Why Now Is the Time to Get an Xcel Energy Audit

An Xcel Energy audit provides valuable insights on your home’s energy efficiency and what you can do to save on your monthly bills. There is no time like the present to have your home fully evaluated by a professional home energy auditor.

Xcel Energy customers in and around the Denver area were dismayed to learn that they will start paying more for electricity under Xcel’s new time-of-use rate. You have a limited time to decide whether to opt out of this program, and your home energy usage will play a major role in determining which rate is right for your household.

REenergizeCO is recognized by Xcel Energy as the top rebate-producing home energy audit contractor. Call our Denver office at (720) 741-7033 today to schedule an audit with our team.

Xcel Energy Time of Use vs. Residential Opt Out Pricing

With the Xcel time of use rate, what you pay for energy varies by the time of day and the season. Customers who will get the most benefit from the time of use rate are the ones who can modify their energy use habits to take full advantage of off-peak pricing (7 p.m. to 1 p.m.).

Using less energy is always a good thing, especially when the power grid is under the highest demand. However, not everyone has the flexibility to adjust their energy consumption. This is a common concern among Xcel customers, from parents with school-aged children to professionals who get home from work during on-peak hours (3 p.m. to 7 p.m.).

The switch to time-of-use pricing represents a sweeping change. However, Xcel Energy is not mandating that all customers make the switch right away. For now, customers have the option to choose residential opt out pricing instead of time of use.

Xcel specifically notes that the opt-out rate may be preferable for “those with inflexible schedules who use their energy during peak time and cannot shift their energy usage ” and “large energy users.”

So, how do you know how much energy you use and whether your usage during on-peak hours is “inflexible”? You can get an idea by reading your energy bill closely every month, but a home energy audit is the only way to get comprehensive insights into your home’s energy efficiency.

What Is an Xcel Energy Audit?

An energy audit is a thorough evaluation of your home by an energy professional. It consists of the following:

• Efficiency and safety inspection of your furnace, water heater, and other combustion appliances 
• Inspecting your HVAC system
• Home insulation inspection
• Checking the seal on doors, windows, and other areas along the exterior of the house
• Blower door test and thermal imaging scan of your home
• Review of your electric bills over the last year

The home energy auditor will also discuss potential efficiency upgrades and provide an estimate for any improvements.

Benefits of an Xcel Energy Audit

Knowledge is power. A home energy audit provides detailed information on your home’s energy efficiency and usage.

The principal benefit of an Xcel Energy audit is the ability to save money. Between home upgrades and insights on how you can adjust your energy usage, an energy audit is often the first step toward significant energy savings.

Home Energy Audits and Time of Use Pricing

Understanding your energy usage is even more important now that Xcel Energy is instituting time-of-use pricing. A home energy audit can help you determine whether you are a “large energy user” or if your schedule makes the time-of-use rate unworkable.

After Xcel Energy has installed a smart meter on your home, you will get a notification that time-of-use pricing will be applied to your bill. You will have about 30 days to let Xcel know that you want to opt-out once you receive this notice. If you are unsure whether time of use or the residential opt-out rate is right for you, you should schedule an Xcel Energy audit as soon as possible.

Book Your Energy Audit with REenergizeCO

Xcel Energy provides up to $200 rebates when customers use a participating contractor for their home energy audit. You can find registered contractors recognized by Xcel via the online Trade Partners Resource Center (select “Home Energy Audits”).

When you click “Next,” you will see a list of contractors whose qualifications meet Xcel’s quality standards. You will find REenergizeCO near the top of the list. This is because our home energy audit team produces more rebates for Xcel Energy customers than any other company in Colorado!

Our energy auditors are experienced and highly trained in building science principles. We provide custom-tailored insights on the energy efficiency of your home, with an emphasis on helping you save money. Our team also handles the rebate paperwork for you.

What Is an Xcel Energy Audit?

Many homeowners want to reduce their energy consumption, whether to save money on their monthly electric bill or because they are concerned about their carbon footprint. However, before they can do so, it is important to understand their home’s energy efficiency.

