Energy efficiency rebates
Rebates for OCEC customers installing efficient heating, insulation, windows, doors or lighting at their homes, with a separate lighting rebate for commercial accounts.
Otero County Electric Cooperative (OCEC) pays rebates towards qualifying equipment and improvements at the premises served by your account. Its service territory includes parts of Otero, Lincoln, Chaves and Socorro counties in New Mexico.
Examples of residential rebates include:
- $2,000 per closed-loop geothermal heat pump, $1,000 per air-source heat pump with a seasonal cooling-efficiency rating (SEER) of at least 16, or $500 per indoor unit of a mini-split heat pump system with SEER of at least 16.
- $500 for an ENERGY STAR heat-pump water heater operated in its heat-pump setting only.
- 30% of material costs for added or improved insulation, and 25% of material costs for ENERGY STAR windows and doors rated for the location where they are installed.
- 25% of the cost of LED lighting. Commercial accounts can receive 50% of the cost of an LED fixture or lamp under the commercial schedule.
The overall rebate limit is the greater of $5,000 or five times the amount your account contributed to the Energy Efficiency Fund over a twelve-month period. This applies to both residential and commercial rebates. Each rebate is also limited to the item's purchase price. OCEC may change or discontinue rebates without notice; payment requires approval and available funds.
Eligibility
- You must be an OCEC customer, and each rebated item must be installed at the premises of the account claiming it.
- Residential insulation and weatherization rebates are for existing homes.
- For insulation, windows or doors, contact your local OCEC office before work to arrange any required inspection. These improvements may require inspections both before and after installation.
- For rebates based on material costs, the submitted invoice must show labour separately; otherwise the rebate will be denied.
- Commercial accounts must contact Bill Denney in Member Services on 575-682-2521 before starting any work.
- Follow the equipment conditions above, including the installation-location ENERGY STAR rating for windows and doors and heat-pump-only operation for the heat-pump water heater.
How to apply
- Status
- Open continuously
- Round restrictions
- All rebates require OCEC approval and available funds.[^c2]
- Receipt must be dated after 1 January 2024. Required inspections and commercial pre-work contact still apply.[^c4][^c3][^c5]
Complete OCEC's rebate claim form, available through the application link or at an OCEC office. Submit it with your most recent OCEC bill, a purchase receipt dated after 1 January 2024, and the ENERGY STAR guide showing the brand and model of the appliance purchased. Include documents supporting any required ENERGY STAR certification.
You can scan and email the completed form and supporting documents to rebates@ote-coop.com. Processing may take two to four weeks from application. Arrange any required inspections, and complete the commercial pre-work contact where applicable.