Low-Income and Multifamily EE Programs

Last Updated: July 2021

Low-Income Programs

Georgia Power’s Energy Assistance for Savings and Efficiency (EASE) program is an income qualified program open to both single-family homeowners and multifamily property owners. Eligible single-family customer’s household income must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Qualified multifamily properties must serve a dominate percentage of residents whose household incomes are at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines. Program participants will receive a complimentary in-home assessment by a Certified BPI Building Analyst. The in-home assessment includes blower door testing (if it can be performed safely), combustion safety testing, energy education about their residence and the direct install measures for their residence. Qualified participants may receive the following direct install measures: Led Lightbulbs, Smart programmable thermostat(s), water heater insulating jacket and/or pipe wrapping. Based on the in-home assessment additional services may be installed by a program contractor, such as: Attic Insulation, Air Sealing, Duct Sealing or an HVAC tune-up.

In addition to the EASE program, the residential Home Energy Improvement Program (HEIP) has a $500,000 carve out to support income qualified multifamily dwellings as well as targeted efforts within all residential programs. The Small Commercial Direct Install program (SCDI) also focuses on improvements in low-income communities. Georgia Power also provides funding to HopeWorks, which serves income-qualified seniors with a complimentary in-home assessment to identify potential energy-saving opportunities, followed by home-energy improvements. 

Atlanta Gas Light provides funds to third party administrators—such as the Salvation Army and HopeWorks—to support low-income energy efficiency and assistance. AGL administers an appliance relief program which seeks to repair, replace and upgrade unsafe low efficiency gas equipment and customer piping for low-income customers

In 2021, Georgia Power achieved 12,627 MWh savings from its low-income programs while spending $3,187,734 on its low-income programs and serving 149.. In 2021, we were unable to verify savings, spending, and customers for AGL’s low-income programs.

The City of Atlanta funds the Heritage Owner-Occupied Rehab (OOR) Program, which provides up to $30,000 to eligible Atlanta residents in forgivable loans to make critical health and safety repairs on their homes. The program provides priority to seniors, military veterans, disabled heads of households, and those who have been in their homes for more than 15 years. Participants receive energy efficiency upgrades such as new heating and cooling systems, as well as other health and safety repairs. The program is funded under the Housing Opportunity Bond, a $40 million bond issuance unanimously approved and supported by Atlanta City Council in March 2017. 

Multifamily Programs

Georgia Power offers the EarthCents New Home Program for multifamily properties. This program is designed to provide multifamily developers with incentives to construct more energy-efficient buildings that would be built following standard building codes. Georgia Power’s Residential Home Energy Improvement Program (HEIP) promotes a comprehensive, whole house approach to improving the energy efficiency and comfort of existing homes and includes multiple participation paths to appeal to both multifamily and single family residential customers. The residential Energy Assistance for Savings & Efficiency (EASE) program promotes and conducts energy efficiency improvements in existing income-qualified single and multi-family properties through customer education, awareness campaigns, contractor partnerships and training.

In 2021, Georgia Power saved 2,308 MWh from its multifamily programs while spending $1,200,389 and serving 1,317 housing units.

Atlanta Gas Light does not offer energy efficiency programs targeted at multifamily properties at this time.

Last Updated: August 2023

Low-Income Programs

Xcel Energy offers a portfolio of dual fuel programs to serve low-income residential customers, including the Single-Family Weatherization Program, the Low-Income Multifamily Weatherization Program, Low-Income Nonprofit Program, and Low-Income Energy Savings Kit Program. These programs provide no-cost weatherization measures through third-party product implementers. Measures include weatherstripping, insulation, replacement of inefficient furnaces and refrigerators, water efficiency measures, and installation of efficient lighting. Additionally, Xcel offers energy-savings kits to low-income customers. Xcel Energy’s low-income programs target high energy users and elderly customers and streamline eligibility through the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Weatherization Assistance Program income qualifications. Xcel Energy partners with the Colorado Energy Office and Energy Outreach Colorado, which actively work on low-income customer programs.

Energy Outreach Colorado (EOC) implements the utility’s low-income programs. EOC leverages funds from utility rebates, government funding, and donor funds to address health and safety and other needed repairs and measures. Xcel Energy provides $275,000 in utility funds per year to address health and safety threats tied to energy savings, such as boiler and furnace tune-ups, replacements, and water heater replacements. 

In 2021, Xcel Energy’s low-income programs achieved 42,486 MWh and 2.20 MMtherms of energy savings, while spending $4,293,738 and its electric program. The cost of its natural gas low-income program was not available.  In 2019, Xcel Energy served 3,553 electric and 4,420 natural gas households. Households served include those receiving energy-saving kits and those participating in weatherization programs.

Multifamily Programs

Xcel offers the Multifamily Weatherization Program. This comprehensive program provides funding for a wide variety of natural gas and electric equipment retrofits, process improvements, facility audits and studies for low-income multifamily buildings. The company's rebates supplement federal weatherization grants to produce incremental, cost-effective natural gas and electric savings. Each submitted project is evaluated using a custom analysis by the company's energy efficiency engineers to determine cost-effectiveness. In some cases, rebates for additional energy-saving equipment are also made available.

In 2021, Xcel Energy’s Multifamily program achieved  6,103 MWh and 0.03 MMtherms of energy savings, while spending $1,090,890on its electric multifamily programs and $361,269 on its natural gas multifamily programs. Xcel Energy served 50,237 households with its multifamily electric program and 44,593 households with its multifamily gas program.

Last Updated: September 2023

Low-Income Programs

PG&E and SoCalGas jointly offer the Energy Savings Assistance Program to qualified low-income residential customers. The program provides in-home energy education, and direct installation of weatherization and hot water measures, lighting efficiency upgrades, HVAC tune-ups, smart power strips, and refrigerator recycling/replacement at no charge in order to reduce energy consumption in low-income households. The program provides health and safety measures such as the repair and replacement of water heaters and furnaces and minor home repairs. This program is implemented statewide by investor-owned utilities under the direction of the California Public Utilities Commission. It leverages the federal Weatherization Assistance Program, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and Low-Income Weatherization Program offerings.

The ESA Program’s objective is to assist income-qualified customers to reduce their energy consumption and costs while increasing their health, comfort and safety. PG&E has also administered the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program to qualifying customers since 1989. The CARE program provides a monthly discount on energy bills for qualifying single-family residential households, tenants of sub-metered residential facilities, non-profit group living facilities, agricultural employee housing facilities, and migrant farmworker housing centers throughout PG&E’s service area.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CAPUC) strongly encourages utilities to leverage funds for low-income energy efficiency and weatherization. PG&E’s ESA Program leverages water agency, Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and Low Income Weatherization Program (LIWP) funding through individually negotiated agreements with the other agencies.

In 2019, PG&E achieved energy savings of 68,951 MWh, while spending $96,478,592 on its electric low-income programs, and serving  17,169 electric customers. In 2019, SoCalGas saved 0.91 MMtherms from its low-income programs. The number of customers served and spending values for SoCal Gas’s low-income programs in 2019 were not available.

Multifamily Programs

PG&E offers the California New Homes Multifamily Program and Multifamily Cooling Optimizer Program. California New Homes Multifamily Program provides support and incentives for multifamily new construction projects to encourage builders to exceed California’s Title 24 energy efficiency standards. The Multifamily Cooling Optimizer Program is a direct install program focused on HVAC measures in tenant spaces.

In 2019, PG&E achieved 3,578 MWh in energy savings, while spending $6,333,030 and serving 3,322 housing units in 26 multifamily properties.

SoCalGas offers a portfolio of multifamily efficiency programs. The Multifamily Direct Therm Savings Program and the On-Demand Efficiency Program to provide energy audits and installation of energy efficiency measures. The Multifamily Energy Efficiency Rebate Program offers rebates for the purchase and installation of energy efficiency measures in apartment dwelling units, common areas, condominium complexes, and mobile home parks. The Multifamily Whole Building Home Upgrade Program provides a comprehensive long-term building strategy with energy efficiency retrofit measures identified through an investment-grade audit. The Multifamily Home Upgrade Program provides incentives to multifamily properties undergoing major renovations.

In 2019, SoCalGas saved 0.91 MMtherms, while spending $27,907,848 on its multifamily programs and serving 45,201 housing units in 1,815 multifamily properties.

Last Updated: July 2021

Low-Income Programs

Idaho Power offers the Easy Savings Program, which provides income-qualified households with a coupon for a free HVAC tune-up and one-on-one education. Idaho Power partners with Community Action Partnership organizations to deliver the incentives through its service territory. Idaho Power also offers free energy efficiency upgrades to low-income customers. A certified auditor will determine upgrades eligible in a customer’s home, which may include new windows and doors, insulation and weatherstripping, bathroom and kitchen fans, new furnace and water heater, and efficient light bulbs.

Data on spending, savings, and customers served for Idaho Power’s 2021 low-income programs was not available.

At this time, Intermountain Natural Gas does not offer energy efficiency programs targeted at low-income customers.

Multifamily Programs

Idaho Power offers the Multifamily Energy Savings program, which is targeted at property owners and managers. The program offers free energy-saving products, such as ENERGY STAR LED light bulbs, kitchen and bathroom faucet aerators, and water heater pipe wrap. Savings, spending, and participation data for 2021 was not available.

At this time, Intermountain Natural Gas does not offer energy efficiency programs for multifamily units.

Last Updated: September 2023

Low-Income Programs

Both United Illuminating and Southern Connecticut Gas participate in the Home Energy Solutions—Income-Eligible Program (HES-IE) available to qualified low-income residential customers in both single and multifamily buildings. Eversource also runs New Construction, Retail Products, and Residential Financing programs for income-eligible customers. The HES-IE program provides no-cost weatherization measures and low-cost energy efficiency upgrades. Direct-install weatherization measures include health and safety testing, blower door guided air sealing, duct sealing, installation of efficient domestic hot water products such as low flow aerators, low flow showerheads, and pipe wrap. Additionally, during the direct install visit, the entire home is evaluated for the potential of add-on measure installations which are classified as appliances, insulation, window, hot water systems, HVAC system replacements. There may be a co-pay associated with add-on measures.

HES-IE program implementers work with community partners to promote the program, such as local public health departments, nonprofits running lead abatement programs, hospitals, local housing agencies, and Community Action Agencies. HES-IE also coordinates with the Weatherization Assistance Program, as the programs cost share all energy efficiency products to help maximize the WAP funding on health and safety barriers. Additionally, HES-IE partners with lead abatement programs and hospitals to help leverage their health and safety funds to incorporate energy efficiency into as many homes as possible.

