State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program (SEEARP)

Background

The State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program (SEEARP) was created under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The purpose of the program is to offer residential consumers rebates to purchase more energy efficient appliances. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the SEEARP program has received its first ever appropriation of $300 million nationally. New Hampshire has been allocated approximately $1.2 million to implement the program. To create a program that would work for New Hampshire, OEP met with a number of stakeholder groups to gain their insight on how the program could be implemented most effectively. These stakeholder groups included members from retailers, nonprofits, government agencies, electric utilities, renewable energy installers, HVAC distributors/wholesalers, and low-income advocates, among others.

Program Principles

Recovery Act Principles:

• Spur Economic growth and create jobs
• Save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Ensure transparency and accountability of Recover Act Funds

SEEARP Principles:

• Save energy by encouraging appliance replacement through consumer rebates
• Make rebates available to all consumers
• Enhance existing rebate programs by leveraging EnergySTAR national partner relationships and local program infrastructure
• Keep administrative costs low while adhering to monitoring and evaluation requirements
• Promote state and national tracking and accountability
• Use existing EnergySTAR consumer education and outreach materials

State Principles:

• Ensure the greatest level of energy savings
• Stimulate job growth
• Seed efforts for market transformation:
  • Increase the diversity of fuel sources for residential uses
  • Increase the installation of more energy efficient products within an appliance category
• Create a manageable program that is easy for consumers to understand and access
• Complement existing appliance rebate programs

Eligible Equipment

The SEEARP program for New Hampshire is focused on offering residential consumers rebates on the replacement of hot water heaters, boilers and furnaces to more energy efficient models. There are two components to the program, one focused on solar thermal systems and the other on fossil fuel based heating systems. Rebates will be available on a first come first serve basis and will not be available on prior purchases.

Solar Thermal Systems:

OEP intends to contract with the Public Utilities Commission's Sustainable Energy Division to administer a residential rebate program for solar thermal systems. The SEEARP program plans to offer an additional $750 rebate on top of existing federal incentives and planned state rebates. We anticipate that when all of these incentives are leveraged with each other, consumers can anticipate receiving a total rebate that will cover upwards of 40%-50% of the cost of the system.

More information on what products are eligible and how you can apply for the rebate will be available in early 2010.

Fossil Fuel Based Heating Systems:

OEP intends to contract with the electric utility companies to administer a residential rebate program on EnergySTAR certified hot water heaters, boilers and furnaces. The program plans to extend the rebates available under the Home Performance with EnergySTAR to all New Hampshire residents, including municipal utility ratepayers. Rebates will vary between $100 - $1,000 depending upon the energy efficiency rating of the heating system.

More information on what products are eligible and how you can apply for the rebate will be available in early 2010.

Household appliances such as clothes washers and air conditioners are not included under the New Hampshire SEEARP program and instead will continue to be offered through the electric utility EnergySTAR Appliance Rebate Program.

Application Process:

The NH Office of Energy and Planning received federal guidelines from the US Department of Energy (DOE) on July 14, 2009. OEP submitted its initial application on August 15th, 2009 and its comprehensive application on October 14th, 2009.

OEP anticipates hearing of the proposals approval from DOE by the end of 2009 and anticipates the program to begin being offered to residents in early 2010.

Additional Information:

For more information on the SEEARP program, please refer to the following Web sites:

• US Dept. of Energy- State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program
• Public Utilities Commission- Sustainable Energy Division
• CORE Electric Utility Programs
• NHsaves.com
• EnergySTAR Appliances

• 10/15/09 Press Release

Contact Us:

For more information about the State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, please contact Kate Vattes (271-0598).

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