1. Partnering with your wholesale power provider on end-use energy efficiency
Doug Sparks Member Services Manager
Keith Emerson Energy Service Coordinator

2. Consumer-owned power supplier to the West
WYOMING
NEBRASKA
COLORADO
Tri-State is a wholesale power supply cooperative to 44 member systems in Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico and Nebraska.
NEW MEXICO

3. About Empire Electric Association
Empire Electric provides electric power to homes and businesses in southwest Colorado and southeast Utah
Currently have more than 15,000 member consumers
Recognized as having the least amount of outages in Colorado
Have spent the last 4-5 years growing at a rate of 1.63%

5. Tri-State’s Green Power Program
Voluntary Program
Since 1998, Tri-State has provided the opportunity for consumers of its 44 member cooperatives to participate.  
New premium follows market conditions

6. Empire Electric’s Green Power Partners
Voluntary Program - Branded the Tri-State green tag program as an affordable option for our members
100 kilowatt-hour blocks
Now at only 40 cents per block/month
Enrollment
141 customers participating
770 blocks/month
Provide Green power Certificate for advertising purposes

7. Renewable Portfolio Standards
Navigating policies in four states
New Mexico
5% by 2015, increasing 1%/yr to 10% by 2020
Colorado
1% from
3% from
6% from
10% starting 2020
Recently passed policies allowing each co-op to pursue local projects

8. 20 years ago… Excess power available in early 1980s
Tri-State and its founding member co-ops formed a load-building committee
Established an “incentive” program encouraging consumers to use electricity
Produced print and radio ads to promote the sale and installation of electrical heating systems and motors

9. Energy efficiency takes hold…
In 1994, stopped referring to cash incentives as rebates
Energy Efficiency Credits (EECs)
Promoting more efficient and peak shifting devices

10. Over $1,400,00 in credits paid to Members!
2007 EEC incentives
Premium Efficiency Motors – 40,590 Hp
Standard Efficiency Motors – 1,725 Hp
Wiring Credits – 27,236 Hp
Thermal Storage Space Heating - 7,040 kW
Electric Water Heaters – 6,300 kW
Air-Source Heat Pumps – 1,922 tons
Ground & Water Source H.P.–840tons
CF Lamp distribution – 125,000 lamps
Over $1,400,00 in credits paid to Members!

11. Lighting the way… 2007 distributed 1,000 to each co-op
Reimbursed $1 for each additional bulb
To date, more than 250,000 CFLs distributed
2008 LED holiday lighting program
Rebate: $2 per string of >49 or $4 of <50
Regional leaders…
La Plata Electric Association
San Miguel Power Association
Delta-Montrose Electric Association

12. Re-structuring the program…
Are we getting our money’s worth?
Are we meeting our member’s needs?
We also need to look at future events:
Premium efficiency levels for electric appliances and motors will be required by federal law in December What will happen to incentives?
New federal minimum lighting efficacy standards will cause incandescent light bulbs to be replaced by CFLs between 2012 and 2014.
Mercury vapor lamp ballasts ceased production as of January Lamp production halt is likely around 2010.

13. 2008 Tri-State survey
Most requested new program ideas (in order with > 2/3 of Members responding)
Two-way communication
Residential energy auditing training
Meter data analysis
Weatherization program
E-Star appliances
Mail-order CFLs

14. Empire Electric Energy Plan
Existing plan
Investigate programs as part of the cooperative’s regular power supply
Work with local resources to help bring programs to fruition
Energy efficiency
Green power
Recycling
Educate Members and Employees about

15. Communication tools

16. Energy Efficiency Program
Credits
Follow and match Tri-State’s Energy Efficiency program.
Added credit for energy star refrigerators and freezers in 2006 – our most popular incentive
New in Tri-State added New refrigerator credit

17. Energy Assessments and Audits
Perform initial electrical energy assessments for members for free with in house personnel
More extensive energy audits
Pay 50% up to $ for certified energy audit.
Local Resnet certified auditors available for service.

18. Campaign Refrigerator Recycling
Empire Electric Association
Montezuma County Landfill
San Juan County Utah Landfill
DON’T PLUG IT IN – TURN IT IN

19. Refrigerator Recycling cont.
Enlisting local landfill help – Already had recycling process in place.
Local metal salvage yard also on board
Capitalizing on local do-it-yourself attitude
Underwrite processing cost plus $50.00 per unit per member
Certificate system to keep it members only.

20. CFL Distribution and Education
Keep it Simple
Distributing at all public meetings
Promotional giveaways through coupons on calendars
Collaborating with local agencies to help low income members plug into CFLs

21. CFL and battery Recycling
Partnering with local businesses and town centers for recycling bucket locations

22. Promotional efforts

23. In the works for the future…
2009
Renewable Energy Tariffs for large projects
Expanded Energy Efficiency Programs
Possible Solar Thermal program

24. Outreach and education
Members
Renewable energy Seminars
Special seminars on Energy Efficiency
Employees More informed employees to disseminate information to members
Customer contact employees
Training session topics:
EEC Credits
Events
Programs
Billing and Rates

25. Membership Education is important
Renewable energy how-to seminars
Heating and cooling seminars
General state of the coop articles and talks at public meetings
“From the Beginning to Now” Bus tour

26. 2008 Legislation More aggressive legislation aimed at cooperatives
Samples of likely bills
Requirement to use equivalent of 2% of total revenues to promote and support energy efficiency
Net metering – 2 Megawatts requirement – all at full retail
Requirement to add surcharge to all members