In 2021, United Illuminating achieved 5,326 MWh of savings, while spending $4,956,531 on its low-income program and serving 5,023 customers. Southern Connecticut Gas’s low-income programs achieved 39,706 Mcf of savings while spending $3,088,035 on its low-income programs and serving 3,120  customers in 2021.

Multifamily Programs

Both United Illuminating and Southern Connecticut Gas participate in Energize Connecticut’s Multifamily Initiative. This comprehensive program provides customized solutions for existing multifamily properties with five or more dwelling units and includes: assistance with energy efficiency upgrade projects, comprehensive energy assessments of the building's energy-saving opportunities, and incentives and financing for energy-saving efficiency upgrades regardless of fuel type.

The Multifamily Initiative is offered to property managers, property owners, and architects for both market-rate and low-income properties. The Multifamily Initiative is open to any customer, regardless of heating fuel type, within the UI and SCG service territories. The Multifamily Initiative allows a customer to choose their own contractors and create their own contractual agreements with them for work completed. The Multifamily Initiative provides comprehensive energy efficiency upgrades by focusing on the building’s dwelling units, common areas, and exterior spaces. Tenant-occupied areas receive direct install measures, such as air sealing, hot water savings measures, ductwork sealing, and the installation of energy-efficient lighting. The Multifamily Initiative also provides incentives for add-on measures, which may include insulation, heating and cooling equipment, hot water heating equipment, appliances, windows, smart thermostats, and lighting fixtures and controls. The Multifamily Initiative is tailored to the multifamily segment and combines aspects of the Companies’ residential energy efficiency programs, such as Home Energy Solutions (“HES”) and HES-Income Eligible, with the Companies’ commercial and industrial (“C&I”) programs, including the Energy Opportunities, Energy Conscious Blueprint, and Small Business Energy Advantage (“SBEA”) programs. This approach offers flexibility to multifamily property owners and their tenants to save energy and money under a seamless umbrella initiative.

Low-Income Programs

Duke Energy Carolinas offers the Neighborhood Energy Saver Program (NES) to qualified low-income residential customers. This weatherization assistance program provides many direct-install measures such as lightbulbs, aerators, showerheads, weather stripping, door sweeps, caulk and insulation, and water heater adjustments. The NES program reaches out to local government (mayors, city council, community leaders) for involvement in the kickoff event and to provide support for the program.

Duke Energy Carolinas also offers the Residential Income-Qualified Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Assistance for Individuals Program to qualified low-income residential customers. This weatherization assistance program provides, on the basis of need, measures provided under the NES Program, additional insulation, air sealing, refrigerator replacement, and electric HVAC system replacement. Both programs are administered in coordination with local agencies that administer state weatherization programs and other agencies selected by Duke Energy.

In 2021, according to Duke Energy Carolinas, it achieved 1,871.82 MWh in energy savings, while spending $3,407,192 on its low-income programs and serving 19,579 low-income customers.

At this time, Piedmont Natural Gas does not offer energy efficiency programs targeted at low-income customers.

Multifamily Programs

Duke Energy Carolinas offers the Multifamily Energy Efficiency Program. This program offers no-cost direct install of high-efficiency light bulbs, faucet aerators, showerheads, and hot water pipe wrapping in multifamily building units. In 2021, according to Duke Energy Carolinas, it achieved 2,080 MWh in savings, while spending $517,454 and providing 44,542 measures.

Piedmont Natural Gas does not offer energy efficiency programs targeted at multifamily properties at this time.

Last Updated: September 2023

Low-Income Programs

ComEd offers multiple low-income programs, including Single-Family Retrofits, Multi-Family Retrofits, Affordable Housing New Construction, Public Housing Authority Program, Food Bank LED Distribution, Income Eligible Lighting Discounts, Income Eligible Energy Savings Kits, and Existing Manufactured Homes Retrofits. ComEd’s 2019 evaluation includes more details on each program’s design and measures served. More information about each program can be found on ComEd’s website for income-eligible program. Both the single and multifamily retrofit programs braid costs between utility funds and funds provided by the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) to address both energy efficiency and health and safety measures.

ComEd partners with local community groups, including nonprofits, food banks, religious organizations, and for-profit groups to implement their low-income programs. ComEd coordinates program delivery with the state’s Weatherization Assistance Program. For programs coordinated with WAP, health and safety costs are split 50-50 between state and utility programs. For projects in partnership with Chicago Bungalow Associate and Elevate Energy, as well as the Public Housing Program, the utilities cover 100% of the necessary health and safety costs. Additionally, projects completed under the Affordable Housing New Construction Program typically leverage Illinois Housing Development Authority funding for health and safety measures.

Peoples Gas runs numerous Income-Eligible programs in five program categories: 1) Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP), 2) Single-Family Income Eligible Program, 3) Multi-Family Income Eligible Program, 4) Affordable Housing New Construction, and 5) Multi-Family Public Housing Authority (PHA) Program. Peoples Gas leverages funds from the federally funded Weatherization Assistance program and Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Income eligible programs offer health and safety measures, including installation of vents, power venting combustion appliances, electrical repairs, asbestos and mold remediation.

For the Single-Family Income-Eligible (SFIE) Program, Peoples Gas partners with the Chicago Bungalow Association (CBA) for outreach and customer intake support. Within the Income-Eligible Multi-Family (IEMF) Program, Peoples Gas partnered with Elevate Energy for outreach and implementation support. With the Illinois Housing Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) program, Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas partners with non-profit Community Action Agencies within Cook County and Lake County. 

In 2021, ComEd achieved 303,419 MWh of energy savings, while spending $34,201,923 while serving 96,133 customers in its’ low-income programs. In 2021, we were unable to verify low-income energy efficiency program spending, savings, and customers for Peoples Gas.

The City is in the process of expanding its Roof and Porch Emergency Repair program to include new measures available to income-eligible homeowners. The new Repair Program will explore ways for the City to reduce utility costs, provide greater comfort for homeowners, ensure a more sustainable and resilient housing stock, and align with the City's climate goals.

Multifamily Programs

ComEd offers the Multifamily Market-Rate Program. The program provides energy assessments and installation of various energy-saving measures, including LEDs, water-saving devices, programmable thermostats, and pipe insulation. ComEd also offers the Income Eligible Retrofits Multi-Family Program, which provides direct installation of energy efficiency measures and replacement of inefficient equipment as well as educational information to further save money on energy bills. Eligible measures include LEDs and energy efficient lighting retrofits, programmable thermostats, advanced power strips, water efficiency devices, weatherization measures, pipe insulation, and heating, cooling and refrigeration equipment. The program is implemented by Resource Innovations (RI) and leverages the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP). The program provides retrofits in both common areas (CA) and tenant spaces and serves as a “one stop shop” for multi-family building owners and managers whose buildings are targeted to income eligible residents.

Peoples Gas also offers the Multi-Family Program. This comprehensive program offers free energy assessments for multifamily building owners and no-cost direct install of high efficiency showerheads, faucet aerators, programmable thermostats, pipe insulation and compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). Rebates for additional energy-saving equipment are also available. This comprehensive program is jointly delivered with ComEd and offers free energy assessments for multi-family building owners and no-cost direct installation of high efficiency showerheads, faucet aerators, programmable thermostats, pipe insulation and high-efficiency lighting. Rebates for additional energy-saving equipment are also available. Peoples Gas also offers the Multi-Family Income Eligible Program, which includes prescriptive gas rebates, energy assessments, and direct-install at income-qualified multi-family buildings.

In 2021, ComEd achieved 33,470 MWh of savings from its multifamily programs, while serving 20,972 housing units and 1,167 properties. In 2021, we were unable to verify multifamily program spending, savings, and customers for Peoples Gas.

Last Updated: August 2023

Low-Income Programs

Duke Energy Ohio offers the Low-Income Services, Pay for Performance and the Neighborhood Energy Saver program to qualified low-income customers. Customers may receive energy efficiency products and services such as compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators, water heater wraps, HVAC cleaning, HVAC filters, and energy efficiency education. The program is offered through a partnership with People Working Cooperatively (PWC) and specifically targets elderly customers.

In 2021, Duke Energy Ohio reported 251 MWh in energy savings, while spending $41,537 on its low-income programs and served 605 households These programs are electric only, with no gas savings, customers or spending reported.

In 2020, the City of Cincinnati, in partnership with Duke Energy Ohio, launched a low-income multifamily energy efficiency program, called Warm Up Cincy, which improves building efficiency and provides tenants with energy efficiency education that will stay with them for life. The six-year program serves households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and addresses the gap in energy efficiency offerings for low-income renters. The program is funded through a rate case settlement with Duke Energy Ohio. The program operates in partnership with the Community Action Agency, Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance, and People Working Cooperatively to reach and engage participants.

Multifamily Programs

Duke Energy Ohio’s Multifamily Energy Efficiency Program provides apartment complexes with free and installed lighting and water measures. Eligible units are Duke Energy Ohio served apartments on a residential rate. Traditionally, the properties targeted have four or more units. Franklin Energy is the program administrator and manages outreach, direct installations, and customer care.

In 2021, we were unable to verify savings for this program.

Last Updated: September 2023

Low-Income Programs

Colorado Springs Utilities offers the Home Efficiency Assistance Program (HEAP). CSU partners with the Energy Resource Center to deliver the program, as Energy Resource Center technicians work with customers throughout the entire weatherization process on how they can improve energy and water efficiency in their home, and how they can maintain newly installed appliances. Additional services customers may receive include weatherstripping, insulation to attics, sidewalls, and crawlspaces, new high-efficient showerheads, and refrigerators. The program is available to property owners in single-family or multifamily buildings with income at or below 250% of the federal poverty guidelines.

Colorado Springs Utilities also offers the Electric-Efficiency Product Promotion (EEPP) Program which aims to help low-income customers conserve energy and reduce their monthly electricity costs. Through the program, 520 lights were distributed free of charge to local agencies: Partners in Housing, Family Promise, Springs Rescue Mission, and Ronald McDonald House.

In 2019, according to CSU, it achieved 163 MWh and 0.20 MMtherms in energy savings, while spending $133,097 and $484,308 on electric and natural gas low-income programs, respectively. CSU served 222 low-income customers in 2019.

Multifamily Programs

At this time, CSU does not offer an energy efficiency program targeted at multifamily properties.

Last Updated: July 2021

Last Updated:  July 2021

Low-Income Programs

MidAmerican Energy’s residential low-Income program provides financial incentives and education to encourage energy efficiency in existing low-income housing. The program is delivered through three separate components to meet the needs of different customer segments, including statewide weatherization, supplemental weatherization, and home energy reports. The first component, weatherization, encourages comprehensive energy efficiency improvements in existing low-income housing by providing free energy assessments and free on-site installation of heating, water heating, lighting, refrigeration, and insulation measures. The Iowa Department of Human Rights (IDHR), which manages a network of community action program (CAP) agencies, delivers the program by identifying qualifying households and delivering assessments and weatherization services. The Low-Income program supplements funding provided by the Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program through a long-term contract with IDHR. The program also includes an education component for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP)-eligible customers and a multifamily and institutional housing component. The second component, Energy Wise, is an education component of the program. Additionally, MidAmerican collects customer contributions through ICARE, a bill assistance program that provides 50% of all contributions greater than $250,000 towards low-income supplemental weatherization. 