A home energy audit is a comprehensive solution for assessing energy efficiency. It is the best way to determine which areas of your home are wasting energy and to determine what improvements you need to make.

Xcel Energy serves homeowners in Denver and other areas of the Front Range. If you are an Xcel customer and get a home energy audit, you may be eligible for a rebate as part of the Xcel home energy audit program.

REenergizeCO is a preferred contractor for Xcel Energy Home Energy Audit. We can perform your home energy audit and discuss energy efficiency improvements for your home!

How Much Do I Save on a Home Energy Audit with the Rebate?

Xcel refunds 60 percent of the cost of the home energy audit. The amount of the refund is capped up to $200 based on the services performed.  The cost to you as an Xcel customer is $135.

You pay the contractor upfront, and then the contractor will provide you with the form you submit to Xcel for the rebate. Once the energy auditor provides you with your audit report, you can send in the rebate application.

Xcel Energy only provides rebates if the audit is performed by a preferred contractor. So, it is important to confirm that the company you hire meets Xcel’s requirements for the home energy audit program.

What Happens During the Home Energy Audit?

A home energy audit involves multiple processes to diagnose the efficiency of your house. The audit begins with a trained energy auditor reviewing and analyzing your utility bills. Next is a comprehensive inspection that involves:

• Assessment of the age and condition of your furnace, water heater, HVAC, and other systems
• Evaluation of your home insulation in the attic, crawlspace, and other key areas of your home
• Inspection of doors, windows, and the exterior of the house
• Safety testing of combustion appliances

REenergizeCO also performs a blower door test and thermal imaging of your house as part of the home energy audit.

Blower Door Test

The goal of the blower door test is to evaluate areas of air leakage and air infiltration. When air leaks into or out of your house on a consistent basis, heating and cooling systems have to work harder. As a result, your energy consumption increases.

During the test, all outside windows and doors are closed, and a fan is securely set up at one door. The energy auditor will monitor airflow inside your home as the fan blows to identify potential problem spots.

Thermal Imaging Scan

Thermal imaging detects heat signatures. During home energy audits, we perform thermal imaging of your home as the blower door test progresses. If we find that certain areas show changes in temperature while the outside of the house is sealed, we can determine where you are losing energy.

Another key benefit of thermal imaging is the ability to check insulation performance in walls, ceilings, and other areas. Old and degraded insulation can result in significant energy loss, especially in the hottest and coldest months.

It is important to note that the Xcel Energy rebate for a home energy audit with thermal imaging is only available to homeowners with natural gas service or electric space heating.

Analysis and Estimates

Once all of the inspections and tests are performed, your energy auditor will discuss any energy efficiency issues your home is facing. Based on the problems identified in the audit, the energy auditor can provide you with an estimate for improvements you can make to your home.

Improving your home’s energy efficiency is an investment. The contractor you hire should provide transparent pricing on all services so you can ensure the work fits your budget.

REenergizeCO will also help you coordinate any rebates that you may be available.  We list the Xcel rebates on the report that apply to your home so you can make your decision and see the upfront savings.  

What Else Should I Expect from an Xcel Energy Audit?

A home energy audit generally takes about two hours. This gives the energy auditor enough time to review your bills, inspect your home, and perform the blower door test and thermal imaging scan.

Although you can order a home energy audit anytime, Xcel customers are only eligible for a rebate once every two years. The audit assesses the energy efficiency of single-family homes, duplexes, and structures containing no more than four separate units.

Contact an Xcel Registered Audit Contractor Today

The team at REenergizeCO includes experienced energy auditors certified by the Building Performance Institute (BPI). Professionals with BPI certification have advanced training and knowledge of building sciences and home energy diagnostics.

If you are an Xcel customer in Denver or another Front Range community interested in scheduling a home energy audit, please contact REenergizeCO today. We also perform home energy audits for homeowners in and around Fort Collins and communities served by other utilities.