Low or no cost options for a safe and comfortable electric home
Are you ready to make your home more comfortable and energy efficient? If you income qualify, there are resources available to you at low or no cost!
Free Replacement for old electric water heaters
If you are income-qualified and have an electric water heater at least 10 years old, Community Energy Project can replace it for free with a new, efficient, heat pump water heater. Estimated savings: over $300 per year on your electric bill!
Community Solar—Get clean energy and save on your electric bill!
The Oregon Community Solar Program allows thousands of Oregonians to power their homes with solar energy, even if they don’t own their home. You can too, by subscribing to a large off-site solar project being built here in Oregon. It’s easy to enroll, there’s no up-front cost, and you’ll save 5-30% on your electric bill once the solar farm is completed. Community Energy Project connects income-qualified customers to the program.
Community Energy Project provides free home services focused on safety, health, and energy efficiency. They also provide free community education and supplies, as well as direct home energy upgrades and repairs. Visit their website for more information about the programs below, and to see if you qualify.
Free Home Repair, Weatherization and Energy Efficiency Upgrades
Low or moderate income homeowners may qualify for a complete home energy retrofit to improve the energy efficiency and comfort of their home. Free weatherization and repair may also be available for people who: Own and occupy their homes in the City of Portland, earn 50%-80% of median income or less (see their site for income guidelines) and are 55 or older and/or have a disability
Selling your home? Get a free Home Energy Score
Community Energy Project provides Free Home Energy Scores to home sellers at or below 80% median income in Hillsboro, Portland, and Milwaukie. This service is for home sellers with an active listing on the market. Similar to a Miles Per Gallon rating for your car, the Home Energy Score gives you an easy to read benchmark on efficiency and opportunities for improvement.
Replace your old electric heating with a heat pump
Verde and the Energy Trust of Oregon have teamed up to help you save on heating and cooling costs. Get up to $3,600 off when you replace your old electric heating with a ductless heat pump (DHP). If the system costs any more than that, you can finance it through a community lender on your utility bill. To apply, fill out their Ductless Heat Pump interest form.
Verde is a community builder that provides energy efficiency, renewable energy and green build services. As a icensed and bonded general contractor they focus on supporting historically underrepresented communities. Visit their site or email dhp@verdenw.org for more info about the programs below, and to see if you qualify.
Free Air Conditioning Units
The PCEF Cooling Portland Program connects vulnerable low-income Portlanders with efficient portable cooling/heating units, and Verde is one of their Community Distribution Partners. Eligibility: City of Portland residents with income below 60% of the State Median Income, adjusted for household size. Applicants who are over 60 years of age, have medical conditions that increase the risk of heat-related illness, and/or live alone will be prioritized. To apply, fill out their Cooling Portland (Heat Response) interest form.
City of Portland Home Repair Services
The Portland Housing Bureau helps homeowners repair and retain their homes. Find help for small to large repair projects, accessibility modifications, home retention case management, foreclosure prevention counseling, and more.
MFS’s Electric Ways to Work program
Interested in purchasing a hybrid vehicle, electric vehicle, or electric bike? Metropolitan Family Service’s Portland Electric Ways to Work program supports community members with low incomes in accessing environmentally friendly transportation.
Qualified Portland residents receive:
- Support and guidance on Electric Vehicles (EVs), Plug-in Electric Hybrids (PHEVs), Hybrids, and E-bikes
- Information about and access to limited down payment incentives (up to $5,000)
- Help navigating federal and state EV rebates
- For residents with a challenged credit history, access to low-interest loans up to $12,000 through local credit unions
For more information, visit our website at www.mfspdx.org/portland-electric-ways-to-work or contact us at waystowork@mfs.email | 503-232-0007 x104.
Free Cooling Units
Cooling Portland is funded by the city’s Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF). The program provides life-saving and efficient portable heat pump/cooling equipment to low-income Portlanders, prioritizing those most vulnerable to the impacts of extreme heat fueled by climate change. The cooling units are distributed by Community Distribution Partners, community nonprofits and housing providers that serve vulnerable people and households in Portland. They select recipients based on eligibility and need. The equipment will be distributed to low-income Portlanders, prioritizing those who are elderly, living alone or, have medical conditions. To request a cooling unit, contact a Community Distribution Partner from the list found here.
Replace old electric heat in your manufactured home
Energy Trust is offering a $3,500 – $4,000 cash incentive for residents of manufactured homes who replace their old electric heat with a ducted or ductless heat pump. Manufactured home residents across Oregon may be eligible for either a special promotional price or an increased incentive on a professionally installed ducted or ductless heat pump through December 31, 2024. By working with one of their participating trade allies, incentives will be paid directly to your contractor, who will deduct the incentive amount from your invoice, reducing your out-of-pocket costs.
Multnomah County Weatherization Program
These free services are available to people with limited incomes. Potential free energy saving measures such as insulation, air sealing and ventilation are based on a free energy audit.
Multnomah County Wood Burning Exchange
The MultCo Wood Burning Device Exchange Program is designed to encourage residents of Multnomah County to remove their older, smoky wood stoves and fireplaces and replace them with cleaner heat pumps for a healthier home and cleaner air. Participating homeowners will receive a financial incentive for replacing their wood burning device. The incentive amounts range from $3000 to full cost replacement, dependent on eligibility and household income. To be eligible, the exchange must:
- Be in Multnomah County
- Decommission or permanently remove a wood burning device that is indoors, is currently working, and burns wood for heating purposes
- Be approved by the legal homeowner. For rental properties, formal approval from the property owner will be required as part of the approval process
There is not an income limit to participate in this program. However, priority and higher incentives will be given to low to moderate income homeowners within target areas of Multnomah County.
To apply, fill out their online interest form
Oregon Rental Home Heat Pump Program
If you are a tenant or landlord of a rental property, ODOE has rebates available up to $7,000 for heat pump installations and up to $4,000 for related upgrades. The Oregon Rental Home Heat Pump Program provides rebates and grants for the installation of heat pumps and related upgrades in dwellings used as residential tenancy (rentals) and manufactured dwellings or recreational vehicles located in a rented space.
Get help with your utility bills
Utility bill discount programs are available for households making 60% or below the state median household income. If you are a customer of PGE, Pacific Power, and/or NW Natural, you may qualify for a 15-40% discount on your monthly bill, depending on household income.
