Rebates

Black Hills Energy offers cash rebates to residential customers who purchase and install energy efficient equipment in their homes. For more information on specific rebates, program terms and guidelines, and to access application forms, visit the program website or contact the utility directly.

Much of the information presented in this summary is drawn from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Building Energy Codes Program and the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP). For more detailed information about building energy codes, visit the DOE and BCAP websites.

A mandatory energy code is not enforced at the state level. If a local energy code is adopted, it is enforced at the local level. Builders or sellers of new residential buildings (single-family or multifamily residential of four units or less) are required to provide a disclosure form with information regarding the energy efficiency of the building.

Currently

CEC members who generate their own electricity using solar, wind, fuel cells, or hydroelectric power may interconnect with CEC’s electric grid by entering into a Net Metering Agreement with CEC. Net Metering means that the Customer-generator will only be billed for the difference in what the customer uses and what they generate during a billing month. The agreement is a formal contract that spells out the responsibilities of Customer-generator and CEC when customers wish to send electricity back onto CEC’s grid.

The Heartland Consumers Power District “Power Forward” program offers grants, incentives, and energy-efficiency information for participating municipal utilities and their customers.

In March 2008, South Dakota enacted legislation mandating the use of high-performance building standards in new state construction and renovations. The law was updated in 2021, lessening the previous standards and removing the requirements for renovations. The policy now requires that new state buildings achieve the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED certified rating (decreased from silver rating), a two-globe rating under the Green Building Initiative's (GBI) Green Globe rating system, or a comparable numeric rating from another accredited sustainable building certification program. The law applies to all new construction projects by state agencies, departments, or institutions that has a cost

South Dakota’s interconnection standards for distributed generation, adopted by the state Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in May 2009, apply to customers of investor-owned utilities.* The rules provide for four levels of interconnection for systems up to 10 megawatts (MW) in capacity:

• Tier 1 applies to inverter-based systems up to 10 kilowatts (kW) in capacity that use lab-tested equipment.
  
• Tier 2 applies to systems up to 2 MW in capacity that use lab-tested equipment.
• Tier 3 applies to systems up to 2 MW in capacity that do not export electricity.
• Tier 4 applies to systems up to 10 MW in capacity

In South Dakota, wind facilities constructed after July 1, 2007 and solar facilities, are subject to an alternative taxation calculation in lieu of all taxes on real and personal property levied by the state, counties, municipalities, school districts, and other political subdivisions. The definitions of "wind farm" and "solar facility" include only facilities producing electricity for commercial sale that have a minimum capacity of 5 megawatts (MW). All property used or constructed to interconnect individual wind turbines or solar panels within a renewable energy facility into a common project, termed the "collector system," is eligible for the exemption and alternative

MidAmerican Energy offers a variety of incentives for residential customers to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Eligible customers are eligible for rebates on water heaters, air conditioners, air-source heat pumps and room ac units. Customers should see the equipment brochure for more rebate information and equipment requirements, or visit the web site below and choose their state under the Energy Efficiency tab. All equipment must meet full program requirements.

Funding for the year 2018 is depleted and MidAmerican Energy has suspended the 2018 electric and natural gas residential equipment programs.

MidAmerican Energy offers a variety of incentives for residential customers to improve the energy efficiency of homes. Eligible customers are eligible for rebates on furnaces, furnace fan motors, boilers, water heaters, air conditioners, air-source heat pumps, geothermal heat pumps and insulation. Customers should see the equipment brochure for more rebate information and equipment requirements, or visit the web site below and choose their state under the Energy Efficiency tab.

Funding for the year 2018 is depleted and MidAmerican Energy has suspended the 2018 electric and natural gas residential equipment programs.

Missouri River Energy Services offers Bright Energy Solutions, a unique portfolio of energy efficiency cash-incentive programs that will help residential and business customers reduce their electric energy costs and operate more efficiently.

Montana-Dakota Utilities (MDU) offers rebates to customers who install energy efficient natural gas equipment in new construction. New furnaces and water heaters are eligible for incentives through this offering. All new eligible homes with qualifying furnaces will receive a $300 rebate. See equipment requirements listed above for eligibility or visit program web site. MDU issues rebate payments in the form of a check, not a utility bill credit.

Application forms must be fully completed with equipment information such as invoice or receipt, brand, model number, serial number, installation date and dealer information. Equipment must be installed during the same program

Montana-Dakota Utilities (MDU) offers several residential rebates on energy efficient measures and natural gas equipment. New furnaces and programmable thermostats are eligible for a rebate incentive if the equipment meets program efficiency standards. New furnaces must have Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) at least 95% or greater. The rebate program is available to natural gas customers for existing home natural gas furnace replacement, fuel conversion and new home construction customers. Home builders are eligible to receive a maximum of 25 natural gas heating incentives on a calendar year basis.

 MDU issues rebate payments in the form of a check, not

NorthWestern Energy offers incentives to residential customers in South Dakota through their Efficiency Plus (E+) program. Incentives are offered for installing energy efficient equipment in eligible homes. Rebates are available for NorthWestern Energy existing residential electric heating customers. Rebate categories include high efficiency lighting, air conditioning equipment, insulation, appliances, and more specialized measures.

All installments must meet certain energy efficiency standards to qualify. Receipts must be turned in with the program application in order to qualify for the rebate.  Visit the program web site for more information and specific equipment requirements.

