UniSource Energy Services (UES)

Residential Incentive Program Information

UES' SunShare program offers incentives that help reduce the cost of residential PV arrays and solar water heaters.

Most residential customers take advantage of up-front incentives (UFIs), which provide a single payment based on a system’s rated capacity. Some systems are instead supported through performance-based incentives (PBIs), which are paid out over time based on actual energy production.

A surge in solar power system sales has depleted the $5.2 million that was available for SunShare UFI’s in 2010. An additional $400,000 was made available in August for residential incentives, but those resources have been exhausted as well. New requests for UFIs are being placed on a waiting list until additional funding becomes available.

The SunShare budget for 2011 has not yet been approved by the ACC.

Residential Solar Photovoltaic Systems

By reducing the cost of solar photovoltaic systems, these incentives make it easier to secure a source of clean renewable power that can reduce your monthly electric bills while improving our environment. Most residential systems are tied to UES' local distribution grid through a net meter that provides customers with credit for any excess energy their systems may produce.

Terms & Conditions:

Incentive: Funding for these incentives has been depleted for the remainder of 2010. New applications are being placed on a waiting list until additional funds become available. Incentive amounts for 2011 have not yet been set.

Customers whose applications were received before UES’ initial incentive budget was depleted were eligible for incentives of up to $3/Watt DC. The earliest applications received after that time were eligible for reduced incentives of up to $2/watt until $200,000 of newly available funding was consumed. After that, the remaining $200,000 in new incentive funding was distributed in amounts up to $1.75/watt until funds were depleted.

Incentives may vary depending on the system’s horizontal tilt angle and orientation, as those factors affect energy production. Residential systems up to 20 kW AC are eligible for this incentive.

To apply for a UES Residential Solar PV Incentive, visit http://uesaz.com/Green/home/Solar/electric.asp

Residential Solar Water/Space Heaters

Investing in a solar hot water system is a low-cost, high-impact way to harness the power of the sun. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a solar hot water system can reduce your water heating bills by an average of 50 to 80 percent. Solar space heating systems, while less common, provide a clean, emission-free alternative to gas furnaces or other space heating solutions. UES offers incentives that help reduce the up-front cost of both types of systems.

Terms & Conditions:

Incentive: $750 plus $0.25 per kWh of system rated performance, up to a maximum of $1,750. The incentive cannot exceed 60 percent of total system cost. To qualify for a UFI, systems must carry at least a 10-year manufacturer's warranty. Otherwise, the system would qualify for a PBI instead.

UES' 2010 funding for these incentives has been depleted. New applications are being placed on a waiting list until additional funds become available.

To apply for a UES Residential Solar Water/Space Heater Incentive, visit http://uesaz.com/Green/home/Solar/spaceheating.asp

Other Non-Solar, Residential Incentives

UES also provides incentives to reduce the up-front cost of residential wind turbines, geothermal space heating or cooling systems and other renewable power technologies. For more information about these incentives, visit http://uesaz.com/Green/Home/OtherTechnologies.asp.

Non-Residential Incentive Program Information

UES offers incentives to help non-residential customers invest in a wide variety of solar energy systems, including photovoltaic arrays, water heaters, daylighting systems and pool heaters. Depending on the size and type of system, UES provides either up-front incentives (UFIs), which are based on system capacity, or performance-based incentives (PBIs), which are paid out over time based on actual energy production.

UES’ $5.2 million budget for UFIs in 2010 has been depleted. An additional $400,000 made available in August also has been exhausted. New applications for these incentives are being placed on a waiting list until additional funds become available.

UES’ $780,000 budget for commercial PBIs in 2010 also has been exhausted. New applications are being placed on a waiting list.

The budget for 2011 has not yet been approved by the ACC.

Small and Large Scale Solar Photovoltaic Systems

By tapping Arizona's abundant sunshine, non-residential customers can generate significant savings while earning credibility with customers who appreciate environmental responsibility. UES' SunShare rebates can be combined with state and federal tax benefits to make PV systems much more affordable for businesses of any size.

Terms & Conditions:

Small Commercial UFIs
Systems with capacities up to 100kW are eligible for UFIs

Systems must have at least a 20-year manufacturer’s warranty to qualify for a UFI. UFIs cannot exceed 60 percent of the total system cost. Also, UES incentives in combination with all state and federal tax credits cannot exceed 85 percent of total system costs.

Large Commercial (PBIs)

Grid-tied systems with capacities that exceed 100 kW AC are eligible for PBIs paid out over a 10, 15 or 20-year-term. In exchange for these payments, customers sign a credit purchase agreement that assigns UES the Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) during the term of the contract. Projects are provided performance-based incentives through a competitive bid process.

2010 Incentive Payment Schedule

(1) UES’ 2010 funding for PBIs has been depleted. New applications are being placed on a waiting list until additional funds become available.

PBIs cannot exceed 60 percent of the total project cost. Also, UES incentives in combination with all state and federal tax credits cannot exceed 85 percent of total project costs.

For more information and/or to apply for an incentive, visit http://uesaz.com/Green/Business/Commercial.asp.

Commercial Solar Water/Space Heating Systems

Solar water heating systems offer a cost-effective way to tap the sun’s energy to provide your employees and customers with hot water. Solar space heating systems, while less common, provide a clean, emission-free alternative to gas furnaces or other space heating solutions. UES offers incentives that help reduce the up-front cost of both types of systems.

Terms & Conditions:

(1) UES' 2010 funding for these incentives has been depleted. New applications are being placed on a waiting list until additional funds become available.

PBIs cannot exceed 60 percent of the total project cost. Also, UES incentives in combination with all state and federal tax credits cannot exceed 85 percent of total project costs.

For more information and/or to apply for an incentive, visit http://uesaz.com/Green/Business/Solar/spaceheating.asp.

Solar Daylighting

Daylighting systems employ skylights to capture and redirect natural light to illuminate building interiors, sometimes in combination with artificial light managed by automatic controls. These systems can generate significant energy savings, and UES offers incentives to help reduce their up-front cost.

Terms & Conditions:

 

(1) UES' 2010 funding for these incentives has been depleted. New applications are being placed on a waiting list until additional funds become available.

For more information and/or to apply for an incentive, visit http://uesaz.com/Green/Business/daylighting.asp.

Commercial Solar Pool Heating Systems

Solar pool heaters can generate significant energy savings for hotels, gyms and other businesses that feature large swimming pools. UES offers PBIs that can help your business recover the cost of such a system over a 10, 15 or 20 year period.

Terms & Conditions:

(1) UES’ 2010 funding for PBIs has been depleted. New applications are being placed on a waiting list until additional funds become available.

PBIs cannot exceed 60 percent of the total project cost. Also, UES incentives in combination with all state and federal tax credits cannot exceed 85 percent of total project costs.

For more information and/or to apply for an incentive, visit http://uesaz.com/Green/Business/Solar/pools.asp.

Other Non-Solar, Non-Residential Incentive Programs

UES also provides commercial incentives to reduce the up-front cost of wind turbines, geothermal systems or other renewable power technologies. For more information about these programs, visit http://uesaz.com/Green/Home/OtherTechnologies.asp.