Rural Electric Cooperatives

Rebates

Many of New Mexico’s Rural Electric Co-ops receive their electricity and energy efficiency rebates from Tri-State.  This list of rebates for their residential and commercial customers comes from the Socorro Electric Co-op website, but other NM co-ops may have similar rebates. Check with your co-op before you make purchases and begin your project.

 

 

 

 

  • Energy Audits for commercial, industrial and agricultural producers
  • $100 Electric-to-Induction cooktop/range 30″+
  • $350 Gas-to-Induction replacement or new construction
  • 25% of cost up to $1,000 Electric riding mower
  • 25% of cost up to $150 Electric snow blower, mower and bicycles
  • 25% of cost up to $100 Electric chainsaw; up to $50 for Electric trimmers, prunes, leaf blowers and power-washers
  • Air Source Heat Pump 1 ton equals 12,000 Btu. T1 ton for the first 1,000 square feet, and then add an extra ton for every additional 500 square feet
    • Tier 1 Efficient HP; Required HSPF >= 9.0 and SEER >= 15 or, HSPF2 >= 7.8 and SEER2 >=15.2
      • <= 2 tons [Small house < 2,000sq ft]= $675 (not to exceed 50% equipment cost)
      • > 2 tons = $1800 (not to exceed 50% equipment cost)
    • Tier 2 – Cold-Climate Certified Air Source Heat Pump; HSPF >= 10.0 and SEER >= 16 or, HSPF2 >= 8.1 and SEER2 >= 15.2; variable speed compressor or a minimum of 3 stages (settings for fan speed)
      • <= 2 tons = $1000 (not to exceed 50% equipment cost)
      • > 2 tons = $2400 (not to exceed 50% equipment cost)
    • Air Source Heat Pump Install up to $250/install for contractor
  • Ground Source Heat Pump
    • $500 per ton for new systems
    •  $250 per ton for replacement systems
    •  $100 per unit for ground source heat pump powered hot water (a.k.a. desuperheater)
  • Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment
    • Residential Level 2: 50% of equipment and installation costs up to $500

Central New Mexico Electric Co-op

Central Valley Electric
   home energy audit
Columbus Electric
-Air-Source Heat Pump, Ground-Source Heat Pump, Whole House Fans, Split System Air Conditioners, Induction Cooktops, Smart Thermostat, Heat Pump Dryers, Heat Pump Water Heaters, Outdoor Equipment etc.
Continental Divide
(no rebates)
Jemez Mountains Electric Co-op

Mora-San Miguel Electric

Northern Río Arriba Electric energy audit   appliance center   electrical thermal storage  (time of use rates)
Otero County Electric
  $500 for HPWH. $500/indoor mini split unit, windows, lighting, thermostats, air-source heat pumps, outdoor power equipment, free home energy audit, free EV charger provided by OCEC,  and more
Sierra Electric
 rebates for: HP Clothes Dryer, LEDs, air-source and ground-source heat pumps, electrical thermal storage, EV chargers, outdoor electric equipment, induction cooktops, Smart Thermostats and Whole House Fans and more.
Southwestern Electric
   weatherization    EV charger
Springer Electric
Other Co-ops

Farmers
Central Valley Electric Cooperative– heat pumps
Lea County Electric Co-operative
– Energy Audit, Loans for Weatherization and Heat Pumps, test drive LCEC’s new Chevy Bolt!Roosevelt Electric Cooperative – Residential Level 2 EV charger, offers 3% Energy Efficiency Loans to members

Rural Electric Co-ops and Solar

Most of New Mexico’s Co-ops obtain their electricity from Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, which limits the amount of power that individual distribution co-ops can generate themselves to 5%. This is why most co-ops discourage their members from putting solar on their roofs. Tri-State is expanding its renewable portfolio (mostly in Colorado) as it shuts down some coal plants (such as Escalante in New Mexico) and argues that its utility-scale solar will be cheaper than if New Mexico co-ops buy out their contracts with Tri-State and produce their own solar energy or buy renewable electricity from another supplier such as Kit Carson Electric Co-op has done.

Co-ops in other states including Colorado’s United Power, which accounts for 20% of Tri-State’s market, have signaled their intent to buy out their contracts. The exit fee cost is up before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

According to Solar United Neighbors, many co-op members do not realize that they own their co-op and decisions are left to traditionally very conservative boards who are happy to “rely on centrally-generated coal-fired power and have little interest in distributed renewable energy.” Their report offers a guide to show what members can do to boost solar.

US Cooperative Solar generation and distribution Map.

    Kit Carson Electric Cooperative