Residential Programs
IPL offers rebates to residential customers who purchase certain equipment that meets our standards for energy efficiency.
Looking for the New Homes Program with ENERGY STAR? Click Here!
Equipment rebates are offered for:
Rebates are available for existing and new single/multi-family homes. Pricing shown is for equipment installed on September 1, 2010, and later.
Dollar Amounts for Rebates:
- For central air conditioners, dollar amounts range from $109 to $384
- For heat pumps, dollar amounts range from $259 to $701
- For heat pump water heaters, dollar amount is $300
What do I need to do to obtain a rebate? It's easy!
- Fill out a rebate application form listed above or call (816) 325-7485 to receive a form by mail or fax.
- Your new equipment must meet certain minimum efficiency standards in order to qualify. Call (816) 325-7485 or contact us by email, to make sure your equipment qualifies.
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Mail the completed rebate application form and a copy of your detailed receipt back to IPL.
Independence Power & Light
Attn: Rebate Program
PO Box 1019
Independence, MO 64051-0519
Once we receive your application form and receipt, you will be contacted by phone or mail as to whether a site inspection will be necessary. Rebates will be issued in the form of an account credit that takes approximately 6-8 weeks.
For more information about IPL's rebate programs call us at (816) 325-7485 or contact us by email.
Net Metering
The City of Independence Power and Light offers Net Metering for our customers.
What is Net Metering? Net Metering is a billing mechanism that credits solar energy system owners for the electricity they add to the grid. For example, if a residential customer has a PV system on their roof, it may generate more electricity than the home uses during daylight hours. If the home is net-metered, the electricity meter will run backwards to provide a credit against what electricity is consumed at night or other periods when the home's electricity use exceeds the system's output. Customers are only billed for their "net" energy use.
If you are purchasing Solar Panels for your home to generate power you might be eligible for Net Metering. The Solar Permit Submittal Checklist must be completed and submitted to bpermits@indepmo.org
We offer a "Whole House" surge protector to customers...
Independence Power & Light offers a "Whole House" surge protector to residential customers, for protection against surges entering the home through electric power lines.
A "surge" is a high voltage current which can enter a home through the incoming wiring, including electrical, cable, telephone and satellite wiring. Surges can cause damage to electric equipment and appliances, sometimes making the equipment unusable.
IPL's surge protection program offers protection against surges which may enter a home through electric power lines. Other incoming wiring, such as those mentioned above, are not protected by the IPL program.
Causes of Surges
- Lightning
- Tree limbs hitting power lines
- Start/Stop switching of large electrical load equipment (not necessarily in the same building)
Surge Protection from IPL
IPL installs a surge protection device, behind the outside electric meter, leasing it to the homeowner on a monthly basis. The device detects surges and redirects them to ground. The surge protector does not interfere in any way with the power being supplied to the home or with the metering of the home's electricity usage.
The IPL surge protector only protects against surges through the meter. Equipment connected to other wiring such as cable or telephone, should also be protected with a quality "point-of-use" surge protector, which plugs into the power outlet. These products are sold in local retail stores. Surge protectors do not protect your home from lighting strikes or near strikes and damages that may occur.
Costs for Surge Protection
Residential Surge Protection:
$4.95 per month added to your City of Independence Utilities Bill
Warranty
IPL's surge protection program comes with a warranty of up to $5,000 coverage for damage to appliances and other equipment caused by a power surge entering from electric distribution lines.
For more information call us at (816) 325-7485 or contact us by email.
Bury your Power Lines!
Overhead vs Underground
IPL works with homeowners to bury the electric line from the pole to the house. The "Out of Sight" Underground Program helps to enhance the aesthetics of residential property as well as to reduce the likelihood of power outages due to storms.
Here is how it works:
"Out of Sight" Underground Program
IPL works with homeowners to bury the electric line from the pole to the house. The "Out of Sight" Underground Program helps to enhance the aesthetics of residential property as well as to reduce the likelihood of power outages due to storms.
IPL splits the work and cost between the homeowner and IPL. The homeowner is responsible for trenching and installing conduit from the pole to the house. IPL will provide the information needed to accomplish this task.
After the conduit is installed, IPL will pull wire through the conduit and connect electric service. In some cases, it may be necessary for the homeowner to change the size or location of the incoming electric service at the meter.
IPL will not charge homeowners customary fees associated with removing the existing overhead service and connecting the new underground service. Most electric utilities charge for such services.
Getting Started
- Homeowners interested in having their electric service placed underground should first call IPL at (816) 325-7565 to speak to an underground service representative.
- If desired, a representative will visit your residence and explain what needs to be done to have the service placed underground.
Critical Care Program . . helps us better to serve our customers
IPL's Critical Care Program helps us to better serve our customers that need to use electricity-powered medical equipment.
IPL notifies Critical Care Customers in advance when outages are scheduled for maintenance and repair of utility equipment. During unexpected outages, Critical Care customers can expect priority in power restoration, only after IPL has restored power to main lines and equipment.
To be eligible for the Critical Care program, customers must submit an application form, with a medical doctor's recommendation and signature, to IPL. The program does not guarantee continuous service, but it does prioritize power restoration. We recommend you have a back-up power source for your equipment in the event of a power outage.
