Thank you to everyone who was able to join us at the TA Appreciation event on March 28 at Boulevard Brewery. Congratulations to the companies who took home awards that evening!

After years of advocacy to reinstate the tax credits for both residential and commercial installation of geothermal heat pumps, a five-year extension of the tax credit through 2021 was included in the budget deal that passed on February 9. Other renewable technologies, such as fuel cells and small wind farms, also received extensions.

The reinstated tax credits are retroactive to January 1, 2017. The language also changes an important consideration for commercial geothermal heat pump projects, making them eligible if commenced by January 1, 2022, rather than placed in service.​

Source: The National Groundwater Association, http://www.ngwa.org/Media-Center/news/Pages/2018-02-12-geothermal-tax-credits.aspx

New Learning Center

Your KCP&L Residential Rebate Team is launching a Learning Center this winter to all Trade Allies wishing to participate. The FREE Learning Center includes courses that qualify as Building Performance Institute credits, and will soon include trainings in Manual J as well as other Home Performance topics. The team will also be adding trainings on best practices and other program-specific topics over the next couple of months. 
 

Don't Forget We Need Your TAPA!

All trade allies are required to submit a revised Trade Ally Participation Agreement (TAPA), a copy of your current liability insurance, and a copy of your business license. Email the documents to residentialrebates@kcpl.com, or provide hard copies to your Outreach Specialist during your Winter visits. Please submit this information to us no later than March 15. Click here for the TAPA.  
 

Program Achievements 

Positive environmental impacts:

• Saved 18,500,000 pounds of coal from being burned
• Enough savings to power over 2,500 homes
• Saved over 41,000,000 miles of greenhouse gas emission created by cars each year
   

Top 20 Ranking

Total Equipment Applications (HP & AC) for calendar year 2017
 
 

Winter Outreach Team Visits 

Your Outreach Specialists have been scheduling field visits this winter. We will collect revised Trade Ally Participation Agreements, sign interested Trade Allies up for our free Learning Center, and present your Trade Ally Dashboards. The Dashboard shows your program performance during the previous year by showing heat maps of your service area and other useful information about your program participation.

Give your Outreach Specialist a call if you need a refresher on submitting applications, program assistance, or have any questions.

Heat Pump Promotion

KCP&L is sponsoring a special promotion in which we are offering a $100 spiff to all KCP&L Authorized Trade Allies for every heat pump installation (replacing an existing heat pump or electric heating equipment) between April 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018.

Here’s how it works: 

• KCP&L Authorized Trade Ally Companies will receive a $100 spiff for each heat pump installed with an accompanying rebate application during the promotion.
• Heat pump must be installed between April 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018.
• Heat Pump promotion includes all heat pumps, including ground source and mini-splits.

All Trade Allies are automatically enrolled in the promotion, no additional paperwork or registration is required.

Efficiency Analysis Program Tips & Information

We would like to reinforce a few key points for the new EA Program. 

Click to download the PDF Guide to the System Efficiency Analysis Report with Post-Data Collection and the Heating and Cooling Program Efficiency Analysis Form

• Please leave no field or section blank in the forms. All fields are required.
• Meter ID is now an alternative to the customer’s KCP&L account number. In order to use Meter ID, please enter 10 (ten) zeros in the account number field and make sure to enter the meter ID field. KCP&L Meter ID or customer account number must be included or your submission will not be processed.
• Static Air Pressure Test Readings – There currently is no specific field on the Post-Data Collection Form to enter this data. However, it is necessary to do the test for the Calculated CFM asked for in the Capacity Calculation section. Use the blank field in the Dry Bulb and Wet Bulb section to enter the static air pressure findings.
• Furnace Stickers – We currently have plenty in stock. Be sure to let us know when you’re low on quantities.
• Marketing – To promote the new Efficiency Analysis, content is available on the KCP&L website. In addition, a bill insert is being distributed this month to Missouri customers. KCP&L is also promoting the EA in general to all customers in the quarterly newsletter, The Wire, mailed in bills.
  • In addition, our new “Rebate Hunter” campaign has started this month, focusing on all rebate programs.

