Illinois Municipal Electric Agency
Applications for the IMEA Electric Efficiency Program for Commercial/Industrial and Public-Sector Projects

Click the link below to access the pre-application that is appropriate for your proposed electric efficiency project. The program, its requirements and its processes are described in the application.

  For more information, contact Rodd Whelpley (rwhelpley@imea.org or 217-789-4632).

About IMEA Electric Efficiency Program for Commercial/Industrial and Public-Sector Projects

GENERAL INFORMATION

Overview. This Electric Efficiency program is available to the membership (and members’ retail customers) of the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency (IMEA). It is administered and funded through IMEA. FY2017-18 of the program runs from May 1, 2017 through April 30, 2018. Funds are allocated to IMEA members based on a prorated share of their electric purchases from the IMEA. Commercial/ industrial and public-sector facilities served by members can apply for funds using this form from May 1, 2017 until this form is superseded by a subsequent revision or until the program ends.

The process for applying, completing and receiving incentives for electric efficiency projects is described by the flowing list:

Steps for Applying for and Earning an IMEA Electric Efficiency Incentive


1. Before you start the project or the application process, contact the program administrator to determine if funds are available for your project. Because each IMEA city has different amounts of funding and it sometimes is very quickly used, and also because all projects require pre-approval, it’s a good idea to contact the program administrator before making an application. E-mail or call Rodd Whelpley at rwhelpley@imea.org or at 217-789-4632.

2. Fill out the appropriate application. There are six types of applications for this program, depending on the measures the applicant wishes to install. (If an electric efficiency project at a specific facility encompasses more than one “family” of electric efficiency measures, then the applicant must divide the project into multiple projects by family and submit one project application per family of measures.) The “families” and their measures are as follows.

Application forms may be found at http://www.imea.org/EEProgram.aspx

A Complete Pre-Application Consists of:

3. Send the application to the program administrator who will forward it to the city for pre-approval. All projects require pre-approval. IMEA will review the pre-application and then send it to city officials for a decision on whether the project will be offered an incentive. City review of a custom project may take longer than for prescriptive projects.

4. IMEA (the program administrator) issues a Notice to Proceed to the applicant. Applicants hoping to receive and incentive should not start their project before they get a Notice to Proceed. The Notice to Proceed will earmark specific funding for the project and will outline the process for completing the project and making the final application for an incentive.

5. Applicant does the project. Some projects (especially custom projects) will require pre- and post-inspections. Applicants should refer to their Notice to Proceed for instructions and note any special requirements (e.g., pre- and post-inspections; before and after photo requirements; city permitting, etc.).

6. Applicant makes a final application. After the project is complete and the applicant has had a post-inspection (if required), the applicant makes a final application and sends it to the program administrator. Essentially, this is the same application as the pre-application but with revised (if needed) Watts saved figures and with copies of all paid invoices relating to the project instead of a project budget. The program administrator will likely offer ways to streamline the final application process for those projects that did not deviate from how they were described in the pre-application.

7. IMEA will review the final application and will send the incentive check to the applicant. After the final application is analyzed and found to be complete and acceptable, IMEA will issue the incentive payment to the applicant.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Eligible projects must be located in Illinois and receive electric service from the IMEA or an IMEA Member. Projects must produce electricity savings through efficiency improvements in commercial, industrial or public-sector buildings, equipment, or processes. Ineligible projects include repairs of existing equipment, fuel switching, new electric generation or those projects solely related to demand response or demand control (except as may be authorized as a custom project). Project paybacks must occur before the projected end of the equipment life.

Incentive Awards. The measure specific requirements found at the end of each application list the incentive levels for each measure. The total incentive cannot exceed 75 percent of the total project cost. IMEA reserves the right to review applications, withhold funding or negotiate incentive levels. Bid prices must be in line with current market conditions for similar projects/conditions.

Payment Schedule/Reporting and Project Monitoring. The Notice to Proceed (sent upon approval of the pre-application) will specify the conditions of payment and the payment schedule. Grantees will allow officials from the IMEA Member and IMEA officials access to their site to verify project issues. Energy savings numbers will be shared with IMEA (for public release unless specifically noted as confidential or proprietary).

Ownership/Use of Equipment. Equipment must remain in place for the lesser of five years or "useful life."

IMEA Not Liable. Grantee shall hold the IMEA Member and the IMEA harmless from any and all claims, demands, and actions based upon or arising out of any services performed by Grantee or by their agents or employees under a grant agreement.

Indemnity. The Grantee agrees to assume all risks of loss and to indemnify and hold the IMEA Member and the IMEA, their officers, agents and employees, harmless from and against any and all liabilities, demands, claims, damages, suits, costs, fees, and expenses, incidents thereto, for injuries or death to persons and for loss of, damage to, or destruction of property because of the Grantee's negligence, intentional acts or omissions. In the event of any demand or claim, the IMEA may elect to defend any such demand or claim against the IMEA and will be entitled to be paid by the Grantee for all costs and damages.

Term and Application. Applications under this program will be accepted on an ongoing basis, subject to funding availability. Applications shall be printed or typed on the current approved forms and/or worksheets. Applications must be complete (see the Pre-Application and Final Application checklists) to receive consideration.

Subject to a programmatic change enacted by the IMEA Board of Directors, approved projects will have reserved funds until April 30, 2018 or until a grant expiration date as noted on a project’s Notice to Proceed document. Final application, reflecting the measures and equipment actually installed, must be submitted within 45 days of project completion. Project documentation, such as copies of dated invoices for the purchase and installation of the measures and/or product specification sheets, is required.