Faye H. in Lynchburg. Working with a large church campus that's been on standard commercial rates with Dominion Energy. They have a 200-seat sanctuary, education building with 12 classrooms, fellowship hall, and administrative offices. Total demand around 180kW. Dominion offers Schedule REI for religious institutions with lower demand charges. What documentation have you found necessary to qualify for these special rates?
Religious Institution Rate Qualifications - What Documentation Works?
Alice D. from Staunton. Also in Dominion territory. Got a Methodist church qualified last year. Needed: 1) IRS determination letter showing 501c3 status, 2) Property tax exemption records, 3) Articles of incorporation showing religious purpose, 4) Letter from pastor describing facility usage. The education building was the tricky part - had to prove it was used primarily for religious education, not general community programs.
Alice, thanks! The education building concern is spot-on. They do rent out classrooms to a daycare during weekdays and have community meetings in the fellowship hall. Does that disqualify them or is there a percentage threshold for religious vs secular use?
Faye, Dominion's tariff requires 'primarily religious use' but doesn't specify a percentage. The daycare rental might be problematic depending on the hours and revenue. If it's just a few hours and minimal income compared to the religious mission, should be okay. The community meetings are probably fine if they're church-sponsored or charitable in nature. Document everything and emphasize the religious purpose in your application.