AmerenUE Business Energy Efficiency Program FAQs
General Information Eligibility And Qualifications Incentives Standard Incentive Measures Custom Incentive Measures New Construction UE’s Trade Ally Network Retro-commissioning Additional Information
General Information
1.	Q.	What is UE’s Business Energy Efficiency Program?
	A.	UE’s Business Energy Efficiency Program was designed to encourage implementation of energy efficiency projects, or measures, in the UE electric service territory. Energy efficiency incentive programs, such as our Business Energy Efficiency Program, have proven to be one of the most economical ways to satisfy electricity demand growth. This is not a traditional rebate program. The cash incentive paid for energy efficient measures is intended to make the measure even more affordable for the customer. It’s to encourage—or “incentivize”—the customer to implement the project.
2.	Q.	Is there more than one type of incentive in the program?
	A.	Two types of incentives are offered at this time. The Standard Incentive is a payment for the installation or use of specific energy efficient equipment. The Custom Incentive is a payment for qualifying energy measures of $0.05 per projected kWh saved in the first year. In coming months, we will introduce additional incentives to encourage energy efficient new construction and retro commissioning of existing buildings.
3.	Q.	I am considering upgrading my HVAC and lighting for my entire business following an addition to my warehouse space. Will this qualify for any incentives?
	A.	Yes. Upgrading HVAC equipment and lighting in the existing space would be eligible for Standard or Custom Incentives if existing equipment is being directly replaced with more efficient models. Building equipment design in the new space is eligible for the New Construction Incentive.
Eligibility And Qualifications
4.	Q.	Who can apply for the incentives?
	A.	Any non-residential customer receiving electrical service from UE under a non-residential retail tariff is eligible for this program, including small businesses, factories, nonprofit organizations and schools.
5.	Q.	My business purchases natural gas from UE but electricity from a municipal utility, am I eligible for the programs?
	A.	The Business Energy Efficiency Program is only available to customers who purchase electricity from UE since this program is designed to manage the growth of our electric system demand and costs. For information about UE’s Missouri Energy Efficient Natural Gas Equipment Rebate Program, visit our Web site or call toll-free at 800.552.7583.
6.	Q.	What is a qualified project for these programs?
	A.	Qualified projects must demonstrate they will significantly and permanently reduce the energy consumption of the customer. The measures qualifying for the Standard Incentive have been analyzed and determined to meet these criteria. Other measures require a case-by-case evaluation to determine eligibility and quantity of energy savings and become eligible for our Custom Incentive. Measures and projects must have been initiated or installed on or after February 11, 2009, to qualify.
7.	Q.	Do I need to pre-apply for the Program or can I submit my application and paperwork after I have completed the installation?
	A.	There are two conditions under which you must pre-apply for the program:
		1.		You are applying under the Custom Incentive.
		2.		You are applying under the Standard Incentive and anticipate an incentive payment in excess of $10,000.
Incentives
8.	Q.	Will the incentive be applied to my UE bill or sent to me as a check?
	A.	UE will pay the incentive in a lump-sum via check within 45 days of receiving project completion paperwork from the applicant.
9.	Q.	How soon will I receive my incentive check?
	A.	You should receive your check within 45 days of submission of proof of your project’s completion. In the case of a Standard Incentive measure, proof of completion includes submission of the complete Form 110S: Standard Incentive Application, invoices and specification sheets. For a Custom Incentive measure, an inspection would follow submission of the completed Form 310C: Custom Incentive Application, the invoices and specification sheets to certify project completion.
10.	Q.	If a customer is doing a lighting project and a HVAC project, do they have to submit one application for the incentives or can they submit individual applications for each project? If they submit one application, how can they assign the incentive to more than one contractor given the current application?
	A.	Each part of the project is a separate Energy Efficiency Measure (EEM). You may provide multiple EEM’s on a single application as long as all of the measures are for electrical loads on the same account. Alternatively, you may submit each EEM as a separate project by completing multiple applications.
Standard Incentive Measures
11.	Q.	What is delamping?
	A.	To delamp is to remove existing T12 lamps and replace them with fewer T8 lamps/electronic ballasts to reduce energy demand. Following a delamping measure, the net number of lamps in operation is less. Delamping requires a change of ballast to an electronic ballast with a specular reflector. The specular reflector is essential to maintaining the quantity of light with reduced power demand.
12.	Q.	My lighting upgrade will result in a smaller number of efficient fixtures than the original (baseline) quantity.  Which amount qualifies for my incentives?
	A.	If the smaller number results from abandoning fixtures that are no longer needed, then the smaller number applies. But if the reduction results from a specialist’s fixture layout redesign, then the larger quantity will be used to calculate your incentive.