As a reminder, you can find marketing samples on the Trade Ally portal.

KCP&L Trade Ally Award Ceremony

To celebrate the end of a great year launching KCP&L's Heating and Cooling Rebate, the Home Energy Savings Team held our first annual Trade Ally Award Ceremony on March 30th at Arrowhead Stadium. Special thanks to distributors O’Connor, Goodman and Lennox for sponsoring the event, and thanks to everyone who attended! There were raffle prizes and gift bags given out to commemorate the event. Awards were given to congratulate our Trade Allies with the most applications, quickest application turnaround, highest application accuracy and most electric demand savings. 

Appreciation Event Award Winners
Production from 04/01/2016 - 03/01/2017  
Minimum 15 Apps Received

Large = 20+ Employees
Medium = 5-20 Employees
Small = 1-5 Employees

Number of Applications Received
                Large - Midwest Heating, Cooling & Plumbing
                Medium - Buckner's Heating & Cooling Co.
                Small - Lee's Summit Heating and Cooling

Average Cycle Time - Install Date to Application Entry
                Large - United Heating Cooling and Plumbing
                Medium - Rudroff Heating & Air Conditioning
                Small - All American Heating & Cooling, Inc.

Flaw Percentage
                Large - Climate Control Heating & Cooling, Inc.
                Medium - Geist Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc.
                Small - Comfort Systems Heating & Cooling

Overall Most KW Savings
                Midwest Heating, Cooling & Plumbing

Top Five Trade Allies Submitting Efficiency Analysis Applications Processed Through May 15th

 
   

Energy Efficiency Analysis Rebate
 KCP&L rolls out the A/C or Heat Pump Efficiency Analysis Rebate this week. Trade Allies that provide a KCP&L Efficiency Analysis (EA) along with their regular system tune-up are eligible for a rebate, enabling them to offer the EA free of charge to the homeowner. The Trade Ally provides their regular tune-up, ensuring that the home owner’s system is performing as well as possible. As an added value, an EA report quantifies how efficiently the system is operating. The EA test consists of airflow and other system measurements. This data is used to calculate the operating capacity of the cooling system, and benchmark system weak points. The resulting report will be provided to the homeowner by KCP&L. It will identify future opportunities for the Trade Ally to help the customer maintain system efficiency, as well as provide data to the program to improve future program offerings. In order to be eligible for the $80.00 rebate, the EA must be completed at the time of the system tune-up.

• Missing information (itemized invoice, incomplete invoice, etc.)
• A difference in the rebate total amount
• Customer name on the KCP&L account not matching invoice customer name
  ​

Co-Op Marketing Program
The KCP&L Trade Ally Co-Op Marketing Program will provide active Authorized-Trade Allies with matching advertising funds to assist in the promotion of HVAC equipment eligible for rebates through the KCP&L Heating and Cooling Rebate. Authorized-Trade Allies will be able to reserve up to $2,000 in matching funds to cover up to 50% of the cost of placing co-branded advertisements that promote the Trade Ally and the KCP&L rebates. All advertising funded through the Co-Op Marketing Program must take place between April 1 and August 31, 2017, and specifically mention “heat pumps.” Co-op funding will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Starting March 22 reservations will be accepted via the Trade Ally Portal to ensure a proper distribution of funds by order of receipt of the request. Program details and marketing templates are available on the portal in the Marketing Materials tab under the Marketing Resources section. Please contact your Outreach Specialist if you have any questions about applying for co-op funds or about the process.

Kansas City Home Show

Program Update



We are currently at 24% of goal in the KCP&L Missouri Operations area and  of goal in the Greater Missouri Operations area for April 1, 2016 through March 31, 2018. Keep those rebate requests coming in!  

Submitting your rebate applications just got a whole lot easier! Interested in completing your customer rebates right on your smart phone or tablet directly from the field? From submitting details about the customer's home to the Customer Terms and Conditions, and invoice, this app will save you time, reduce paperwork and help eliminate data entry errors; you can just take a picture!