Participating CAP agencies recruit Energy Wise Program workshop participants through day-to-day interactions with their LIHEAP clients. Each household that attends the training receives a take-home Energy Wise home savings kit. The third component is a Home Energy Report program for a select number of eligible customers. The reports are tailored to include low cost and no cost energy efficiency tips. The fourth component, multifamily, includes institutional housing and emergency shelters. The multifamily component is a joint utility program and is administered by The Energy Group, which provides assessment services and reports directly to the three investor-owned utilities.

In 2021, MidAmerica’s low-income programs achieved 477.60 MWh and 36,881 therms in savings, while spending $526,447 and $1,119,860 on electric and natural gas customers respectively. In 2021, the program served 39,927 electric and 3,476 natural gas low-income customers.

Multifamily Programs

MidAmerican Energy offers the Multifamily Housing program to promote efficiency strategies for existing multifamily properties and provides comprehensive on-site energy assessments, free low-cost efficiency measures, and a comprehensive assessment report that includes recommendations for both individual housing units and common areas. Any prescriptive or cost-effective custom energy efficiency measure is potentially eligible for rebate under the Multifamily Housing program. The Multifamily Housing program provides a comprehensive set of services and financial incentives to serve the varied needs of multifamily property owners, property managers, landlords, and renters in existing buildings. MidAmerican also offers an Income-Qualified Multifamily Housing Program.

The program includes direct install measures such as water-saving measures and LED lighting. The program also includes equipment and insulation measures, such as gas furnaces and boilers, water heaters, heat pumps, air conditioners, programmable thermostats, and insulation. Additionally, low-income multi-family properties, including institutional housing and emergency shelters, received enhanced rebates, up to 40 percent of installed cost, and free professional consultation throughout contractor bidding and equipment insulation.

In 2019, MidAmerica’s multifamily program achieved 536,521 kWh and 28,501 therms in savings, while spending $543,866 and $231,973 on electric and natural gas customers respectively. In 2021, the program served 147 electric multifamily properties and 130 natural gas multifamily properties.

Last Updated: September 2023

Last Updated: July 2021

Low-Income Programs

Oncor offers the Hard-to-Reach Standard Offer Program and a Targeted Low-Income Weatherization Program to qualified low-income residential customers. The Hard-to-Reach program is designed to achieve energy and demand savings with the installation of a wide range of energy efficiency measures at low or no cost. Service providers implement energy-saving measures and their costs are offset by incentives paid by Oncor. Measures include duct sealing, water efficiency measures, insulation, weatherstripping, and caulking. Oncor is also implementing a Targeted Weatherization Program through the Texas Association of Community Action Agencies (TACAA), which provides funds to designated federal Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) sub-recipient agencies. This enables them to provide weatherization services to low-income residential electric distribution customers. Energy-efficient measures installed include aerators, attic insulation, air infiltration, central air conditioning units, central heat pumps, floor insulation, and ENERGY STAR® refrigerators and windows. Customers are automatically enrolled in Oncor’s low-income programs if they are enrolled in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP), Home Weatherization Assistance Plan (HWAP), or Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).

Spending and energy-saving values and the number of customers served by Oncor’s 2019 low-income program were not available.

Atmos Energy offers the Keeping the Warmth Program to qualified low-income residential customers in Fort Worth. Measures include natural gas piping repair, attic, and wall insulation, gas water heater replacements, duct sealing, caulking, weatherstripping, wall outlet insulation, and faucet aerators. The program targets elderly and disabled households, and households with children under the age of five. Through this program, the utility partners with local communities, weatherization organizations, and community action agencies to help decrease household energy use. 

In 2019, according to Atmos Energy, it saved 0.003 MMtherms, while spending $53,519 on its low-income programs and serving 51 low-income customers through this program.

Multifamily Programs

Atmos Energy offers rebates for new multifamily housing, which can be used for the installation of new high-efficiency gas appliances. In 2019, according to Atmos Energy, it achieved 0.003 MMtherms in saving, while spending $21,900 on its multifamily programs and serving 73 housing units in 1 multifamily property.

Last Updated: August 2021

Low-Income Programs

The Consumers Energy’s Income-Qualified Energy Efficiency Assistance Program consists of various residential initiatives serving households that meet the income criteria of being at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL) or 80% of AMI. This program aids single-family, income-eligible Consumers Energy customers to reduce energy consumption and improve comfort in their home. It offers no-cost direct services that include energy efficiency upgrades, home energy assessments and energy-saving education.

The program collaborates with local stakeholders, such as the municipal government, Community Action Agencies, Habitat for Humanity, United Way 211, Housing Commissions, and many additional non-profit organizations. The program uses a variety of delivery strategies and delivery channels, such as home energy assessments, food bank lighting distribution, collaboration with community-based organizations, and deeper weatherization measures. The program leverages other funding sources such as the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), and philanthropic funds to complete housing retrofit/weatherization projects. When offering rebate incentives to community-action agencies or community-based organizations, utility program funding is leveraged with other funding sources such MSHDA Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) or available financing options.

The Consumers Energy Multifamily Energy Efficiency Program consists of various offerings for customers that meet the eligibility requirements for the program. Multifamily is defined as properties containing 3+ units under a single roof.  Income qualified is defined as 66% of tenants living at or under 200% of the federal poverty level or 80% of AMI. This program offers direct install of free products including LED bulbs, pipe wrap, showerheads and faucet aerators.  The program also provides access to prescriptive measures for HVAC, lighting, water heating and building envelope improvements. Any projects that do not qualify under the prescriptive measures can also apply for a custom project where the savings are calculated based on actual energy savings.  Customers are also eligible to receive an assessment which identifies recommendations and measures that customers may take advantage of energy efficiency upgrades in their properties. In 2020, Consumer Energy launched a single family and multifamily Health and Safety Pilot. The program works with nonprofits to improve home conditions—including plumbing, roof, mold, moisture, and indoor air quality—that needs to be remedied so that energy efficiency measures can be installed. This pilot program has been expanded through 2023.

In 2021, according to Consumers Energy, it saved 29,991 MWh in electric savings, while spending $14,493,194 on its low-income program and served 130,807 low-income customers with their program.

DTE offers the Energy Efficiency Assistance Program which provides recommendations, direct installation of qualified energy efficiency measures and education to income-qualified DTE customers in order to assist them in reducing their energy use and managing their utility costs. The program leverages the services provided by member agencies of the Michigan Community Action Agency Association (MCAAA), municipalities, counties, public housing commissions, faith-based institutions, community development corporations, and nonprofit organizations with existing housing and energy programs. direct installation of qualified EWR measures and education to income-qualified DTE customers in order to assist them in reducing their energy use and managing their utility costs. The residential Low-Income Program also includes customers residing in designated low-income multifamily units.

DTE delivers “incentive” funding to low-income customers through a variety of in-kind services, such as weatherization, furnace tune up and replacement, insulation, water heater replacement plus the replacement of inefficient refrigerators with ENERGY STAR® model refrigerators in single-family homes and low-income multifamily dwellings, and in-home consultation and installation of energy-efficient measures through the Home Energy Consultation (HEC) Program. Low-cost measures such as LEDs, pipe wrap, energy efficient showerheads and faucet aerators are installed at no cost to low-income multifamily tenants. The low-income multifamily program also expanded its measure offerings to multifamily tenants to include more expensive items, such as refrigerators, also at no cost to the customer. 

DTE streamlines eligibility requirements by using the same requirements as many other programs for low-income customers. Through the Energy Efficiency Assistance program, DTE partners directly with local agencies, municipalities, counties, public housing commissions, faith-based institutions, community development corporations, and nonprofit organizations to offer housing and energy programs. DTE also offers a multifamily low-income program that provides direct install of energy efficiency measures in multifamily rental properties, provides energy information and education to tenants, ensures participation is clear and easy, and covers a portion or all of the cost for common area improvements. DTE also offers two additional programs for low-income customers: 1) Home Energy Consultation Low-Income, and 2) Home Energy Reports for low-income customers.

In 2021, according to DTE, it achieved 1.32 MMtherms in energy savings, while spending $10,923,245 and serving 12,649 natural gas customers.

Multifamily Programs

The Consumers Energy Multifamily Energy Efficiency Program offers equipment incentives to building owners that include lighting, lighting controls, heating, cooling, ventilation, water heating, building envelope and custom measures, for whole building energy retrofit opportunities for major renovation/new construction. The program also includes direct install measures for tenants and common areas that include lighting, aerators, showerheads, pipe wrap, and thermostats. For income qualified customers, expanded measures are offered for air sealing and insulation, smart thermostat and some appliances.

In 2021, according to Consumers Energy, its multifamily program achieved 12,968 MWh in savings and served 94,452 households. The expense for this program is not available at this time.

DTE provides two comprehensive programs for multifamily properties. The Multifamily In-Unit Improvements Program offers no-cost direct install of energy efficient lighting, showerheads, faucet aerators, programmable thermostats, and pipe wrap installation where units have electric water heating. The program also conducts a free energy assessment to identify other potential energy-saving upgrades. Additionally, these utilities offer the Multifamily Common Areas Improvements Program, which offers rebates for common area measures such as interior and exterior lighting, furnace/boiler upgrades, water heating, air conditioning, building and duct insulation, programmable thermostats, and ENERGY STAR windows.

In 2021, DTE’s multifamily program achieved 0.66 MMtherms in energy savings while spending $2,515,602 and serving 3,500 households.

Last Updated: September 2023

Low-Income Programs

Both Eversource and Connecticut Natural Gas provide the Home Energy Solutions—Income-Eligible Program to qualified low-income residential customers in both single and multifamily buildings. Eversource also runs New Construction, Retail Products, and Residential Financing programs for income-eligible customers. The Home Energy Solutions program provides no-cost weatherization measures and low-cost energy efficiency upgrades. Weatherization measures include air sealing, duct sealing, lighting fixtures, water efficiency measures, and insulation. Energy-efficient upgrades include appliance replacements, water heaters, HVAC systems, and windows. The program also includes funds to address health and safety issues. The utilities streamline eligibility with the federal Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) requirements, as well as the CT Green Bank application. The program is supported by Energize Connecticut and utilities partner with community action agencies to cost share for WAP-funded projects.

