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Watt’s up with Wattsmart®
Category: Business Customers
Start your savings with engine block heater controllers
It can be a struggle to start up vehicles with diesel motors in cold weather. An engine block heater can help, but basic timers on block heaters can overuse electricity, increasing your costs. Engine block heater controllers are smart enough to run only when needed, saving you energy, time and money.
Three reasons to switch to smart engine block heater controllers
1. Save energy
Newer, more efficient smart engine block controllers are superior to older block heater timers because they use variables such as ambient temperature to know when to operate. This helps reduce engine block run times. When setting preheat times using a block timer alone, you must plan for the worst-case scenario. But smart controllers dynamically adjust schedules for optimal efficiency.
2. Save time
Smart engine block controllers are easy to install and program. After that is done, less daily labor is needed.
3. Save money
Energy savings come from not running equipment longer than necessary or when it’s not needed. More savings come from a $125 incentive* available for products found on the qualified product list.
Watch this brief video that demonstrates a real-world situation. See how simple the installation is, and which equipment can benefit from engine block heaters.
See our set up video for information on how to set up engine block heater controller. For additional types of engine block heater controllers, see our qualified product list.
Program changes for Rocky Mountain Power Wattsmart® Business – Idaho
Program changes for Rocky Mountain Power Wattsmart® Business in Idaho effective November 17, 2025.
Quick Links
Wattsmart® Business is always looking for ways to improve our program and make it easier for you to serve your customers with the best products and incentives. Our program evolves as technology changes, and as we gain insights from experience. Rocky Mountain Power is planning updates to the Wattsmart Business program in Idaho that will be effective November 17, 2025. We’ll have new approaches for lighting, New Construction/Major Renovation and non-lighting incentives.
Lighting: Plug and Play Controls Ready 🌟New🌟
We developed this category in response to emerging lighting technology, and it applies to all lighting offers. Plug and Play Controls Ready lighting offers you flexibility with receptacles that allow for a toolless addition of controls during installation or in the future. If your customer opts for controls in the future, there’s no need to rewire the system, which cuts your labor costs. Several incentives are available in this category:
- You may submit for the plug-and-play lighting incentive at the time of installation.
- If the fixtures include a module, plug-and-play controls can be submitted as a Networked Lighting Controls or Advanced Networked Lighting Controls project, and we will honor the highest incentive for your customer.
- You may submit for a controls-only project incentive in the future.
Lighting: Retrofits incentives
Express incentives
We are introducing an Express path to allow you to apply for most lighting projects on a post-purchase application process, which can be quickly submitted through the new online tool. Unlike past prescriptive incentives that calculated the incentive amount per fixture, Express incentives offer an incentive amount per watt installed and are not limited to specific retrofit kit/fixture categories. Express excludes replacement lamps, controls only, new construction and major renovation, and projects where there is an LED baseline and has different rates for interior and exterior installations.
- Uses classifications
- No controls
- Plug and Play Controls Ready
- NLCs
- Luminaire Level Lighting Controls
Small and Medium Business Express incentives
We are expanding the previous Small Business Enhanced category to include medium-sized businesses too. This category uses the Express incentive structure described above, and this new category will be referred to as SMBE.
The original 75% incentive cap still applies, but you have more opportunities to achieve it. Rather than one set incentive of 75%, SMBE offers higher incentive levels.
The Express category excludes replacement lamps, is phasing out the lighting tool and offers you a new eligibility site.
Calculated (non-prescriptive)
Our non-prescriptive path goes by a few names such as calculated, typical or simply the lighting tool path. We’re making some enhancements to the lighting tool.
The biggest change is that there is one incentive rate for all customer sizes, eliminating segmentation in the tool. The Basic Controls category is being replaced with Plug and Play Controls Ready. This is the exclusive path for controls-only projects. You can receive lighting incentives for most product types in the tool, with the exception of replacement lamps, which are excluded from this category.
Exterior lighting
The following new measures have been added:
- No controls
- Basic or NLC
- ANLC
All non-general illuminance will now be grouped in the non-prescriptive custom category.
Midstream lighting incentives
This is the exclusive path for replacement lamps. As part of our program changes, the LED Instant Incentive and the existing post-purchase application are now replaced with the Express offering. Fixtures, kits, and controls will all be available downstream in the Express application or lighting tool.
