VEC Offers a Range of Energy Transformation Incentives for 2021

Johnson, VT – Vermont Electric Co-op (VEC) is continuing to offer a wide variety of bill credits this year for members who purchase certain electricity-powered devices for their homes or businesses to transition away from fossil fuels.

“These incentives are designed to help members choose technologies for heating and cooling their homes, for transportation, even cutting the lawn, that are more modern, cleaner and less expensive over the long term,” said Jake Brown, energy services planner at VEC.

One important change from last year’s incentives is that VEC is partnering with Efficiency Vermont to offer a single point of purchase incentive for ductless heat pumps. The result is that members will get VEC’s incentive, combined with the Efficiency Vermont incentive, at the time they buy the heat pump instead of applying for the credit post-purchase. However, members who install heat pumps in buildings that meet thermal efficiency criteria can get another $150 bill credit directly from VEC.

Brown said more than 1,600 VEC members have taken advantage of VEC’s bill credit incentives since the co-op began offering them in 2017.

2021 bill credits are available for:

• Heat pumps: For ductless, ducted, and air-to-water heat pump total incentive amounts, visit Efficiency Vermont for the joint VEC-Efficiency Vermont incentive amounts at https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/rebates/list/heat-pump-heating-cooling-system; VEC members can apply for a $150 VEC bill credit if the unit is installed in a building that meets thermal efficiency criteria.
• Pellet stoves: For qualifying pellet stoves, a bill credit of $150, plus another $150 if the unit is installed in a building that meets thermal efficiency criteria.
• Heat pump water heaters: For qualifying heat pump water heaters, a bill credit of $250.
• Electric Vehicles: For plug-in electric vehicles, a bill credit of $250 for purchases (new or used) and $50/year for leases; for all-electric vehicles, a bill credit of $500 for purchases (new or used) and $100/year for leases.
• Electric vehicle charging equipment: For home Level II chargers, $250 (with additional $50 incentive if members allow VEC to communicate with the charger); and for publicly-available charging stations, $500 per connection.
• Other machinery: For residential lawn mowers, $50; and for commercial-scale mowers and electric forklifts, $1,000.
• Modular Homes: For a Zero Energy Modular Home, $500
• Custom opportunities: VEC's Clean Air Program (CAP) can help replace fossil fuel usage, and reduce carbon emissions, through electric service upgrades or line-extensions. Each project is customized to meet the needs of the member and the co-op. Contact VEC if you think you might have a suitable project for the CAP program.

Brown noted that VEC’s bill credit program benefits the entire co-op membership – not just those who take advantage of the program - because the incentives pay for themselves through additional electric sales.

Over the past three years, VEC has exceeded its goals for the incentive initiative, known as the Energy Transformation Program, and helped eliminate the consumption of over five million gallons of fossil fuel. That’s the equivalent of taking over 14,000 cars off the road for one year.

Some of the VEC incentives are in addition to other qualified incentives or rebates, including Efficiency Vermont incentives and new statewide electric vehicle incentives, as well as potential tax incentives.

Learn more about these opportunities on VEC's Energy Transformation incentives page or by calling 1-800-832-2667.