Energy.gov

Avista Utilities offers numerous incentives to commercial and industrial customers to increase the energy efficiency of customer facilities or equipment. Incentive options are available for heating and cooling equipment, refrigeration, lighting, motors, variable frequency drives, vending machine controls, appliances, personal computers, retro-commissioning, and other energy efficient measures. Below is a list of available programs. See the program web site above to view specific details and contact Avista in the early stages of project development.

Avista Utilities' Commercial Lighting Program provides incentives for lighting upgrades. New construction projects and proved energy saving lighting measures not listed on rebate form are evaluated on a site-specific basis. Incentive amounts vary; some common lighting upgrades eligible for incentives through the program include:

Avista Utilities Home Improvement and New Home Construction programs offer a variety of incentives for residential customers to save energy in eligible homes. Offers apply to residential homeowners in Idaho who heat homes primarily with Avista electricity Incentives vary depending on technology, and apply to existing and new construction homes. Interested customers should see the web site for more infomlation including individual program requirements, specifications, and all application forms.

Avista Utilities offers incentives to customers who improve efficiency through electric food service equipment retrofits. A variety of cooking and refrigeration equipment are eligible for rebates through this targeted program. The utility will conduct an energy site-analysis of existing equipment and issue recommendations on how equipment may be upgraded to higher efficiency levels. See the program web site for more information regarding this program.

Idaho does not have a statewide net-metering policy. However, each of the state's three investor-owned utilities -- Avista Utilities, Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power -- has developed a net-metering tariff that has been approved by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

Bonneville Environmental Foundation's (BEF) Solar 4R Schools program began in 2002. This competitive grant program seeks to install small-scale photovoltaic systems at K-12 schools interested in increasing the visibility of renewable energy. Successful projects will include outreach and educational components to encourage community adoption and use of photovoltaics.

In 2007, Idaho enacted a bill that restructured the method of taxation for producers of wind energy from a property tax to a tax on production. The aim of this restructuring was to ease the burden on commercial wind farms in the early years of operation. In 2008, Idaho enacted further legislation to include geothermal energy producers under this method of taxation.