Helping You Save
Energy and Money

Incentives for Your Ag Operation

Prescriptive Irrigation

Earn An Incentive

when replacing all of a system’s existing outlet components

As an EnergyWise℠ partner, your local electric utility wants to help producers make the most of the energy needed for irrigating with all-electric systems. Participating utilities will provide a $500 incentive when producers replace all of a system’s existing outlet components such as sprinkler heads, sprayers, rotators, plates, pads and nozzles, and regulators on qualified systems.

Qualifications
  • To qualify, the system must be a minimum of four (4) sections in length with water supplied by an all-electric pumping system.
  • The majority of the system’s existing nozzles, sprayers or sprinkler heads must be at least five (5) years old. For verification, a copy of the pivot’s most-recent sprinkler/nozzle report (usually kept inside the pivot control panel) must be provided with a completed application and qualifying proof-of-purchase documentation.
  • Qualifying systems are only eligible for the EnergyWise℠ Prescriptive Irrigation Program once every five (5) years.
  • All applicable components identified on the sprinkler/nozzle report or chart (including sprinkler heads, sprayers, distribution plates, pads, rotators, nozzles, and regulators, if identified on the report/chart) must be replaced with new, permanently installed operational components before submitting application.
  • Qualifying proof-of-purchase documentation includes sales receipt(s), invoice(s), and professional irrigation equipment dealer/consultant statement (must itemize the new
  • components indicating the quantity, make, model and purchase date).
  • Requests for deviation from the components identified on the sprinkler/nozzle report require an explanation on the application signed by a professional irrigation equipment dealer/consultant and are subject to approval by the local participating utility.
Guidelines

The following guidelines will generally apply. Exceptions will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

  1. All existing outlet components such as sprinkler heads, sprayers, rotators, plates, pads and nozzles, and regulators on qualified center pivot or linear tower systems.
  2. Qualified center pivot or linear tower systems must be a minimum of four (4) sections in length with water supplied by an all-electric pumping system.
  3. The majority of the system’s existing nozzles, sprayers or sprinkler heads must be at least five (5) years old. For verification, a copy of the pivot’s most-recent sprinkler/nozzle report must be provided with a completed application and qualifying proof-of-purchase documentation. If a sprinkler/nozzle report is not available, a written statement from the irrigation equipment vendor stating the system has not been upgraded for at least five (5) years must be provided.
  4. All applicable components identified on the sprinkler/nozzle report or chart (including sprinkler heads, sprayers, distribution plates, pads, rotators, nozzles, and regulators, if identified on the report/chart) must be replaced with new, permanently installed operational components before submitting application.
  5. Qualifying proof-of-purchase documentation includes sales receipt(s), invoice(s), and professional irrigation equipment dealer/consultant statement itemizing the new components indicating the quantity, make, model and purchase date. A copy of new sprinkler/nozzle report (if produced) satisfies this requirement.
  6. Requests for deviation from the components identified on the sprinkler/nozzle report require an explanation on the application signed by a professional irrigation equipment dealer/consultant and are subject to approval by the local participating utility.
  7. A one-time incentive payment or account credit of $500 will be issued to the customer after the equipment is installed and all necessary completed program documentation as described above is submitted to the local utility for processing.
  8. Qualifying systems are only eligible for the EnergyWise℠ Prescriptive Irrigation Program once every five (5) years.
  9. Program is subject to the Terms and Conditions as outlined on the application and the General Guidelines.
Additional Information
Corner Pivot (VFD)

Earn An Incentive

when installing a VFD into your corner system

VFDs (also referred to as variable speed drives) can reduce output by controlling the motor speed (rpm) rather than having the motor work at a constant, almost full load only to have water flow throttled by the pivot itself. A VFD can reduce the amount of electricity (kilowatt-hours) you use in a season up to 30%. Every system is different so savings will vary.

While incorporating a VFD into your corner system will not likely reduce your connection, a demand or horsepower utility charges, it will save energy.

Additional benefits include:

  • Control of startup and shutdown procedures
  • Reduces motor burn outs
  • Prevents shaft breaks
  • Reduces wear on pumps, motors and regulators
  • Keeps pumps working at best efficiency
  • Reduces voltage drop on power lines at start up
  • Eliminates need for pump flow control valves in many instances
  • Controls pump to deliver accurate flows or constant pressures
  • Minimizes water hammer in pipelines due to controlled acceleration/deceleration
Additional Information
Custom Ag

Earn An Incentive

to reduce your investment costs

In Nebraska, the agricultural sector spends more than $250 million annually for electricity. While your local electric utility offers various EnergyWise℠ incentive programs to help offset the costs of energy efficiency improvements, some projects are unique and do not fit a particular prescriptive program. For these energy-saving opportunities, the Custom Agriculture Incentive Program was developed.

Potential products include, but not limited to:

Irrigation

  • Pump replacement or refurbishment
  • Upgrading to pivot or subsurface drip systems
  • Computer-based water management systems

Grain Conditioning

  • Aeration optimization hardware and software
  • Aeration fan upgrades

Animal Husbandry

  • Upgrade confinement ventilation
  • Upgrade supplemental electric heating systems
  • Dairy heat reclaimers
  • Upgrade electrically heated livestock watering systems

Buildings

  • Upgrade HVAC and/or ventilation systems
  • Insulate electrically space-conditioned structures

Incentives up to $0.01 per kWh saved over the rated life of the project may be available. If you don’t see your project listed above, contact your local utility to see if you might still qualify. Additional program terms and conditions apply.

 

Guidelines
  1. Available to agricultural producers and other agriculture-based customers of Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) and its wholesale utilities’ customers.
  2. Incentives are not available for Energy Efficiency improvements that qualify for other EnergyWise℠ incentive programs.
  3. All equipment associated with Energy Efficiency improvements must be new, installed and operational at the customer’s existing premise before an incentive can be issued.
  4. Customer must provide a complete description of existing process and the proposed changes along with an explanation of how energy savings will be achieved. In addition, customer must provide an initial detailed calculation of estimated energy savings including the annual hours of use, electric consumption (kWh) and electric demand (kW) prior to and after Energy Efficiency improvements are implemented.
  5. To qualify for an incentive, applications must be completed, submitted to the customer’s local electric utility and preapproved by a NPPD consultant utility before purchase or installation of Energy Efficiency improvements. The application will be returned to the customer after pre-approval is issued.
  6. To obtain an incentive after installation of Energy Efficiency improvements, the completed and signed application must be returned to the customer’s local electric utility along with proof of purchase that itemizes the new equipment indicating the type, make, model, size, and purchase date. In no case will the incentive exceed 50% of the invoiced Energy Efficiency improvement costs. Project costs less incentives will not reduce the simple payback from energy savings below a two-year period. Incentive values may be adjusted to meet cost and simple payback requirements.
  7. Program is subject to the Terms and Conditions as outlined on the application and the EnergyWise℠ General Guidelines for all Programs.
  8. Changes must be implemented and submitted for payment prior to the expiration date issued with preapproval.
Additional Information
Agriculture

Earn An Incentive

on top of the energy savings that heat mats achieve over heat lamps

The agricultural program provides incentives to farmers and ranchers for projects that improve the welfare of their animals and save energy. Contact your local electric utility for more details.

Guidelines

Customer must apply for an incentive within ninety (90) days of purchase date shown on the sales receipt.

Copy of sales receipts or invoices must accompany application.

Additional Information
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