Thank you for visiting the Business Energy Services Team
(B.E.S.T.) web page!
The
Business Energy Services Team (B.E.S.T.) Program, funded by California ratepayers
under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), is designed
to promote the installation of energy efficient lighting and other measures for
small commercial and industrial businesses. The program covers the San Diego
Gas & Electric service territory, City of Oakland Pacific Gas &
Electric customers, and City of Long Beach Southern California Edison
customers. Click on a selection below to find out more about the B.E.S.T.
Program.
Update on Funding Levels (as of
January 26, 2004)
Program Process – for the customer
Program Process – for the contractor
XENERGY
Inc., in partnership with San Diego Regional Energy Office, City of Oakland,
and City of Long Beach, are offering a B.E.S.T. Program to small nonresidential
customers.
Funds will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The program started November 1,
2002 and is targeted to run through December 31, 2003, unless funds are allocated
before that date. All projects must be installed by March 31, 2004 to receive
incentives.
The program
provides incentives for implementation of cost-effective high-efficiency
lighting, HVAC, and customized measures such as controls and window film. Incentives
averaging 75% of the cost for the installation of approved measures are
provided directly to the contractor, once the installation has been verified as
completed per the Contractor Agreement.
The
City of Oakland B.E.S.T program has received additional funding and deadlines
have been extended. All projects for
the City of Oakland must be committed (signed Participation Agreements) by
March 31st and installations must be completed by June 1st, 2004. San Diego and Long Beach are currently
closed to new applications.
Update on Funding Levels
|
Program |
% Funds
Committed |
|
SDREO |
100.0% |
|
Oakland |
69.9% |
|
Long Beach |
100.0% |
Oakland Energy Partnership B.E.S.T. Program
Located
within the City boundaries of Oakland
·
Pacific
Gas & Electric non-residential customers with:
o
Maximum
electricity demand less than 100 kW.
San Diego Regional Energy Office and City of Long Beach
B.E.S.T. are CURRENTLY CLOSED TO NEW APPLICATIONS.
San Diego Regional Energy Office B.E.S.T. Program
All
San Diego Gas & Electric non-residential customers with:
·
Annual
maximum electricity demand between 20 –100 kW.
·
Schedule
A rate customers are not eligible.
City of Long Beach B.E.S.T. Program
Located
within the City boundaries of Long Beach
·
Southern
California Edison non-residential customers with:
o
Maximum
electricity demand less than 100 kW.
To
determine if the customer falls within the electricity demand requirements
without seeing the utility bill history, we have some rules of thumb values
based on the average kW per square foot (sf) by business type. Calculations
were made assuming 3,000 hours of full load operation. When using these
numbers, please make sure that you are aware that some assumptions may not be
valid for the facility in question.
XENERGY will check to verify customer’s eligibility. These rules of thumb simply provide a rough
estimate of the square footage that typically may be eligible.
Table 1
Square Footage Rules of Thumb
|
|
kW/sf |
Therms/sf |
SDREO B.E.S.T. 20 kW –100 kW Typical sf |
Oakland and Long Beach <100 kW Typical sf |
|
College |
0.005 |
0.49 |
4,000 – 20,000 |
< 20,000 |
|
Hospital |
0.017 |
0.88 |
1,176 – 5,880 |
<5,880 |
|
Hotel |
0.005 |
0.48 |
4,000 – 20,000 |
<20,000 |
|
Large Office |
0.009 |
1.17 |
2,222 – 11,110 |
<11,110 |
|
Retail |
0.004 |
0.26 |
5,000 – 25,000 |
<25,000 |
|
School |
0.003 |
0.66 |
666 – 33,335 |
<33,335 |
|
Small Office |
0.005 |
0.21 |
4,000 – 20,000 |
<20,000 |
|
Average/Other |
0.007 |
0.59 |
2860 – 14,285 |
<14,285 |
Program Benefits
·
No-cost
energy assessment to:
o
Identify
potential energy-saving equipment opportunities
o
Determine
the amount of project costs
o
Determine
rebate level
·
Installation
of identified opportunities
·
Energy
bill cost reductions.
·
Lighting
efficiency retrofits (e.g., T-8s and electronic ballasts, day-lighting,
occupancy sensors, and compact fluorescent lamps)
·
Programmable
controls or energy management systems
·
Window
film to reduce solar heat gains
·
Outside
air controls to help reduce heating and cooling needs
·
Custom
measures that can produce savings at a specific facility.