Additionally, the utilities have implemented its retail lighting programs directly targeted at the low-income segment of the market. They have done this through outreach to local retailers who serve the hard-to-reach (“HTR”) customer market segment. HTR markets are defined as customers not typically reached through conventional retail and marketing channels, and are typically described in demographic terms (i.e., income-eligible, ethnic, urban, or rural). The utilities’ efforts regarding this market segment began in 2017 with a focused effort of offering LED incentives, marketing, and educational focus to HTR retail outlets and local retailers. Eversource and Connecticut Natural Gas partner with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to administer and provide cost-sharing opportunities with the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). The utility has limited funding for health and safety barrier remediation and can leverage funding from other sources.

In 2021, according to Eversource, it achieved 6,496 MWh in energy savings while spending $19,925,765 on its low-income programs and served 14,363 low-income customers. In 2021, according to Connecticut Natural Gas, it achieved 0.27 MMtherms in energy savings, while spending $3,696,772 on its low-income programs and served 4,300 low-income customers.

In late 2019 and early 2020, the City of Hartford organized an Energy Equity Challenge, and worked in partnership with a variety of organizations, including Community Renewal Team to promote this voluntary challenge for local residents and property owners. By convening a group of stakeholders dedicated to expanding access to renewable energy and efficiency programs, the City is providing in-kind support that allows for better outcomes across a series of programs related to weatherization, fuel delivery, and utility bill assistance. The City of Hartford also has a Housing Preservation Loan Fund Program, which is administered by the Department of Development Services. The fund offers financing for deep retrofit projects to owners of 1-to-4-unit properties. The City also partners with Eversource to secure the implementation of their Home Energy Solutions Program that leverages selected energy contractors to implement energy efficiency programs to low-income residents in Hartford.

Multifamily Programs

Both Eversource and Connecticut Natural Gas participate in Energize Connecticut’s Multifamily Initiative. The Multifamily Initiative accomplishes comprehensive energy efficiency upgrades by assessing the property holistically throughout the building’s dwelling units, common areas, and exterior spaces. A combination of residential and commercial energy savings measures is evaluated, and custom incentives are offered through an incentive commitment letter provided to the property owner. Tenant-occupied areas (e.g., apartments and condominium living spaces) can receive direct install dwelling unit measures as part of these Multifamily Initiative services. These measures include building envelope air sealing, domestic hot water (“DHW”) savings measures, sealing of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (“HVAC”) ductwork, and the installation of energy-efficient lighting. The Multifamily Initiative also provides incentives for many measures beyond the direct-install dwelling unit measures, called add-on measures, which includes insulation, HVAC equipment, DHW heating equipment, HVAC and DHW controls, appliances, windows, connected Wi-Fi Thermostats, lighting fixtures and lighting controls in dwelling units, exteriors and common areas and other custom measures.

The Multifamily Initiative is tailored to the multifamily segment and combines aspects of the Companies’ residential energy efficiency programs, such as Home Energy Solutions (“HES”) and HES-Income Eligible, with the Companies’ commercial and industrial (“C&I”) programs, including the Energy Opportunities, Energy Conscious Blueprint, and Small Business Energy Advantage (“SBEA”) programs. This approach offers flexibility to multifamily property owners and their tenants to save energy and money under a seamless umbrella initiative.In 2021, according to Eversouce, it achieved 4,697 MWh in energy savings from its multifamily program while spending $5,039,953. It served 15,301 housing units in 238 multifamily properties. In 2021, according to Connecticut Natural Gas, it achieved 0.3MMtherms in energy savings from its multifamily program while spending $2,138,162. It served 3,915 housing units in 86 multifamily properties.

Last Updated: August 2023

Low-Income Programs

The Energy Smart 4 Homes (ES4H) program provides whole-building retrofit services to low-income multifamily and single family properties.

Community based bulk appliance trade-ups: Residents in five communities across the state can purchase energy-efficient refrigerators and freezers for significantly less than retail price with the trade-in of an old, working model. Hawai’i Energy sources works with an established community partner to enroll participants, collect payments, organize ordering and delivery of appliances, and share about the benefits of energy-efficient actions.

Hawai’i Energy also supported 170 projects for businesses struggling to recover from the pandemic through the Empower Grant program and continued to provide lighting retrofits to small business and non-profits through the Energy Advantage program.

In 2021, Hawai’i Energy’s low-income energy efficiency programs achieved 15,284 in energy savings while spending $8,025,000 and serving 3,200 households.

Multifamily Programs

The Energy Smart 4 Homes (ES4H) program provides multifamily customers direct access to no-cost energy efficiency solutions, such as high-efficiency lighting and water measures and energy management devices. In addition to work in individual units, the program provides common area lighting retrofits at enhanced incentive levels. In 2021, Hawai’i Energy’s multifamily energy efficiency programs achieved 420 MWh in energy savings while spending $479,000. Participation data for 2021 was not available.

Last Updated: September 2023

Low-Income Programs

AES Indiana and Citizens Energy Group partner on a dual fuel low-income program called the Whole-House Weatherization Program. Both utilities share the costs of the program based on the fuel type of the measures installed. The program provides efficient lighting, power strips, faucet aerators, low-flow showerheads, pipe wrap, air sealing, attic insulation, and programmable thermostats. The program also checks for water leaks and electrical and gas hazards. The program includes health and safety measures such as smoke detectors, plumbing leak repairs, bath fans, and other forms of moisture remediation. The Indiana Community Action Association implements the measures. The program streamlines enrollment by targeting customers who access local food pantries, the Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership (INHP), the United Way, and local community development corporations.

In 2019, the program continued a community referral program and worked with several local non-profit organizations to promote participation while benefiting the organizations through a referral bonus for each completed weatherization project.

Through the City of Indianapolis Thrive Indy partnership, the city and AES Indiana have committed to working together to increase awareness and participation in AES Indiana’s Income Qualified Weatherization program. AES Indiana continues to work with various local non-profits to drive additional participation in AES Indiana’s income-qualified weatherization program, as well as launched a Community Based Lighting program whereby food pantry patrons receive energy-efficient LEDs.

In 2021, we were unable to verify spending, savings, and customer served by AES Indiana. According to Citizens Energy Group, they served 60 low-income customers in 2021.

Multifamily Programs

AES Indiana offers a Multifamily Direct Install program, which provides low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators, and LED lights for multifamily residences. AES Indiana also has a Small Business Direct Install program, which is available to multifamily property managers and manufacture homes for the installation of energy efficiency improvements in the common areas of apartment dwellings.

In 2021, we were unable to verify spending, savings, and customer served by AES Indiana.

At this time, Citizens Energy Group does not offer energy efficiency programs targeted at multifamily properties.

Last Updated: September 2023

Low-Income Programs

Evergy offers the Income Eligible Weatherization program for both single- and multifamily low-income residential customers. This program is intended to assist customers in reducing their energy usage by weatherizing their homes. In order to qualify, customers must meet income eligibility guidelines. Optional measures for the single-family program include attic, duct, floor, and wall insulation; furnace tune-ups; high-efficiency boilers and furnaces; heat pump replacement; lighting retrofits- heating system replacements; and water pipe insulation. Health measures include heating system safety testing, combustion appliance safety testing, repair and replacement of vent systems, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, moisture barriers, and others. Additional measures may be included on a case-by-case basis. The multifamily program includes direct install measures such as lighting, water efficiency measures, and smart power strips. Both programs include health and safety measures and target high energy users, elderly households, and customers enrolled in the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Economic Relief Pilot Program (ERPP). The program is administered by the Salvation Army.

In 2019 according to Evergy, it achieved 576 MWh savings, whiles spending $838,829 on its low-income programs and served 2,510 low-income customers.

Spire Missouri's Low-Income Weatherization program offers weatherization measures including weather-stripping, caulking, HVAC filter replacement, HVAC repair/replace, and low-flow faucet aerators and showerheads. The program partners with the Missouri Department of Economic Development, Community Action Agencies (CAA), Missouri Weatherization PAC, Committee to Keep Missourians Warm, Earthways Center, US Green Building Council, and Energy Efficiency for All.

In 2019 according to Spire Missouri, it spent $21,510,734 on its low-income programs and served 2,927 low-income customers. Savings data was not available.

Multifamily Programs

Evergy and Spire jointly-offer the Income-Eligible Multi-Family Program. This program offers no-cost in-unit direct install of energy-efficient equipment for properties with low-income residents. Property owners are also eligible for incentives for the installation of energy-efficient equipment in common areas.

In 2019, according to Evergy, it achieved 7,542 MWh savings, while spending $4,623,981 on its multifamily program. Evergy served 8,319 housing units in 91 multifamily properties. In 2019, Spire Missouri achieved 0.10 MMtherms while spending $382,030 and serving 2,570 housing units with this joint program.

Last Updated: July 2021

Last Updated: July 2021

Low-Income Programs

NV Energy’s Low Income program provides installation of new energy-saving appliances to income-qualified residential customers. The Program supports customers that have a higher ratio of utility bill to income and are financially unable to replace old and inefficient appliances in their homes. The installation of new ENERGY STAR rated qualified refrigerators and electric clothes dryers, along with other energy savings measures, such as smart strips, advanced power strips surge protectors, lighting control, photocell for dusk-to-dawn outdoor lighting, and LED light bulbs, are installed at no cost to the customer through the program. Any appliances that are identified as eligible to be replaced are removed and recycled in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local guidelines.

In 2021, NV Energy’s low-income energy efficiency programs achieved 1,215 MWh of net electric savings at the meter while spending $2,130,247 and serving 1,486 households.

In 2021, we were unable to verify low-income program information for Southwest Gas.The City of Las Vegas’s 2050 Master Plan was adopted in 2021. The Plan directs the city to work with the utility on a study to determine the feasibility, and/or implement city-led low-income and/or multifamily energy conservation programs.

Multifamily Programs

At this time, NV Energy and Southwest Gas do not offer energy efficiency programs targeted at multifamily properties.

Last Updated: September 2023

Low-Income Programs

SCE offers the Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) Program to income-qualified customers, which provides appliance replacements. SCE partners with other utilities, community services and development organizations, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and local governments on their low-income efficiency program. SCE leverages funds from the California Community Services and Development Department, including Low Income Home Energy Assistance Funding and Low Income Weatherization Program funding.

In 2021, according to SCE, it achieved 44,383.5 MWh in savings, while spending $81,222,072.00 on its low-income program and served 90,826 households.

At this time, Long Beach Energy Resources does not offer energy efficiency programs targeted at low-income customers.

Multifamily Programs

The SCE Multifamily Energy Efficiency Rebate (MFEER) Program offers a variety of incentives for energy-saving products and services to motivate the multifamily property owners and managers to install energy efficient equipment in both common and dwelling areas of multifamily properties. The program integrates a direct install approach and offers select energy efficient measures at no-cost which can facilitate onsite assessments and encourage property owners to take advantage of rebates for more extensive improvements over time.  The program targets all levels of multifamily buildings (i.e., low-income, affordable-to-moderate income, market-rate) include those located in Disadvantaged Communities.

