On-Bill Loan Repayment
For Home Retrofit
Expanding business opportunities through On-Bill Loan Repayment options
As a participating trade ally contractor, you can gain a competitive edge by offering on-bill financing to homeowners who install qualifying energy improvements. Energy Trust is working with Avista and regional nonprofit lender Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union (PSCCU) (NMLS ID#619183) to provide On-Bill Loan Repayment and preferred rates for select energy-efficiency projects.
With On-Bill Loan Repayment, trade allies receive a 50% advance on the loan from PSCCU before beginning work, and full payment upon completion of the project. Homeowners then pay back costs through their home heating utility bill. The energy savings may offset much of the loan cost, so customers could see little or no increase on their energy bill.
Contact onbill@energytrust.org to learn more about becoming an eligible On-Bill Loan Repayment trade ally.
- Straightforward, low rates for customers at no cost to you
- Access a wider market of moderate-income customers without risk to your business
- Fast processing
- Online applications available
- Electronic document signing
- Electronic payment to contractors
- Oregon Upgrade
- Savings Within Reach (Oregon only)
- NW Natural Washington (Washington only) – not currently available
Loans may only be used to cover the cost of materials and installation for projects that qualify for Energy Trust incentives. Please review the following table to determine maximum allowable loan amounts. Not all homeowners will qualify for these loans or maximums.
| Offering | Loan amount | Repayment period |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon On-Bill Loan Repayment | Up to $15,000 | Up to 10 years |
| Savings Within Reach | Up to $15,000 | Up to 10 years |
Project eligibility is determined by Energy Trust. Loan availability, terms and conditions are current as of 7/1/24 and are subject to change without notice. Not all applicants will qualify. PSCCU (NMLS ID#619183) is an equal opportunity lender.
- Trade ally determines customer eligibility.
- Participating trade ally and customer apply to lender. The process takes less than 10 minutes.
- Lender emails the loan approval decision to customer and trade ally within 3 to 5 business days.
- If approved, customer signs loan document electronically and lender notifies trade ally when the loan is closed, and work may begin.
- Up to 50% of payment may be available to trade ally from lender.
- Trade ally completes work.
- Trade ally and customer submit final signed invoice to lender.
- Lender pays remaining balance to trade ally.
- Energy Trust pays incentive to trade ally within 4 to 6 weeks.
- Customer repays loan via heating utility bill.
Lenders:
PSCCU
askus@psccu.org
1.800.273.1550
www.psccu.org/energy-smart
Oregon On-Bill Loan Repayment is available to customers who both own and reside in the single-family home, manufactured home, or a multifamily residence that is an attached side-by-side unit like a rowhome, or is a unit within a duplex, triplex, or fourplex that is receiving the upgrades. To qualify, the home must be heated with natural gas provided by Avista.
PSCCU offers home energy-efficiency loans to qualifying customers. Incentive amount cannot exceed cost of materials and installation. Repayment method is the home heating bill.
To learn more about the loan, loan terms and to apply for financing, visit the PSCCU webpage.
| Energy-efficiency upgrade | Incentives* | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Direct-vent gas fireplace | $250 $150 | Fireplace efficiency (FE) ≥ 75% FE ≥ 70–74.9% |
| Gas tank water heater*** | N/A | Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) must be 0.66 or greater for tank size of 40 gallons or less Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) must be 0.69 or greater for tank size of 41-74 gallons Uniform Energy Factor (UEF), must be 0.86 or greater for tank size of 75 gallons or greater |
| Gas tankless water heater | $400 | ENERGY STAR qualified, see product list. |
| Gas furnace in Multifamily properties | $1,600 | 95% AFUE or greater. Only for furnaces used as primary heat source, not as back-up heat source |
| Windows | $1.00 per square foot $1.50 per square foot | U-Value 0.27–0.23 U-Value 0.22 or less |
| Attic insulation† | $1.25 per square foot | Existing insulation must be R-18 or less. Must insulate to R-38 or greater or fill cavity if a single-family home or small multifamily residence. Must insulate to R-30 or greater or fill cavity if a manufactured home. |
| Floor insulation† | $0.50 per square foot | Existing insulation must be R-11 or less. Must insulate to R-30 or greater or fill cavity if a single-family or small multifamily residence. Must insulate to R-22 or greater or fill cavity if a manufactured home. |
| Wall/knee wall/rim joist insulation† | $0.50 per square foot | Existing wall, rim joist, and knee wall insulation must be R-4 or less. Exterior walls must be insulated to R-11 or greater or fill cavity. Rim joists must be insulated to R-15 or greater or fill cavity. Knee walls must be insulated to R-15 or greater for 2x4 cavities or R-21 or greater for 2x6 cavities. Attic insulation must be R-19 or higher in order for knee wall insulation to be eligible for an incentive. |
*Incentive amounts cannot exceed cost of materials and installation.
