The E+ Irrigator Program helps irrigators become more energy efficient through technical assistance and financial incentives.
Eligibility: Customers who meet the following requirements are eligible for the program.
- You are a NorthWestern Energy Montana electric distribution customer.
- You are a designated irrigation customer, meaning that your electric power is billed at Irrigation Pumping and Sprinkling Service rates.
- If you are making improvements to an existing irrigation system, the system must have been in use during at least two of the past four years.
- You agree to permit NorthWestern Energy or its designated representative to review electricity consumption records for your irrigation system and inspect or test the system for 24 months after the installation is complete.
How to Participate in the Program: If you have designed an energy-saving irrigation project, you can submit a Customer Project Proposal through the Business Partners Program. If the proposed improvement is judged feasible and cost-effective, a financial incentive may be offered based on expected electric energy savings; funding is limited, however.
Submitting a proposal does not ensure funding. Proposals must be clearly presented. The following checklist will help you prepare your proposal if you plan to submit a proposal for funding.
- Provide your name, NorthWestern Energy Irrigation Account numbers, the name that appears on the accounts, mailing address, phone number, tax ID number, and the address where the irrigation service is located.
- Describe the project and why you believe it will save energy.
- Describe all hardware. Include both equipment to be replaced or modified as well as proposed new equipment, including brand names, sizes, and costs.
- Provide a budget for the project, including itemized hardware costs, design/engineering costs, and installation/modification costs Copies of itemized quotes and/or bids from suppliers/contractors should be submitted if available.
- Provide names, phone numbers, and addresses of system designers.
- Identify the expected energy savings per month and per year (kWh and kW demand). What is the basis for your estimate?
- If applicable, describe and quantify all benefits to you in addition to energy savings, such as increased crop production or reduced labor time.
- If applicable, describe benefits to other NorthWestern Energy customers or the general public, such as soil, water, fisheries, wildlife, or educational benefits.
- Are you pursuing or have you secured other sources of funding for the project? If so, which ones?
Once your proposal has been received and reviewed, additional information may be requested.
Project preapproval by NorthWestern Energy and a signed agreement is required prior to project implementation.
Contact: If you have questions, call us at (888) 700-6878 in Montana only and (406) 497-2322 if you are outside Montana.
More Energy Efficiency Programs: Download the brochure that explains all of the E+ program rebates and incentives that help our Montana customers better manage energy costs.
Funding Source
Funding for the E+ Irrigator Program is provided through NorthWestern Energy electric default supply rates for its default supply customers. Choice customer project funding is provided through NorthWestern Energy’s Universal System Benefits (USB) activities. Large USB Choice customers are not eligible to participate in this program.
Learn More About the Program
More information about our E+ Irrigator Program is outlined in the following downloadable files, including our program brochure, a simple method to estimate the efficiency of your pumping plant, an explanation of the demand charges (measured in killowatts, abbreviated kW) that appear on your bill if you are a large user of electricity, and the irrigation rates for demand and non-demand charges.
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