Inclusive Utility Investment Current Program Information
This list tracks Inclusive Utility Investment programs that follow the three main tenets of an IUI program. These components distinguish IUI programs from other tariffed on-bill programs that do not require savings and all forms of on-bill loans that do not remain with the meter.
Core Tenets of an Inclusive Utility Investment Program include:
- Utility Investment at the meter that avoids new customer debt, and the tariffed cost recovery charge remains with the meter, not the customer.
- Site-specific energy and cost savings estimate that ensures modeled energy savings provide an accurate estimate on which to base the cost-recovery charge, see best practices for how to do this in consumer protections.
- Positive cash flow: The tariff requires that the cost-recovery charge be lower than the estimated energy bill savings on an annual basis.
PLEASE NOTE: This list is not an endorsement of these programs. Programs listed here do not necessarily comply with the PAYS® model or include all 10 best practice consumer protections listed on EPA’s IUI webpage. Contact Taylor Jantz-Sell at jantz-sell.taylor@epa.gov if you have updates to this list for us to consider.
| State | Program Information | Status |
|---|---|---|
| AR | Sponsor: Ouachita Electric Co-operative Program Name: HELP PAYS® Primary Documentation: APSC Docket No. 15-106-TF Order No. 2 Ouachita Filed Tariff: OECC Tariff Filed 2015 Description: Available to homeowners, renters, and businesses includes energy efficiency and solar. Eligibility: Available to all co-op members (approx. 8,500) PAYS® Program: Yes | Program - Adopted 2/8/2016 |
| CA | Sponsor: Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) Program Name: Water Upgrades and $ave Primary Documentation: CPUC Rulemaking 20-08-022 Filed Tariff: Water Upgrades $ave Tariff for City of Sebastopol (PDF, 179 KB) Description: Partnership between BayREN, participating utilities, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and the Association of Bay Area Governments. Eligibility: Open to households in participating utility service territories PAYS® Program: Yes | Program - Adopted 3/5/2021 |
| CA | Sponsor: Technology and Equipment for Clean Heating (TECH) Initiative Program Name: TECH Public Reporting Inclusive Utility Investment Pilot Filed Tariff: CPUC Expands On-Bill Financing Options for Non-Residential Energy Utility Customers (ca.gov) Primary Documentation: CPUC Rulemaking 20-08-022 Description: This state-funded effort seeks to pilot an inclusive utility investment program to encourage heat pump water heater purchases. Eligibility: TBD PAYS® Program: TBD - CA programs not approved or running yet | In Process - Adopted 8/27/2020 |
| GA | Sponsor: Georgia Power Program Name: Residential Income-Qualified Tariff Based Energy Efficiency Pilot Primary Documentation: GA PSC Docket NOS. 42310 and 42311 Description: Pilot focused on engaging historically underrepresented customers in energy efficiency upgrades Eligibility: Income qualified customers in targeted areas of Atlanta and Athens. PAYS® Program: No | Pilot - Adopted 5/20/2020 |
| GA | Sponsor: City of LaGrange Program Name: Saving on Utilities Long term (SOUL) Filed Tariff: SOUL Energy Efficiency Tariff Description: Pilot focused on relieving energy burden of low- and moderate-income renters and homeowners funded through community development funds. Eligibility: goal of reaching 60 residents PAYS® Program: Yes | Pilot - Adopted 5/20/2020 |
| IL | Sponsor: Electric public utilities providing services to 500,000 or more customers Program Name: Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (2021), “Equitable Energy Upgrade Program” Primary Documentation: Climate and Equity Jobs Act (pp. 897-905) Description: The Commission shall “direct all electric public utilities in the state to adopt an Equitable Energy Upgrade Program that permits customers to finance the construction of energy projects through an optional tariff payable directly through their utility bill, modeled after the Pay As You Save system.” Eligibility: TBD PAYS® Program: TBD - IL programs not approved or running yet | In Process - Adopted 9/15/2021 |