NorthWestern Energy offers incentives to Residential customers in South Dakota through their Efficiency Plus (E+) program. Incentives are offered for installing energy efficient equipment in eligible homes, and are available for NorthWestern Energy existing residential gas heating customers. Rebate categories include high efficiency heating equipment and insulation

All installments must meet certain energy efficiency standards to qualify. Receipts must be turned in with the program application in order to qualify for the rebate.  Other rebates for new construction are available. Visit the program web site for more information and specific equipment requirements.

Otter Tail Power Company offers incentives to all residential customers in South Dakota to install energy efficient equipment in residences. Rebates are available for geothermal and air source heat pumps and electric water heaters, as well as a variety of other efficient products. 

South Dakota allows for a reinvestment payment up to the total amount of sales and use taxes paid for certain new or expanded renewable energy systems, equipment upgrades to existing systems, and manufacturing facilities that produce renewable energy equipment. S.B. 235 (2013) referred specifically to wind energy facilities, but also allows for "power generation facilities" and facilities defined by the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) as targeted industries. Based on that authority, the GOED chose to extend this incentive to other types of renewable energy. 

To qualify, the project costs associated with a new or expanded facility must exceed

In March 2010, South Dakota established a new property tax incentive that replaced two existing property tax incentives for renewable energy. Facilities that generate electricity using wind, solar, hydro, hydrogen generated by another eligible resource, or biomass resources are eligible for this incentive, as are facilities that generate other forms of energy using solar or geothermal resources.

For eligible facilities less than 5 megawatts (MW) in capacity, all real property used or constructed for the purpose of producing electricity is assessed in the same manner as other real property. However, the first $50,000 or 70% of the assessed value of

In February 2008, South Dakota enacted legislation (H.B. 1123) establishing an objective that 10% of all retail electricity sales in the state be obtained from renewable and recycled energy by 2015. In March 2009, this policy was modified by allowing “conserved energy” to meet the objective. The objective applies to all retail providers of electricity in the state. However, as a voluntary objective (as opposed to a mandatory standard), there are no penalties or sanctions for retail providers that fail to meet the goal. Final rules related to renewable energy certificates (RECs), energy conservation measurements, and reporting requirements

Bright Energy Solutions offers energy efficiency cash incentive programs to residential customers of municipal utilities that are members of Missouri River Energy Services. In South Dakota, this includes: 

• Beresford Municipal Utilities
• Big Stone City Municipal Utilities
• Brookings Municipal Utilities
• Burke Municipal Utilities
• City of Pickstown
• Faith Municipal Utilities
• Flandreau Municipal Utilities
• Fort Pierre Municipal Utilities
• Pierre Municipal Utilities
• Vermillion Light & Power
• Watertown Municipal Utilities Dept.
• Winner Municipal Utilities 

For residential customers, rebates are available for ENERGY STAR clothes washers, dehumidifiers, room air conditioners, and heating and cooling systems. Customers who choose a certified Quality Install contractor to install their HVAC

The Back of the Envelope Calculator is a learning tool that allows anyone to interact with a building as an energy system. They can see real-time energy connections between building components, isolate the effects of changing a single energy parameter, or produce concept-level energy and CO2 emissions estimates.

Any South Dakota property owner may grant a solar* or wind easement with the same effect as a conveyance of an interest in real property. Easements must be established in writing, and must be filed, recorded and indexed in the office of the register of deeds of the county in which they are granted. The maximum term of an easement is 50 years. Any payments associated with an easement must be made on an annual basis to the owner of the real property. No wind or solar easement or wind or solar lease may be executed by the parties until

Southeastern Electric Cooperative is a member-owned electric cooperative that serves customers in the southeastern part of South Dakota. Southeastern provides an assortment of incentives to encourage customers to purchase energy efficient appliances and equipment.  Rebates exist for both ground source and air-to-air heat pumps, water heaters, as well as refrigerators, clothes washers, clothes dryers, dishwashers, and freezers. An invoice showing that equipment has been installed and is operating must be provided before rebates can be claimed.  Visit the programs website listed above for detailed program guidelines or contact Southeastern directly.

Southeastern Electric Cooperative is a member-owned electric cooperative that serves customers in the southeastern part of South Dakota. Southeastern offers a loan program for customers who want to install energy efficient heating and cooling systems in homes or businesses. Loans are also available for those who want to install weatherization measures, such as storm doors, insulation or caulking.

Loans are available at a 5% interest rate for the following:

• Geothermal, air-to-air heat pumps, or electric heat up to $10,000 for 7 years.
  
  
• Geothermal, air-to-air heat pumps, or electric heat under $5,000 financed for 5 years.
   
• Weatherization & insulation up

Union County Electric offers members a number of rebates and incentives.

Xcel Energy offers Energy Design Assistance (EDA) to qualified Colorado business customers. EDA gives customers a comprehensive approach to energy and cost savings for businesses considering new construction or renovation projects. EDA services can be tailored to the unique needs of each business. Featured services include: energy consulting services and predictive energy modeling, free to participants; enhanced services, including help toward a green building certification and early analyses in areas such as daylighting, lighting, massing, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC); construction rebates for a package of whole building energy opportunities from envelope, lighting, and cooling to unique opportunities