Cycled Air Conditioning

The EnergyWise® Cycled Air Conditioning Program lets your cooling system take an occasional timeout while still keeping your home cool and comfortable, saving you money and energy.
To enroll in the Cycled Air Conditioning Program, you must also enroll or be enrolled in:
- The EnergyWise® Dual Fuel Program, which requires an adequate, whole home back-up heating system; or
- The Peak Shave Water Heating Program, which requires a qualifying water heater; or
- The Stored Water Heating Program, which requires a qualifying water heater.
HOW IT WORKS
Cycled Air Conditioning is an energy conservation program that cycles your ducted air conditioning unit (i.e., air conditioner or air source heat pump) on and off in 15-minute intervals on peak demand days. Control times may be as many as 20-25 days per year and usually occur in the late afternoons and early evenings. Because your furnace fan continues to circulate cold air, most people don’t notice that the air conditioner is being cycled.
To enroll: It is easy to add Cycled Air Conditioning to an existing qualifying Dual Fuel Heating or electric water heating system enrolled in an EnergyWise® program. Start by contacting the Energy Service Department at (800) 962-0655 to start your enrollment.
CYCLED AIR CONDITIONING REQUIREMENTS AND BENEFITS
-
Air source heat pumps enrolled on this program must also be enrolled on the EnergyWise® Dual Fuel program.
- To participate, you need a Dual Fuel metering package.*
-
Participants receive energy used for cooling and heating at the reduced EnergyWise® electric rate.
- Central air conditioners enrolled in the program need to be 240-Volt; 120-Volt systems are not allowed.
-
Rebates are available for new air source heat pumps installed by a Quality Install registered contractor.
*Contact Stearns Electric Association for information on what type of metering package would work best for you. If your account requires a subtractive metering solution, Stearns Electric provides this equipment at no charge, but you, the member, are responsible for installation.
2026 Air source heat pump tune-up rebate
Stearns Electric Association offers a $100 rebate for qualifying Air Source Heat Pump tune-ups.
2026 central air conditioning Tune-up REBATE
Stearns Electric Association offers a $25 rebate for qualifying Central Air Conditioning tune-ups.
Rebate Information
NOTE: ASHP and AC tune-up must be completed within Stearns Electric’s service territory before September 1, 2026. Rebates will be issued as a credit on your electric bill.
SIGN UP TODAY
Contact our Energy Services department during business hours at (800) 962-0655.