The fullstream model of shared incentives is now combined into a midstream exclusive offer for replacement lamps. Incentives will be paid to the participating distributor, who may pass the incentive through to the customer. Approved midstream trade allies may submit via single-sale log entries or via bulk uploads. If you are not signed up as a participating distributor, please contact us to apply.
New Construction/Major Renovation
New Construction/Major Renovation lighting incentives are changing to a tiered pay-for-savings structure where various incentive amounts per kilowatt hour apply based on the type of controls used.
Interior lighting
- No controls
- NLC
- ANLC
Exterior lighting
New measures added include:
- No controls
- Basic dimming controls
- ANLC dimming controls
Non-lighting incentives
The Green Motor Rewinds incentive is being removed from the program.
TRANSITION PLAN:
For projects requiring pre-approval, see the table to understand which incentive applies.
For post-purchase projects, the earlier invoice date for the project is used to determine which version of the program applies.
| Offer Letter dated prior to 10/2/25; projects completed prior to10/2/25 | We will use the program version in effect when the incentive offer letter was issued. |
| Offer Letter dated from 10/2/25-11/16/25 | Option to run on either incentive structure. |
| Offer Letter dated 11/17/25 or later | New program with changes is in full effect. |
QUESTIONS? Contact us, we are happy to help!
Program changes for Rocky Mountain Power Wattsmart® Business – Wyoming
Program changes for Rocky Mountain Power Wattsmart® Business in Wyoming effective October 24.
Quick Links
Wattsmart® Business is always looking for ways to improve our program and make it easier for you to serve your customers with the best products and incentives. Our program evolves as technology changes, and we gain insights from experience. Rocky Mountain Power is planning updates to the Wattsmart Business program in Wyoming that will be effective October 24, 2025. We’ll have new approaches for lighting pathways, new construction/major renovation and non-lighting incentives.
Lighting: Plug and Play Controls Ready 🌟New🌟
We developed this category in response to emerging lighting technology, and it applies to all lighting pathways. Plug and Play Controls Ready lighting offers you flexibility with receptacles that allow for a tool-less addition of controls during installation or in the future. If your customer opts for controls in the future, there’s no need to rewire the system, which cuts your labor costs. Several incentives are available in this category:
- You may submit for the plug-and-play lighting incentive at the time of installation.
- If the fixtures include a module, plug-and-play controls can be submitted as a Networked Lighting Controls or Advanced Networked Lighting Controls project, and we will honor the highest incentive for your customer.
- You may submit for a controls-only project incentive in the future.
See Table Non-Prescriptive Lighting System Retrofit Incentives
Lighting: retrofits incentives
Express incentives
We are introducing an Express path to allow you to apply for most lighting projects on a post-purchase application process, which can be quickly submitted through the new online tool. Unlike past prescriptive incentives that calculated the incentive amount per fixture, Express incentives offer an incentive amount per watt installed and are not limited to specific retrofit kit/fixture categories. Express excludes replacement lamps, controls only, new construction and major renovation, and projects where there is an LED baseline and has different rates for interior and exterior installations.
- Uses classifications
- No controls
- Plug and Play Controls Ready
- NLCs
- Luminaire Level Lighting Controls
Small and Medium Business Express (SMBE) incentives
We are expanding the previous Small Business Enhanced category to include medium-sized businesses too. This category uses the Express incentive structure described above, so this new category will be referred to as SMBE.
The original 75% incentive cap still applies, but you have more opportunities to achieve it. Rather than one set incentive of 75%, SMBE offers higher incentive levels.
The Express category excludes replacement lamps, is phasing out the lighting tool and offers you a new eligibility site.
Calculated (non-prescriptive)
Our non-prescriptive path goes by a few names such as calculated, Typical or simply the lighting tool path. We’re making some enhancements to the lighting tool.
The biggest change is that there is one rate for all customer sizes, eliminating segmentation in the tool. The Basic Controls category is being replaced with Plug and Play Controls Ready. This is the exclusive path for controls-only projects. You can receive lighting incentives for most product types in the tool, with the exception of replacement lamps, which are excluded from this category.
Exterior lighting
The following new measures have been added:
- No controls
- Basic or NLC
- ANLC
All non-general illuminance will now be grouped in the non-prescriptive custom category.
