It is one thing to be aware of strategies that can help lower electric bills, but it becomes a game changer when rebates and financial incentives are offered to implement the plans. Wednesday, Wayne Ammons spoke to the members of the Vicksburg Warren County Chamber of Commerce about incentives being offered by Entergy Solutions, an Entergy Mississippi program.

Ammons is an energy efficiency contractor for the program.

In his brief power point presentations, Ammons covered the incentives that are being offered, which include the READI program, residential lighting program, energy-efficiency programs for commercial, industrial and governmental customers and the residential heating and cooling and tune-up program.

“The READI program is a residential audit where we will send out team of contractors to your home. They will install 16 CFL lights in your home free, they will go over your HVAC insulation levels, windows and doors and give you a printed report with what they found in your home, and how you can improve your energy efficiency at your residency at no charge whatsoever,” he said.

Ammons said the contractors also show you how your home rates with respect to other homes of your size in the Entergy Mississippi service area.

If a homeowner decides to make energy efficient changes the Entergy Solutions website will provide information on how to qualify for the rebate incentives.

For businesses, incentives are offered for unique or more complex, site-specific projects. These types of custom projects must show specific and verifiable energy savings.

Incentives are calculated on a per project basis and can pay up to $.08/kWh saved.

To participate businesses must submit an application online, said Ammons.

All projects, which can total up to $100,000 must be pre-approved prior to purchase and installation of equipment.

Once a pre-approval is received, the business can move forward with their project, he said.

When final documentation is received and reviewed, a final approval is issued and a check is mailed within four weeks.

Ammons said the incentives are being offered to Entergy Mississippi customers in compliance with rule 29 of the Mississippi Public Service Commission’s Public Utilities Rules of Practice and Procedure, which was adopted in 2013.

For more information on incentives and rebates, call 844-523-9979 or visit EntergySolutionsMS.com.