13.	Q.	What delamping measures qualify for the Standard Incentive? What if I am doing a project changing 2L T12 8 ft. fixtures to 2L T8 4 ft. fixtures with electronic ballasts and specular reflectors? Which delamping incentive is available to me?
	A.	The incentives in the Standard Incentive Program were calculated using the following assumptions: Scenario #1—4 ft. delamping project: Changing 4L T12 4 ft. lamps out for 2L T8 4 ft. lamps with electronic ballast and specular reflector. Scenario #2—8 ft. delamping project: Changing 2L T12 8 ft. lamps out for 1L T8 8 ft. lamps with electronic ballasts and specular reflectors. Since the Standard Incentive application does not require information about the original equipment, you could apply for the 4 ft. delamping incentive. However, this project also qualifies for the Custom Incentive since the actual project measures differ from the assumptions used to calculate the Standard Incentive. The Standard Incentive Program tariff specifies that an Efficient Measure must go with its specified detailed Baseline Measure. The installation described in the question is a Custom Incentive Measure because it does not exactly conform to the two standard delamping incentives outlined in the Standard Lighting Incentive Form. Any measure that does not appear in the list of qualified Standard Incentive measures may be considered for a Custom Incentive per the terms of the program tariff. An Excel-based tool is available to participants and Trade Allies to assist in the calculation of the lighting incentives and determine whether a project is a Standard or Custom Incentive project. For more information about this and other available aids, call your UE Business Energy Efficiency Program representative or call 314.436.0391 (toll-free 866.941.7299).
14.	Q.	What is a Super T8? Is it a high efficiency T8 that uses 28W or one of the long life T8s?
	A.	The basic difference between the Super T8 and the standard T8 is significantly higher lumens per watt for the Super T8. Super T8s are an improved T8 lamp and ballast emitting at least 88 mean lumens per watt (MLPW). For more information about Super T8s, visit the Consortium For Energy Efficiency Web page.
15.	Q.	I am replacing 1000W MH lamps with High-Bay T5s. Do I qualify for the High-Bay T5 replacing 400W MH Standard Incentive?
	A.	The Standard Incentive for the High-Bay T5s was calculated using 400W MH Normal Start as a baseline.  You may want to consider the Custom Incentive since your baseline equipment consumption is significantly higher resulting in a higher incentive payout. The Custom Incentive is $0.05 per kWh saved in the first year.
16.	Q.	Do the wattage levels noted on the incentive sheet apply to the original lamp or the replacement lamp? For instance, there is an incentive for an Exterior Light <200W and an Exterior Light >200W.
	A.	The wattage levels refer to the new or replacement fixture unless it specifically stated as “replacing” a certain wattage fixture as in the High-Bay category.
17.	Q.	I am planning to purchase a new compressor with a premium efficient motor. Can I apply for an incentive for the motor under the Standard Incentive?
	A.	Yes, the Standard Incentive applies for all premium efficient motors purchased for use, whether placed into inventory or put into service. UE encourages energy reduction by paying an incentive for ordering efficient motors in new equipment, since the user might otherwise have specified less efficient equipment without the incentive. Only if the efficient motor horsepower is not listed as a Standard Measure, does the customer need to apply under the Custom Incentive.
18.	Q.	I notice that the Standard Incentives for Strip Curtains for Walk-in Coolers/Freezers and Anti-Sweat Heater Controls are for low temperature applications only. What do you mean by “low temperature”?
	A.	We do not define an exact temperature range for “low temperature.” Instead, we consider the purpose of the refrigeration’s application to determine eligibility. Per this standard, we have defined low temperature applications as refrigeration for the purpose of freezing or maintaining a frozen state of a product.
19.	Q.	Illinois incentives are higher and paid per lamp, not per fixture. Why aren’t these the same?
	A.	Missouri electricity rates are significantly lower than Illinois’ rates. While our customers benefit from our low electric rates, they do result in lower avoided costs for energy efficiency measures. The incentives we offer serve to encourage the reduction of energy usage (and costs) to slow the growth of energy demand. UE’s Business Energy Efficiency Program has been designed to benefit all customers in our service territory. The Standard Incentives were designed based on the cost of installing new lamps and fixtures. As the basis of the calculation, we must use the fixture as the unit of assignment.
Custom Incentive Measures
20.	Q.	The measure that I am considering is not listed on a Standard Incentive sheet? Can I still qualify for an incentive since my project will result in reduced energy consumption?