| KS | Sponsor: Midwest Energy Program Name: How$mart® Primary Documentation: KCC Order, Docket NOS. 07-MDWG-784-TAR and 07-MDWE-788-TAR Filed Tariff: How$mart Energy Rider Description: Program available for both residential and commercial customers with early pay-off available. Eligibility: Midwest Energy customers, residential and small commercial, in good standing and current on utility payments (approx. 29,000 households and businesses) PAYS® Program: Yes | Program - Adopted 12/20/2007 |
| KY | Sponsor: Mountain Association Program Name: How$mart® KY (contact Chris Woolery for more information) Primary Documentation: Docket No. 2012-00484 Filed Tariffs: All KY Utility Tariffs Video on Program Impact: Mountain Association - Benham Saves Description: Program available for both residential and commercial customers with early pay-off available. Eligibility: Open to residential customers and renters in Big Sandy RECC, Grayson Electric Co-Op, Fleming-Mason Energy, Jackson Energy Co-Op, Farmers RECC, Licking Valley RECC (approx. 96,000 households) PAYS® Program: Yes | Program - Adopted 8/26/2013 |
| MA | Sponsor: Ipswich Electric Light Department (ELD) Program Name: ReInvest Ipswich Primary Documentation: Feasibility Study of Tariffed On-Bill Financing in Ipswich, Massachusetts Filed Tariff: ReInvest Ipswich Terms and Conditions Eligibility: Available to residential customers (homeowners and renters) in good-standing and current on all electric bills. PAYS® Program: No | Pilot - Adopted 9/2023 |
| MO | Sponsor: Ameren Missouri Program Name: Pay As You Save® Primary Documentation: MPSC Order File No. EO-2018-0211 Filed Tariff: Ameren Tariff Description: Program begins with customers submitting an online interest form and is followed by scheduling an in-home visit that includes direct install measures as well as an assessment of measures that may include duct repair, insulation, new HVAC systems, weatherization upgrades, and hot water pipe wrap. Once customers choose measures and the work is performed, they will begin repaying through a charge on their bill. A co-pay may be required depending on measures chosen. Eligibility: All residential customers including renters with consent of the landlord PAYS® Program: Yes | Program - Adopted 8/5/2020 |
| MO | Sponsor: Evergy Missouri Program Name: Pay As You Save® Primary Documentation: MPSC File No. EO-2019-0132 and EO-2019-0133 Filed Tariff: Evergy MO Metro Tariff and Evergy MO West Tariff Description: Program begins with customers submitting an online interest form and is followed by scheduling an in-home visit that includes direct install measures as well as an assessment of measures that may include an HVAC upgrade, attic insulation, air sealing, duct sealing, or smart thermostats. Once customers choose measures and the work is performed, they will begin repaying through a charge on their bill. A co-pay may be required depending on measures chosen. Eligibility: Participation is open to all Missouri residential homeowners and renters (with owner consent), including those in apartments, condos, or mobile homes (under certain conditions). Homes must be free of health and safety concerns. PAYS® Program: Yes | Pilot - Adopted 6/3/2021 |
| MO | Sponsor: Liberty Utilities Program Name: TBD (filed as Pay As You Save®) Description: TBD Eligibility: Participation is open to all residential customers. PAYS® Program: TBD - program not approved or running yet | In Process |
| MO | Sponsor: Spire Program Name: Pay As You Save® Primary Documentation: MPSC File No. GO-2021-0126 Filed Tariff: Spire Tariff Description: Program offers upgrades on HVAC, water heater, insulation, and duct sealing measures, as well as direct install measures such as faucet aerators. Where applicable, the program is offered collaboratively with the electric utility to maximize savings for the customer. Eligibility: Participation is open to all residential customers. PAYS® Program: Yes | Pilot - Adopted 5/26/2021 |
| NC | Sponsor: Roanoke Electric Co-operative Program Name: Upgrade to $ave Program Documentation: Filed Tariffs: REC Tariffs (RIDER EECLP: Energy Efficiency & Conservation Loan Program) Description: Program concentrates on insulation, air and duct sealing, heat pump improvements, water heater wraps, and LED lighting Eligibility: Available to all co-op members regardless of ownership status or income. PAYS® Program: Yes | Program |
