Midstream customer

October Windstorm

We understand the stress and disruption that power outages can cause and we appreciate your patience as we work to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.

Crews have made excellent progress, and we expect the majority of customers to have power restored overnight. There will be some customers, mostly in Pierce and Thurston Counties, where it will take longer to restore power. Areas of focus in Thurston County include Boston Harbor, Pattison and Black Lake, downtown and southeast Lacey. In Pierce County, crews are patrolling lines serving Carbonado and Wilkeson, removing downed trees and restoring power. Crews are also working in the Rhodes Lake area, where damage is still considerable.

The outages that are likely to remain into tomorrow will affect smaller, more localized, groups of customers. These take time to repair as crews go from site to site to make repairs and restore power. Crews will continue to work around the clock until power is restored to all customers.

We are also watching the weather forecast and the potential for strong winds tonight in East King and Pierce counties. High winds could increase the number of outages or might delay current restoration efforts if conditions are not safe for our crews to continue to work for a period of time.

Residential Midstream HVAC

The Puget Sound Energy (PSE) Midstream HVAC program is designed to promote the benefits of energy-efficient HVAC heating systems. Distributors can pass through a discount if the unit being purchased meets the criteria below.

Rebates are available for:

Heat Pumps

End-use customers* can expect the equipment rebate from their contractor. Ask your contractor or distributor about receiving a discount on your new high-efficiency electric heat pump equipment. Find a contractor here.

Reference Tables 1-3, below, for qualifying products. Equipment incentives are passed down to end-use customers* through participating distributors.

*End-use customers are PSE electric customers who purchase qualifying equipment from a participating distributor or contractor.

For commercially sized systems visit our Commercial Midstream program.

Heat Pumps

Table 1: SEER2/HSPF2 rated residential air-cooled heat pumps (<5.4 tons)

Limit 1 unit per residential retrofit project. Limit 2 per residential new construction project.

EQUIPMENT / PROJECT TYPE	TIER	SEER2	HSPF2	Rebate ($ PER UNIT)
Air-source heat pumps Mini-/multi-split, split, or packaged Retrofit or new construction	3	16	9.5	$600 total rebate $210 to Distributor/ Contractor $390 to End-Use Customer
Air-source heat pumps Mini-/multi-split, split, or packaged Retrofit or new construction	2	15.2	8.5	$400 total rebate $130 to Distributor/ Contractor $270 to End-Use Customer
Air-source heat pumps Mini-/multi-split, split, or packaged Retrofit only	1	15.2	8.1	$300 total rebate $90 to Distributor/ Contractor $210 to End-Use Customer

What is SEER(2)? HSPF(2)?

Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER/SEER2) is most commonly used to measure the efficiency of a central air conditioner. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the system. SEER measures how efficiently a cooling system will operate over an entire season. In technical terms, SEER is a measure of the total cooling of a central air conditioner or heat pump (in Btu) during the normal cooling season as compared to the total electric energy input (in watt-hours) consumed during the same period. This measure of efficiency is specific to the temperate climate in the middle of the U.S. Recently testing procedures have been refined to introduce the SEER2 rating.

Heat Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF/HSPF2) is the most commonly used measure of a heat pumps heating efficiency. The higher the HSPF, the more efficient the heat pump. In technical terms, HSPF represents the total heating output of a heat pump (including supplementary electric heat) during the normal heating season (in Btu) as compared to the total electricity consumed (in watt-hours) during the same period. Recently testing procedures have been refined to introduce the HSPF2 rating.

Source: www.energystar.gov
Ductless heat pump facts
A ductless heat pump is a highly energy-efficient heating and cooling system that runs without the energy losses associated with the ductwork of a central forced-air system. As it doesn't require ducts to carry conditioned air, it is the preferred system for additions to your home, newer homes that only require a small space conditioning system or areas of your home that you wish to condition in zones.

Other benefits include:

Ductless heat pumps use between 25 and 50 percent less energy to heat your home

An ultra-quiet fan evenly circulates air, eliminating hot and cold spots

Installation in your home is inexpensive, simple and quick, which makes for little or no disruption

Ductless systems come standard with air conditioning, so you can get rid of window units
Air-source heat pump facts

An air-source heat pump is a high-efficiency heating and cooling system that can deliver between one-and-a-half and three times more heat energy to a home than the electrical energy it uses.

A less efficient panel of electric coils kicks in to provide additional indoor heating when outdoor temperatures fall below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, so it's generally not a preferred system for regions with sub-freezing winter temperatures.

TIP: The installation of a heat pump or air conditioner can sometimes cause a fluctuation in the power supply when your equipment starts. This may result in a visible flicker of the lighting in your home or your neighbors' homes.

To ensure that your heat pump installation does not have a negative effect on power quality, it's important to discuss this issue with your contractor. For additional assistance, call a PSE Customer Construction Services specialist at 1-888-321-7779.