Who: Sierra Pacific Power IS -1 & IS -2 Agricultural Irrigation customers.

What: Sierra Pacific Power Company is offering cash rebates for select
improvements to agricultural irrigation systems.

Agricultural Irrigation Energy Efficiency Rebates*

When: The program is available March 1, 2010 and will run through November 1, 2010, or until program funds are exhausted.

Why: To help our irrigation customers save money on their utility bills, reduce water consumption and improve crop yield.
How:

1. Call us and let us know what you are doing.
2. Request a post inspection to verify the work has been completed.
3. Mail the completed rebate form along with the contractor's invoice, or
   your receipt showing the materials purchased to:
   Tim Kiersz
   NV ENergy
   P. O. Box 98910
   Las Vegas, NV 89151-0001
   
   
4. Requests for rebates must be submitted before November 1, 2010.
   Contact: Tim Kiersz at NV Energy (702) 402-5399
   email: TKiersz@nvenergy.com
   

*Rebates are available to Nevada IS-1 or IS-2 customers only with a maximum of $1,000.  Funds are limited for this program and are available on a first come first serve basis until available funds are exhausted. 

The Benefits of Improving Irrigation Energy Use

Friction Loss

By using a large diameter pipe on your mainline you can reduce energy costs. By installing a 12" versus a 10" mainline, the payback in reduced energy, or horsepower, takes place inroughly 3 years. Based on 1,200 gpm for a 5 month season at .05 per kWh, ¼ mile mainline).

FACT: It will take 3hp less to push 1,200 gpm in a 12" pipe versus a 10" pipe. 12" pipe cost approximately $1.00 per foot more than a 10" pipe (1,320' x $1.00 = $1,320.00) 3hp x .75 x .05 x 24 hrs x 30 days = $81.00 x 5 month season = $405.00 savings per yr. ($1,320 ÷ by $405 = 3.26 year return).

Water Application

Convert from top impact sprinklers on high-pressure systems to a low-pressure system.

FACT: Low-pressure systems use drop tubes. Studies reveal that 1% more water gets to the ground for every foot of drop tube used.

Motor Efficiencies

Select a high or premium efficiency unit over a standard efficiency unit when replacing or installing a motor.
FACT: You can save from 3% to 5% per month on electric consumption.

Improving Pump Efficiencies

Install variable speed drives (VSD) on existing motors.

FACT: A VSD will decrease motor speed and produce enough pressure to run the pump for the required gpm.
Adjust or replace worn impellers or bowls.

FACT: Worn impellers or bowls will create higher energy consumption. Reduce total dynamic head by changing impeller diameter or motor speed, or using multiple pumps.

FACT: Using multiple pumps and properly sizing impeller diameters and motor speed will reduce energy consumption. Match your pump and motor combination (pumping plant) to your requirements.

FACT: The single greatest contributor to pump inefficiency is over-sizing.

Wells

Proper well construction will improve overall pumping efficiency.

FACT: An existing well is pumping 2,000 gpm from 400.' Proper well construction could have provided the same 2,000 gpm from 300.' This is a savings of 62.5 horsepower. 62.5 hp x .75 x .05 x 24 hrs x 30 days x 5 months = $8,437.50 savings per season. Clean well casings will improve water quantity.

FACT: If your well is more than 20 years old and production has decreased, in certain conditions, cleaning perforations by "brush and swab" can bring water quantity back to the original gpm