Training includes introduction and overview of Power Rebate App™, account setup and management as well as application creation and submission.

Who should attend: Lead Installers, Installation Managers and Supervisors, Owners, and others involved in submitting rebates.

We’ll be hosting several conveniently located training courses as well as webinars throughout the month of December. Please attend or join which ever training is most accommodating to your location and schedule.

Upcoming in-person training

Date: Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Time: 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location: Lennox
               11350 Strang Line Road
                Lenexa, KS 66215

RSVP here for the Morning training

RSVP here for the Afternoon training
 
Date: Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Time: 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location: Comfort Products
                15470 W. 110th Street
                 Lenexa, KS 66219

RSVP here for the Morning training

RSVP here for the Afternoon training

Date: Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Time: 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location: O'Connor Co.
                16910 W. 116th Street
                 Lenexa, KS 66219

RSVP here for the Morning training

RSVP here for the Afternoon training

Date: Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Time: 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location: Goodman Manufacturing
                2716 NE Independence Ave.
                Lee's Summit, MO 64064

RSVP here for the Morning training

RSVP here for the Afternoon training

If you are not available to attend an in-person training, be sure to join one of our upcoming webinar sessions listed below.

Date: Monday, December 5, 2016
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
RSVP here

Date: Monday, December 12, 2016
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
RSVP here

Mark Your Calendars - Power Rebate App™ Webinar November 30th

Submitting your rebate applications just got a whole lot easier! Interested in completing your customer rebates right on your smart phone or tablet directly from the field. From submitting details about the customer's home to uploading your invoice, this app will save you time, reduce paperwork and help eliminate data entry errors; you can just take a picture!

Webinar includes introduction and overview of Power Rebate App™. For those who participate, your outreach manager will also follow-up with on-site training where you can get hands on experience working with the app.
 

Who should attend: Lead Installers, Installation Managers and Supervisors, Owners, and others involved in submitting rebates.
 
Date: Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Morning Webinar: 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.

Afternoon Webinar: 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.

RSVP here for the Morning Webinar
RSVP here for the Afternoon Webinar

November Friendly Reminder

Find co-branded marketing materials (social media toolkit, door hanger and postcard) on the Trade Ally Portal to promote KCP&L rebates to your customers.

News Flash: Commissioning Report is No Longer A Requirement 

A Commissioning Report is no longer required when submitting a rebate on the Online Intake Tool (OIT).

Breaking News: Energy Savings Kit is No Longer a Requirement for Insulation and Air Sealing Rebate

We have a new development! The Energy Savings Kit is no longer a requirement for customers to participate in the Insulation and Air Sealing Rebate. Customers will still be required to get the comprehensive energy audit.
As a reminder, even though it’s now not required, as with all the other KCP&L rebates and programs, the Energy Savings Kit is still a great offering to be sure your customers are aware of. Thanks for your valued partnership!
If you have any questions, please contact us at residentialrebates@kcpl.com.

Expiring Tax Credits

Federal Tax Credits are set to expire at the end of the year.
This provides you the perfect opportunity to remind your customers of the limited time for these tax credits, while pairing with KCP&L rebates, to make the end of the year a great time to replace an inefficient system or a stand-alone ECM as customers are upgrading their furnace.
Here is a link to the ENERGY STAR® website with information on Heating and Cooling Federal Tax Credits that are set to expire at the end of the year.
As a reminder, here are the tax credit amounts:

• Central Air Conditioning - $300
• Air-Source Heat Pump - $300
• Heat Pump Water Heater – $300
• Geothermal Heat Pump – 30% of total installation cost (no cap)

You can also share with your customers, information on the KCP&L Heating and Cooling Rebate by directing them to our website.

The Fall Promo is Still On, but Ending Soon!

Only you, a KCP&L-Authorized Trade Ally, can offer rebates to our shared customers, this is something that we want you to be able to use to set yourself apart from some of the competition . And we want to help you be successful in your heat pump sales this fall! Therefore KCP&L is sponsoring a special promotion – a $25 spiff to all KCP&L-Authorized Trade Allies for every heat pump installation (replacing an existing heat pump or electric heating equipment) during October and November.