We were unable to verify multifamily savings, spending, and customers served for SCE in 2021.

At this time, Long Beach Energy Resources does not offer energy efficiency programs targeted at multifamily customers.

Last Updated: September 2023

Last Updated: July 2021

Low-Income Programs

Focus on Energy, in partnership with We Energies, provides larger incentives to income-qualified customers for its energy efficiency programs. These larger incentives can be used for participation in the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® and the Heating and Cooling Improvements programs. The Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program uses a whole-home energy audit to determine energy-efficient recommendations for the home. The Heating and Cooling Improvements program provides incentives for improvements made to a home’s HVAC systems. The program is not specifically designed for low-income customers but does offer larger incentives for low-income households in order to lower barriers to participation. The programs address both electric and natural gas end uses, include health and safety funds, and address water efficiency, and target high energy users, the elderly, and households with children. Standard installations for the Home Performance program include carbon monoxide detectors, testing for and repairing gas leaks, and completing combustion safety notification forms for the health and safety of our customers.

The We Energies Residential Assistance Program (RAP) is only available to low-income customers and includes a home energy assessment and weatherization measures ranging from attic and wall insulation to dryer venting to LED installation. We Energies partners with local nonprofits and community organizations to identify candidates for their low-income program through participant referrals. They also provide money saving kits to community organizations for distribution to customers.

Focus on Energy provides larger incentives to income-qualified customers for its home energy efficiency programs, such as HVAC equipment upgrades and building shell (air sealing and insulation) improvements.  Eligible customers must have household income at or below 80% of the State Median Income (SMI).

In 2021,  We Energies and Focus programs achieved 254,918 MWh and 0.46 MMtherms in electric and natural gas energy savings, while spending $33,948,588  and $ $15,674,273 on its electric and natural gas low-income programs, respectively. We Energies and Focus on Energy served 7,005 electric and natural gas low-income customers.

Multifamily Programs

We Energies, through Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy initiative, offers the Multifamily Energy Savings Program. This comprehensive program offers prescriptive rebates for eligible measures, including common area lighting, and custom incentives for performance-based projects. The Multifamily Direct Install Program offers free, direct installation of LEDs, specialty CFLs, pipe insulation, pre-rinse sprayers, faucet aerators, and showerheads as well as water heater temperature setback services and also offers no-cost vending misers and LED retrofits for exit signs in common areas.

In 2021, We Energies and Focus programs, reported 3,034 MWh and 0.27 MMtherms, while spending $582,014and $209,305 on its electric and natural gas low-income programs, respectively. We Energies served 8,421 electric and gas housing units.

Last Updated: September 2023

Low-income Programs

PEPCO and Washington Gas offer the EmPOWER Low Income Energy Efficiency Program to low-income residents, including both renters and homeowners. This program is implemented by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and offers both single-family and multifamily low-income dual fuel programs. Montgomery County’s Department of Housing and Community Affairs offers county residents through a Weatherization Assistance program.

Multifamily Programs

Neither PEPCO or Washington Gas offer comprehensive energy efficiency programs for multifamily customers in Montgomery County.

Last updated: December 2019

Low-Income Programs

Both United Illuminating and Southern Connecticut Gas participate in the Home Energy Solutions—Income-Eligible Program (HES-IE) available to qualified low-income residential customers in both single and multifamily buildings. Eversource also runs New Construction, Retail Products, and Residential Financing programs for income-eligible customers. The HES-IE program provides no-cost weatherization measures and low-cost energy efficiency upgrades. Direct-install weatherization measures include health and safety testing, blower door guided air sealing, duct sealing, installation of efficient domestic hot water products such as low flow aerators, low flow showerheads, and pipe wrap. Additionally, during the direct install visit the entire home is evaluated for the potential of add-on measure installations which are classified as appliances, insulation, window, hot water systems, HVAC system replacements.

HES-IE program implementers work with community partners to promote the program, such as local public health departments, nonprofits running lead abatement programs, hospitals, local housing agencies, and Community Action Agencies. HES-IE also coordinates with the Weatherization Assistance Program, as the programs cost share all energy efficiency products to help maximize the WAP funding on health and safety barriers. Additionally, HES-IE partners with lead abatement programs and hospitals to help leverage their health and safety funds to incorporate energy efficiency into as many homes as possible.

In 2021, United Illuminating achieved 5,326 MWh of savings, while spending $4,956,531 on its low-income program and serviing 5,023 households . Southern Connecticut Gas’s low-income programs achieved 0.38 MMtherms of savings, while spending $3,088,035 on its low-income programs and served 3,120 households.

Multifamily Programs

Both United Illuminating and Southern Connecticut Gas participate in Energize Connecticut’s Multifamily Initiative. This comprehensive program provides customized solutions for existing multifamily properties with five or more dwelling units, and includes: assistance with energy efficiency upgrade projects, comprehensive energy assessments of the building's energy-saving opportunities, and incentives and financing for energy-saving efficiency upgrades regardless of fuel type.

The Multifamily Initiative is offered to property managers, property owners, and architects for both market-rate and low-income properties. The Multifamily Initiative is open to any customer, regardless of heating fuel type, within the UI and SCG service territories. The Multifamily Initiative allows a customer to choose their own contractors and create their own contractual agreements with them for work completed. The Multifamily Initiative provides comprehensive energy efficiency upgrades by focusing on the building’s dwelling units, common areas, and exterior spaces. Tenant-occupied areas receive direct install measures, such as air sealing, hot water savings measures, ductwork sealing, and the installation of energy-efficient lighting. The Multifamily Initiative also provides incentivizes for add-on measures, which may include insulation, heating and cooling equipment, hot water heating equipment, appliances, windows, smart Thermostats, and lighting fixtures and controls. The Multifamily Initiative is tailored to the multifamily segment and combines aspects of the Companies’ residential energy efficiency programs, such as Home Energy Solutions (“HES”) and HES-Income Eligible, with the Companies’ commercial and industrial (“C&I”) programs, including the Energy Opportunities, Energy Conscious Blueprint, and Small Business Energy Advantage (“SBEA”) programs.

In 2021, United Illuminating’s multifamily efficiency programs achieved 2,764 MWh, while spending $3,322,440 and serving 5,092 households. In 2021, Southern Connecticut Gas saved 0.27 MMtherms while spending $1,985,752 and serving 3,334 households.

Last Updated: September 2023

Low-Income Programs

NYSERDA offers the EmPower New York program to qualified low-income residential customers in both ConEd and National Grid service territories. This program addresses both electric and natural gas end uses, while providing no-cost energy efficiency solutions including air sealing, insulation, replacement of inefficient refrigerators and freezers, water efficiency measures, thermostats, and new energy-efficient lighting in order to reduce energy consumption. Additionally, the EmPower program includes health and safety checks of smoke detectors and appliances. Households that receive HEAP benefits, utility bill payment assistance, or participate in the federal Weatherization Assistance Program are automatically eligible. NYSERDA is currently administering a pilot with the NYS Department of Health, targeting the reduction of asthma triggers and associated medical costs through the provision of integrated healthy homes and energy efficiency interventions. The pilot seeks to validate the health care cost savings to Medicaid, and encourage the reinvestment of health care cost savings for healthy homes interventions for Medicaid clients.

NYSERDA’s low-income programs achieved 540.96 MWh savings while serving 1,867 ConEd customers. In addition, NYSERDA’s low-income programs achieved 15,771.05 MMtherms savings while serving 1,832 National Grid customers.

Additional data on ConEd and National Grid, savings, spending and customers served were not available.

Multifamily Programs

Con Edison offers the Equipment Rebates for Multifamily Buildings in the Multifamily Energy Efficiency Program (MFEEP). This comprehensive program provides prescriptive and direct install rebates for lighting, high-efficiency water measures, HVAC maintenance and weatherization, in-unit appliances, occupancy sensors, boilers, control systems, and insulation. The MFEEP offers increased incentives for affordable rate customers. Con Edison partners with local food banks to distribute LEDs through the food banks’ distribution networks.

National Grid offers a multifamily program that provides no cost direct install of high-efficiency showerheads, faucet aerators and thermostatic radiator valves. It also provides rebates for high-efficiency natural gas heating and water heating, insulation, programmable thermostats, boiler reset controls, steam traps and custom efficiency measures.

NYSERDA’s Multifamily Performance Program provides incentives for owners to incorporate energy efficiency into affordable buildings for ConEd and National Grid customers. A Multifamily Building Solutions Provider will work with the owner to evaluate the building’s systems holistically, creating a customized plan aimed at generating a minimum of 20% source energy savings along with reduced energy bills. For projects that could reach deeper energy savings, the High-Performance Component targets a minimum of 40% source energy savings with a maximum post-construction source energy use intensity (EUI) of 100 kBtu/sq ft./yr.

In 2018, NYSERDA launched the RetrofitNY initiative. The goal of this program is to drive market transformation by industrializing and standardizing the design and construction processes to achieve deep levels of cost compression, which will drive large scale adoption of deep energy and net zero retrofits in multifamily buildings. RetrofitNY approaches retrofits from a whole building perspective and targets multiple health and resiliency benefits as associated outcomes of building work-scope. NYSERDA funds are used in conjunction with other subsidy and financing offered from local, state and federal sources as a financing package coordinated through relevant affordable housing agencies.  

In 2021, National Grid’s multifamily program achieved 1.44 MMtherms, while spending $4,516,246 and serving 231 housing units. According NYSERDA’s data ConEd achieved 7,015 MWh in savings and served 4,521 properties through its multifamily program in ConEd’s territory. NYSERDA achieved 0.12 MMtherms in savings and served 570 customers in National Grid’s territory. Spending, savings, and customer data was not available for ConEd.

Last Updated: August 2023

Low-Income Programs

PG&E offers the Energy Savings Assistance Program (ESA) to qualified low-income residential customers. The program provides in-home energy education, and direct installation of weatherization and hot water measures, lighting efficiency upgrades, HVAC tune-ups, smart power strips, and refrigerator recycling/replacement at no charge in order to reduce energy consumption in low-income households. The program provides health and safety measures such as the repair and replacement of water heaters and furnaces and minor home repairs. This program is implemented statewide by investor-owned utilities under the direction of the California Public Utilities Commission. It leverages the federal Weatherization Assistance Program, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and Low-Income Weatherization Program offerings.

