...a community-owned and governed utility, created to provide safe, reliable and cost-based electric and wholesale telecommunication services...
Learn more about
and what you can do to help.
To Report Outages
360-432-1533 (Shelton)
360-275-6518 (Belfair)
360-861-4247 (Elma)
360-432-1533 (Shelton)
360-275-6518 (Belfair)
360-861-4247 (Elma)
SAVE ENERGY ON WATER HEATING | WATER HEATER SAFETY | FREE LOW-FLOW SHOWERHEAD
ENERGY EFFICIENT WATER HEATER REBATE
Energy Efficient Water Heater - $25 billing credit
Heating water accounts for up to 25% of a home’s energy use. High efficiency water heaters use 10% - 50% less energy than standard models, saving homeowners money on their utility bills. Actual energy savings from high efficiency water heaters depend on family size, heater location, and the size and placement of water pipes. A receipt with the make and model number is required for rebate. Please contact the PUD 3 conservation department at (360) 426-0777 for answers to any questions.
Requirements:
- 25 - 54 gallon tank, with an Energy Factor (EF) of .94 or higher
- 55 - 74 gallon tank, with an Energy Factor (EF) of .93 or higher
- 75 - 99 gallon tank, with an Energy Factor (EF) of .92 or higher
- 100 - 119 gallon tank, with an Energy Factor (EF) of .85 or higher
HEAT PUMP WATER HEATER (HPWH) INCENTIVE
Program Requirements
Only new construction and existing single-family homes qualify for the heat pump water heater (HPWH) reimbursement. In existing homes, the HPWH must replace an electric storage water heater. PUD 3 has a project progress checklist available for customer use.
- The new HPWH must be listed on the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance’s qualified products list as meeting the requirements of the Northern Climate Specification. A qualified equipment list can be found on NEEA’s website.
- The new HPWH must be installed by an installer who received installation training from the manufacturer of the HPWH. The HPWH must be installed according to both manufacturer and BPA specifications. A partial list of installers can be found on the Smart Water Heat website.
- A Heat Pump Water Heater Installation Form must be filled out and submitted to PUD 3. The forms can be found on BPA’s website.
- A Heat Pump Water Heater Manufacturer's Installation Checklist must be filled out and submitted to PUD 3. These checklists come with the HPWH unit.
- A PUD 3 altered service application is required. Contact the PUD 3 engineering department: (360) 426-0888.
- Washington State Labor & Industries (L&I) electrical, and Mason County or City of Shelton mechanical permit numbers are required upon project completion.
TIER 1 HPWH WITH A 50-75 GALLON TANK: $300 REBATE CHECK
TIER 1 HPWH WITH A TANK GREATER THAN 75 GALLONS: $500 REBATE CHECK
TIER 2 HPWH WITH A TANK GREATER THAN 50 GALLONS: $500 REBATE CHECK
TIER 2 HPWHS INSTALLED IN AN INDOOR LOCATION WITHOUT DUCTING MUST USE TIER 1 INCENTIVES
SAFE AND EFFICIENT OPERATION OF AN ELECTRIC RESIDENTIAL WATER HEATER
An electric water heater can account for up to 25% of a home’s energy bill. The United States Department of Energy recommends setting a residential water heater to 120°F to reduce energy usage and to help prevent scalding. Each 10°F reduction in water temperature can save 3% - 5% on an energy bill. Save energy and help make the home safer by reducing the thermostat setting on residential water heaters.
Justin Holzgrove, PUD 3 conservation manager, demonstrates how to check and adjust water heater temperature in this video:
To Check and Adjust Water Heater Temperature:
TOOLS NEEDED: a flat head or phillips screwdriver and a regular home cooking thermometer.
- Turn on the hot water at the faucet CLOSEST to the water heater. This may be in a bathroom, laundry room, kitchen, etc. Let it run for at least three minutes to ensure water is coming directly from the water heater tank.
- Measure the water temperature using the cooking thermometer. It may be easier to place a small cup below the faucet.
- Turn off the water heater breaker at the home’s electric panel. This should be done prior to making any adjustments.
- Locate the water heater access panels. Many water heaters have a top and bottom element. Both should be adjusted to the same temperature.
- Remove the water heater access panel. Insulation may need to be removed to access the thermostat. If so, consider wearing gloves. Do not remove the plastic cover on the thermostat.
- Using the flat head screwdriver, adjust the temperature to 120°F. The thermostat may not have the setting in degrees. Instead it may use terms such as “HOT” and “COLD”. Adjust accordingly.
- Replace the access panels and turn on the circuit breaker to re-energize the water heater.
- Wait three hours before testing again to allow changes to take effect.
- Re-measure the water temperature.
WATER HEATER SAFETY
Washington State law (RCW 19.27A.060) requires that new residential water heaters sold in the state be pre-set at 120°F. Mason County PUD No. 3 is required to notify customers annually that state law recommends their water heaters should be set no higher than 120°F. Furthermore, when a home is sold or rented, the previous owners or agent must set the water heater back to 120°F before the next resident’s occupancy.
From a safety and cost-savings standpoint, lowering the temperature makes a lot of sense.
The following list gives the temperature of water in relation to the estimated time it takes to cause a bad burn:
- 150°F - 2 SECONDS
- 140°F - 15 seconds
- 130°F - 20 seconds
- 120°F - 10 MINUTES
SOURCE: Klickitat PUD
FREE LOW-FLOW SHOWERHEADS AT PUD 3
Shortening showers by just a few minutes each day can really add up. Customers can save an average of 3 gallons of water per minute, not to mention the energy used to heat the water. Showers are a sneaky consumer of electricity because most people forget about the energy needed to heat the water for a warm shower. Installing a low-flow showerhead on each shower in a home can help to save money on monthly utility bills.
Low-flow showerheads are available for FREE at the PUD 3 Johns Prairie Operations Center to PUD 3 customers.
SAVE ENERGY WITH PUD 3
IN YOUR HOME:
AT YOUR BUSINESS:
CONTRACTORS:
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:
Conservation Programs are effective until September 30, 2013.
Rebates, incentives, and program requirements are subject to change at any time.
Customer must provide receipt and ENERGY STAR® qualification documentation within 90 days of purchase.
Contact Mason County PUD No. 3’s conservation department for details on rebate amounts and requirements.
Mason County PUD No. 3 does not guarantee, warranty, or take responsibility for the performance of contractors.