| NC | Sponsor: Duke Energy and Duke Energy Carolinas Program Name: Smart Saver (will be included in current Smart Saver portfolio) Primary Documentation: Docket No. E-7, Sub 1213, Sub 1214, Sub 1187 Filed Tariffs: Video Presentation on Program: How Utilities Can Invest in Solutions to Reduce Energy Insecurity Description: Pilot being developed as part of a stipulation to a regulatory settlement. Eligible measures include but are not limited to HVAC equipment, insulation, duct replacement, heat pump water heaters, and other energy efficiency equipment and products determined on a case-by-case basis. As part of the program, Duke Energy will make necessary repairs to installed measures to ensure the projected energy savings do not degrade over time. Customers can make a co-payment at the beginning of the project to reduce the overall repayment cost. Eligibility: Any existing property that is deemed habitable by Duke Energy is eligible for the program. PAYS® Program: No | In Process - Adopted 7/20/2020 |
| NH | Sponsor: Eversource Program Name: Smart Start Primary Documentation: Filed Tariffs: Eversource Smart Start Tariff (pp. 89-91) Description: Program applies all eligible incentives upfront and uses tariffed on-bill investment and cost recovery. Options available for early pay-off, keeping the monthly cost recovery amount lower than total savings, or allowing the customer to pay 100 percent of the future cost recovery amount to expedite payment depending on their needs. Eligibility: Municipal customers PAYS® Program: Yes | Program |
| NH | Sponsor: New Hampshire Electric Co-op Program Name: SmartSTART® (Savings Through Affordable Retrofit Technologies) Primary Documentation: Filed Tariffs: NHEC SmartSTART (pp. 10-12) Description: The SmartSTART® (Savings Through Affordable Retrofit Technologies) advantage is simple – pay nothing out of pocket to have energy efficiency products installed in your business. The cost of the improvements is repaid over time, using the savings generated by the products themselves! Eligibility: PAYS® Program: Yes | Program - Adopted |
| TN | Sponsor: Appalachian Electric Co-operative Program Name: U-$ave Advantage Program Documentation: The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) accepted the PAYS tariff Filed Tariff: AEC Tariff Description: Program allows for co-pays and paying 100% of the utility’s cost recovery (as opposed to requiring a cash-flow positive outcome). Appliances or equipment replaced under the program must be ENERGY STAR certified. Eligibility: All residential co-op members with a focus on those with energy intensive usage patterns. PAYS® Program: Yes | Program - Adopted 7/11/2005 |
| VA | Sponsor: Rappahannock Electric Co-operative Program Name: Vividly Brighter Upgrades – Affordable Energy Efficiency Primary Documentation: Virginia SB 754, On-Bill Tariff Program Description: The first in Virginia after code was adopted allowing Rural Electric Co-ops to fast-track implementation of Tariff On-Bill energy efficiency investments. Enrollment tool attempts to direct income-qualified customers to free weatherization services. Heat pump water heater upgrades are available under a separate program. Eligibility: Homeowners and renters are eligible. PAYS® Program: Yes | In Process - Adopted 4/20/2020 |
| VT | Sponsor: Vermont Housing Finance Agency Program Name: Weatherization Repayment Assistance Program (WRAP)
Description: Green Mountain Power, Ludlow Electric, Vermont Electric Cooperative, Vermont Gas and Burlington Electric are participating (not all have launched yet) other utilities may join in the future. Qualified projects include insulating and air sealing, heat pumps, and advanced wood heating systems. Each project also must demonstrate a capacity to improve efficiency. PAYS® Program: No |
Additional tracking documents maintained by other sources related to activity in this space.
EXIT: Another tracking resource, from Liberty Homes, (non EPA) GoogleSheet summarizes and provides live links to some Inclusive Utility Investment related commission orders, legislation, executive policies, and Tariff documents.
From EEI PAYS® Program Status 2022