Residential Energy Efficiency Loan Assistance Program
Helping Californians make their homes more efficient and comfortable
Contact Information
If you have any questions about the California Hub for Energy Efficiency Financing pilot programs, please contact cheef@treasurer.ca.gov or (916) 651-8157.
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Energy Efficiency Loans for California Homeowners and Tenants
The Residential Energy Efficiency Loan (REEL) Assistance Program is designed to help Californians save energy at home by making attractive financing more widely available for home energy efficiency improvements. REEL offers a credit enhancement to mitigate the risk of default, which enables participating lenders to offer lower rates, longer payback terms and higher loan amounts, and to approve a broader base of borrowers for energy efficiency loans. Customers may upgrade a single-family home, townhome, condo, duplex, triplex, fourplex or manufactured home.
Of California’s 10 million single-family housing units, about 65% were built before statewide energy efficiency standards took effect in 1978. Policymakers view energy efficiency improvements to single-family residences as an important source of energy savings . More than half the energy used by this segment is for heating water and spaces.
Participating Finance Companies
CAEATFA works with finance companies to provide REEL customers with attractive financing options. The REEL Approved Lenders chart lists up-to-date rates and terms for REEL loans available through participating credit unions. The Apply for Financing tool on GoGreenFinancing.com provides information on lender offerings in a user-friendly format.
REEL financing is currently offered through eight credit unions: California Coast Credit Union, Desert Valleys Federal Credit Union, Eagle Community Credit Union, First US Community Credit Union, Matadors Community Credit Union, Pasadena Service Federal Credit Union, Travis Credit Union and Valley Oak Credit Union. Additionally, One and Enervee have partnered with REEL to offer Eco Financing loans on utility online marketplaces starting in August 2021.
Finance companies that are interested in partnering with REEL should visit the Finance Companies page on GoGreenFinancing.com or contact the REEL Program team at cheef@treasurer.ca.gov.
Program Status
The California Public Utilities Commission authorized REEL to launch as a pilot program in July 2016 and approved its transition to a full program in April 2020.
For detailed information on REEL program activity, visit the CHEEF Reports and Additional Materials page.
Who Benefits And How?
REEL is available to owners and tenants of single-family houses, townhomes, condominiums, mobile homes and multiplexes of up to four units where an investor-owned utility (PG&E, SCE, SCG and/or SDG&E) provides (or a Community Choice Aggregator procures) energy.
Through REEL, homeowners and renters can access more affordable loans for energy upgrades such as efficient HVAC systems, heat pumps, cool roofs, appliances, insulation and new windows (view the complete list of Eligible Energy Efficiency Measures, or EEEMs).
Borrowers can also use REEL financing for limited non-energy improvements like landscaping and remodeling.
Among the hundreds of California households to benefit from REEL is the Flores family, pictured on this page. The Floreses financed multiple energy efficiency upgrades for their home, including a tankless water heater and a new furnace, and kept their payments affordable through the REEL program. Learn more about their REEL experience on the program’s customer-facing website, GoGreenFinancing.com.
REEL Contractors
All REEL projects (except those eligible for self-install; see the EEEMs list for designations) must be completed by an enrolled REEL contractor. Current contractor listings, updated weekly, may be found through the Find a Contractor tool on GoGreenFinancing.com.
Contractors who are interested in partnering with REEL should visit the Contractor Resources page or contact the Contractor Support Team at gogreen@frontierenergy.com.
Regulations
The regulations for the REEL Program were initially authorized under the emergency regulations process on March 9, 2015, then were formalized through the regular rulemaking process and approved by the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) on April 13, 2016. The regulations were modified on Sept. 17, 2018. OAL approved emergency regulations for a second round of modifications on May 24, 2021. Visit the REEL regulations webpage for links to the current regulations.
Learn more
Find more information about REEL at GoGreenFinancing.com.