Lighting Incentives for Business
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Who will perform the work under these programs?
A1. FirstEnergy has contracted with SAIC to provide commercial and industrial program delivery. Energy audits and equipment installations may be performed by contractors who are not employed by or affiliated with SAIC or FirstEnergy.
Q2. Am I eligible for the FirstEnergy’s Standard Lighting Incentives for Business program?
A2. The program is available to existing non-residential retail customers of FirstEnergy’s Pennsylvania utilities – Met-Ed, Penelec and Penn Power.
New construction projects and new additions to existing buildings that increase a facility’s footprint are not eligible for incentives through this program, but are eligible through the Non-Standard Lighting Incentives for Business program and the Custom Incentives for Business program. Federal government facilities and residential customers may be eligible for separate programs.
Q3. The forms and Web site say “To qualify, equipment … must be installed by March 31, 2010.” My project will not be complete by then. Can I still participate?
A3. Yes, projects completed after March 31, 2010 are eligible if you submit an application to the program for approval before the equipment is purchased. When the application is approved, you will receive an approval letter. The pre-approval process is expected to take approximately one to two weeks.
Q4. What are the terms and conditions of the program?
A4. Please refer to the application form for the program terms and conditions. You may contact a program representative at any time for clarification or with questions at 1-866-554-4430 or by sending an email to energysavePA@saic.com.
Q5. When I calculate my incentive for the Standard Lighting Incentives for Business program, my total incentive is greater than the $13,000 limit per application. How can I take full advantage of my efficient equipment purchases?
A5. If your Standard Lighting Incentive amount is greater than $13,000, you can apply for the Non-Standard Lighting Incentives for Business program. The Non-Standard Lighting application form and calculator tool are available on the program Web site, www.energysavePA.com.
Q6. Is pre-approval of my proposed equipment required prior to purchase and installation?
A6. Yes. Lighting projects requesting more than $3,000 in incentives and completed (installed) after March 31, 2010 require pre-approval. Pre-approval is recommended for all projects, to ensure the equipment meets program requirements and is eligible for incentives.
Q7. What documentation must be submitted with my application?
A7. A complete application package includes a completed application form listing the quantities of qualifying equipment included in your project with participant’s signature and manufacturer’s specifications (cut sheets) for each equipment type to verify that the proposed equipment meets the program requirements and is eligible for incentives. The relevant efficiency levels should be clearly indicated on the specification sheets. Please circle and/or highlight the information for each type of equipment.
If your project does not require pre-approval (i.e., project is installed before March 31, 2010 and/or you are requesting an incentive of $3,000 or less), be sure to include dated proofs of purchase.
Q8. How long do I have to install the equipment after pre-approval?
A8. Applicants will generally have six months (see Installation Schedule Requirements in the program terms and conditions) to complete the installation from the pre-approval date. However, if installation schedules are delayed, please contact your program representative in writing, via email or by mail, to request a project extension.
Q9. What if different equipment was substituted after pre-approval?
A9. It is understood that project scope often changes during installation. It is recommended that you contact your program representative promptly if changes occur after pre-approval.
If the installed equipment meets the program requirements, the incentive will be paid. If the installed equipment does not meet the program requirements, no incentive will be paid. Final incentive payment will be based on the “as built” documentation provided with the final application.
Q10. What if my project includes an efficient lighting technology that is not on the Standard Lighting Incentive forms?
A10. You may use the Non-Standard Lighting Program.
Q11. What if my project is chosen for an on-site inspection? What will this include?
A11. A random sample of project sites will be surveyed by program staff to verify pre- and/or post-installation conditions or to verify documentation prior to incentive payment. Any equipment on the final application form that qualifies for incentive payment may be subject to on-site inspection. Typically, these site visits include visual inspection of the qualifying equipment, including lighting fixture counts and confirmation of nameplate data, etc.
As described in the program terms and conditions, the participant is asked to provide reasonable access to the facility, the qualifying equipment, and related documentation and data. Every effort will be made by the program staff to schedule these surveys at a mutually convenient time to avoid a delaying incentive processing.
Q12. Will the incentive be paid to the contractor or the customer?
A12. Payment will be made to the participant listed on the application unless a third party payment is authorized. A participant may elect to assign their program incentive to a third party by filling out and signing the Authorization for Incentive Payment to Third Party section of the program application form. Please see the Standard Lighting Incentives for Business program application form for details.
Q13. Are there tax implications associated with receipt of program incentives?
A13. Consult your tax advisor. Incentives received by the participant may be taxable by federal, state or local government. Participants are responsible for declaring and paying any taxes that may be due.
Q14. Do churches qualify for the incentive program?