	A.	To learn whether your energy efficiency measure qualifies for an incentive based on the potential energy savings, you will need to apply under the Custom Incentive prior to implementation. If your project qualifies for this program, you will receive an incentive of $0.05 per kWh saved in the first year. To discuss your project with our business development staff, please call 314.436.0391 (toll-free 866.941.7299).
21.	Q.	Why is there a minimum payback period of 18 months for Custom Incentive measures? Is there a payback ceiling for eligibility?
	A.	Our Business Energy Efficiency Program strives to offer incentives to encourage implementation of energy efficient measures. We consider an investment with less than an 18 month payback (before any incentive has been applied) to be a good business investment without additional inducement. There is no payback ceiling but obviously an investment with a very long payback period would not be a good investment (even with the incentive). For this reason, we examine the projected payback for each project submitted for a Custom Incentive. If the payback is very lengthy, it probably will not qualify for a cash incentive. Since the availability and value of the cash incentive has been based on the economics of the energy efficiency measure, we require participants to apply for any Custom Incentive before the project has started.
22.	Q.	I am having a difficult time determining whether my measure is a Standard Incentive measure or a Custom Incentive measure. Is there a reference table or materials that I can use?
	A.	An Excel-based tool can assist participants and Trade Allies in the calculation of the lighting incentives and determine whether a project is a Standard or Custom Incentive project. Even if an EEM is not available under the Standard Incentive, it may be eligible for an incentive under the Custom Incentive. For more information about this and other available tools, call your UE Business Energy Efficiency Program representative or call 314.436.0391 (toll-free 866.941.7299).
New Construction
23.	Q.	What is the purpose of UE’s New Construction Incentive?
	A.	UE wants to encourage energy efficient electricity consumption by current and future customers in order to manage the inevitable growth in electricity demand and usage on the UE system. Since commercial buildings are such a large portion of total system usage at UE, the New Construction Incentive was developed to encourage energy efficiency in new buildings from their first day of operations through the use of design and implementation incentives.
24.	Q.	What kinds of construction projects qualify for the UE New Construction Incentives?
	A.	There are three kinds of construction projects that qualify for UE’s New Construction Incentive:
		1.		A new building
		2.		An addition to an existing building
		3.		A total “gut-and-rehab” for a change of purpose. (If the building will continue to be used for the same purpose following a “gut-and-rehab”, the location should be eligible for energy efficiency incentives under the Standard/Custom Incentive.)
25.	Q.	How do you calculate incentives on new equipment installed in new commercial buildings?
	A.	Since we have no history of energy consumption to measure the improvements against in a new building, a “baseline” must be established to act as a comparison tool. In the New Construction Incentive Program, the baseline will either be the existing design for the new building or the energy code requirement for the locality where the building is being constructed. The state of Missouri does not have a statewide energy code. Where no code exists or where the code is very low, ASHRAE 90.1 2001 (an energy standard developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) will be used as the baseline. At the other end of the spectrum, a building developer already strongly committed to the construction of a LEED™ certified building may have an ASHRAE 90.1 2007 baseline assigned. Contractual or regulatory energy code requirements, such as those for federal or state buildings, will be considered in the determination of a baseline. After the New Construction Incentive application is submitted, the entire design team for the building meets with AmerenUE Business Energy Efficiency Program staff to discuss specific design and implementation incentives, energy modeling and establish the baseline to be used to quantify energy savings.
26.	Q.	I have completed my designs and am getting ready to begin construction. Can I still apply for UE’s New Construction Incentive Program?
	A.	Yes! There are three tracks available to new construction projects: Whole Building (Comprehensive) Track, Systems Track and Late Involvement (Post Design) Track. The Whole Building Track is available to buildings that will be 70,000 square feet in size and are still in the early design phase of development. The Systems Track is available to buildings that will be smaller than 70,000 square feet and are still in the early design phase of development. Under these two tracks, a developer will receive extensive design and implementation incentives to maximize the energy efficiency of the new building. As the title suggests, the Late Involvement Track is available to those projects that have completed their design and are about to begin construction. While you will not be eligible for many of the design incentives under this Track, you may be able to “tweak” your existing design to qualify for implementation incentives that will help stretch your budget and lower your operating costs.
27.	Q.	What kind of overall incentive can I expect for my project?
	A.	The incentive will vary greatly based on the incentive track appropriate to the project as well as the project size and scope. Under the terms of the New Construction Incentive, your total design and implementation incentives can be worth as much as 50% of your overall project cost!
UE's Trade Ally Network
28.	Q.	What are the requirements to be a trade ally?
	A.	A trade ally is a contractor, distributor or provider of energy efficient products or services. To become a trade ally, submit a completed and signed Trade Ally Application and Request Form for Certificate of Insurance. The application requires three references, which we will contact, to process the application. Following approval of the application, the trade ally will be listed on the UE Business Energy Efficiency Program Web site.
