DCSEU Terms & Conditions
The Council of the District of Columbia enacted the Clean and Affordable Energy Act of 2008 (CAEA), which created the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU). The District’s Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) contracted with Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) to operate the DCSEU. The following Terms & Conditions are applicable to DCSEU Efficient Products Rebate and Business Energy Rebate programs. Rebates are for DC residents and businesses only. Void where prohibited. Rebates may not be reproduced, photocopied, or altered in any way.
Definitions
- Customer means the person(s) or business entities applying for or receiving a rebate from the DCSEU.
- Rebate Administrator shall mean the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC).
Cost & Taxes
The DCSEU is not responsible for any tax liability that may be imposed on the Customer as a result of receiving rebates. The rebate value may be considered taxable income by the Internal Revenue Service. The Customer is responsible for paying any applicable taxes, including sales tax on the pre-rebate cost of equipment or services, if applicable.
Capacity Credits / Environmental Credits
By accepting the rebate(s), the Customer agrees that the DCSEU retains sole rights to any electric system capacity credits and / or environmental credits associated with the energy efficiency measures for which incentives are received, with the exception of Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs). These credits will be used for the benefit of District of Columbia ratepayers.
Liability Release
As part of the consideration for participating in the program, the Customer, on behalf of itself and its successors, assigns, and legal representatives, hereby irrevocably releases, indemnifies, defends, and holds harmless the DCSEU and the Rebate Administrator, its officers, directors, agents, contractors, employees (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, costs, and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, arising directly or indirectly out of or in connection with DCSEU Rebate Programs. The Customer expressly waives the protections of any laws limiting the scope of this release.
Disclaimer
The DCSEU makes no guarantees regarding energy savings, cost reductions, or the performance of equipment or building upgrades installed as part of any efficiency improvements. The DCSEU disclaims all warranties, whether expressed or implied, including any implied warranty of merchantability or of fitness for a particular purpose, that the design, the equipment for any efficiency improvements, or the installation thereof, complies with any specifications, laws, ordinances, regulations, codes, or industry standards.
The DCSEU is not responsible for the proper disposal/recycling of any waste generated as a result of the project. The DCSEU does not endorse any particular manufacturers, products, or system designs.
Contact
The DCSEU may contact customers for feedback on program satisfaction
Residential Efficient Products Rebate Program
Program Effective Dates (10/1/2024 - 09/30/2025)
The DCSEU’s Efficient Products program (EP) is specifically designed to facilitate the implementation of cost-effective energy efficiency improvements for residential customers located in the District of Columbia. Rebate offers are subject to availability of funds and may change; therefore, they are considered a limited-time offer. The total rebate amount cannot exceed the purchase price of the equipment and cannot be combined with any other DCSEU offering. Additionally, the DCSEU reserves the right to withdraw or modify rebate offers, including rebate amounts, without prior notice.
Installation Verification
Installations must adhere to all applicable laws, codes, regulations, and any other applicable requirements under federal, state, and local authority. The DCSEU reserves the right to review the installations to ensure compliance with all program requirements. This may include, but is not limited to, requesting a photograph(s) of the installed improvements and/or conducting one or more site visits to verify installation of the energy efficiency improvements and measure savings. DCSEU installation reviews and site visits are performed solely to verify installation of the energy efficiency improvement(s) and do not constitute a safety review nor certify compliance with any legal requirements such as building codes. Reviews will be scheduled at the customer’s convenience with advance notice but must be completed no later than the current fiscal year.
Business Energy Rebate Program
Program Effective Dates (10/1/2023 - 09/30/2024)
The DCSEU’s Business Energy (BER) Rebates program is specifically designed to facilitate the implementation of cost-effective energy efficiency improvements for non-residential (commercial and institutional) customers located in the District of Columbia. Rebate offers are subject to availability of funds and may change; therefore, they are considered a limited-time offer. The total rebate amount cannot exceed the purchase price of the equipment and cannot be combined with any other DCSEU offering. Additionally, the DCSEU reserves the right to withdraw or modify rebate offers, including rebate amounts, without prior notice.