Midstream incentives
This is the exclusive path for replacement lamps. As part of our program changes, the LED Instant Incentive and the existing post-purchase application are now replaced with the Express offering. Fixtures, kits, and controls will all be available downstream in the Express application or lighting tool.
The fullstream model of shared incentives is now combined into a midstream exclusive offer. Approved midstream trade allies may submit via single-sale log entries or via bulk uploads.
New Construction/Major Renovation
Most projects in this category include more than one system (e.g. lighting, HVAC or building envelope) and qualify for the Whole Building New Construction/Major Renovation offering.
If only a single system is changed, the project would fall into the following categories:
- New construction incentives are available for most common building types lighting including Controlled Environmental Agriculture. For major renovation, lighting, HVAC, or building envelope is eligible for the incentives linked in the table below.
Exterior lighting
Single system new construction/major renovation exterior lighting incentives are changing to a tiered pay-for-savings structure where various incentive amounts per kilowatt hour apply based on the type of controls used:
- No controls
- Basic dimming controls
- ANLC dimming controls
See Table New Construction/Major Renovation Lighting Incentives
Non-lighting incentives
The Green Motor Rewinds incentive is being removed from the program.
TRANSITION PLAN:
For projects requiring pre-approval see the table to understand which incentive applies.
For post-purchase projects, the earlier invoice date for the project is used to determine which tariff applies.
| Offer Letter dated prior to 9/24/25 | We will use the program version in effect when the incentive offer letter was issued. |
| Offer Letter dated from 9/24/25 to 10/23/25 | Option to run on either incentive structure. |
| Offer Letter dated 10/24/25 or later | New program with changes is in full effect. |
QUESTIONS? Contact us, we are happy to help!
New LED lighting incentives now available for medium-sized Utah businesses
Medium-sized businesses in Utah now qualify for higher incentives when they upgrade to energy-efficient LED lighting. Previously available only to small businesses, these benefits are now accessible through an expansion of Wattsmart® Business’s Small and Medium Business Express (SMBE) incentives.
Medium-sized businesses are now eligible for larger incentives, making it easier to save energy, money and time when upgrading to LED lighting. This could be a fit for your business if you:
- Plan to upgrade from non-LED to LED lighting.
- Use an approved SMBE Trade Ally for installation.
If you have already upgraded to LED lighting or have another type of project in mind, see our other offerings to find out how you can save.
SMBE incentives can cover up to 75% of your total project costs, depending on the installed wattage and associated controls. Benefits of upgrading include:
- Lower energy and operating costs
- Improved lighting quality and workplace safety
- Enhanced employee productivity and customer comfort
- Higher value for your business
- And more!
To learn more or confirm eligibility, contact us at 1-866-870-3419 or Wattsmart@evergreen.energy.
You can verify your business size category online or speak with your outreach specialist if you have any questions.
NOTE: Incentives only available through Small and Medium Business Express trade allies. Incentive caps apply. Actual incentive amounts may vary.
Charter Schools, Health Services and More Are Ready For Savings
Random cold-calling can be time-consuming. That is why the Wattsmart team has targeted specific businesses that may be unaware of the Wattsmart savings opportunities but could benefit from an upgrade.
Summer is the perfect time to talk to local charter schools about energy efficiency opportunities. To support our vendors in this endeavor, postcards went out to Idaho and Wyoming charter schools in June. The message was that now is a good time to reduce operating costs.
An additional group we mailed to recently is health services—doctors, dentists, physical therapists, laboratories, etc. Upgraded lighting can vastly improve patients’ experiences. Others we plan to contact include auto repair shops and eating/drinking establishments.
Wattsmart has proactively reached out to these customer segments in an effort to generate leads for you, our vendors. After we identify an opportunity, the first question we ask a customer is if they have a preferred vendor. If they do not, we refer them to our Premium Vendor Network. It pays to be Premium!
If you have existing customers that fall into these categories, now is a great time to reach out to them again to see what energy efficiency opportunities may exist. Below are links to the cards that were already sent. You can print them out and present them when you visit any of these businesses. Contact the Wattsmart Business team if you need support with this or any other program.
Featured Vendor – Codale Electric Supply
Congratulations to our Wattsmart Lighting Madness promotion winner, Codale Electric Supply, Inc. of Salt Lake City. Codale was founded in 1975 and has been a Wattsmart vendor for more than 15 years.
