CenterPoint Energy – Commercial and Industrial Energy Efficiency Programs

Note: This program only applies to electric customers of CenterPoint Energy in the greater Houston area, Texas.

CenterPoint Energy’s Commercial & Industrial Standard Offer Program pays incentives to service providers who install energy efficiency measures in commercial or industrial facilities that are located within its service territories. Participation steps can be found at the above link under the 2023 CSOP Program Manual.

Large commercial customers with a total, single-site maximum peak demand of more than 100 kW or multiple sites with a combined maximum peak demand greater than 250 kW are eligible to participate. Small commercial customers with a total, single-site maximum peak demand of less than 100 kW or multiple sites with a combined maximum peak demand no greater than 250 kW are also eligible Project Sponsors. The project must be implemented at a facility that is operated by a commercial or industrial CenterPoint Energy distribution customer. This “host customer” must be willing to commit to the project, enter an agreement with the Project Sponsor, and provide access to the facility for inspection. Standard Offer incentive vary based upon the technology implemented.

All large projects must achieve a total estimated summer demand reduction of at least 15kW and/or 100,000 kWh during peak summer hours (1 pm to 7 pm May 1st- September 30th excluding holidays). Small commercial facilities may save up to those same amounts. Project Sponsors are required to meet minimum eligibility criteria and sign a standard agreement with CenterPoint, which includes an estimate of how many kW and kWh the project will save and the associated incentive payment amount. Detailed information, including eligible measures and application materials may be found on the web site listed above. 

The Retro-Commissioning (RCx) Market Transformation Program offered by CenterPoint Energy promotes the tune-up of major energy-consuming systems in existing commercial buildings, including manufacturing facilities, hospitals, educational campuses, retail stores etc. Typical RCx Measures include HVAC Temperature Reset, Outside Air Reduction, Optimize HVAC Start-Up, Lighting (de-lamping, day-lighting, etc.), VFD’s; etc. The 2022 RCx Program Manual can be found at their website.

The Load Management Program is a program in which commercial customers curtail load when notified. Curtailments may occur during the summer peak demand period of each year, defined as weekdays, June 1 through Sept. 30, of each program year, between 1 and 7 p.m. The goal of the Load Management Standard Offer Program is to reduce summer peak demand in the CenterPoint Energy service territory in a cost-effective manner and to reach the demand savings goals established by the legislature and Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) regulations. For more information, customers can email retrocommissioning@CenterPointEnergy.com.