·
Eligible
projects may not be part of new construction, additions or expansion, first
tenant improvement, or change in building function (for example, changing a
facility from a grocery store to a gym).
The maximum
rebate level is capped at 100% of total project costs.
Project
costs are determined from standard costs. XENERGY has developed a set of standardized
measure costs derived from contractors input to expedite the approval process.
However, participants can opt out of the standardized pricing option by
submitting an alternative plan for review prior to the issuance of the Proposal
and Participation Agreement.
|
Measure Type |
Maximum Rebate Amount |
|
Screw-In CFL |
$250 / kW* |
|
Hardwired CFL |
$750 / kW* |
|
All other lighting
retrofits |
$750 / kW* |
|
Occupancy Sensors |
$250 / controlled kW |
|
Programmable Thermostat |
$15 / cooling ton |
|
Window Film |
$2.50 / sq ft of film |
|
Economizer Control |
$75 / cooling ton |
|
Custom Electric |
$0.20 per annual kWh saved |
|
Custom Gas |
$1 per annual therm saved |
*kW saved is connected kW (i.e.,
not peak demand kW)
The following
table illustrates the steps that occur during program participation.
Program
applicants will pay the contractor for their portion of the installation costs.
The program has a list of approved contractors.
Approved contractors use standard proposal and standardized measure costs to simplify
the approval process for a rebate.
|
Our Project Team |
Your Business |
|
Step 1 – Program Overview and Facility Survey |
|
|
Ø
Our representative or contractor will provide
a short overview and conduct a quick assessment of your facility. |
Ø
You sign an Access Agreement that
simply gives us permission to conduct the survey. Ø
You provide a copy of your recent
utility bill so we may expedite eligibility verification. |
|
Step 2 – Project Proposal and Participation Agreement |
|
|
Ø
We provide you with a detailed Project
Proposal that includes expected savings, project costs, payback period and
the incentive amount we’ll pay. |
Ø
You review the Project Proposal and
sign if you wish to proceed with the project. |
|
Step 3 – Eligibility Confirmation |
|
|
Ø We will obtain information you’re your utility that confirms your
eligibility. |
Ø
In some cases, you may need to sign an Authorization
Form to Obtain Billing History. |
|
Step 4 – Pre-Installation Inspection |
|
|
Ø We conduct a final check to ensure that all proposed measures are
feasible and appropriate. |
Ø
No action required. |
|
Step 5 – Measure Installation and Project Completion Form |
|
|
Ø
The contractor will contact you to schedule
the installation. Ø Once the work is complete, the contractor will provide you with a
Project Completion Form for signature. |
Ø
In most cases, the measures can be
installed with little or no business interruption. Ø
You sign the Project Completion Form
to confirm that work has been completed to your satisfaction |
|
Step 6 – Post-Installation Inspection |
|
|
Ø
We verify
that all measures were correctly installed. |
Ø
No action required. |
|
Step 7 – Final Project Notification |
|
|
Ø
We notify you
and the contractor that the project passed the inspection and provide a
summary of final project costs, incentive payment and the amount you owe the
contractor. |
Ø
You notify us only if the Final Project
Notification is incorrect. Ø
You receive an invoice from the
contractor for only your portion of the project cost. |
The
following table indicates the contractor’s role in the Program process. The Contractor
will be expected to complete each step in a timely manner. There are two ways
that Contractors can be assigned projects under this Program. Contractors may solicit eligible businesses
on their own and/or be assigned projects by XENERGY.
Contractors are welcome and encouraged to solicit their own projects. XENERGY will provide general program overview training to inform Contractors of the program guidelines and procedures. XENERGY will also solicit projects directly and will assign those projects to pre-qualified contractors. In order to insure that Customers receive services that meet their unique needs, the Contractor selection process will use the following criteria: languages spoken and written, measures recommended in the proposal, proximity to the proposed project, contractor workload availability, and a Contractor performance indicator (from previous projects performed under this Program).
Being
an Approved Business Energy Services Team Program Contractor does not guarantee
any amount of work under the Program.
However, projects that are solicited and developed by a Contractor will
not be reassigned to another Business Energy Services Team Program Contractor
unless the developing Contractor does not comply with the program rules and the
terms of this agreement.
XENERGY has
developed a Web-based tool for Contractors to use to develop proposals, print
project forms, and track projects. Contractors are encouraged to use the Web
site to expedite and streamline their projects. XENERGY’s Web-based tool will
automatically incorporate the applicable standardized prices for each Proposal
and Participation Agreement.