Please print the critical care form, fill out the upper portion of the form, and have your physician fill out and sign the bottom half of the form. Mail the form to:
Independence Power & Light
Critical Care Program
P.O. Box 1019
Independence, MO 64051-0519
IPL will notify you by mail if you qualify for the Critical Care program. Critical Care customers will receive a renewal application once a year, which must be completed and returned to IPL within 30 days of the postmark.
Customers requiring continuous electrical service should make arrangements for backup electrical service, in the case of unexpected outages.
For more information about the Critical Care Program, call (816) 325-7930 or contact us by email.
Trees and Power Lines
Storm damage is the number one cause of unscheduled power outages. Wind, ice, snow and rain-saturated ground can cause tree limbs or entire trees to come down into power lines, causing power outages.
Tree trimming and the selection of the appropriate trees when landscaping can prevent some of the outages caused by storms. Keeping tree limbs away from power lines is safer and easier than removing damaged tree limbs during a major storm and is more cost-effective.
- IPL tree trimming crews work year-round and are trained to deal with the potential hazards of dealing with trees near and/or in power lines.
- IPL has a maintenance schedule to keep trees trimmed back and away from main power lines.
- Trimming trees near the service line, which runs from the power pole to the home, is the responsibility of the property owner. IPL is available to answer questions and advise as to the best way to handle the trimming.
- IPL crews respond quickly to safely remove trees from power lines during storms and other emergency situations.
- IPL's Tree Trimming Staff is available to advise homeowners on the selection and placement of trees on their property. Our goal is to help homeowners avoid future problems with trees in power lines, as the trees mature.
- Preventing Outages
- IPL's Tree Pruning Policies
- Tips for Planting Trees
- Tree Replacement Program
- Wood Mulch
Contact
Please direct any comments, questions, or concerns to treetrimming@indepmo.org. or 816-325-7559.
More Information
About the Independence Home Energy Loan Program
IndependenceHELP is a partnership between the City of Independence Power & Light Department (IPL) and City Credit Union to provide low-interest loans for eligible energy efficiency measures. There is no upper-income limit for this program. The loan limit for HELP is $15,000.
Who qualifies for IndependenceHELP?
Those who may qualify are owner-occupants of residences located in the City of Independence. Residents who qualify for free or lower-cost weatherization programs are encouraged to take advantage of those programs before seeking loans through Independence HELP. Get started now.
ENERGY STAR® for New Homes Rebate Program
The New Homes Program with ENERGY STAR is intended to increase energy efficiency in new home construction. In order to earn the ENERGY STAR designation, a home must meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. According to the Energy Star web site, "these homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Coded (IRC) and include energy-saving features that typically make them 20-30% more efficient than standard homes."
In order to achieve ENERGY STAR designation, an independent Home Energy Rating System (HERS) developed by the Residential Energy Services Network is utilized to score a new house. The HERS rater then conducts on-site inspections of the constructed home, typically including a blower door test and a duct test, to ensure the house meets ENERGY STAR performance requirements or meets ENERGY STAR prescriptive requirements, and to identify any energy efficiency improvements required to meet ENERGY STAR guidelines.
To help builders with the costs associated with an independent HERS rating, the New Homes Program with ENERGY STAR would reimburse builders for actual HERS inspection and rating costs up to $500 per home. In addition, additional financial incentives for energy-efficient air conditioners, heat pumps, and electric water heaters would be available in lieu of existing rebates which would normally be offered under the Independence Power & Light residential rebate program.
Rebate Amount
For new homes that achieve the ENERGY STAR rating, builders may request the following financial incentives through NHPES, using IPL-provided incentive applications: Up to $500 per home for defraying the cost of the HERS inspection and certification.
PLUS
To help pay a portion of the incremental cost of meeting ENERGY STAR standards, either
- $300 per home with a central air conditioner (15 SEER or higher), or
- $600 per home with a central heat pump (fossil fuel back-up; 14.5 SEER/8.2 HSPF/12 EER or higher), or
- $700 per home with a central heat pump system (electric back-up; 14.5 SEER/8.5 HSPF/12 EER or higher), or
- $700 per home with a central heat pump system (fossil fuel back-up; 14.5 SEER/8.2 HSPF/12 EER or higher) and electric water heater (50+ gallon with .92 EF or higher), or
- $800 per home with a central heat pump system (electric back-up; 14.5 SEER/8.5 HSPF/12 EER or higher) and electric water heater (50+ gallons with .92 EF or higher)
New homes receiving any of the incentive provisions through ESNHP will not be eligible for any other existing IPL residential air conditioner, heat pump, or electric water heater rebates.
Program Rules and Application
Download the complete program rules and the application here.
For more information about IPL's rebate programs call us at (816) 325-7485 or contact us by email.
The Home Weatherization Program is designed to assist low income* families within Jackson, Clay and Platte county limits by making energy efficiency upgrades that will assist in lowering the amount of energy used to heat their homes. Once families are income qualified they are placed on the program waiting list for conducting an energy audit. The audit will determine the items that need to be addressed to improve the energy efficiency of the home. Please note that this is not a window replacement program and that most of the activities focus on improving building performance by limiting infiltration (airleaks) and improving insulation.
There is no cost to the recipient for participating in the program. The prescribed work is identified through the audit tool. A work write-up is completed and the project is put out for bid by a qualified weatherization contractor.
For more details and to apply for the Weatherization Program please reach out to Truman Habitat for Humanity at 816-886-7374.