Incentives Doubled for Income-Qualified Residents
By Candace Turtle, Ashland Climate Collaborative Board Member
Ashland Electric customers have significant new opportunities to make home energy improvements – from new electric panels and circuit breakers to home heating and cooling systems, and electric/zero emissions vehicles. New city rebates will shave hundreds to thousands of dollars off the cost to buy and install equipment needed to reduce climate pollution.
“This is great news,” said Erin O’Kelley Muck, Executive Director of the Ashland Climate Collaborative. “These enhanced rebates will be a game changer for many people.”
The new rebate schedule, approved by the City Council in October, increases payments to Ashland electric customers across a wide array of home energy equipment. The larger incentives include hot water and space heating/cooling systems. There is also a new incentive to help upgrade electrical circuits and panels to prepare to add electrical appliances, and for the first time, selected incentives are doubled for income-qualified individuals/families.
Under the old rebate schedule, a family that would have received $1,200 for a heat pump heating and cooling system now could receive $1,500. If the family is income-qualified, that amount doubles to $3,000. For example, a family of three with a maximum income of $53,300 would qualify for the doubled rebate. For income levels for other household sizes, see this chart from the city’s website.
Income Qualification Amounts
Source: City of Ashland Website “Income-Qualifed Incentives”
The rebates for ductless mini-splits also increased to $900, and with the income multiplier the rebate grows to $1,800 per unit. Heat pump hot water heater rebates increased from $600 to $1,400. Again, income-qualified customers could receive twice that, or $2,800.
Renters will also benefit from the increased rebates as landlords can apply for enhanced rebates based on their tenant’s income. Upgraded equipment will translate into more comfortable and affordable housing for renters, as well as reduced climate pollution.
Richard Barth, a founder of Ashland Climate Collaborative, was a member of the working committee that made the rebates recommendations to the city council. “We tried to make it more affordable for all of our residents to upgrade to the most energy-efficient equipment when their old equipment gives out,” said Barth. “And we wanted to make assistance equitable so all of our residents can buy equipment that will reduce climate pollution. This benefits all of us with better air quality and reduced climate-warming gases. We must upgrade our home energy equipment and transportation to reach our zero emissions goals – these are two of the biggest sources of pollution in our town.”
ELECTRICAL UPGRADES INCLUDED
There is also help for homes that need significant electrical improvements. There is a rebate of up to $1,000 for a panel, or $600 for a circuit upgrade. For income-qualified individuals up to 100% of that electrical work could be covered by a city rebate – up from a maximum of 50%.
“We know that for some people, a big hurdle to installing new energy-efficient equipment is that their electrical system can’t handle the extra load,” said Barth. “Now, Ashland Electric customers can tap into higher incentives to prepare for these electrical upgrades and tackle upgrades project by project.”
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
The City also authorized doubling the rebates for EVs and zero-emission motorcycles for income-qualified buyers. Buyers need to meet certain requirements, which are outlined on the city’s webpages.
HOW TO GET STARTED
To qualify for home energy rebates, residents are required to have a free home energy review by the city, and the installed systems must meet energy-efficiency criteria.
For a full list of rebates and details visit the city’s energy conservation webpages.
Editor’s Note: Ashland Climate Collaborative volunteer home energy coaches are offering all Ashland Electric customers, including landlords and renters, free consultations to help them navigate rebate requirements. Email Info@AshlandClimate.org to get started.