white and cool white-to suit most people’s preferences.
The Trade-A-Light program replaces SMU’s previous rebate of $2 for CFL’s. If you need specialty CFL’s, such as 3-way lamps or dimmable CFL’s, you may purchase them from a local retailer but there will be no rebate.
SMU also continues to offer rebates for the installation of linear T8 lamps and fixtures to replace older, less efficient T12 lamps or HID lighting. For details about this portion of our program, please refer to our Commercial Lighting brochure.
WaterSense Toilet Program
 Toilets are one of the biggest water users in the average home. Even when they are working properly, older toilets use a lot more water than today’s high-efficiency models. And when that old toilet leaks, it can lead to a significant increase in your water and sanitary sewer bill.
To promote water conservation, SMU is launching our WaterSense toilet program. Customers can buy a 1.28 gallon-per-flush toilet kit directly from SMU at a subsidized price. The kit includes the toilet itself, a seat, and installation supplies.
We’ve chosen a model that meets the EPA’s WaterSense label, and features a flapperless design that makes them much less susceptible to leakage. Replacing just one toilet with the SMU WaterSense toilet can save you over $60 a year in reduced water and sanitary sewer charges!
Customers may purchase up to two (2) high efficiency toilets per household. Additional toilets may be purchased at SMU’s cost. Purchase price of the toilets may be paid at the time of purchase or charged to the customer’s utility account, if customer is in good standing. Upon purchase, customer will be given a voucher that may be exchanged for the toilet at the SMU Operations Center. Toilets may be picked up by customer for self-installation or by a licensed plumber on behalf of the customer during normal business hours.
| WaterSense Toilet Kit |
| Standard model |
$50.00 |
| Elongated bowl, ADA model |
$60.00 |
Incentive Program Rules
- The effective date is January 1, 2010. Programs may be changed or cancelled by SMU without notice. Customers should check with the SMU office for information on programs.
- Only improvements made on properties in the SMU service territory are eligible for rebates.
- SMU reserves the right to verify installation and invoices prior to rebate being paid.
- SMU reserves the right to meter devices for which a rebate is paid to aid in determination of actual energy savings. Such metering will be at SMU’s expense.
- Rebates will not exceed equipment costs minus any manufacturers or dealer rebates.
- Rebates will be issued to the party that paid for the improvement. If the rebate is for improvements at an owner-occupied residential or commercial property, the rebate will be paid as a credit to the utility account at that location. If that party does not occupy the residence or commercial property where the device was installed, the rebate will be applied as a credit to another utility account in that party’s name, or will be given in the form of a check. Payment will be made upon approval of completed application, sales ticket, and SMU verification.
- If an improvement is made at a residence but paid for by someone other than the person who lives in the residence (landlord, property manager, builder or contractor, etc.), the rebate shall be classified as a commercial rebate.
- For rebates in excess of $1,000, the applicant may request a check rather than credit.
- To receive rebates for improvements under the 2010 program, the improvements must be paid for and/or installed during 2010. Following are the deadlines for turning in the rebates to SMU for payment:
a. Improvements made before 12/1/10-Rebate filing due by 12/31/10
b. Improvements made between 12/1/10 and 12/31/10--Rebate filing due by 1/31/11
- Customers are responsible to insure that all equipment and/or improvements are installed in accordance with all codes, standards, and regulatory requirements.
- Rebates will be approved on new improvements only. No rebates will be approved for used items.
- SMU does not guarantee reduced usage, demand, or cost savings. SMU makes no warranties, expressed or implied, with the respect to any improvements made. In no event shall SMU be liable for any incidental or consequential damages. SMU does not endorse any manufacturer or product in this program.
- Completed applications will be processed on a first come, first served basis, until available funds are committed.
- Any income tax or other taxes which may be payable as a result of a rebate being paid (or applied to the utility account) are the responsibility of the customer.
- The decision of Spencer Municipal Utilities regarding any disputes which arise in the rebate program is final.
- Customers who receive the rebate will agree on the application to allow SMU to install and operate demand response devices if the use of such devices is deemed necessary by the SMU Board of Trustees.
Commercial Rebates
SMU commercial customers are eligible for any of the items listed in the Residential Rebates table above. In addition, SMU offers rebates for lighting retrofit projects or new construction that utilizes efficient metal halide, high pressure sodium, T8, Super T8, T5, or LED lighting, as well as for electric motors. For information on rebate amounts and qualifications for commercial lighting rebates, download the complete 2009 rebate program, or contact Curtis Dean at SMU.
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If you, a SMU customer, feel that you have processed a payment in error, please contact our customer service at 712-580-5800 or email us to request a refund.
