Glenwood Springs Electric has resumed offering rebates for customers to install on-site solar electric arrays, with funding for up to 12 residential systems and three commercial systems.
“We are pleased to once again offer the popular solar rebates to our customers,” said Glenwood Springs City Manager Debra Figueroa. “The rebates will help more of our customers install solar energy systems and increase the renewable energy in our system.”
Glenwood Springs Electric has offered solar rebates since 2010. It suspended the program in 2017 due to limits imposed by the utility’s wholesale electricity supplier, but has resolved that issue.
Solar electric rebates are offered on a first come basis, and customers are encouraged to apply and reserve their rebate prior to signing a contract with a solar installer. These rebates are typically sold out within the first few months of the year.
For commercial customers, the rebate is $0.50 per watt for up to 10 kilowatts, or $5,000.
For residential customers, the rebate is $0.75 per watt for up to 3 kilowatts, or $2,250.
In both cases, larger systems can be installed, but the rebate is not offered above the size limit.
Residential and commercial property owners can also apply for an additional rebate from CORE, and claim the federal tax credit.
The CORE rebate is $0.75 per watt for up to 3 kilowatts, or $2,250, for owned systems, and $0.50 per watt for up to 1.5 kilowatts, or $1,500, for leased systems.
The federal tax credit is 30 percent of project cost, minus rebates but with no upper limit on size of the array, through the end of 2019. The credit drops to 26 percent in 2020.
Glenwood Springs Electric also offers a broad package of rebate options for residential and commercial customers to make electricity-saving efficiency upgrades, along with free energy coaching provided by CLEER.
Commercial customers can get a free energy walk-through by a CLEER energy coach, and rebates are available for engineering grade energy assessments and for qualifying electricity-saving measures.
Residential customers can get a complete home energy assessment, including $50 in quick fix items, for just $100, plus rebates for qualifying electricity-saving upgrades. An additional rebate is offered for households that install LED light bulbs.
Residential customers can also get rebates for purchasing qualifying energy efficient or water efficient appliances. Rebates are $50 for dishwashers, $75 for clothes washers and $100 for refrigerators. For these rebates, contact Chery Earnest at Glenwood Springs Electric, 970-384-6352.
Glenwood Springs Electric also contributes to the countywide CARE program, which provides free home energy assessments and upgrades to income-qualified families.
CLEER manages the Glenwood Springs Electric sustainability program. To learn more about solar rebates, efficiency rebates, free energy coaching and the CARE program, visit GarfieldClean Energy.org or call CLEER at 970-704-9200.