Contractors who do not choose to use the Web site may work with XENERGY
to produce project proposals and track forms. XENERGY will track all projects
using the Web software.
XENERGY Initiated Projects
|
Contractor’s
Role |
XENERGY’s
Role |
|
Step 1 – Customer Site Visit,
Proposal, and Contractor Selection |
|
|
|
XENERGY performs an inspection of the Customer site, prepares a proposal,
and verifies that the Customer is eligible to participate. Customer approves
the proposal and Participation Agreement. XENERGY assigns a Contractor based
on the project needs and sends the Contractor a copy of the proposal. |
|
Step 2 – Contractor Acceptance of
Project |
|
|
Contractor
reviews proposal and, if agreeable, sets up a site visit to verify proposed
measures. If there are changes to the proposal, Contractor submits these to
XENERGY for review. |
XENERGY reviews changes and authorizes work if appropriate.
Authorization allows Contractor to print (or have XENERGY send out) a work
order. |
Contractor Initiated Projects
|
Contractor’s
Role |
XENERGY’s
Role |
|
Step 1 – Contractor Site Visit |
|
|
Contractor
visits Customer site; obtains signed Access Agreement from customer, and
proposes an implementation package that meets the needs of the Program.
Contractor provides the Customer with a Proposal form (from the Web or
through XENERGY). |
Provide Contractor with access to proposal tool on the web and/or
enter proposal details into XENERGY system to produce a Proposal and
Participation Agreement. |
|
Step 2 – Proposal Generation,
Customer Acceptance, and XENERGY Site Visit |
|
|
Contractor
notifies XENERGY once the Customer accepts and signs the Proposal. Contractor
collects Consent Form from Customer allowing XENERGY to obtain billing
history to confirm eligibility.
Contractor returns signed forms to XENERGY. |
XENERGY performs a site visit to verify proposal, validate
Customer’s eligibility for the program, and authorizes the project. XENERGY
notifies Contractor when Work Order is authorized. |
All Program Projects
Once a contractor has been assigned, all projects follow
this path.
|
Contractor’s Role |
XENERGY’s Role |
|
|
Step 3 – Create Work
Order |
|||
|
Contractor
prints out project work order (using the web or by getting a hard copy from
XENERGY). Contractor notes any changes required based on the site visit and
sends signed work order to XENERGY. |
XENERGY
authorizes contractor to proceed with installation. |
||
|
Step 4 – Installation and
Post Inspection |
|||
|
Contractor
schedules installation services according to Customer needs. Contractor
performs installation and sends a Project Completion Form signed by the
Contractor and the Customer to XENERGY. |
XENERGY
performs a post-inspection of the site to verify installation. Once approved,
XENERGY sends the Contractor a Project Notification Form that itemizes the
approved payment. |
||
|
Step 5 – Final Approval
Process |
|||
|
Contractor
and Customer have 14 days after the date on the Project Notification Form to
contest the project completion details. |
Once the
project is approved and the 14 day waiting period has passed, XENERGY will
request that a check be issued for the Contractor’s portion of the work.
Contractor will receive this check within 41 days from the project completion
date. |
||
|
Step 6 – Payment |
|||
|
Contractor
receives Program portion of costs directly from XENERGY or SDREO (SDG&E
customers). Contractor invoices customer for balance of the project cost. |
|
||
The
contractor will be paid the incentive directly. The customer is responsible for
paying the contractor for their portion of the project costs as stated in the
Participation Agreement.
Contractor
must provide XENERGY with their tax identification number (usually FEIN). This
is required for XENERGY to be able to do tax reporting when paying project
invoices.
Please
include on your invoices the following statement:
“Labor and materials for the energy efficiency retrofit was
partially paid for by a rebate from the Business Energy Services Team Program.”
Contact a
representative in your area for more information.
|
|
City of Oakland |
San Diego Area |
City of Long Beach |
|
Local |
510
– 285 - 4111 |
858
– 675 - 8041 |
|
|
Toll
Free |
|
800
– 576 - 6392 |
800
– 576 - 6405 |
|
Email |
oaklandbest@kema-xenergy.com |
sdreobest@kema-xenergy.com |
longbeachbest@kema-xenergy.com |
|
Fax |
510
– 891 - 0430 |
858
– 675 - 0904 |
510
– 891 - 0440 |