Go Ductless
Cut heating and cooling costs while keeping your workplace comfortable year-round. Ductless Heat Pumps (DHPs) offer efficient, reliable performance at a fraction of the cost of electric baseboard or and wall heaters. We offer installation incentives to help make the switch easier.

Incentives

Requirements and Specifications

• DHP Retrofit
  • Preconditions: Space must be conditioned by zonal or forced-air electric-resistance heat as the primary source. No other heating sources are eligible. Failed heat pumps operating with electric-resistance backup heat do not qualify.
  • Postconditions: Installed DHP must have an AHRI certificate of product rating and meet federal minimum efficiency standards.
• DHP Upgrade
  • Preconditions: Replacing an existing ductless heat pump or air-source heat pump. Eligible for operational or failed systems, new construction, major renovation, or building additions.
  • Postconditions: Installed DHP must have an AHRI certificate of product rating. Outdoor condenser must meet BPA efficiency standards below (applies to both single and multi-head systems):
    • Non-Ducted – 10.4 HSPF2
    • Ducted or Mixed – 9.4 HSPF2

Steps to Participation

Better Control
Upgrading to a connected thermostat gives you smarter control over your building’s HVAC system, helping you reduce energy use while keeping occupants comfortable.

Incentives

Limitations may apply.

Requirements and Specifications

• Installed thermostat must be listed on BPA's Connected Thermostat Qualified Products List (QPL).
• Installed thermostat must control an existing HVAC supply fan and serve a single zone. "Invisible zones” are permitted (e.g., separate RTUs serving different portions of a large retail space).
• Existing thermostat must not be web-enabled.
• Must be an active Benton PUD customer.
• Only available to retrofits. Lodging, 24/7 occupancy, semi-conditioned spaces, and new construction are not eligible.
• Heating fuel type may be electric or gas.
• Thermostat programming requirements include:
  • Connected to the web.
  • Temperature setback used during unoccupied hours (heating and/or cooling, as applicable).
  • Fan schedule set to auto during unoccupied hours  (e.g., during unoccupied hours or holidays, the fan will only run when there is a demand for heating or cooling).
  • Override duration set to three hours or less.
  • For heat pumps, auxiliary resistance heat lock-out is enabled with appropriate temperature set point. In cases where two or more systems serve spaces that are not separated by physical barriers (e.g., "invisible zones"), simultaneous heating and cooling is prevented across zones.

Program requirements and incentives are subject to change without notice.

Steps to Participation

Pump It Up
Upgrading your existing heat pump can improve comfort, reduce energy use, and lower operating costs for your business. Benton PUD offers incentives to support qualifying upgrades in commercial spaces.

Incentives

Limitations may apply.

Requirements and Specifications

• Preconditions: The space must be conditioned by an operational or failed air-source heat pump, or be part of a building addition, new construction, or major renovation project.
• Postconditions: The installed heat pump must:
  • Be an air-to-air heat pump
  • Have an AHRI certificate of product rating
  • Meet BPA’s efficiency requirements listed in the table below:

Steps to Participation

Pump It Up
Replacing existing electric resistance heat with a new heat pump will reduce heating costs, improve comfort for occupants, and increase the value of your commercial space. Benton PUD offers retrofit incentives for medium and small commercial spaces.

Incentives

Limitations may apply.

Requirements and Specifications

These measures cannot be used to retrofit packaged terminal air conditioning (PTAC) units.

• Preconditions: The space must be conditioned by zonal or forced-air electric-resistance heat as the primary heating source. No other heating sources are eligible.
• Post-conditions: The installed heat pump must:
  • Be an air-to-air heat pump
  • Have an AHRI certificate of product rating
  • Meet federal minimum efficiency requirements for both heating and cooling

Steps to Participation

Raise the Roof
Older rooftop units can waste thousands of dollars in unnecessary energy costs each year. Retrofitting with Advanced Rooftop Unit Controls (ARC) helps reduce those costs while improving comfort. Benton PUD offers incentives for commercial spaces that install ARC upgrades.

