DMEA applies for more rebate programs

MONTROSE  — Delta Montrose Electrical Association hopes to expand, as well as add programs next year, making renewable energy systems more affordable for the community.

Earlier this year, DMEA matched a grant from the Governor’s Energy Office for watt rebates to new residential customers of solar photovoltaic (PV) system.

This year, the proposed budget sets aside even more matching funds in hopes the office will renew the partnership on the PV plan, along with approving partnerships for two new rebate programs.

The Governor’s Energy Office gave DMEA a $25,000 matching grant to offer a limited number of members a $2 per watt rebate on PV systems installed from June 1 to Dec. 31. DMEA set a cap for the program at $3,000, said Jim Heneghan, DMEA renewable energy engineer.

During that time, 12 systems were installed ranging from 1.3 kilowatt-hours to 10.5 kwh. Heneghan said an average DMEA customer’s home needs a 3-kwh system to offset energy costs.

Montrose residents Jim and Sharen Branscome installed a 10.5-kwh system behind their home off of Chipeta Drive. The whole process took about three months and the system was up and running on Oct. 6.

“We pray for sunshine every day,” Sharen said. “We don’t know yet how it’s going to work out in terms of how much of our bills it’s going to take off.”

Their system should offset about 80 percent of their energy use. However, Sharen said they haven’t been able to “bank” any energy because that is usually done in the summer months when sun is more abundant. She’ll have to wait awhile to see the benefits, but until then, she said she’s entertained by tracking their energy use.

Sharen said that Alternative Power out of Ridgway handled the paperwork DMEA needed, which was convenient. After the paperwork was in, it took only a few days to get their rebate check from DMEA.

The Branscomes also expect a federal rebate. The federal government provides a tax credit of 30 percent of the total cost of the system, with a $2,000 cap.

Sharen said if she had to do it over again, she’d wait for 2009 to install the system. Because of the “bailout package” the government retracted the cap and will provide the total 30 percent tax credit in 2009.

The two other programs for which DMEA has applied are domestic hot water systems and PV systems for community and municipal projects. It should know if the applications were accepted no later than January, Heneghan said.

For 2009, DMEA applied for $100,000 for the PV residential program; $50,000 for the PV community and municipal program and $50,000 for the hot water program, half of which will come from matching funds from DMEA.

The board is expected to approve its 2009 budget at its Tuesday, Nov. 25 meeting.