Washington Electric Cooperative offers its members several incentives to participate in programs to save themselves - and the cooperative - money by controlling peak energy loads. By installing radio-controlled switches on electric water heaters, heat pumps, geothermal systems and whole-house air conditioners, the co-op is able to reduce wholesale power purchases, thus saving money and resources.

Buckeye Power, Inc., the generation-and-transmission (G&T) cooperative owned by Ohio's rural electrics, launched its load management program in 1973. The program has grown to include more than 112,000 radio-controlled switches on water heaters, 6,700 on heating systems and nearly 5,000 on air conditioning units. It is estimated that the load management program has saved approximately $150 million in energy costs for electric co-op members in Ohio over its long history.

 

Any member who installs a new or replacement electric water heater (with radio-controlled switch) may receive up to a $400 rebate on their water heater purchase. Washington Electric also carries Marathon water heaters in the following sizes and prices:

Marathon 50-gallon tank: $600 ($300 after rebate)
Marathon 85-gallon tank: $800 ($400 after rebate)

 

Available rebates of $100 for whole-house air conditioning systems (10 years or younger) with a co-op load management switch.(Download an application and agreement form)

 

Dual Fuel is nothing more than coupling an add-on heat pump to your propane, oil, or natural gas heating system. The heat pump cools your home in the summer and provides 60% - 70% of your home's heat in the other months, a potential savings of $300-$500 annually over conventional heating. Any member who installs an add-on heat pump to a propane, oil or natural gas heating system may receive a rebate of $500. A Co-op provided radio controlled switch must be installed on the heat pump also.

 

Geothermal heating and cooling is the most energy efficient system a new homeowner can install. You can save up to 60% over conventional systems. Any Washington Electric member who installs a geothermal system will receive a rebate up to $600.

 

Contact Washington Electric Cooperative's Member Services Department for more details.