The ESA Program’s objective is to assist income-qualified customers to reduce their energy consumption and costs while increasing their health, comfort and safety. PG&E has also administered the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program to qualifying customers since 1989. The CARE program provides a monthly discount on energy bills for qualifying single-family residential households, tenants of sub-metered residential facilities, non-profit group living facilities, agricultural employee housing facilities, and migrant farmworker housing centers throughout PG&E’s service area.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CAPUC) strongly encourages utilities to leverage funds for low-income energy efficiency and weatherization. PG&E’s ESA Program leverages water agency, Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and Low Income Weatherization Program (LIWP) funding through individually negotiated agreements with the other agencies.

In 2021, PG&E achieved energy savings of 63,235 MWh and 0.05 MMtherms, while spending $81,556,000 and $80,963,860 on its electric and natural gas low-income programs, respectively. PG&E served 103,169 total customers with its low-income programs in 2021.

The City of Oakland offers a Weatherization and Energy Retrofit Revolving Loan Program, which provides income-eligible property owners can access 0% interest loans ranging from $6,500 to $30,000 for weatherization and energy efficiency improvements to owner-occupied residential properties of 1 to 4 units.

Multifamily Programs

PG&E offers the California New Homes Multifamily Program, Multifamily Upgrade Program, and Multifamily Cooling Optimizer Program. California New Homes Multifamily Program provides support and incentives for multifamily new construction projects to encourage builders to exceed California’s Title 24 energy efficiency standards. The Multifamily Upgrade Program promotes and facilitates energy-efficient retrofits of existing multifamily buildings through technical support and incentives. The Multifamily Cooling Optimizer Program is a direct install program focused on HVAC measures in tenant spaces. PG&E also implements the Energy Savings Assistance Program (ESA) for income-qualified multifamily customers.

In 2021, PG&E achieved energy savings of 7,992 MWh and 0.13 MMtherms, while spending $20,336,729 on its electric and natural gas multifamily programs. PG&E served 29,727 housing units in 3,085 properties with its multifamily programs in 2021.

Last Updated: August 2023

Last Updated: July 2021

Low-Income Programs

Both SCE and SoCalGas offer the Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) Program, which is implemented statewide by the investor-owned utilities under the direction of the California Public Utilities Commission. The utilities offer different versions of the program that include different measures.

SCE offers the Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) Program to income-qualified customers, which provides appliance replacements. SCE partners with other utilities, community services and development organizations, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and local governments on their low-income efficiency program. SCE leverages funds from the California Community Services and Development Department, including Low Income Home Energy Assistance Funding and Low Income Weatherization Program funding.

In 2019, according to SCE, it achieved 44,383.5 MWh in savings, while spending $81,222,072 on its low-income program and serving 90,826 households.

SoCalGas also offers the Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) Program, which provides no-cost energy saving home improvements such as attic insulation, water heater blankets, minor home repairs of exterior doors and/or windows, furnace repair or replacement, water heater repair or replacement and other measures to reduce energy consumption.

In 2021, according to SoCalGas, it achieved 0.74 MMtherms in energy savings from the ESA program, while spending $326,178,563 and serving 105,067 low-income customers.

Multifamily Programs

The SCE offers the Multifamily Energy Efficiency Rebate (MFEER) Program, which offers a variety of incentives for energy-saving products and services to multifamily property owners and managers. Through this program, customers can receive the installation of energy-efficient equipment in both common and dwelling areas of multifamily properties. The program integrates a direct install approach and offers select energy efficiency measures at no cost which can facilitate onsite assessments and encourage property owners to take advantage of rebates for more extensive improvements over time. The program targets all levels of multifamily buildings (i.e., low-income, affordable-to-moderate income, market-rate), including those located in Disadvantaged Communities.

Spending, savings, and participation data for 2019 were not available.

SoCalGas offers a portfolio of multifamily efficiency programs. The Multifamily Direct Therm Savings Program and the On-Demand Efficiency Program provide energy audits and installation of energy efficiency measures. The Multifamily Energy Efficiency Rebate Program offers rebates for the purchase and installation of energy efficiency measures in apartment dwelling units, common areas, condominium complexes, and mobile home parks. The Multifamily Whole Building Home Upgrade Program provides a comprehensive long-term building strategy with energy efficiency retrofit measures identified through an investment-grade audit. The Central Water Heater Multifamily Building Solutions Program offers property owners a comprehensive engineering assessment and incentives for upgrading the central water heater system.

In 2021, according to SoCalGas, it spent $29,055,219 on multifamily programs.  We were unable to verify energy savings and customers served from multifamily programs.

Last Updated: September 2023

APS offers the Energy Wise Limited Income Assistance Program to qualified residential customers. This program serves low-income customers with various home improvements including cooling system repair and replacement, insulation, sunscreens, water heaters, window repairs and improvements, refrigerator replacement, efficient lighting, as well as other general repairs. The program also includes funding for health and safety measures. APS leverages funding from the federal Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) to cover health and safety repairs and other costs when possible and collaborates with community action agencies throughout Arizona. Customers who receive bill assistance automatically qualify for the program. Community Action Agencies leverage funds from the federal Weatherization Assistance Program and Low Income Home Energy Assistance program to address health and safety measures so utility funds can address energy efficiency measures. Health and safety measures include CO detectors, HVAC replacement and ventilation.

In 2021, APS’s low-income energy efficiency programs achieved 3,581 MWh in electricity savings while spending $7,979,215 and serving 835 customers. Southwest Gas administers a low-income Weatherization program for customers in the city of Phoenix. This program includes general weatherization and energy efficiency measures. Water efficiency measures are also included in the program, and the program targets elderly households and people with disabilities. Southwest Gas partners with the Arizona Department of Housing on program delivery.

Southwest Gas spending, savings, and customers served for its 2021 low-income programs was not available.

The City of Phoenix’s Neighborhood Services administers the Low-Income Housing Rehabilitation Program, which provide grants and or loans to eligible low to moderate-income homeowners and single and multi-family rental units in targeted areas and citywide to address internal and external home repairs, health or safety hazards, and to make cost effective weatherization improvements. These programs utilize the City’s General Fund, Community Development Block Grants, Federal and State Grants and the HOME program. This includes the Weatherization Assistance Program, which the city expanded by $4,500,000 in 2022.

Multifamily Programs

APS offers the Multifamily Energy Efficiency Program (MEEP), which offers a three-track approach to energy upgrades. Track 1 provides free direct install components to retrofit the residential dwellings of existing communities including LED lighting, low-flow showerheads, and faucet aerators. Track 2 provides complementary energy assessments for community commercial facilities to identify opportunities for additional savings, and Track 3 targets new construction and major renovation multifamily projects. An additional incentive includes a quality install for HVAC replacement. This track encourages energy efficient building principles by paying an incentive to builders on a per unit basis for buildings that are built to the program’s energy efficiency standards.

In 2021, APS’s multifamily energy efficiency programs achieved 5,365 MWh in energy savings while spending $896,815 and serving 5,096 housing units in 45 properties. At this time, Southwest Gas does not offer energy efficiency programs targeted at multifamily properties.

Last Updated: August 2023

Low-Income Programs

The Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) administers programs that provide financial support and resources for Oregonians of lower and moderate income. The Low-Income Weatherization program is designed to reduce the energy usage and utility costs of lower income tenants residing in affordable rental housing. The program is partially funded by the PPC and receives 11.7 percent of PPC revenues. That revenue contributes to grants for the construction or rehabilitation of affordable rental housing that is located in PGE’s or Pacific Power’s service territories. Use of these funds requires that at least 50 percent of the units in the project be rented to households whose income is at or below 60 percent of the AMI. Projects receiving funds must also remain affordable for at least 10 years. For each dollar invested, the project must demonstrate at least one kilowatt-hour in energy savings in the first year of operation.

Program resources may be used for shell measures such as windows, doors, and insulation as well as for energy efficient appliances and lighting. The program also provides home weatherization for single- and multi-family, owner occupied, and rental housing). In either case, projects supported by PPC funds for weatherization are required to have a conservation element.

NW Natural offers the Oregon Low-Income Energy Efficiency Program and the Washington Low-Income Energy Efficiency Program to qualified customers. These programs include gas measures such as insulation, windows, doors, pipe insulation, duct insulation, duct sealing, furnaces, infiltration, water heating, and faucet aerators. The program also includes health and safety measures, and targets high energy users, elderly residents, and households with children.

Portland’s Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) provides dedicated funding for climate action that advances racial and social justice, including creating jobs and providing grant funding for community-based weatherization projects. The fund was created through coalition advocacy efforts leading to a local ballot measure #26-201 in November 2018 with overwhelming community support. The Fund is anticipated to bring $44– $61 million in new annual revenue for green jobs, healthy homes, and a climate-friendly Portland. As the nation’s first-ever climate-fund created and led by communities of color, PCEF centers Black and Indigenous people, and other disadvantaged and marginalized groups in addressing the climate crisis.

In 2021, Portland General Electric’s low-income energy efficiency programs achieved 648.97 MWh in energy savings while spending $307,173.65 and serving 1,361 customers.

Savings, spending, and participation data for NW Natural’s low-income programs were not available for 2021.

Multifamily Programs

Energy Trust of Oregon offers the Existing Multifamily and the New Buildings Multifamily comprehensive programs to Portland General Electric and Northwest Natural Gas customers. The Existing Multifamily program targets building owners as well as residents with direct install services, lighting retrofits and equipment and weatherization incentives. The New Buildings Multifamily program works with builders in the design phase and through the construction of the building, providing technical guidance and incentives for building beyond code. The New Buildings program also works with customers undertaking whole-building retrofits. Additionally, Energy Trust offers incentives for small-medium and low-income multifamily units through it’s “savings within reach” offerings which provides increased incentives for income qualified customers.

Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) offers low-income services specifically for affordable multifamily housing through their Multifamily Energy Program for Portland General Electric customers. The program requires residents residing in at least 50% of the dwelling units must be at or below 80% AMI (area median income) and these units must remain affordable for a period of 10 years. The program offers three pathways for existing buildings and new construction. These pathways include prescriptive, bundled, and whole building approaches depending on the level of depth that the project wants to engage in. 

Savings, spending, and participation data for Energy Trust of Oregon’s multifamily programs were not available for 2021.

Last Updated: August 2023

Low-Income Programs

NV Energy offers a free qualified appliance replacement program to income-qualified customers. This program allows for the replacement of old inefficient appliances such as refrigerators and electric clothes dryers with new efficient models. Savings, spending, and customers served for NV Energy's low-income programs were not available in 2019.

In 2021, NV Energy saved 1,124.99 MWh through their low-income program while serving 1,486 households and spending $2,130,247.

Multifamily Programs

At this time, NV Energy does not offer energy efficiency programs targeted at multifamily properties.

