Here, inconsistencies remain about test methodology, dynamometer calibration, rating calculations, statistical sampling, and other factors. However, work is ongoing to resolve the issues and harmonize some procedural differences across industry segments. Other incentives Energy rebates from electric utilities and suppliers provide another incentive to some users of higher efficiency motors. Approximately 30 U.S. electric utilities presently offer incentives to increase the efficiency of power distribution grids, according to Chris Cockrill, project manager with the U.S. Department of Energy, Best Practices, Motor Systems. These incentives are demand-side energy management tools left over from earlier electrical utility programs, rather than recent steps to fight ongoing energy shortfalls.
Utilities also offer incentive programs to decrease energy use at the application level.
Adjustable-speed drives and soft motor starters become significant here. Products Most motor manufacturers offer more than one class of efficient motors. With the coming of EPAct, North American manufacturers have added a line of motors to meet the law's requirements. At the same time, they upgraded their existing efficient motor lines under a higher efficiency class. Production volumes of the three classes are being tracked.