Energy Audits

On-Line Energy Audit

Click here and see how much you could save by upgrading windows, insulation, heating systems and more. You can even see how much you can save simply by changing your thermostat setting.

And click here to download an Excel spreadsheet that will help you calculate your home's energy use. Just fill in the approximate number of hours that you use these appliances, in the Hours/Mo column, or fill in the appropriate dollar amount, and it will calculate an estimated bill for you. You'll get to see what's costing you the most, and what costs the least.

In-Person Energy Audit

Midwest Electric offers three levels of in-person energy audits:

• Over-the-phone – simply call us at 1-800-962-3830 and our customer service representatives or energy advisors can analyze your energy use and help you determine where your energy dollars are going – and how you can save. No charge for this service.
• In-Person Basic Audit - This is no cost. We will do a walk-through at your home or business and identify areas of potential savings and help you better understand where you are using energy.
• In-Person Advanced Audit – This service features a blower door test to determine air infiltration problem areas and an extensive follow-up report with specific recommendations. This service is provided by a RESNet certified HERS rater. Your cost - $95. Or, for $195, you can have the same service PLUS have your home rated, scored and certified, receive another report featuring predicted savings from efficiency upgrades and a list of those upgrades prioritized in terms of cost and payback.

Click here to request an In-Person Basic or Advanced Audit.

Tax Credits & Weatherization Assistance

The federal economic stimulus bill includes a number of new or expanded tax credits for energy efficiency improvemnts, as well as an expansion of the Federal Weatherization Assistance Program. Please click here for more information.

101 Energy Saving Tips

These are simple things you can do to start saving energy and money today! Just click here for the list, 101 Low Cost Energy-Saving Tips

Checking Your Meter & Electric Circuits

Electric meters are very reliable and accurate. Typically, if a meter goes bad it would slow down...not speed up. Sometimes, a problem - such as an electrical short - may occur with your appliances or home wiring. Here is a method to test your circuits:

Do a breaker test as follows, first on your 220 volt items (ie, water heater, AC unit, clothes dryer, etc.). Have someone watching the meter, and have someone at the breaker box to turn off each breaker for each of those larger appliances one at a time. For example, turn off the water heater breaker and if this slows down the meter considerably then there may be a problem with the water heater such as a heating element. Turn that breaker back on and proceed to check additional breakers. If the meter was spinning fast and the breaker test slows it down then this will help determine which appliance may need to be checked.

Alternatively, you could turn off all breakers including the main breaker. Then have someone watch the meter while you turn on each breaker separately until one makes the meter spin fast.

Water Heaters

Electric Cost:
(40,032 / 3,413 / .92 efficiency) x $0.09 = $1.15 per day

Propane Equivalent:
(40,032 / 91,500 / .60 efficiency) x Y = 0.73Y
Solve for Y:
$0.73Y = $1.15
Y = $1.57
So, Propane would have to cost less than $1.57 per gallon in order for it to be more economical than electricity for water heating (based on the Assumptions).

Natural Gas Equivalent:
(40,032 / 100,000 / .60 efficiency) x Y = 0.67Y
Solve for Y:
$0.67Y = $1.15
Y = $1.72
So, Natural Gas would have to cost less than $1.72 per ccf (or $17.20 per mcf) for it to be more economical than electricity for water heating (based on the Assumptions).

Heating Comparison

Electric Resistance:
(1,000,000 / 3,413 / 1) x $0.09 = $26.37 per million BTU

Propane Equivalent:
(1,000,000 / 91,500 / .8 efficiency) x Y = 13.66Y
Solve for Y:
$13.66Y = $26.37
Y = $1.93
So, Propane would have to cost less than $1.93 per gallon for it to be more economical than electric resistance heat (ie, baseboard).

Natural Gas Equivalent:
(1,000,000 / 100,000 / .8 efficiency) x Y = 12.50Y
Solve for Y:
$12.50Y = $26.37
Y = $2.11
So, Natural Gas would have to cost less than $2.11 per ccf (or $21.10 per mcf) for it to be more economical than electric resistance heat (ie, baseboard).

Electric Air-Source Heat Pump:

(1,000,000 / 3,413 / 2.0 efficiency) x $.09 = $13.18 per million BTU

Propane Equivalent:
(1,000,000 / 91,500 / .8 efficiency) x Y = 13.66Y
$13.66Y = $13.18
Y = $0.96
So, Propane would have to cost less than 96 cents per gallon for it to be more economical than an air-source heat pump (based on the Assumptions).

Natural Gas Equivalent:
(1,000,000 / 100,000 / .8 efficiency) x Y = 12.50Y
Solve for Y:
$12.50Y = $13.18
Y = $1.05
So, Natural Gas would have to cost less than $1.05 per ccf (or $10.50 per mcf) for it to be more economical than an air-source heat pump.

Electric Geothermal:

(1,000,000 / 3,413 / 3.0 efficiency) x $.09 = $8.79 per million BTU

Propane Equivalent:
(1,000,000 / 91,500 / .8 efficiency) x Y = 13.66Y
$13.66Y = $8.79
Y = $0.64
So, Propane would have to cost less than 64 cents per gallon for it to be more economical than geothermal (based on the Assumptions).

Natural Gas Equivalent:
(1,000,000 / 100,000 / .8 efficiency) x Y = 12.50Y
Solve for Y:
$12.50Y = $8.79
Y = $0.70
So, Natural Gas would have to cost less than $0.70 per ccf (or $7.00 per mcf) for it to be more economical than geothermal.

Fuel Cost Comparisons - the "break even" price

We are often asked, what is the break even price for propane vs electricity, or for natural gas vs electricity. In other words, at what price per gallon (or price per mcf) is propane (or natural gas) more economical than electricity for heating or water heating.

To find this magical price, we'll use the following assumptions:

• 80% efficiency propane (or natural gas) furnace (standard)
• 60% efficiency propane (or natural gas) water heater (standard)
• 100% efficiency electric resistance heat (baseboard, ceiling cable)
• 200% efficiency air-source heat pump (standard)
• 300% efficiency geothermal heat pump (standard)
• 92% efficiency electric water heater (standard)
• 100,000 BTU per ccf of natural gas
• 3,413 BTU per kilowatt hour of electricity
• 91,500 BTU per gallon of propane
• Midwest Electric standard residential rate, $0.07 per kWh
• 40,032 BTU per day in water heating energy use
• 80 million BTU annual home heating