Holland Board of Public Works (HBPW) is committed to aligning its goals with the community’s long-term plans for energy conservation, efficiency, and affordability. Our programs empower customers to make environmentally conscious choices, helping us provide reliable electric and water service while keeping rates affordable.
Questions for our team? Call us at 616.355.1577 or send an email by clicking on one of the buttons below.
Main Programs
Energy Waste Reduction (EWR)
For over a decade, our Energy Waste Reduction (EWR) program has been the cornerstone of our energy efficiency efforts, providing financial incentives for customers to replace existing electric equipment with more energy-efficient electric equipment. Using less electricity than you already do generates carbon savings for the community and cost savings for your wallet. HBPW encourages customers to use less electricity through the EWR program. This initiative supports energy conservation and efficiency, enabling us to serve more customers effectively.
Beneficial Electrification (BE)
The Beneficial Electrification (BE) program incentivizes customers to reduce their use of fossil fuels like gasoline and natural gas. By switching to electricity, customers can achieve a net reduction in carbon emissions, supporting the City of Holland’s Community Energy Plan (CEP) goal of a 50% emissions reduction by 2030. Efficient electric equipment is often cheaper, healthier, and/or more convenient than fossil-fueled equipment. In all cases, we only offer rebates for electrification measures when switching from fossil-fueled equipment creates an expected net carbon savings and saves customers money.
Water Conservation
Water is a precious resource, and Holland BPW is committed to being an exemplary steward of it. Our Water Conservation Program encourages residents to use water wisely, especially during the summer when outdoor water use peaks. By reducing water consumption, we can maintain our water treatment and reclamation facilities more effectively, ensuring better service for all customers. Conserving water helps us avoid costly plant capacity expansions, keeps water rates lower, and supports environmental stewardship. Join us in conserving water and protecting our valuable natural resources for future generations.
Our Team
Jennifer Soukhome, Efficiency Programs Specialist
Jennifer is our residential programs specialist, focusing on developing and refining new programs for electricity and water conservation. She can also help you determine which incentive programs could be best for you and your home.
Jennifer Soukhome, Efficiency Programs Specialist
Jennifer is our residential programs specialist, focusing on developing and refining new programs for electricity and water conservation. She can also help you determine which incentive programs could be best for you and your home.
Harle Battjes, Efficiency Programs Specialist
Harle primarily focuses on serving the needs of our small business customers, recommending energy and water improvements and identifying associated rebates.
Harle Battjes, Efficiency Programs Specialist
Harle primarily focuses on serving the needs of our small business customers, recommending energy and water improvements and identifying associated rebates.
Barry Rutherford, Energy Efficiency Engineer
Barry focuses on our commercial and industrial customers, and works with Harle to assess and recommend upgrades that will save customers energy and money.
Barry Rutherford, Energy Efficiency Engineer
Barry focuses on our commercial and industrial customers, and works with Harle to assess and recommend upgrades that will save customers energy and money.
Karen Hutfilz-Amar, Administrative Assistant
Karen processes the roughly one thousand rebate applications we receive every year from residential, commercial, and industrial customers.
Karen Hutfilz-Amar, Administrative Assistant
Karen processes the roughly one thousand rebate applications we receive every year from residential, commercial, and industrial customers.
Andrew Reynolds, Efficiency Programs Manager
Andrew has been with HBPW for ten years, the last four of which have been leading the Efficiency Programs team. In his role he also oversees the City of Holland’s implementation of its Community Energy Plan (CEP).
Andrew Reynolds, Efficiency Programs Manager
Andrew has been with HBPW for ten years, the last four of which have been leading the Efficiency Programs team. In his role he also oversees the City of Holland’s implementation of its Community Energy Plan (CEP).