Last Updated: September 2023

Low-Income Programs

Both Riverside Public Utilities and SoCalGas offer the dual fuel Energy Savings Assistance Program to qualified low-income residential customers. The program offers income-qualified renters and homeowners no-cost energy-saving home improvements through an authorized contractor, Synergy. It offers new energy-efficient LED lighting (indoor and outdoor), HVAC tune-ups, ECM HVAC motors, smart programmable thermostats, computer smart power strips, occupancy sensors, insulation and water stripping and caulking to help lower heating and cooling costs. For over 20 years, RPU has engaged with a low-income stakeholder group of regional partners who provide low-income assistance. This group provides input into program design and delivery. .

In 2021, according to RPU they served 2,647 households.. Data on spending and savings was not available. In 2021, according to SoCal Gas, it achieved 0.74 MMtherms energy savings, while spending $107,122,445 and served 105,067 households in its service territory.

Multifamily Programs

RPU offers the Multi-Family/Mobile Home Direct Installs Program. This comprehensive program offers energy efficiency upgrades to common areas and within individual units. Program offerings include AC tune-ups, replacing incandescent with CFL bulbs, duct sealing and testing for mobile homes, smart stripping, HVAC efficient fan control switches, LED landscape lighting and parking lot lighting, and vending machine controllers. This program was suspended due to Covid-19.

Spending value, energy savings and number of customers served by RPU’s 2021 multifamily programs were not available.

SoCalGas offers a portfolio of multifamily efficiency programs. The Multifamily Direct Therm Savings Program and the On-Demand Efficiency Program to provide energy audits and installation of energy efficiency measures. The Multifamily Energy Efficiency Rebate Program offers rebates for the purchase and installation of energy efficiency measures in apartment dwelling units, common areas, condominium complexes, and mobile home parks. The Multifamily Whole Building Home Upgrade Program provides a comprehensive long-term building strategy with energy efficiency retrofit measures identified through an investment grade audit. The Central Water Heater Multifamily Building Solutions Program offers property owners a comprehensive engineering assessment and incentives for upgrading the central water heater system.

In 2021, according to SoCalGas, it spent $25,055,219 on its multifamily programs. The number of households this program served and how many MMtherms it saved were not provided.

Last Updated: September 2023

Low-Income Programs

SMUD’s low-income energy efficiency programs include weatherization, deep home retrofits, solar bundle installations coupled with energy efficiency, and energy efficiency products for apartments and single-family, and tenant mobile homes. SMUD partners with local community agency advocates and government agencies to educate and promote their programs.

In 2021, we were unable to verify low-income energy efficiency spending and savings for SMUD.

PG&E offers the Energy Savings Assistance Program (ESA) to qualified low-income residential customers. The program provides in-home energy education, and direct installation of weatherization and hot water measures, lighting efficiency upgrades, HVAC tune-ups, smart power strips, and refrigerator recycling/replacement at no charge in order to reduce energy consumption in low-income households. The program provides health and safety measures such as the repair and replacement of water heaters and furnaces and minor home repairs. This program is implemented statewide by investor-owned utilities under the direction of the California Public Utilities Commission. It leverages the federal Weatherization Assistance Program, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and Low-Income Weatherization Program offerings.

The ESA Program’s objective is to assist income-qualified customers to reduce their energy consumption and costs while increasing their health, comfort and safety. PG&E has also administered the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program to qualifying customers since 1989. The CARE program provides a monthly discount on energy bills for qualifying single-family residential households, tenants of sub-metered residential facilities, non-profit group living facilities, agricultural employee housing facilities, and migrant farmworker housing centers throughout PG&E’s service area.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CAPUC) strongly encourages utilities to leverage funds for low-income energy efficiency and weatherization. PG&E’s ESA Program leverages water agency, Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and Low Income Weatherization Program (LIWP) funding through individually negotiated agreements with the other agencies.

In 2021, PG&E achieved 0.05 MMtherms in natural gas low-income program savings, while spending $80,963,860 on its natural gas low-income programs and serving 6,831 natural gas customers across its service territory.

Multifamily Programs

SMUD offers a custom incentive program designed for multifamily properties with 5 units or more to support switching from gas to electric space heating, water heating, and cooking appliances. Properties with more than 50% of tenant participating in SMUD’s Energy Assistance Program may qualify for additional incentives. Spending, savings, and customer data for SMUD’s multifamily programs were not available for 2019.

PG&E offers the California New Homes Multifamily Program, Multifamily Upgrade Program, and Multifamily Cooling Optimizer Program. California New Homes Multifamily Program provides support and incentives for multifamily new construction projects to encourage builders to exceed California’s Title 24 energy efficiency standards. The Multifamily Upgrade Program promotes and facilitates energy-efficient retrofits of existing multifamily buildings” through technical support and incentives. The Multifamily Cooling Optimizer Program is a direct install program focused on HVAC measures in tenant spaces. PG&E also implements the Energy Savings Assistance Program (ESA) for income-qualified multifamily customers.

For 2021, PG&E began ramp up on new statewide new construction programs: California Energy-Smart Homes New Construction Program and California Energy Design Assistance New Construction program, both of which can serve the multifamily sector. PG&E also offered the Multifamily Energy Savings Program (MESP) which provides property owners EE upgrade services for multifamily buildings of five units or greater throughout PG&E’s service territory. The program provides end-to-end program implementation services, including marketing, outreach, engineering, operations, customer service, data management, and reporting.

In 2021, PG&E achieved energy savings of 7,992 MWh and 0.13 MMtherms, while spending $20,336,729 on its electric and natural gas multifamily programs. PG&E served 29,727 housing units in 3,085 properties with its multifamily programs in 2021.

Last Updated: August 2023

Low-Income Programs

SDG&E offers the Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) Program, which provides renters or owners with energy-efficient lighting, water efficiency measures, health and safety measures, door and window replacement, appliance upgrades, insulation, weatherstripping, and caulking. SDG&E also partners with over 200 community partners to reach eligible customers, as well as 2-1-1 San Diego who provides enrolment services for SDG&E’s ESA program in addition to other state and local programs. SDG&E streamlines eligibility requirements for customers enrolled in other bill assistance programs. In addition, SDG&E leverages local LIHEAP agency dollars to provide health and safety repairs and services not offered through the ESA program, such as water heaters for renters. SDG&E partners with over 200 community partners to reach eligible customers.

In 2021, according to SDG&E, it achieved 1,673 MWh and 0.04 MMtherms in energy savings, while spending $15,836,309 and $8,075,142 on its electric and natural gas low-income programs, respectively. SDG&E served 13,658 customers across its low-income electric and natural gas programs in 2021.

Multifamily Programs

SDG&E offers a few multifamily programs: Multifamily Energy Efficiency Rebates (MFEER), the Comprehensive Mobile Home Program (CMHP), and the Residential Zero Net Energy Transformation (RZNET). Each of these programs target specific sub-segments within SDG&E’s Residential Multifamily sector and did so at little to no cost to the customer through direct install and co-pay delivery channels. Both MFEER & CMHP offered measures such as AC diagnostics, faucet aerators, low flow showerheads, efficiency fan controllers, refrigeration vending machine controllers, pool & spa LED lights, LEDs lights for common areas, smart programmable thermostats and 48-inch T8 LEDs for common areas at no cost. The program also included tankless water heaters, furnace upgrades and domestic hot water boilers at the co-pay level.

The Residential Zero Net Energy Transformation (RZNET) program is a new innovative way of serving

multifamily and manufactured homes. RZNET program design is a turnkey cost-effective zero net energy end-to-end solution that transforms multifamily and manufactured home community owners, operators, and residents into knowledgeable stewards of water, electricity, and natural gas. RZNET program participants are put on the path to zero net energy, beginning with direct install measures, a complimentary ASHRAE Level 1 audits, sales consultations acting as catalysts for advanced energy efficiency, solar PV installations, and battery storage opportunities for multifamily and manufactured housing properties. The program liaison coordinates with SDG&E’s Multi-Family Single Point of Contact (MFSPOC) for those properties that are looking for opportunities beyond the program’s scope.

Within its service territory, SDG&E administers and implements a low-income energy efficiency program, known statewide, as the Energy Savings Assistance Program (ESAP). Within the parameters of ESAP, SDG&E can treat in-unit residences and common areas in multifamily properties. The services offered through ESAP include no cost lighting, air sealing, HVAC repair and replacement, domestic hot water repair and replacement, appliance replacement, and benchmarking.

Beginning July 1, 2023, SDG&E will launch the Southern Multifamily Whole Building Program (MFWB). The program will offer comprehensive whole building services to both deed and non-deed restricted multifamily properties. Program offerings include air sealing of the building envelop, energy efficient lighting, hot water energy efficient measures, and HVAC equipment and systems, appliances.

In 2021, according to SDG&E, it achieved 829 MWh and 25 MMtherms in multifamily program energy savings, while spending $5,029,275on its electric multifamily programs and $558,808 on its natural gas multifamily programs. SDG&E’s multifamily programs served 8890 multifamily units in 239 properties..

Last Updated: August 2023

Low-Income Programs

PG&E offers the Energy Savings Assistance Program (ESA) to qualified low-income residential customers. The program provides in-home energy education, and direct installation of weatherization and hot water measures, lighting efficiency upgrades, HVAC tune-ups, smart power strips, and refrigerator recycling/replacement at no charge in order to reduce energy consumption in low-income households. The program provides health and safety measures such as the repair and replacement of water heaters and furnaces and minor home repairs. This program is implemented statewide by investor-owned utilities under the direction of the California Public Utilities Commission. It leverages the federal Weatherization Assistance Program, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and Low-Income Weatherization Program offerings.

The ESA Program’s objective is to assist income-qualified customers to reduce their energy consumption and costs while increasing their health, comfort and safety. PG&E has also administered the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program to qualifying customers since 1989. The CARE program provides a monthly discount on energy bills for qualifying single-family residential households, tenants of sub-metered residential facilities, non-profit group living facilities, agricultural employee housing facilities, and migrant farmworker housing centers throughout PG&E’s service area.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CAPUC) strongly encourages utilities to leverage funds for low-income energy efficiency and weatherization. PG&E’s ESA Program leverages water agency, Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and Low Income Weatherization Program (LIWP) funding through individually negotiated agreements with the other agencies.

In 2021, PG&E achieved energy savings of 63,235 MWh and 0.05 MMtherms, while spending $81,556,000 and $80,963,860 on its electric and natural gas low-income programs, respectively. PG&E served 103,169 total customers with its low-income programs in 2021.

San José Clean Energy (SJCE) and PG&E partner to promote energy efficiency programs for low-income customers. SJCE partners with GRID Alternatives to promote the No Cost Rooftop Solar and Clean Cars for All programs in disadvantaged communities. The City also actively promotes Rising Sun Energy Center’s Green House Calls, which provides households with no-cost energy and water assessments and installations. The Green House Calls are conducted by trained students aged 15-24 from disadvantaged communities, and thereby provide youth with exposure and access to clean energy jobs.

