Residential and Hard-to-Reach News, Updates and Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the current status of Xcel Energy's Residential, Small Commercial and Hard-to-Reach programs?

The Residential, Small Commercial and the Hard-to-Reach Standard Offer Program will begin accepting applications for their 2008 Programs on December 4, 2007.

Q: Are screw-in CFLs with locking devices allowed in the Residential/Small Commercial SOP?

No, only hardwired CFL fixtures are allowed in the Residential/Small Commercial SOP. Screw-in CFLs are eligible in the Hard-to-Reach SOP.

Q. What are some examples of how the load factor cap will be applied to invoices?

For projects implemented under this SOP, there is a limit on the ratio of kWh payment to kW payment. This is to discourage projects that produce relatively little of their annual energy savings during Xcel Energy's peak summer demand period. For small commercial and non-HTR residential projects, the maximum total payment (kWh and kW payments combined) is $650.00 per kW of peak summer demand savings. For hard-to-reach projects, the maximum total payment (kWh and kW payments combined) is $1,394.00 per kW of peak summer demand savings. Here are two examples:

Example 1

An HVAC project saved 25 kW of summer peak demand and 50,000 annual kWh. The unadjusted incentive payment for this project would be:

The maximum allowable incentive for this project is 25 kW multiplied by $650, or $16,250

This project would not be subject to the load factor cap.

Example 2

A variable-speed motor retrofit saves 20 kW of summer peak demand and 150,000 annual kWh. The unadjusted incentive payment for this project would be:

The maximum allowable incentive for this project is 20 kW multiplied by $650, or $13,000

This project would be subject to the load factor cap.

The load factor caps are applied to the total projectıs kW and kWh incentive payments and not to individual measures. As a result a Project Sponsor may receive full payment for measures with high load factors, as long as the average load factor for the project does not exceed the cap.

Q. Are previously treated customers eligible for this program?

Previously Treated Customers are Ineligible for this Program:

There have been energy efficiency programs in the past five to ten years that have treated residential customers for certain measures included in the SOP program. Xcel Energy program managers want to emphasize to Project Sponsors that customers previously served by these programs are not eligible to receive the same services or measure installations under the current SOP. For example, a showerhead and faucet aerator retrofit program was conducted at multi-family and single family residences during the late nineties. Over 40,000 showerheads were distributed through this program. Customers served under this previous program will not be eligible for showerhead retrofits.

Q. If I have a small commercial customer that has more than one location, do I have to detemine what the total kW load would be for all the customer's locations, or just those that I plan to retrofit?

The total load for all of a customer's sites cannot exceed the 100 kW limit, even if only one or a few sites will receive the retrofit measures.

Q. How do I determine a customer's total kW load?

The customer must certify that the total load of customer-owned facilities does not exceed 100 kW. Since the project sponsor will not receive incentive funds if Xcel Energy determines the customer exceeds the limit, Xcel Energy recommends that the project sponsor request a usage history for all sites.

Q. Where can I find the current official version of the Program Manual and Contract?

The current official manual and contract are available on the program manual and downloads pages of this site. Please check back here frequently for news on recent changes.

Q. Does Xcel Energy offer any tools to help project sponsors estimate project impacts?

Yes, a Microsoft Excel (TM) spreadsheet is available to help estimate impacts based on user inputs and assumptions. Please carefully read the disclaimer before downloading and using the file. Find the current file on the downloads page.

Q. What browsers work best with this site?

Microsoft's Internet Explorer version 5.5 for Windows or IE 5.0 for Mac and Netscape 6.0 for Windows or Mac have been tested for functionality with this site. If you have trouble with any feature, please try updating to the latest version of your preferred browser.

Q. Xcel Energy's Texas service area falls into which weather zones?

The Panhandle and the North Regions, or weather zones one and two. The online project reporting tool automatically assigns the correct weather zone based on the county entered.