It’s pretty easy to for me to explain Entergy’s eTech program to business customers: When you purchase electric-powered equipment to replace equipment that runs on fossil fuels, Entergy can give you incentives that range from $100 up to $25,000 per project.
Just select equipment from our list ranging from forklifts to floor scrubbers to electric billboards – or work with us to determine a qualifying custom application. Buy the equipment wherever you want. It’s eligible as long as it’s charged and used within our service territory. Then send us proof of purchase.
Once I explain this, I’ve found there’s one more step to my eTech pitch. I have to convince customers it’s not too good to be true. They often say, “Okay, what’s the catch?” I enjoy assuring them, “There’s no catch. Let me tell you how other businesses have done it.”
Once a customer adopts electric equipment, they typically find the investment pays for itself quickly. They also discover more benefits for their operations, such as reduced maintenance, lower fuel consumption, a safer, cleaner, quieter, more efficient workplace and a reduced carbon footprint.
The program and Entergy help you.
Our field reps have worked with a range of industries to solve problems by adopting electric equipment. For example, some of our customers in the food industry are now using electric forklifts to protect product packaging from soot accumulation and create a cleaner work environment for employees.
The program offers more than the cash incentives. Field representatives work with customers to develop plans that maximize their use of electrification. They also connect customers to other resources including grants and industry standards – some are listed with links on the eTech website.
Why is Entergy making this investment?
Over the past 21 years, I’ve worked in different roles at Entergy involving finance, strategic planning, regulatory and energy efficiency. During this time, I’ve been a part of Entergy’s evolution into a utility that works as a partner to customers in solving problems and using new technologies to meet their business goals, which often include cost-efficiency and environmental stewardship.
In 2015, I helped launch an agricultural electrification program that encourages farm owners and operators to save money by powering their irrigation systems with electricity, rather than diesel, or another fossil fuel. We found that the farmers were very happy with the way our field reps worked with them individually to derive the benefits of using electric pumps. The program was so successful that we used this model to launch the eTech program in 2017. So, one solution led to another solution. It’s an exciting way of working.
At Entergy we call this process of working with customers “designing the utility of the future.” I think our voluntary electrification programs are a good example. Through a shift to expanded use of electricity, individual customers benefit while they help keep rates lower for everyone in our community and help protect our environment.
If you want to know more about eTech and Entergy’s electrification programs, please contact me. I’d like to show you how these programs are not too good to be true.