Multifamily Programs

PG&E offers the California New Homes Multifamily Program, Multifamily Upgrade Program, and Multifamily Cooling Optimizer Program. California New Homes Multifamily Program provides support and incentives for multifamily new construction projects to encourage builders to exceed California’s Title 24 energy efficiency standards. The Multifamily Upgrade Program promotes and facilitates energy-efficient retrofits of existing multifamily buildings through technical support and incentives. The Multifamily Cooling Optimizer Program is a direct install program focused on HVAC measures in tenant spaces. PG&E also implements the Energy Savings Assistance Program (ESA) for income-qualified multifamily customers.

For 2021, PG&E began ramp up on new statewide new construction programs: California Energy-Smart Homes New Construction Program and California Energy Design Assistance New Construction program, both of which can serve the multifamily sector. PG&E also offered the Multifamily Energy Savings Program (MESP) which provides property owners EE upgrade services for multifamily buildings of five units or greater throughout PG&E’s service territory. The program provides end-to-end program implementation services, including marketing, outreach, engineering, operations, customer service, data management, and reporting.

In 2021, PG&E achieved energy savings of 7,992 MWh and 0.13 MMtherms, while spending $20,336,729 on its electric and natural gas multifamily programs. PG&E served 29,727 housing units in 3,085 properties with its multifamily program in 2021.

Last Updated: August 2023

Low-Income Programs

Seattle City Light funds a low-income weatherization program administered by the City of Seattle’s Office of Housing called HomeWise. HomeWise provides energy efficiency measures including air-sealing, ductless heat pumps, water heaters, refrigerators, and lighting to single-family and multifamily properties. The program also includes health and safety measures such as air sealing, pest and mold abatement, and bath and kitchen fans. Seattle City Light also provides efficient lighting, water efficiency measures and power strips to low-income multifamily customers through the Multifamily Direct Install program, described in the Multifamily section below. Seattle City Light defines low-income as 70% of the state median income.

Seattle City Light provides funding to the City of Seattle’s Office of Housing. The Office of Housing receives additional funding from the State Department of Commerce and the Bonneville Power Administration. The Office of Housing coordinates activities with local governments and agencies inside and outside the city of Seattle, such as the King County Housing Authority, Seattle Housing Authority, and low-income housing providers.

In 2021, according to Seattle City Light, it achieved 1,996 MWh in energy savings from its low-income programs, while serving 376 low-income customers and spending $2,692,050.

PSE offers the Weatherization Assistance Program to qualified low-income gas residential customers in the City of Seattle boundaries. PSE program provides free weatherization assistance to single family, multi-family, and manufactured home customers. Measures provided include insulation, air sealing, water and space heating measures and health/safety and repairs measures. The program targets households with high energy users, elderly, disabled, children, and tribal members. Households that are eligible for federal bill assistance or weatherization programs automatically qualify for PSE’s program. The program is implemented in collaboration with county and municipal low-income weatherization agencies, the Washington State Department of Commerce, and participating weatherization contractors and suppliers.

In 2021, according to PSE, it spent $496,000 on its low-income program and served 711 low-income customers. The savings value for their 2021 low-income programs was not available.

Multifamily Programs

Seattle City Light’s multifamily comprehensive program consist of four segments. The Multifamily New Construction segment works with multifamily developers of five or more-unit buildings to incorporate energy-efficient technologies and equipment into building design. Seattle City Light provides financial incentives to offset the costs of energy-efficient technologies and equipment. Measures include in-unit lighting, dryers, heat pumps, and advanced power strips. The Multifamily Retrofit segment offers rebates for upgrades to in-unit and common area lighting in multifamily properties. The Multifamily Weatherization segment offers rebates for replacing windows and insulation in electrically-heated multifamily propitiates. The Powerful Neighborhood's Direct Install segment offers free efficient LED bulbs, shower heads, and faucet aerators to owners or managers of residential buildings with five or more units.

In 2021, according to SCL, it achieved 5,812 MWh in energy savings from its multifamily programs, while spending $2,141,436. Customers served by their multifamily programs was not available.

PSE offers the Multifamily Retrofit Incentives Program. This comprehensive program provides a free energy assessment along with a combination of free direct install replacement measures and electric/gas incentives. Multifamily structures and campuses typically have the opportunity to participate, with upgrades in individual units, common areas, and for the building envelope.

In 2021, according to PSE, it achieved 34,150 therms in natural gas savings from its multifamily programs, while serving 17,376 housing units and spending $248,159.

In addition, Seattle City Light funds the City of Seattle’s Office of Housing's HomeWise Weatherization Program. The program targets rental property owners with a majority of tenants meeting income qualifications. Program measures include attic and wall insulation, combustion appliance safety, ventilation and indoor air quality measures, air and duct sealing, pipe wrap, in-unit or central heating and hot water systems, and additional measures as determined. 

Last Updated: August 2023

Low-Income Programs

Duke Energy Florida offers the Neighborhood Energy Saver program. Through this program, the utility identifies neighborhoods that meet the income eligibility requirements and installs energy efficiency measures directly in homes. These measures include LED light bulbs, insulation, duct repair, faucet aerators, low-flow showerheads, weatherstripping, and HVAC tune-ups.  The utility also partners on the Low Income Weatherization Assistance Program with weatherization agencies and other organizations like Habitat for Humanity to install energy efficiency measures in homes of customers who meet income eligibility requirements.

In 2021, DEF reported 1,009.10 MWh in savings and spent $716,4701. DEF served 670 customers with their low-income programs in 2021. 

At this time, TECO Peoples Gas does not provide energy efficiency programs targeted at low-income customers.

Multifamily Programs

Duke Energy Florida offers the Home Energy Check Multifamily Audit program and the Residential Incentive Program. After completing the audit program, customers can then qualify for Duke Energy’s incentives, such as ceiling insulation, heat pumps, and duct repair.

Duke Energy Florida’s savings, number of customers served, and spending value for its 2021 multifamily program were not available. 

At this time, TECO Peoples Gas does not provide programs targeted at multifamily properties.

Last Updated: September 2023

Low-Income Programs

NYSERDA offers the EmPower New York program to qualified low-income residential National Grid customers. This program addresses both electric and natural gas end uses, while providing no-cost energy efficiency solutions including air sealing, insulation, replacement of inefficient refrigerators and freezers, water efficiency measures, thermostats, and new energy-efficient lighting in order to reduce energy consumption. Additionally, the EmPower program includes health and safety checks of smoke detectors and appliances. Households that receive HEAP benefits, utility bill payment assistance, or participate in the federal Weatherization Assistance Program are automatically eligible. NYSERDA’s Multifamily Performance Program and RetrofitNY initiatives also have low-income saving components. See the next section for more information.

In 2019, NSYERDA’s low-income programs achieved 3,031 MWh and 0.85 MMtherms savings for National Grid’s service territory while serving 4,555 low-income customers.

Multifamily Programs

NYSERDA’s Multifamily Performance Program provides incentives for owners to incorporate energy efficiency into affordable buildings for National Grid customers. A Multifamily Building Solutions Provider will work with the owner to evaluate the building’s systems holistically, creating a customized plan aimed at generating a minimum of 20% source energy savings along with reduced energy bills. For projects that could reach deeper energy savings, the High-Performance Component targets a minimum of 40% source energy savings with a maximum post-construction source energy use intensity (EUI) of 100 kBtu/sq ft./yr.

In 2018, NYSERDA launched the RetrofitNY initiative. The goal of this program is to drive market transformation by industrializing and standardizing the design and construction processes to achieve deep levels of cost compression, which will drive large-scale adoption of deep energy and net-zero retrofits in multifamily buildings. RetrofitNY approaches retrofits from a whole building perspective and targets multiple health and resiliency benefits as associated outcomes of building work-scope. NYSERDA funds are used in conjunction with other subsidies and financing offered from local, state, and federal sources as a financing package coordinated through relevant affordable housing agencies.   

In addition to NYSERDA programs, National Grid offers a multifamily program that provides no-cost direct install of high-efficiency showerheads, faucet aerators and thermostatic radiator valves. It also provides rebates for high-efficiency natural gas heating and water heating, insulation, programmable thermostats, boiler reset controls, steam traps and custom efficiency measures.

In 2019, NYSERDA’s multifamily programs achieved 7,873 MWh and 0.85 MMtherms savings for National Grid customers while serving 760 customers.

Last Updated: July 2021

Last Updated: January 2024

Last Updated: July 2021

Low-Income Programs

The DCSEU has a portfolio of programs to focus on different sectors of low-income customers. This includes the Low-Income Multifamily Implementation Contractor Direct Install, Low-Income Multifamily Comprehensive, Affordable Housing Retrofit Accelerator, and Solar PV and Hot Water programs for custom savings approaches. For prescriptive low-income offerings, the DCSEU has income qualified rebates for residential appliances, HVAC, and lighting, as well as retail lighting offerings at food banks in the District.

DCSEU partners with various agencies in Washington, and often works with local government agencies to transform buildings and institutions that offer services for DC residents. In cooperation with the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Department of General Services (DGS), the DCSEU aims to renovate many of the District-run shelters in the coming years. A majority of low-income work in the District is through Multifamily Buildings, Clinics, or Shelters that serve low-income households. Starting in 2019, DCSEU worked with a pilot of home owners to remove gas burning equipment from homes (space heating, domestic hot water, and cooking) and install solar.

In 2021, according to DCSEU, it achieved 5,734 MWh and 0.12 MMtherms in energy savings, while spending $3,928,620 and $982,155 on its electric and natural gas low-income programs, respectively. DCSEU served 3,514 low-income customers in 2021.

Multifamily Programs

DCSEU performs work with multifamily buildings across the district, and also has many programs focused specifically on low-income multifamily housing. The Low-Income Multifamily Comprehensive (LICP) initiative provides custom technical services and incentives for energy-efficiency improvements to low-income multifamily projects, specifically, new construction, substantial renovation, and redevelopment housing. Program measures included heating and cooling systems, domestic hot water systems, in-unit and common area lighting, appliances, controls, and low flow water fixtures. For low-income programs, measures also focus on HVAC efficiency, cooking and laundry, design assistance, hot water efficiency and replacement, LED lighting, efficient controls, lighting hardwired fixtures, motor controls, refrigeration, space heating efficiency and replacement, and thermal shell and ventilation.

In 2021, according to DCSEU, it achieved 5,642 MWh and 0.09 MMtherms of energy savings, while spending $4,565,368 and $2,448,516 on its electric and natural gas multifamily programs, respectively. DCSEU served 2,843 multifamily housing units and 80multifamily properties.

Last Updated: August 2023

Last Updated: July 2021