ARC retrofits add a variable frequency drive (VFD) and controls to existing constant-speed HVAC rooftop unit (RTU) supply fans. Energy savings come primarily from reducing fan operation. Because of this, ARC applies to both electric and gas systems. There are two options available:

• ARC-Lite: Basic retrofit with VFD and controls.
• Full ARC: Includes digital, integrated economizer control and web monitoring with alerts, allowing for greater savings.

Incentives

Requirements and Specifications

This measure applies to retrofits only.

• Preconditions: Existing RTU may use electric or gas heating fuel and must have:
  • A cooling capacity of 5 tons or greater
  • A unitary system (split systems are not eligible)
  • A constant-speed supply fan (RTUs with variable-speed fans are not eligible)
• Postconditions:
  • Installed on an existing rooftop unit
  • Listed on the ARC Qualified Products List (QPL)

Steps to Participation

Better Control
Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) systems offer precise zone control, improved occupant comfort, and higher efficiency for heating and cooling. Benton PUD provides incentives to support VRF retrofits in medium and small commercial spaces.

Incentives

Limitations may apply.

Requirements and Specifications

This measure applies to retrofits only. It is available for the commercial, industrial, and agricultural sectors.

• Preconditions: The new VRF system must be installed in a building conditioned by zonal or forced-air electric-resistance heat as the primary heating source. No other heating sources are eligible.
• Postconditions: The installed VRF system must:
  • Have an AHRI certification of product rating
  • Meet BPA’s efficiency requirements listed in the table below:

Steps to Participation

Clear Savings
Upgrading your windows can cut your monthly utility bills, boost workplace comfort, and even increase the value of your commercial property.

Incentives

Limitations may apply.

Requirements and Specifications

• Applies to retrofits only.
• Preconditions: Building must be electrically heated; existing windows must be single-pane, single-pane with storms, or double-pane metal-framed.
• Post-conditions: Replacement window assemblies must have a National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) rated U-value of 0.30 or lower.

Steps to Participation

Seal the Deal
Having a professional install insulation in your building can cut monthly utility bills, keep you warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, and create a more comfortable work environment.

Incentives

Requirements and Specifications

• Applies to retrofits only.
• Preconditions: Building must be electrically heated; existing insulation must have a value between R-0 and R-5.
• Post-conditions: Installation of insulation in wall or attic/roof spaces must meet or exceed the new insulation R-values listed above.

Steps to Participation

Ice Ice Baby
Freeze-resistant stock water tanks and fountains can save energy by eliminating the need for electric resistance heating. Savings are calculated by comparing the consumption of an electrically heated tank with the efficient case of zero electric heating.

Incentives

Requirements and Specifications

• Tanks or fountains must be new (not home or kit-made).
• Units must be fully enclosed and insulated
• No electric heat elements allowed

Steps to Participation

Set It, Forget It
Adding a thermostatically controlled outlet or controller helps reduce unnecessary heating costs in pump houses or utility sheds. Instead of relying on electric-resistance heaters that run continuously to provide freeze protection, these outlets only activate when freezing conditions are present, protecting equipment and pipes while saving energy.

Incentives

Limitations may apply.

Requirements and Specifications

• Must automatically turn on at approximately 39°F and turn off by 50°F
• Only one outlet per utility room or building is eligible

Steps to Participation

Keep It Flowing
New or existing center-pivot and linear-move irrigation systems with high-pressure sprinklers (about 35 psi at the critical sprinkler), whether on top or in a Mid-Elevation Sprinkler Application (MESA) configuration, can be converted to low-energy precision technologies. These upgrades lower pumping pressure requirements, reducing both energy use and water consumption.

Incentives

Limitations may apply.

Requirements and Specifications

• Conversion to LESA, LEPA, or MDI configuration, including one gooseneck and drop tube, a low-pressure regulator, sprinkler assembly and nozzle, or drip tubing per drop.

Steps to Participation

Let It Flow 
Sprinkler package retrofits can provide measurable energy and water savings when older or leaky equipment is replaced. Savings are estimated based on upgrading sprinkler packages as part of regular maintenance, replacing components that are no longer efficient, or completing a full system upgrade.

