The Pioneer Community Energy - Ice Energy Program

As Ice Energy will be the owner of the system, the tax incentives will be assigned to Ice Energy.

When a customer sells their property, the contract transfers to the new owner.

While both provide load shifting, Ice Energy’s energy storage is often more cost-effective for cooling loads and does not degrade over time like chemical batteries.

Yes, Ice Energy’s systems include advanced controls and monitoring capabilities. Ice Energy uses an independent cellular network.

By storing energy during off-peak times, Ice Energy enables better use of renewable energy resources like solar and wind, which may not align with peak demand periods.

By shifting loads off the grid during peak hours, Ice Energy reduces strain on the grid, helping to prevent outages and support grid stability, especially during high-demand periods.

A new evaporator coil is installed into the existing air conditioner unit. Refrigerant lines are connected between the Ice Bear and the new evaporator coil in the existing air conditioner. The Ice Bear is then programmed to provide cooling during peak hours.

Depending on the number of Ice Bears to be installed, the installation time is 1-4 weeks. But the total timeline from order to installation is about 2-4 months. This includes time to receive all the relevant customer information, design and permit the system and construction. * These timeframes are dependent on site conditions and local permitting.

Yes, customers can cancel their order and exit the program any time before the Participation Agreement is signed. If a customer exits the program after the system is installed, they must pay an early removal fee and program opt-out penalty.

Yes. When a customer enrolls in the Pioneer Ice Energy program, they agree to allow Ice Energy to install, own, and maintain the Ice Bear system for 20 years. Customers will receive 100% of the savings from the Ice Bears.

Those interested must be Pioneer customers and own or lease their commercial building. If leasing, leaseholder must get landlord approval.

Yes, having an Ice Bear cool your building every day during peak periods significantly increases the lifespan of your AC system, because there are many less hours of operation on the AC compressor.

The Ice Energy headquarters is in Costa Mesa, CA. Ice Bears are manufactured in Hammensport, New York.

Ice Energy maintains, monitors, and completes any equipment repairs for the project's lifetime.

Ice Bear systems are designed to last 20 yrs. The Ice Bears have been operating in other utility programs and have over 70 million operating hours.

No, this one-time fee includes the equipment, installation, permits and the systems are fully maintained by Ice Energy for 20 yrs. The customer will keep 100% of the savings for the next 20 yrs.

The way the program works is as follows: Once installed, the customer will get 100% of the energy savings for the lifetime of the system. Ice Energy will own and operate the system. As the system owner, Ice Energy can claim the available federal tax credits and state rebates for the system. Additionally, because the systems lower the overall demand on the grid during peak periods, Pioneer Community Energy pays Ice Energy a fee for this demand reduction. This is how Ice Energy can provide commercial businesses with Ice Bears at a highly reduced price.

Through the Pioneer Ice Energy program customers pay a highly subsidized, one-time participation fee. The participation fee is determined after the site assessment and based on the existing infrastructure at the property.

Without subsidies the average cost to supply and install an Ice Bear system is approximately $50,000.

Yes, absolutely!Because of TOU (Time of Use) pricing of electricity and peak demand charges, each Ice Bear can save your business about $3500/yr. Plus, if you have multiple AC units, then you can have an Ice Bear can be connected to each one. For example, if you have (10) 10 Ton AC units, you will save $35,000/yr!

The Ice Bear system stores energy in the form of ice. It does this by making ice during the night when electricity rates are lowest and uses this ice (stored energy) to cool your building when electricity rates are highest.

This program is a partnership program between Pioneer and Ice Energy. In this program, Ice Energy is offering Ice Bear systems for a one-time highly subsidized participation fee to commercial customers in Placer County. Each Ice Bear system will save approximately $3500/yr on air conditioning costs. If customers have multiple air conditioners, they can get an Ice Bear for each air conditioner.

When the chilled air is then distributed through the existing HVAC system, and because the thermal storage technology is intelligent, it automatically adjusts to get you the lowest electricity rates possible.

Then when time of use rates are the highest, the ice bear uses a low energy pump to transport the ac coolant through the ice to produce cool air this allows the energy-intensive traditional ac compressor to be shut off to minimize power consumption.

When time of use rates are at their lowest the ice bear freezes water in a specially designed reservoir storing the low cost energy in the form of ice.