29.	Q.	If I am a distributor and don’t actually do the installation, do I still have to provide proof of insurance to be a trade ally?
	A.	Yes, all trade allies must provide proof of insurance to participate in the Trade Ally Network.
30.	Q.	I submitted an application to join the Trade Ally Network but I have not heard anything from UE? How do I determine if you have received my application?
	A.	When you submit your application, you will receive an email acknowledging receipt of your application. Once your application has been processed and verification is complete, you will receive a letter welcoming you to the network. It is our objective to list your business as a Trade Ally on the Business Energy Efficiency Web site within one week of your acceptance.
31.	Q.	I want to use the incentive in my bid for a new project, but I do not know if it will qualify for the incentive until after the application has been submitted and reviewed. How do I use the incentive to encourage new business if I don’t know if my project will qualify until after the customer submits the application? What if I install measures assuming they qualify for the Standard Incentive and then you tell me they must be Custom Incentives? Can I still get the Custom incentive if the application is after the purchase and installation?
	A.	Custom Incentives require pre-approval. It is important for you, when anticipating a project, to work with UE during the planning stage to optimize your incentive. If you have any concern that a Standard Incentive application may not be appropriate, please contact us at 314.436.0391 (toll-free 866.941.7299) for clarification.
Retro-Commissioning
32.	Q.	What is retro-commissioning?
	A.	Retro-commissioning is a systematic process for investigating an existing building’s operations and identifying operational improvements. The process focuses on the operation of mechanical equipment, lighting, and related controls and is intended to optimize how equipment operates as an integrated system. RCx projects can produce typical savings of 5-20% of total building energy costs, with a simple payback from energy savings alone averaging less than 2 years. Typical issues found and addressed through retro-commissioning include:
				Simultaneous heating and cooling
				Lighting and HVAC running when not required
				Controls needing to be retuned
				Critical control sensors out of calibration
				Automated lighting controls not operating as expected
		By addressing these common but often subtle operational problems, you can eliminate waste and improve the performance and life of your building’s systems.
33.	Q.	How does the program work?
	A.	Buildings that qualify will receive an engineering study that identifies potential operational improvements. The cost of the study is partially covered by the Program, provided the owner commits to implementing energy-saving measures. Up to 80% of the study cost will be paid after recommended measures are installed and verified. In addition, once measures are identified, selected and installed, the Program will provide a financial incentive of $0.06 / kWh (based on one year’s estimated savings) to cover up to the entire cost of implementation of recommended measures.
34.	Q.	Who provides the RCx services?
	A.	The Program has a pool of pre-qualified and trained RCx Agents that will work directly with building owners. It is incumbent upon the Agent and Customer to submit a scope of work and estimated budget for the study to the Program for review and approval. To implement measures, owners can use in-house staff or hire licensed contractors.
35.	Q.	What are the requirements to become qualified as an RCx agent?
	A.	All RCx Agents must be pre-qualified by the Program. The Agents were selected based on their expertise in identifying O&M-type energy savings opportunities and previous experience with RCx projects. The RCx Agents will conduct the in-depth investigation, work with the owner to select cost-effective measures for implementation, and provide project documentation and training.
36.	Q.	How long does a project take?
	A.	Depending on the scope and complexity, a project may last 9-12 months from inception to completion.
37.	Q.	What financial incentives are available?
	A.	First, up to 80% of the study cost will be paid after recommended measures are installed and verified. Second, once measures are identified, selected, and installed, the Program will provide a financial incentive of $0.06 / kWh (a one time payment based on projected annual savings) to assist in covering the implementation cost of verified measures. For this second part, the maximum reimbursement could not exceed the total cost of installing the recommended measures.
38.	Q.	Who receives the incentive check?
	A.	The RCx Agent who performs the engineering analysis to identify potential operational improvements will be paid directly by the Customer. Once this is documented, the building owner will receive an AmerenUE incentive check for the study and the implementation of measures, after the installation has been verified.
39.	Q.	How does a facility qualify for the program?
		There is a set of criteria that the Program uses to screen a building and determine whether it is a good candidate to participate in the Program. The primary criteria include building size, annual energy consumption, and age and condition of building equipment. Facilities meeting most, but not all, of the desired characteristics will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Additional Information
40.	Q.	How can I get additional information?
	A.	If you still have questions about UE’s Energy Efficiency Programs, contact us at 314.436.0391 (toll-free 866.941.7299), by email at BIZefficiency@ameren.com or visit us online at www.ameren.com/BIZefficiency.