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Major HVAC Controls

Earn incentives for adding or upgrading efficient controls

HVAC controls are valuable energy-efficient upgrades that produce significant savings in HVAC system energy usage over time. Our Major HVAC Controls program offers incentives for installing three or more energy-efficient control sequences. Incentives can cover up to 50% of your total project cost.


What you get

Your incentive amount is based on the utility services you receive from PSE (electric-only, dual-fuel or gas-only), the energy use of your facility, and the verified savings. There is a guaranteed base incentive after installation and successful verification. An additional performance incentive is given after the controls are in place for at least 10 months and the minimum savings target is met. Current incentive rates are listed below.

Electric and dual-fuel incentives
Maximum total incentive
Natural gasUp to 50% of total project cost*

Base incentive**
Natural gas$0.45 per kWh saved
Natural gas$8 per therm saved
Natural gasUp to 35% of total project cost

Performance incentive
Performance incentive amounts are based on actual first-year whole-building savings that are greater than 6%. The performance incentive supplements the base incentive up to the maximum total incentive.

Gas-only incentives
Maximum total incentive
Natural gasUp to 25% of total project cost*

Base incentive**
Natural gas$8 per therm saved
Natural gasUp to 15% of total project cost

Performance incentive
Performance incentive amounts are based on actual first-year whole-building savings that are greater than 6%. The performance incentive supplements the base incentive up to the maximum total incentive.



*Total incentive is base incentive plus performance incentive. **Base incentive amounts are based on a 5% whole-building savings. Whole-building energy use may exclude large non-HVAC uncontrollable/process loads like data centers. If there is no energy metering at the building level, you may also be eligible for an incentive up to $3,000 for sub-metering to assist in determining actual building performance.

How you qualify

To be eligible for a Major HVAC Controls incentive:

  • You must be a PSE electric and/or gas customer.
  • Your building must be 50,000 square feet or larger and for buildings smaller than 50,000 square feet, we offer the Controls Lite option.
  • You must be doing a major HVAC controls upgrade, including but not limited to:
    • Installing new control equipment and a web-based interface.
    • Adding or modifying at least three major energy-efficiency HVAC control sequences as listed on the requirement checklist.
  • Your upgrades must pass HVAC controls performance testing provided by PSE.
  • Your upgrades must contain features designed to maintain energy efficiency over time as outlined on the requirement checklist and requirement details.
  • You must receive pre-approval from PSE prior to beginning all upgrades.
  • Onsite operations staff or building management will receive a facility guide and applicable training as needed.

How you apply

To get pre-approved for a Major HVAC Controls incentive:

  • Complete the online custom retrofit grant application and upload the requirement checklist.
  • Please include any additional information that would help evaluate the project including, but not limited to, a proposal. These documents can be uploaded into the online application form from the Supporting Documents section.

Questions? Get in touch with an Energy Advisor.


Additional information

Is Controls Lite right for you?

We offer the same base and performance incentives for major HVAC controls upgrades in buildings less than 50,000 square feet that do not have a permanent operations and maintenance staff. The Controls Lite requirements and training are different from the standard program. Read more in our requirement details and requirement checklist documents.

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