A14. Yes. The program is open to all commercial and industrial retail customers of FirstEnergy’s Pennsylvania utility companies. To apply for incentives, participants must supply their Met-Ed, Penelec or Penn Power account number.
Q15. Can a single account number have multiple applications?
A15. Yes, a single account number can have multiple applications in a single program or multiple applications across several different business programs.
Q16. What determines which lighting program – Standard or Non-Standard – my project qualifies for?
A16. The participant may choose the lighting program that is most beneficial and best fits their project.
The Standard Lighting program is intended to serve smaller lighting retrofit projects that use common technologies and typically save less than 20 kW. No energy calculations are required to submit a Standard Lighting application – this is performed by the program staff.
The Non-Standard Lighting program serves larger lighting projects that typically save greater than 20 kW and is open to all lighting technologies. However, participants must submit detailed energy savings calculations for their project using the FirstEnergy Non-Standard Lighting Calculator spreadsheet. This spreadsheet, along with the application form, can be found on the business program Web site – www.energysavePA.com
Q17. What is the timeline for future programs?
A17. Additional programs are under development and are targeted to be launched in the first half of 2010.
Q18. What is the approximate turnaround time for application preapproval and expected time frame for receiving incentives after project completion?
A18. Project preapproval is estimated to take one to two weeks after the application is received by the program. Once a project is installed and a complete application package with proof-of-purchase is received by the program, a check should be issued within approximately 90 days.
Q19. With regard to the Standard Lighting Incentives application, what is the difference between the linear fluorescent line items (LFL) and the relamp-reballast (RLRB) line items?
A19. The linear fluorescent line items are intended for projects that include complete replacement of entire fluorescent fixtures, while the relamp-reballast line items are for projects that involve replacement of only ballast and lamps.
Q20. My company is interested in learning about FirstEnergy’s business programs. How can I be notified about program launches, new incentive offerings, application forms, etc.?
A20. Please send your company information to energysavePA@saic.com and indicate that you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive program updates.
Q21. Why is the ballast factor requirement for Super T8 lamps a maximum of 0.78 (T5s and T8s have minimum requirements)?
A21. Super T8 fixtures can generate a light output comparable to other lighting technologies using significantly less energy. To ensure that less energy is consumed and that energy savings are realized, the program requires the fixtures to have a ballast factor of 0.78 or lower.
Q22. Why are LEDs not included in the Standard Lighting program?
A22. At this time, only LED exit signs are supported by the Standard Lighting program. However other LED fixtures are eligible for incentives through the Non-Standard Lighting program.
Q23. How much can the program reduce the project cost and/or shorten the payback period of an energy efficiency project?
A23. The program incentives are clearly indicated on the application forms and are limited to the total equipment cost for the project.
Q24. How do I determine if a certain lighting product or technology qualifies for this program?
A24. The Non-Standard Lighting Incentives for Business program is designed to support equipment and controls that can save energy (kWh) and/or reduce demand (kW). Incentives are based on connected watts saved, regardless of what lighting products or technologies are used.
Q25: Is there a limit on the amount we can receive for a non-standard lighting project?
A25. There is no per application incentive limit for the Non-Standard Lighting Incentives for Business program.
Q26. How do I calculate the watts saved on my project?
A26. Summation of the values in Column P of the FirstEnergy Non-Standard Lighting Calculator spreadsheet will give you total kW saved. The total kW multiplied by 1,000 watts/kW yields the total watts saved. Finally, multiply the watts saved by $0.65/W to determine your incentive.
Q27. My project is anticipated to take many months (or multiple phases) to complete. Do I need to complete more than one application?
A27. For large, multi-phase projects, participant may submit more than one application. All incentives are issued on a first-come first-served basis. The project approval letter defines terms for incentive payment and a commitment expiration date unless an extension is granted by the program manager.
Preapproval is required for all NonStandard Lighting projects to be completed (installed) after March 31, 2010.
Q28. Are non-standard lighting projects more likely to be audited than standard lighting projects?
A28. Yes. A greater number of non-standard lighting projects will undergo on-site verification by program staff than standard lighting projects.
Non-standard lighting projects are typically larger and involve a more complex mix of technologies and controls than standard lighting projects, making them more difficult to verify with only submitted documentation.
Q29. How does the pre-approval process work for non-standard lighting projects?
A29. The preapproval process for a non-standard lighting project is nearly identical to the preapproval process for a standard lighting project.
Participants should submit a complete application package that includes a completed and signed application form, a completed FirstEnergy Non-Standard Lighting program calculator spreadsheet and equipment specification cut sheets to verify the energy use of the proposed equipment.
Program staff conducts a technical review of the application package and, if needed, contacts the participant with any questions. Upon completion of technical review, the participant is issued a preapproval letter. Upon receipt of the preapproval letter, the participant may purchase and install their energy efficient equipment.