They were the top finisher with 868,488 kWh in savings. For their efforts, they earned a $10,000 incentive and a personalized Rocky Mountain Power case study which will be included in an upcoming Wattsmart Wednesday segment on Fox13.
Let us know if you think we should offer more promotions like this one by taking our brief, one-question survey in the email you received.
Video: Start Your Savings With Engine Block Heater Controllers
Three Reasons Your Customers Will Appreciate You for Recommending a Smart Engine Block Heater Controller
In cold weather, your customers with diesel motors know that starting them up in the morning is a struggle. An engine block heater can help. But old-school timers on block heaters can overuse electricity because they aren’t smart enough to run only when needed.
1 – Save energy
Newer, more efficient smart engine block controllers are superior to older block heater timers because they use variables such as ambient temperature to know when to operate. This helps reduce block engine warmer run times. When setting preheat times using a block timer alone, one must plan for the worst-case scenario. But smart controllers dynamically adjust schedules for optimal efficiency.
2 – Save time
Smart engine block controllers are easy to install and program. After that is done, less daily labor is needed.
3 – Save money
Energy savings come from not running equipment longer than necessary or when it’s not needed. More savings come from a $125 incentive* available for products found on the qualified product list.
Energy savings come from not running equipment longer than necessary or when it’s not needed. More savings come from a $125 incentive* available for products found on the qualified product list.
Watch this brief video that demonstrates a real-world situation. See how simple the installation is and which equipment can benefit from engine block heaters.
Get started today. Contact your outreach specialist to connect your customers with an expert or to get questions answered.
* Idaho Incentives Utah Incentives, p7 Wyoming Incentives, p12
Wattsmart Lighting Madness Winners 2024!
Codale Electric Supply was our first-place finisher in the Wattsmart Madness promotion!
They earned:
- A $10,000 performance incentive for their effort.
- A personalized case study ad.
- A feature on an upcoming segment of Rocky Mountain Power’s Wattsmart Wednesday on Fox 13!
Congratulations!
Additionally, congratulations to our semi-finalists. The runner-up was Lighting Maintenance & Service, Inc. (LMS).
For finishing second, they earned
- A $5,000 performance incentive.
- A personalized case study ad.
- A feature in an upcoming Rocky Mountain Power social media post.
In third place was DiVi Energy, LLC, and in fourth place, Conserve-A-Watt Lighting. Both will receive
- A $2,500 performance incentive.
- A personalized case study ad.
Thank you to all our vendors who participated and helped their customers save energy through incentives.
DesignLight Consortium
Lauren Morlino, second from left, was a member of a successful team who used their lighting knowledge to “escape” during an NLC exercise. (Photo used with permission from the DesignLights Consortium.)
The Summit Summary
The commercial lighting industry continues to evolve rapidly to changing occupancy, regulatory policies and customer needs. Utilities, manufacturers and the DesignLights Consortium (DLC) met for the DLC Controls Summit in September. There, they discussed the importance of networked lighting controls while also acknowledging the low adoption nationwide. Some utility members even highlighted the opportunity for networked lighting controls to fill future savings pipelines, despite being faced with the sunsetting LED incentives.
The Summit took place in Detroit, Michigan. After welcome messages from DLC’s leadership, the morning panel focused on the additional savings enabled by integrating networked lighting controls with other building systems. A new report, Future-Proofing Energy Efficiency with Networked Lighting Controls, estimates a 30% reduction in HVAC when connected to a networked lighting control system. Utilities agreed that decarbonization and the reduction of LED incentives are major drivers of their interest in this measure. Evergreen’s Technical Manager, Lauren Morlino, was a guest speaker on this panel. Lauren presented some of the challenges utilities currently face in implementing rebates for lighting and HVAC integration, as well as a structured custom rebate solution that could increase adoption.
Attendees also tested networked lighting control systems in a hands-on, timed event where they had to re-commission a “buggy” lighting control system. This “escape room” activity was a fun and engaging way for attendees to empathize with controls contractors responsible for commissioning and re-commissioning. DLC also gathered feedback on the NLC-local pilot that aims to increase the adoption of networked lighting controls in small and medium-sized businesses.