Commercial SW Washington

Trade allies helped Energy Trust exceed 2015 goals


Energy Trust helped residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural customers save $362 million on energy bills in 2015, thanks to a strong Trade Ally Network of contractors, architects, engineers, designers, builders and real estate agents.

AR_photoTrade allies like you helped Energy Trust exceed its 2015 goals for electric savings, natural gas savings and renewable generation, and achieve all Oregon Public Utility Commission annual minimum performance measures, including keeping program and administrative costs low at 5.5 percent of annual revenues.

This wide and diverse Trade Ally Network creates jobs in communities around the state. More than 2,400 local businesses report employing 12,400 people who complete Energy Trust customer projects. Of those companies, 78 percent are small businesses with 20 workers or less.

In 2015, Energy Trust supported trade allies by:

  • Launching the first comprehensive business advertising campaign, called My Business, to encourage all sizes and types of existing commercial and industrial businesses to invest in energy efficiency. The campaign directed 25,000 website visitors to contact Energy Trust trade allies.
  • Offering a new online tool that helped 1,200 home and business owners request trade ally bids for solar installations.
  • Providing $420,000 in business development fund reimbursement to support trade ally co-branded marketing and advertising.
  • Meeting with 165 trade allies at forums in Bend, Klamath Falls, Medford, Pendleton and Portland, and launched a new event format with more emphasis on small group discussions and opportunities for remote webinar participation.

To learn more about 2015 accomplishments that Energy Trust achieved with the help of your valuable work, view our 2015 Annual Report.