Wattsmart Business

Eligibility Requirements

Other

Custom projects must be confirmed with the program before equipment is purchased.
Work is preferred to be done by a Wattsmart Business vendor.
Must participate in the Wattsmart Business program
Must implement energy-efficient upgrades such as LED lighting, HVAC systems, or commercial appliances
Must work with a Wattsmart Business Vendor familiar with Pacific Power incentives
Must request whole-building, historic electrical usage data for energy benchmarking
Must participate in demand response by making targeted energy reductions during periods of peak demand to receive incentive payments
For projects requiring pre-approval, incentive offers must be received prior to August 21, 2026, and completed by November 15, 2026, with all documentation submitted by November 30, 2026.
For projects not requiring pre-approval, eligible equipment must be purchased and installed by November 15, 2026, with all documentation submitted by November 30, 2026.
Must use eligible equipment as defined in the Wattsmart Business program guidelines.
Participation in the Cool Keeper program requires agreement to help ease energy demand during select, high-demand periods.
Participation in demand response programs requires reducing energy consumption during peak times.
Eligibility for energy efficiency incentives requires upgrades to efficient lighting, equipment, HVAC, or similar systems.
Eligibility for renewable energy programs requires support for new renewable energy initiatives such as Blue Sky.
Eligibility for electric vehicle rebates requires installation of EV chargers or use of public charging stations.
Eligibility for energy project financing requires participation in energy upgrades through the National Energy Improvement Fund (NEIF).
Eligibility for energy benchmarking requires access to whole-building, historic electrical usage data for ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager.
Eligibility for customer generation programs requires interest in installing solar panels or other renewable power systems.
Highly Impacted Communities are defined as census tracts meeting at least one of the following criteria: (1) The census tract is covered or partially covered by ‘Indian Country’ as defined in and designated by statute, or (2) The census tract ranks a 9 or 10 on the Environmental Health Disparities Map, as designated by the Washington Department of Health (DOH).
Vulnerable Population census tracts are defined by Pacific Power in collaboration with stakeholders.
Must submit a supplemental application to the wattsmart Business general application for energy management participation.
Must provide a completed IRS Form W-9 for tax purposes to prepare a 1099-Misc if required following the incentive payment.
Must commit to a specific engagement duration depending on the energy management strategy (e.g., 3-6 months for recommissioning, 3-9 months for industrial recommissioning, 6-12 months for persistent commissioning, or 18-24 months for strategic energy management).
Must have an internal energy manager for participation in strategic energy management.
Must engage in either cooperative or one-to-one participation options for strategic energy management.
Energy management does not provide engineering support or incentives for capital equipment measures.
Energy management does not provide services for new construction or to meet savings verification requirements of other incentive programs offered by Pacific Power.

Employment

For Washington small business offers: Applicant must be on rate schedule 24 with 200,000 kWh or less annual usage or have a facility of 20,000 square feet or less, and the work must be done by an approved Wattsmart Business vendor.
Applicant must be on a qualifying business, industrial, or irrigation rate schedule.
Must be a business entity seeking energy-efficient upgrades
Must be a business entity to qualify for Wattsmart Business incentives.
Must be a business customer to participate in business-specific programs such as Wattsmart® Business, demand response, and energy project financing.
Must be a small business.
Must be on rate schedule 24.

Housing

Tenants are preferred to have the property owner's approval for building upgrades.
Total non-residential facility square footage must be 20,000 square feet or less.

Residency

Applicant must be a non-residential electric customer of Pacific Power in Washington or California, or Rocky Mountain Power in Utah, Idaho, or Wyoming.
Must be located in California to participate in the Wattsmart Business program.
Must be a resident of Utah, Wyoming, or Idaho to access state-specific energy options and programs.
Must be located in Washington state.
Must be located in a Highly Impacted Community or Vulnerable Population census tract.

Income

Annual usage must be less than or equal to 200,000 kWh (non-residential facility total).
For very small businesses, annual usage must be less than or equal to 30,000 kWh (non-residential facility total).

Required Documents

Completed Wattsmart Business application with project site and utility account number
Itemized invoice
Equipment spec sheets
Pre-approval or incentive offer letter for custom and larger projects
project documentation
incentive offer agreement
Signed incentive application
Supplemental application to the wattsmart Business general application
Tax ID
Completed IRS Form W-9

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the eligibility requirements for the Wattsmart Business program?

To be eligible, you must be a non-residential electric customer of Pacific Power in Washington or California, or Rocky Mountain Power in Utah, Idaho, or Wyoming, and your business must implement energy-efficient upgrades.

Do I need to get approval before purchasing equipment for my project?

Yes, for custom projects, you must confirm with the program before purchasing any equipment.

What documentation do I need to submit after completing my project?

You must submit all required documentation by November 30, 2026, including a completed IRS Form W-9 if required.

What happens if my project requires pre-approval?

If your project requires pre-approval, you must receive incentive offers before August 21, 2026, and complete the work by November 15, 2026.

Can I participate in the program if my business is a small business?

Yes, small businesses can participate, but they must be on rate schedule 24 and have an annual usage of 200,000 kWh or less.

Is there a specific vendor I need to work with for my upgrades?

It's preferred that the work is done by a Wattsmart Business vendor familiar with Pacific Power incentives.

Overview