Rebates offered by the DCSEU are for energy efficiency improvements with documented energy savings, including lighting, heating, ventilation, refrigeration, and food service equipment. Commercial and institutional customers with multiple locations, may not be eligible for the BER Program and should call the DCSEU at 855-MY-DCSEU (855-693-2738) to determine eligibility prior to purchasing any energy efficiency improvements. DCSEU Business Energy Rebates applications will be accepted until allotted funds are depleted.
Project Requirements
- Projects must involve a facility improvement that results in a long-term reduction in electrical energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Projects must meet the requirements detailed in DCSEU’s technical specifications.
- Any product installed at a facility must provide 100% of the energy benefits as stated in the application for a period of at least five (5) years or for the life of the product, whichever is less. If the customer ceases to be a delivery-service customer of Pepco Holdings, Inc. and/or Washington Gas Light Co., or removes the products or systems at any time during the five-year period or the life of the product, the customer will be required to return a prorated amount of rebate funds to the DCSEU. Exceptions may apply for customers upgrading to more efficient products at their own expense.
- All products must be new; used or refurbished equipment is NOT eligible for rebates.
- Installations must be completed in accordance with all laws, codes and other requirements applicable under federal, state and local authority.
- Projects must be installed on the municipal utility account listed on the submitted utility bill.
Project Pre-Approval & Post-Installation Documentation
All projects must be submitted to DCSEU for pre-approval. Incomplete applications may not be processed.
Total rebates are limited to $100,000 per location, per fiscal year. DCSEU may deny any application that may result in the DCSEU exceeding its program budget.
Rebates can be reserved for 90 calendar days, during which the rebate amount is guaranteed —even if the rebate amount for the same equipment is changed by the DCSEU during that period. The purchase and installation of materials as well as the invoice submission must take place during the 90-day reservation period. Customers who purchase materials prior to receiving a pre-approval letter are not guaranteed to receive a rebate. Materials purchased 6 months prior to receiving a pre-approval letter are not eligible for this program. Once the 90-day reservation period has expired, the rebate offer will be subject to termination and may or may not be honored at the discretion of the DCSEU
Itemized invoices for qualified products, W-9 for payee, and DCSEU issue pre-approval letter need to be submitted within 60 days of project completion. The location and business name on the invoice must be consistent with the application information.
The DCSEU reserves the right to require additional supporting documentation as deemed necessary by the DCSEU to confirm eligibility and verify savings. Applicants are encouraged to call DCSEU Customer Support Specialists at 855-MY-DCSEU (855-693-2738) if they have any questions about documentation requirements.
Inspections
All parties agree to allow the DCSEU reasonable access to the installed efficiency improvements, related equipment, and to all documents pertaining to the acquisition and installation of the efficiency improvements for a period of five years after receipt of rebate payment by the DCSEU. No payment will be made until the efficiency improvements have been installed, inspected, and verified by a DCSEU representative, or the DCSEU determines that an inspection is not necessary. All projects with a total cost over $5,000 will require inspection. When an inspection is deemed necessary, a customer signature will be required to acknowledge that DCSEU completed the inspection and verified the information in the invoice. The DCSEU reserves the right to reduce or eliminate incentives associated with the project if the proposed improvements fail to meet the eligibility requirements detailed in the “Project Requirements” section above.
Rebate Payments
The calculated rebate as approved by DCSEU will not exceed 100% of the qualified product purchase price. To confirm the maximum rebate for any incentivized product, please refer to the most recent Business Energy Rebate Webpage. The Customer is responsible for all costs associated with sales tax, installation, and disposal/recycling of incentivized equipment.
Allow 60 days for delivery of rebate from the date of a completed site inspection by the DCSEU. Submitting an application with incomplete or missing information will delay check processing and delivery.
Providing false information or altered documents will lead to cancellation of this and future rebate applications, as well as the requirement to return any and all rebates issued.