Delano Municipal Utilities

CONSERVATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM


Municipal utilities operating in Minnesota are required to invest a minimum 1.5% of their gross revenues in projects designed to reduce their customers’ consumption of electricity and to generally improve efficient use of energy resources.  In 2010, the State Statute 216B requires all utilities to reduce kilowatt hours of energy consumption by  implementing conservation strategies with it's residential, commercial and industrial customers.

Click here for a link to the State of Minnesota Department of Commerce Statute          

 

The goals and articles of the Conservation Statute include:
 
  • •Promote consumer and industry awareness of energy conservation and its positive effect on the environment.
  • Reduce utility bills for homes and businesses.
  • Generate innovations in developing energy efficient products and technologies,  and promote new energy resource development.
  • State law requires regulated electric utilities to reduce electric consumption of it's customers by at least 1.5% of kWh each year.
  • The entire cost of the Conservation Improvement Program is funded by the electric utilities consumers.

Click here for a link to Minnesota Statute 216B.241     

Each utility develops its own conservation plan, offering a variety of energy-saving opportunities to their business and residential customers.  Both electric and natural gas utilities implement energy-saving projects such as providing rebates for ENERGY STAR natural gas furnaces and providing compact fluorescent lamps—technologies that require less  energy to deliver the same amount of heating and lighting as standard equipment.
 
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.
 
•Energy efficient choices can save families about a third on their energy bill with similar savings of greenhouse gas emissions, without sacrificing features, style or comfort.  ENERGY STAR helps you make the energy efficient choice.
 
•
If looking for new household products, look for ones that have earned the ENERGY STAR.  They meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and US Department of Energy.
 
•If looking for a new home, look for one that has earned the ENERGY STAR.
 
•If looking to make larger improvements to your home, EPA offers tools and resources to help you plan and undertake projects to reduce your energy bills and improve home comfort.
 
For more information about Energy Star or Energy Star Appliances please visit their website at
 

 

Appliance Rebates

 

Savings with Energy Star appliances will vary depending on usage patterns.  The U.S. Government began a program of labeling various appliances with Energy Guides several years ago. These Guides indicate annual operating costs assuming a national average cost per kilowatt-hour.  While Delano Municipal Utilities' rates are less than the national average, these Guides still give you an idea of savings you can expect.  Energy Star rated refrigerators and room air conditioners use 10% less energy than standard models.  Energy Star rated air conditioners, heat pumps, and dishwashers use 20% less energy than standard models, and Energy Star rated clothes washers use 50% less energy than standard models.  By using these percentages and information from the Energy Guides, you can estimate your annual savings.  Look for the Energy Guide when considering your next appliance purchase.

Rules and Guidelines for DMU appliance rebate program:

  • •To qualify for the rebate, your new appliance must be Energy Star rated and be an approved appliance.
  • Rebates can only be issued within the same calendar year of appliance purchase.
  • Delano Municipal Utilities will pay for up to $35.00 for the proper disposal of your old appliance.
  • For the disposal rebate, customers must show proof of licensed recycling and de-manufacturing.
  • Customers must show proof of the Energy Star rating. 
  • Return copies of all requested receipts, documents and DMU rebate form to the DMU office.
  • Rebates will be credited to your  utility account.
  • DMU-issued rebates are for Delano Municipal Utilities electric customers only. 
  •  Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for processing.

 

To apply for the rebate:

  1. Complete a DMU rebate form. Forms can be downloaded below or picked up in person at DMU.
  2. Submit a copy of all reciepts and paperwork from the appliance dealer.
  3. Submit a copy of proper recycling of old appliance.
  4. Submit a copy of the Energy Star label.
  5. Mail or drop off completed documents for review.

If you need assistance or have questions, call our office (763) 972-0557.

•
You can download your rebate form, fill it out and print it on your computer or you can pick one up at the utility office.


 

 Replacing An Existing Appliance
 Adding A New Appliance
Refrigerator
Freezer
Dishwasher
Clothes Washer
Dehumidifiers
Electric Water Heater
Window AC (limit 2)
Central AC
        (based on SEER rating)
            14.0
$100.00
$  60.00 $  60.00
$  50.00 $  25.00
$100.00 $  25.00


$300.00
$75.00
Refrigerator
Freezer
Dishwasher
Clothes Washer
Dehumidifiers
Electric Water Heater
Window AC (limit 2)
Central AC
        (based on SEER rating)   
            14.0
$  75.00
$  40.00
$  40.00
$  30.00
$  15.00
$  75.00
$  20.00


$300.00
$55.00

 

Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) Program

 

•    A simple switch from conventional light bulb to an ENERGY STAR® qualified fluorescent light bulb (CFL)
     will save energy and save you money.

 
•    ENERGY STAR® qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs last six to ten times longer than standard bulbs, use
      two-thirds less energy and provide the same amount of light with a lot less heat.
 
•    A compact fluorescent bulb uses a different technology:  compact fluorescence.  In a compact fluorescent light
      (CFL), the glass tube contains an inert gas, liquid metal, and phosphorus—no wires.
 
•     ENERGY STAR® qualified bulbs give off the same amount of light as incandescent or halogen lighting, while
       providing a true and natural color.
 
Not all Compact Fluorescent bulbs are equal.
 
Delano Municipal Utility uses ONLY CFL’s that are power factor corrected to greater than 0.9.
 
Power factor is the measure of the efficiency of the ballast used in the bulb.  Most CFL’s on the retail shelf are 0.5 to 0.6 PF corrected.  While savings amount to almost 60%, poor power factor increases the utilities wholesale costs for generation and transmission.  With higher generation and transmission costs our retail rates need to be higher to cover those costs.  In order to insure the most savings to both you the consumer and our Utility, we recommend that you only use CFL’s rated at greater than 0.9 PF. 
 
DMU provided Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL’s) to each customer for the 2006 & 2007 Program at no charge. 6 lamps of 3 different wattages.  Additional information regarding the benefit of these lamps was be included in the package delivered to each residence, and can be accessed here.
 
Lamps were delivered early in 2007 by members of the Delano High School National Honor Society, as part of their requirement to be involved in civic activities and as a fund raising opportunity in support of their exchange program with the sister school in China. 

High quality, power factor-corrected CFL's are available for purchase at a subsidized rate of $4.95/ea. at DMU offices.
 

Commercial and Industrial Program
 

Commercial & industrial customers may file for customized rebates in lighting, ventilation, heating, motors and variable speed drives, air conditioning and air compressors where changes that produce electric energy savings will be approved on an application by application basis