Energy Transformation Program
The Energy Transformation (Tier III) provision of Act 56, passed by the Vermont Legislature in 2015, set targets for utility-led or utility-partnership projects that will reduce fossil fuel usage. Read VEC's 2020 Energy Transformation Plan here.
VEC offers a wide range of bill credits for members who purchase devices that reduce fossil fuel usage. The incentives are designed to help members choose technologies for heating and cooling their homes, transportation, even cutting the lawn, that are cleaner and less expensive over the long term. The incentives are listed below. For more information please contact VEC Member Services at 1-800-832-2667 or support@vermontelectric.coop.
Click on the headings below to view details about a particular incentive.
Electric Vehicles
Both All Electric Vehicles (AEVs) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) offer opportunities to reduce carbon emissions, and the technology continues to improve with better range and cold-weather performance. VEC offers the following bill credits for the purchase or lease of new or used AEVs or PHEVs:
Purchase |
Lease |
|
AEV |
$500 |
$100/year |
PHEV |
$250 |
$50/year |
- Is an electric vehicle right for you? Click here to learn more from Drive Electric Vermont.
- To get the bill credit, complete and submit this form.
Nissan is currently offering LEAF purchase discounts in Vermont of $6,000 for model year 2020 vehicles or $3,000 for model year 2021. See their flyer for additional details.
Note: the State of Vermont is also offering an incentive for the purchase of AEVs and PHEVs. The incentives are available to individuals with an annual household income of $92,000 or less applying for a new EV with a base price of $40,000 or less. If you qualify for the higher state incentive, you will receive an additional $250 for your VEC incentive. Details are here.
Level II Chargers
VEC is offering a $250 bill credit for the purchase of a home Level II electric vehicle charger. This incentive is designed to help members purchase and install a Level II charger and avoid charging at times when electricity costs are highest.
Participants who accept this incentive must do one of the following:
- If their charger is on the list below, members may be able to enroll in a communications platform so that VEC can request that your charger not operate during peak events (5-6 events per month for 3-4 hours each). A VEC representative will contact you to complete this process, and you will receive an additional $50 incentive for enrolling.
- If the charger is not on the list below or the member chooses not to enroll their charger in the control platform, the member should set their car charger or car schedule to not charge from 5-9 p.m. Mon-Fri and send in a screenshot of that schedule.
Participants also will be enrolled in VEC’s Beat the Peak Program, where members receive alerts about 3-4 events during the summer when VEC expects high demand for electricity. During these events, VEC requests that members take steps to decrease their electric use, such as shutting lights off, turning up the thermostat, and delaying use of major appliances.
Participants with models listed below may be able to choose Option #1 above and enroll in a VEC communications platform:
- ChargePoint Home (CPH25, all variations)
- ChargePoint Flex (CPH50, all variations)
- JuiceBox (Pro 32, Pro 40, Pro 40 Lite, or Pro 75)
- FLO Home X5
- Webasto (Packetized-enabled)
To receive a bill credit, submit this form along with a proof of purchase and screenshot of a car of charging schedule.
To learn more, read our Frequently Asked Questions.
Public Charging Stations
VEC is offering bill credit incentives for the installation of Level 2 and Level 3 public charging stations. Eligible applicants are businesses and public entities (schools, towns, etc.) with stations that were operational after July 1, 2017, provided the charging station is available to the public. VEC offers a $500 bill credit per connection ($500 for a 1-head charger, $1,000 for a 2-head charger) with a $2,000 maximum per member.
- Read more about the different types of public charging stations.
- To get the bill credit, complete and submit this form.
As of January 1, 2021, VEC is no longer offering a bill credit for most ductless heat pumps. Instead, we have partnered with Efficiency Vermont to offer a point-of-purchase incentive. In addition, if you install a system in a building that meets thermal efficiency criteria, you can receive a $150 thermal efficiency bonus credit on your VEC bill.
Ductless, mini split heat pumps can be a cost-effective means to heat, and also cool, your home or business. They also provide an opportunity to reduce the amount of oil or propane you use. Read more about heat pumps generally, and see if a heat pump is right for you.
The incentives differ depending upon when the heat pump was purchased or installed. The dates and credits (per qualifying outdoor unit) are as follows:
- After January 1, 2021: Point of purchase incentive through Efficiency Vermont, no VEC bill credit other than a $150 thermal efficiency bonus
- June 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020 : $600
- January 1, 2019 – May 31, 2020: $300
For systems purchased/installed after January 1, 2021 that qualify for a thermal efficiency bonus, complete and submit this form.
For systems purchased/installed before January 1, 2021, complete and submit this form.
For larger heat pump systems such as centrally ducted and air-to-water heat pumps, VEC is also partnering with Efficiency Vermont to offer a single credit. Please apply directly through Efficiency Vermont to take advantage of this credit.
Heat pump water heaters are an efficient way to heat water with electricity, using heat pump technology. They can cost considerably less to operate than electric resistance water heaters. The heater must be an ENERGY STAR model to qualify. The incentives differ depending upon when the heat pump water heater was installed. The dates and credits are as follows:
- On or after June 1, 2020: $250
- January 1, 2018 – May 31, 2020: $150
Read more about heat pump hot water heaters.
To get the bill credit complete and submit this form.
Heating with wood pellets can be an effective way to reduce the amount of oil or propane you use for heating. Pellet stoves burn more efficiently than wood stoves and allow for more flexible placement in your home because a chimney is not always required. VEC offers a $150 bill credit for pellet stoves purchased on or after October 1, 2017.
Read more about pellet stoves.
To get the bill credit, complete and submit this form.
VEC is offering a $1,000 bill credit starting in 2019 for the purchase of electric forklifts. The credit applies to the purchase of new or used forklifts for new applications or whenever a purchased electric forklift directly replaces a fossil fuel-powered forklift. To get the bill credit, complete and submit this form.
Residential Electric Lawnmowers
VEC offers a bill credit of $50 for new, corded or cordless residential electric lawnmowers purchased on or after 5/11/19. To get the credit, complete and submit this form.
Commercial Electric Lawnmowers
VEC offers a bill credit of $1,000 for qualifying commercial electric lawnmowers purchased on or after May 11, 2019 for use by a lawn care business, state agency, or institution with a campus such as a hospital or a university (other end-users will be considered on a case-by-case basis). The models listed below automatically qualify for this incentive (other models will be considered on a case-by-case basis and must receive pre-approval from VEC).
- Mean Green WBX-33
- Mean Green DWBX-48/52
- Mean Green SK-48
- Mean Green NXR48-52
- Mean Green CXR-52/60
To get the bill credit, complete and submit this form.
VEC offers a $500 bill credit to members who purchase a Zero Energy Modular (ZEM) home. ZEM homes run entirely on electric power and are highly energy-efficient. ZEM homes are more expensive to purchase than standard modular homes, but the operating costs are extremely low compared to traditional homes. The bill credit applies to ZEM homes purchased on or before January 1, 2019. For more information, visit Efficiency Vermont's website.
VEC’s Clean Air Program (CAP) offers customized opportunities to members with off-grid or underserved homes or businesses to replace fossil fuel usage with electricity. These opportunities may include service upgrades or line extensions, the costs of which will be shared between the utility and the member through customized agreements. For example, someone in VEC's service territory who has a maple sugaring operation currently powered by a diesel or propane generator may be eligible to participate in the Clean Air Program and receive an incentive from VEC for the cost of a line extension to retire the generator. If you have a project that you think might be eligible for the Clear Air Program, contact VEC at 1-800-832-2667 or support@vermontelectric.coop.