Diverse Program Ally
Incubator Program
Ready to Apply?
This application should take between 15 and 20 minutes to complete.
To complete the application on a mobile device, first download the application on your mobile device and open it in the Adobe Acrobat app.
For additional information or questions regarding the application process, please contact us at DEIOutreach@wmenergy.com.
By switching to heat supplied through electricity, not only will you save every month on energy costs, but you also have the convenience and reliability of the Ameren Illinois electric delivery system.
Advantage of Switching From Propane to Electric:
• Affordable: Unlike propane and oil heating, electric heating costs remain stable over the years. Electricity is currently a cheaper option for heating and is predicted to remain so for many years.
• Safe and Reliable: With no burning materials, combustible gases or noxious fumes, electric heating is the safest possible heating solution for your home. Efficient electric appliances typically involve heat pumps or induction technology which have become increasingly more reliable versus early versions of those technologies.
• Convenient: The Ameren Illinois electric system is already connected to your home to deliver electricity in a reliable manner. You never need to worry about running low on fuel, scheduling tank refills or maintaining storage tanks.
Improve the heating and cooling efficiency of your home by switching from propane to electric heating options like an air source heat pump. Air source heat pumps offer highly efficient heating and cooling in one integrated system. In the summer, air source heat pumps are air conditioners that pump heat out of your home. In the winter, they reverse, becoming heaters that pump heat into your home.
Benefits of Air Source Heat Pumps:
• Reduced Heating Costs: An ENERGY STAR® certified air source heat pump provides heating for approximately one third the cost of traditional electric baseboard heating, depending on where you live, and approximately half the cost of oil or propane heat. An air source heat pump is so efficient that it can deliver up to three times more heat energy to a home than the electrical energy it consumes.
• Reduced Cooling Costs: During the summer months, a central air source heat pump automatically becomes a central air conditioner. With ENERGY STAR products, you’ll also have reduced cooling bills due to highly efficient operation.
• Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions: An air source heat pump is good for your home and good for the planet. On average, ENERGY STAR certified models avoid more than 4,500 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions over the course of their lifespan compared to standard systems.
• Less Infrastructure: Air source heat pumps offer highly efficient heating and cooling in one integrated system.
Through the Home Efficiency Income Qualified (HEIQ) Initiative, eligible Ameren Illinois customers receive a FREE Home Energy Assessment to learn where your home is losing energy and discover ways to incorporate energy-efficient home improvements like LED lightbulbs, advanced power strips and heat pumps, all at no cost to you!
Benefits of a FREE Home Energy Assessment:
• Energy Usage: Understand how much energy your home is using and what appliances and products are using the most energy.
• Health and Safety: Uncover hidden problems that could be wasting energy and making your home unsafe, like poorly insulated walls and improper ventilation.
• Savings: Identify incentives to help determine budgeting for projects.
• Free Energy-Saving Products: During the Home Energy Assessment, receive FREE installation of energy-efficient products in your home. Propane appliances (furnaces, water heaters, stoves and clothes dryers) may be eligible for free replacement with electric appliances (heat pump water heaters, induction stoves, or heat pump clothes dryers).
Attention Diverse Contractors!
Expand your business into energy efficiency through the Ameren Illinois Energy Efficiency Program.
The Ameren Illinois Diverse Program Ally Incubator supports the development of minorities, women, veterans, differently-abled and LGBTQ+ contractors. Diverse Program Ally Incubator participants will be connected to industry experts and other resources to access energy efficiency project opportunities.
The purpose of the Incubator is to provide focused and professional training as well as customized resources for diverse contractors willing and able to work in the Ameren Illinois service territory to grow their business in the energy efficiency field while becoming eligible to participate as an Ameren Illinois Program Ally. There is no cost to participate in the Incubator.
Program Eligibility Requirements
Contractors selected to participate in the Incubator will be required to sign a release form granting permission for Ameren Illinois to copy, use, alter, distribute, publish and exhibit photographs and/or videos of his/her likeness, company name and company logo in any and all media or form in any and all publications. this release form is for any purpose, including, without limitation, announcements, promotions, advertising, news and/or websites without payment or other compensation. Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements to be considered for the Incubator. The Program will then select a cohort of ten participants for the 2023 Incubator.
Participants must be:
- HVAC, electrical, weatherization, building and envelope as well as general contractors in operation
for at least three years. - Insured to do business in Illinois.
- Certified Diverse Business Enterprise (DBE) or eligible to apply for diverse certification.
- Able and committed to participate virtually in a series of eight weekly training sessions, one afternoon/evening each week for two hours. Date/times will be finalized soon.
