A great thing going that maybe some don't know about

18 years ago

My older neighbor called me about a phone call she got today, and asked me to check it out.

A company called her about coming to check her duct work and energy efficiency in her home. If any work was needed, it was covered by the local electric company up to 100%. \

I smelled a scam.

So not only did I call the company from her caller ID info for her and check them out, I called the Electric company here to confirm if they were legit.

I am here to tell you that this is 100% the real deal. I was shocked to say the least. They will cover the expense up to 100%, and it is done on a sliding scale of your income.

For her, this is a great deal, she is a senior citizen, and has sadly had to file bankruptcy this year.

I will go over to her house in the morning, just so she is not alone when they are there, and talk to them some more.

I was quite suprised that this is an on going thing here.

It would be worth the time to make that phone call to you energy provider to see what they have to offer.

Trin

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Comments (6)

carol_in_california
18 years ago
In order to qualify for the energy savings for free, here in California a person has to qualify for the program. It is generally for people who have low incomes.
It is a great program!
junkyardgirl
18 years ago
Yeah, I had called my electric company about their insulation program. If you qualify (financially) they will come and completely weatherize your home and add insulation to the ceiling for free.

I got a totally free air conditioning system through our county. If I stay in the house for 10 years, it's free. They knock off 10% of the cost per year, and if you sell, you pay the remainder.

I got a free 80 gallon hot water heater from my electric company in SC. It was an energy efficient one. You had to use their contractors, and they gave you a $450 rebate. It only cost me $400 to get it done, so I actually made money on that deal.

My neighbor got her roof done for free through a state program that helps elderly people stay in their homes.

I wish I could find a program that would fix my stucco, but they consider that cosmetic.
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petaloid
18 years ago
Thanks for bringing this up -- good topic!

As Carol said, qualifying low-income California families can benefit from energy saving rebates.

In Los Angeles, the Department of Water and Power (DWP) will replace energy wasting refrigerators with equivalent energy conserving ones for low-income folks.

They will give anyone, regardless of income, up to $100 combined rebate for buying an energy saving fridge and letting DWP pick up the old one for recycling. They give a $250 rebate for purchasing an energy conserving washer.

It's well worth investigating what your state or power company may offer in this regard.
noocha
18 years ago
That sounds like a great program!
But how does it get paid for? I mean, for the work that needs doing & the insulation & duct work supplies? That costs money any way you look at it so where is the money coming from that the homeowner isn't having to pay?
lindasewandsew
18 years ago
The money comes from 'rate payers', aka, you. The beauty of it is that most people don't even know the money is being taken from them. It's certainly not free, and the public utilities are not giving anyone a gift out of the goodness of their hearts. You can collect a couple of hundred bucks toward a new appliance, even if the old one is still working fine, and they'll take away the old one for you. (Doesn't it take a lot of energy to manufacture these goods, then transport them to your door?) One of the utilities here in SoCal is also replacing old windows in houses, and who knows what else. Here's a link to Southern California Gas' program, to 'help' you save energy. Keep in mind that here in So Cal, we have to wear a sweater on really cold days, lol.
http://www.socalgas.com/residential/savemoney/
Below is a link to LA DWP with their programs. BTW, the DWP has a lactation specialist on the payroll to the tune of $50K a year, in order to teach women how to breast feed their baby, and they openly defend it as a way to save money. Here's the link. Sorry, you'll have to cut/paste.
http://www.breastfeedingtaskforla.org/media/gazette/may-04.htm
Makes you yearn for a little competition. Linda

Here is a link that might be useful: Some 'Freebies' from Los Angeles DWP
grittymitts
18 years ago
Wow! Trin, who is your electric company? AEP Southwestern Electric serves our area & I know several folks that would benefit greatly from such a program. Is it strictly for low income? I don't even know what how one qualifies as low-income.

Thanks for posting this!
Suzi

A great thing going that maybe some don't know about

Comments (6)

carol_in_california

junkyardgirl

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