Electric Cooperatives

Incentivising Geothermal Heat Pumps Makes Sense

Reach Out & Learn More

Smarter Energy Solutions: Lower Base Load and Higher Margins with Enertech Ground Source Heat Pumps

Cooperative Vision Leads to Mutual Benefit

The Win-Win of Geothermal Incentives

Non-Intermittent Reliability

Consistent All Day

Our ground source heat pumps aren't affected by daily temperature fluctuations.

Better Margins

Margins shrinking?

Margin studies show that ground source heat pumps improve co-op margins.

Lower Base and Peak Loads

Cut HVAC Demand 50%+

Concerns about defossilization, EVs, and other capacity challenges can be reduced with GSHPs.

EPIC Connected Controls

EPIC provides remote tracking and reporting.

Data and Reporting

Great for board reports!

EPIC collects real usage data and reports on system performance.

Comparative Analysis

Real-time Calculations

See actual performance benefits compared to ordinary HVAC systems.

Member Confidence

Visible Savings

Each system owner can see how much energy they've used and how much they've saved.

Enertech Products Are Made And Supported in the USA

We're headquartered in Greenville, IL and manufacture in Mitchell, SD.

Questions To Ask Yourself To Determine If Geothermal Is A Good Solution For Your Co-op

Do you know the margin impact of solar to your system?

The financial impact of solar depends on your power provider’s billing. In summer, solar’s highest production is in the middle of the day while system peak most often occurs late in the afternoon when solar production is waning. Winter system peaks occur early in the morning when solar panels haven’t even “woken up” yet. In both scenarios, the capacity for solar members that isn’t being covered by their solar system must be accounted for in generation expenses. Since power costs are recovered through energy sales, lower kilowatt-hour purchases not offset by reduced demand have a negative impact on margins.

Cooperatives that have done studies comparing a home with an ordinary air source heat pump and electric hot water heater rooftop solar have learned that when a member adds solar to their home, margins shrink by as much as 92 percent. Solar is an intermittent resource that only provides power, typically during base load periods of the day when additional capacity is not needed.

Do you know what the impact of solar is to your members?

Under most residential rate schedules, unrecovered costs are shifted to other members within the rate class as well as members in other rate classes. Between the loss in margin and increase in customer cost, the only people who benefit from rooftop solar are the ones who have solar.

Do you have a renewable offering that will benefit all your members?

When members are seeking a renewable solution, geothermal heat pumps are a technology that is beneficial to all members. Because geothermal heat pumps are 50%+ more efficient than ordinary HVAC options, they can provide coincident peak reduction that offsets reduced kilowatt-hour use resulting in a positive financial impact. GSHPs not only benefit members, but co-op margin studies have found that replacing ordinary HVAC systems with geothermal heat pumps have improved margins by as much as 15%*.

* Advisement from your rate consultant will quantify the answers to the above questions.

Do you have a competitive alternative to natural gas on your system?

Natural gas negatively impacts the margins of your cooperative by taking the space and water heating load, leaving your co-op with only air-conditioning load to recognize revenue. Ordinary heat pumps have been deemed “cooler” heat and when the strips operate, they have higher operating costs.

Because a geothermal heat pump provides consistent heat using the earth’s stable temperature year-round, members enjoy heating comfort and operating costs that are competitive with natural gas systems. Your co-op can add heating load and improved load-factor cooling to your system with geothermal heat pumps.

Geothermal is also a financially beneficial solution for new commercial and residential developments added to your system.*

* Advisement from your rate consultant will quantify the answers to the above questions.

Do you understand your power purchase structure and how your rates recover the costs?

If your power costs are tilted more toward demand, geothermal heat pumps are an effective way to save your cooperative and your members money.

What are your load management strategies and how effective are they?

Geothermal peak impact, compared to your existing load management programs, can provide the same or better reductions without interrupting the power to your member’s equipment during peak hours. A geothermal heat pump reduces peak demand and acts like a load switch that is always on and always works.