- Committed to participating in scheduled one-on-one coaching sessions.
- Willing to sign a release granting Ameren Illinois permission to use any photos and/or videos taken of you, your business and/or your logo during the Incubator for marketing, promotional or other Ameren Illinois business purposes.
- Eligible to do business in the state of Illinois.
By switching to heat supplied through electricity, not only will you save every month on energy costs, but you also have the convenience and reliability of the Ameren Illinois electric delivery system.
Advantage of Switching From Propane to Electric:
• Affordable: Unlike propane and oil heating, electric heating costs remain stable over the years. Electricity is currently a cheaper option for heating and is predicted to remain so for many years.
• Safe and Reliable: With no burning materials, combustible gases or noxious fumes, electric heating is the safest possible heating solution for your home. Efficient electric appliances typically involve heat pumps or induction technology which have become increasingly more reliable versus early versions of those technologies.
• Convenient: The Ameren Illinois electric system is already connected to your home to deliver electricity in a reliable manner. You never need to worry about running low on fuel, scheduling tank refills or maintaining storage tanks.
Improve the heating and cooling efficiency of your home by switching from propane to electric heating options like an air source heat pump. Air source heat pumps offer highly efficient heating and cooling in one integrated system. In the summer, air source heat pumps are air conditioners that pump heat out of your home. In the winter, they reverse, becoming heaters that pump heat into your home.
Benefits of Air Source Heat Pumps:
• Reduced Heating Costs: An ENERGY STAR® certified air source heat pump provides heating for approximately one third the cost of traditional electric baseboard heating, depending on where you live, and approximately half the cost of oil or propane heat. An air source heat pump is so efficient that it can deliver up to three times more heat energy to a home than the electrical energy it consumes.
• Reduced Cooling Costs: During the summer months, a central air source heat pump automatically becomes a central air conditioner. With ENERGY STAR products, you’ll also have reduced cooling bills due to highly efficient operation.
• Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions: An air source heat pump is good for your home and good for the planet. On average, ENERGY STAR certified models avoid more than 4,500 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions over the course of their lifespan compared to standard systems.
• Less Infrastructure: Air source heat pumps offer highly efficient heating and cooling in one integrated system.
Through the Home Efficiency Income Qualified (HEIQ) Initiative, eligible Ameren Illinois customers receive a FREE Home Energy Assessment to learn where your home is losing energy and discover ways to incorporate energy-efficient home improvements like LED lightbulbs, advanced power strips and heat pumps, all at no cost to you!
Benefits of a FREE Home Energy Assessment:
• Energy Usage: Understand how much energy your home is using and what appliances and products are using the most energy.
• Health and Safety: Uncover hidden problems that could be wasting energy and making your home unsafe, like poorly insulated walls and improper ventilation.
• Savings: Identify incentives to help determine budgeting for projects.
• Free Energy-Saving Products: During the Home Energy Assessment, receive FREE installation of energy-efficient products in your home. Propane appliances (furnaces, water heaters, stoves and clothes dryers) may be eligible for free replacement with electric appliances (heat pump water heaters, induction stoves, or heat pump clothes dryers).
Program Schedule
Virtual training workshops will be held every Wednesday beginning in August and conclude in September 2023. A detailed schedule will be provided upon acceptance into the Diverse Program Ally Incubator.
Workshop and Program Timelines
The Incubator will offer participants virtual workshops, one-on-one back office support and networking with industry experts and professionals. The training curriculum will focus on the following topics; however, these topics are subject to change to maintain business relevancy and quality service to participants.
Program Timeline: August through December 2023
Phase I: Training and Development
- Training Webinars
- Orientation and Introduction to Energy Efficiency
- Overview of the Ameren Illinois Energy Efficiency Program
- Business Planning for Growth in Energy Efficiency
- Business Model Canvas
- Project Financing and Other Business Resources
- Understanding the “Whole Home Approach” to Energy Efficiency
- Marketing, Branding, Lead Development and Best Practices
- Delivering an Extraordinary Experience to Every Customer
- Back-Office Support Assessments and Action Plans
- Mentorship Program
Phase II:
- One-on-One Business Coaching
- Continued Back-Office Support
- Continued Mentorship Program
- Energy Efficiency Project Identification and Completion
Phase III:
- Business Model Canvas and Business Growth Plan
- Continued Business Coaching
- Continued Energy Efficiency Project Identification and Application Support
- Graduation
All virtual workshops will be hosted via the Zoom platform. Presentation times are scheduled with an emphasis on minimum disruption to ordinary business operations and will be kept to a maximum of two hours per session.