The custom program allows its customers with qualifying gas meter accounts to engage with a third-party contractor to survey and repair steam traps.  The survey is covered at 100% as long as the repairs to failed traps are made within 90 days from the survey.  The custom rebate offsets the installation cost at rates of $2 per therm for any customer, to $3 per therm for baseline qualified customers. 

The custom rebate program addresses only traps that test failed at the time of the initial survey.  This can leave traps that fail any time after the initial survey and until the next survey in a failed state. The program can be repeated every 2 (two) calendar years.

While this program is helpful to maintain steam traps, many traps may be in a failed state for months or years before they can be repaired.  Also, because traps are only eligible for repairs every 6 (six) calendar years,  some traps may fail but not be eligible for repairs until the 6-year term has expired.

The prescriptive program allows NG customers to apply for reimbursement for retrofit to any steam trap.  The incentive provides $100 rebate against repair or replacement cost, regardless of the steam trap condition, so long as the steam trap has not been reimbursed for repair or replacement by NG within the previous 6 years.

Because the cost of repairs typically exceeds $100 per steam trap, this program is not cost effective to use for comprehensive system management.  Many NG customers engage in Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPC) with Energy Services Companies (ESCO).  Under these programs with 15-year performance periods, the rebate will offset some of the ESPC cost in years 1 and 7.