Incentives

Requirements and Specifications

• For center-pivot or lateral-move systems, either for maintenance or as part of an irrigation system conversion.
• LESA/LEPA/MDI Sprinkler Package and the MESA Sprinkler Package both include a low-pressure regulator, nozzle, and rotating or multi-trajectory sprinkler.
• High-Pressure Sprinkler Package includes a nozzle and impact sprinkler.

Steps to Participation

Under Pressure
Existing irrigation systems that operate in high-pressure configurations (about 35 psi delivered to the critical sprinkler) can be converted to low-pressure systems for significant energy and water savings.

Incentives

Requirements and Specifications

• For conversion of existing center-pivot or linear-move system from a high-pressure to MESA configuration, including one gooseneck and drop tube per drop.
• Also applies to conversion of high-pressure impact sprinklers on wheel-line and hand-line systems to a low-pressure sprinkler package which must include a low-pressure regulator, rotating-type sprinkler with a new nozzle, or a flow control nozzle and new rotating-type sprinkler.

Steps to Participation

Under Pressure
The base case is an inefficient, pressurized irrigation system with opportunities to improve application efficiency through targeted hardware upgrades.

Incentives

Requirements and Specifications

• Replace leaking impact sprinkler:
  • Eligible systems include wheel-lines, hand-lines, lateral-moves, and center-pivots
  • Brass impact sprinklers must be rebuilt by an established repair shop and must meet or exceed manufacturer's specifications
  • Limited to two units per sprinkled acre for solid set sprinklers
• Replace nozzle:
  • Eligible systems include wheel-lines or hand-lines
• Replace leaking drain gaskets with new gaskets: 
  • Eligible systems include wheel-lines, hand-lines, lateral-moves, and center-pivots
• Replace Thunderbird wheel-line hubs:
  • Eligible for wheel-line systems
• Replace/rebuild leaking or malfunctioning leveler with new or rebuilt leveler:
  • Eligible for wheel-line systems

Steps to Participation

Keep It Flowing
For centrifugal irrigation pumps that run at a fixed speed but face varying flow or head requirements, adding a variable frequency drive (VFD) can better match demand and reduce energy use.

Incentives

Limitations may apply.

Requirements and Specifications

• Requires the addition of a VFD to a new or existing, fixed-speed, centrifugal-style irrigation pump.
• Applies to pumping operations that deliver, distribute, or transport irrigation water with qualifying VFDs from 7.5 to 1,000 horsepower. 
• Eligible installations are limited to pumps with substantial variation in head pressure requirements (20% variation or more).
• Recommended that all new VFD installations meet the IEEE 519 harmonics standard.

Steps to Participation

Go With the Flow
This measure applies to turbine-style irrigation pumps that normally operate at a constant speed, even though flow and head requirements change. Adding a variable frequency drive (VFD) allows the pump to adjust to those variations, reducing wasted energy and improving performance.

Incentives

Limitations may apply.

Requirements and Specifications

• Applies to pumping operations that deliver, distribute, or transport irrigation water with qualifying VFDs from 7.5 to 1,000 horsepower.
• Eligible installations are limited to turbine pumps with substantial variation in flow rates (20% variation or more) or discharge pressure requirements (10% variation or more).
• Recommended that all new VFD installations meet the IEEE 519 standard. 

Steps to Participation

Pump It Up
This measure applies to centrifugal or turbine irrigation pumps used for irrigation purposes. Many customers already rebuild their pumps on a routine basis, but over time this can leave impellers thin and inefficient, or result in a pump operating outside the optimal performance area of its curve due to other system changes. Upgrading to a BPA-qualified high-efficiency pump ensures lasting energy savings and greater reliability.

Incentives

Limitations may apply.

Requirements and Specifications

• Requires the installation of a newly manufactured turbine or centrifugal-style irrigation pump to replace an existing pump. A change from a turbine pump to a centrifugal pump or vice versa is allowed.
• Existing pump being replaced must be centrifugal, turbine, or submersible turbine.
• New replacement pump must have the same or lower horsepower rating, unless it is coupled with a VFD. Pump must range from 20 to 500 horsepower.
• Applies to pumping operations that deliver, distribute, or transport irrigation water.

Steps to Participation