** There is no customer-facing incentive for a gas tank water heater, but the cost of the unit and installation may be financed with Oregon On-Bill Loan Repayment.
†Insulation projects are eligible for On-Bill Loan Repayment in single-family homes when installation is combined with a qualifying gas fireplace or gas tankless water heater upgrade.
Download our Oregon On-Bill Loan Repayment Workflow.
Savings Within Reach helps make home energy upgrades more affordable for income-qualified households in Oregon.
PSCCU offers home energy-efficiency loans to qualifying Avista customers.
To learn more about the loan, loan terms and to apply for financing, visit the PSCCU webpage:
Loan and recording fees are covered by Energy Trust. Repayment method is the home heating bill.
| Energy-efficiency upgrade | Incentives* | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Attic insulation | $1.50 per square foot | Existing insulation must be R-18 or less. Must insulate to R-38 or greater or fill cavity if a single-family home or small multifamily residence. Must insulate to R-30 or greater or fill cavity if a manufactured home. |
| Wall/knee wall/rim joint insulation | $0.75 per square foot | Existing wall, rim joist, and knee wall insulation must be R-4 or less. Exterior walls must be insulated to R-11 or greater or fill cavity. Rim joists must be insulated to R-15 or greater or fill cavity. Knee walls must be insulated to R-15 or greater for 2x4 cavities or R-21 or greater for 2x6 cavities. |
| Floor insulation | $0.75 per square foot | Existing insulation must be R-11 or less. Must insulate to R-30 or greater or fill cavity if a single-family or small multifamily residence. Must insulate to R-22 or greater or fill cavity if a manufactured home. |
| High-efficiency gas furnace | $1,600 | 95% annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) or greater. Gas furnaces used as backup for high-efficiency heat pumps, also known as hybrid systems, are not eligible. |
| Windows | $1.00 per square foot $1.50 per square foot | U-Value 0.27–0.23 U-Value 0.22 or less |
| Gas tank water heater† | N/A | Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) must be 0.66 or greater for tank size of 40 gallons or less Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) must be 0.69 or greater for tank size of 41-74 gallons Uniform Energy Factor (UEF), must be 0.86 or greater for tank size of 75 gallons or greater |
| Gas tankless water heater | $400 | ENERGY STAR qualified, see product list |
*Incentive amounts cannot exceed cost of materials and installation.
†There is no customer-facing incentive for a gas tank water heater, but the cost of the unit and installation may be financed with Savings Within Reach On-Bill Loan Repayment.
Download our Savings Within Reach On-Bill Repayment workflow.
On-Bill Loan Repayment is no longer available to NW Natural customers in Washington. Visit our financing webpage to find additional financing options.
How does On-Bill Loan Repayment benefit my customers?
With more approvals than traditional lenders and low monthly payments, loans are designed to make energy-efficiency upgrades more accessible. Your customers may be eligible even with less-than-perfect credit, as these loans use flexible credit criteria based on utility payment history. With On-Bill Loan Repayment, loan payments are included as a line item on customers’ utility statement, so they don’t have to worry about extra bills to pay.
How can I help customers through the loan process?
Encourage your Avista customers to apply for a loan with PSCCU at the same time you submit their incentive application and supporting documentation to lender. Online applications receive quicker approval, but paper applications are available upon request.
When will customers start seeing loan payments on their utility bills?
Customers can expect to begin loan payments one-to-two bill cycles after funds have been distributed to trade allies.
What happens if a customer with a PSCCU loan sells their house?
The customer will need to pay off the remaining balance of the loan at the time of the home sale.
What if the project costs change once work begins?
If the cost of the project increases after loan documents have been signed, you may need to sign and submit updated documentation to Energy Trust. The homeowner will also need to re-apply for the loan and sign amended loan documents with PSCCU.
Can a customer who previously received an On-Bill Loan Repayment loan, receive another loan for a different measure?
Customers with active on-bill loans who are interested in financing additional energy efficiency projects may be able to update their loan terms to include additional energy savings measures. Please work with the lender for more information.
Questions?
Contact us:
PSCCU
askus@psccu.org
1.800.273.1550
www.psccu.org/energy-smart
Energy Trust
onbill@energytrust.org
1.866.311.1822
www.energytrust.org/residential/residential-financing