Here's how it works:

• KCP&L-Authorized Trade Ally Companies will receive a $25 spiff payment every 2 weeks for each heat pump installed and accompanying rebate application during the spiff.
• Heat pump must be installed between October 1 - November 30, 2016.
• Heat Pump promotion includes all heat pumps, including ground source and mini-splits.
• No spiffs will be paid for installations after November 30, 2016, however applications for heat pumps installed in October and November can be submitted after November 30, but must be received by December 31, 2016.
• All KCP&L-Authorized Trade Allies are automatically enrolled for the spiff promotion, no registration is required.

Let us know how else we can support you this fall so we can help you sell, sell, sell!!

Notable Tip for Online Intake Tool (OIT)

Did you know when you are submitting a rebate application on the OIT, you can leave a note for the processor? If there is something you need to clarify in the application, feel free to enter comments in the Project Notes section and the processor will be able to see it.

Just follow these 6 easy steps:

*The Notes section is only available after you submit the application.
1. After you click “Submit”, return to your list of applications.
2. Find the application you want to add notes to, and in the far right column, click on the “Action” arrow and select “Review”.

3. In the navigation menu in the upper left corner, click on “Rebate Information”.  This is where the Notes section is located.

4. Under the Project Information section, you’ll see the Project Notes section.
5. Click on “Add Note” and enter your comments in the pop-up window.
6. When finished, click Save and then click “Continue”. Notes entered in this section will then be uploaded and become part of the application.

If you have any questions on how adding a note, please contact your Outreach Manager.

Program Update
We’re currently at 51% of our goal for this program year and have four months, until March 31, 2017 to hit 100%. Remember there are plenty of incentives available, so no need to hold back!

Federal Tax Credits are set to expire at the end of the year.
 
This provides you the perfect opportunity to remind your customers of the limited time for these tax credits, while pairing with KCP&L rebates, to make the end of the year a great time to replace an inefficient system or a stand-alone ECM as customers are upgrading their furnace.
 
Here is a link to the ENERGY STAR® website with information on Heating and Cooling Federal Tax Credits that are set to expire at the end of the year.
 
As a reminder, here are the tax credit amounts:

• Central Air Conditioning - $300
• Air-Source Heat Pump - $300
• Heat Pump Water Heater – $300
• Geothermal Heat Pump – 30% of total installation cost (no cap)

You can also share with your customers, information on the KCP&L Heating and Cooling Rebate by directing them to our website.
 

KCP&L Heating and Cooling Rebate - 2016 Fall Heat Pump Promotion

KCP&L is continuing to heavily market the Heating and Cooling Rebate to our mutual customers through bill inserts, Valpak coupons, direct mail, email, radio and online advertising this fall. Many of which promote high-efficiency heat pumps and highlight that now, as the temperatures are dropping, is the time to take advantage of the great savings being offered.

In an effort to help drive your heat pump sales this fall, KCP&L is sponsoring a special promotion where we are offering a $25 spiff to all KCP&L-Authorized Trade Allies for every heat pump installation (replacing an existing heat pump or electric heating equipment) during October and November.

Here’s how it works:

• KCP&L-Authorized Trade Ally Companies will receive a $25 spiff payment every 2 weeks for each heat pump installed and accompanying rebate application during the spiff.
• Heat pump must be installed between October 1 - November 30, 2016.
• Heat Pump promotion includes all heat pumps, including ground source and mini-splits.
• No spiffs will be paid for installations after November 30, 2016, however applications for heat pumps installed in October and November can be submitted after November 30, but must be received by December 31, 2016.
• All Trade Allies are automatically enrolled for the spiff promotion, no additional paperwork or registration is required.
• Updates on how many spiffs are being awarded will be shared in the Trade Ally Portal News section on a weekly basis (you’ll need your Trade Ally portal log-in to access this page, it’s the same as your company’s OIT log-in).

Questions? Please contact Terry Kemper (816) 730-7613, Manny Cano (816) 920-3700, or Mike Trainor (913) 258-4061.