| Resource Type | Toolkit |
| Author / Source | Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) |
| Publication Date | Ongoing |
| Location | United States |
| Initiative Type | Program, Partnership, Technology |
| Project Complexity | Intermediate |
| Recommended For | Staff, Board |
Estimated reading time: 30+ minutes
Why This Matters for Rural Electric Co-ops
This free toolkit walks a co-op from a general interest in electrification to a working program. It covers heat pumps, EVs, farm loads, and battery storage, then moves through assessment, planning, and launch. Its strongest section explains on-bill financing, including how co-ops have used zero-interest USDA Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP) loans to offer members upgrades with no upfront cost.
A co-op can use it to design a member program, compare rebates against financing, and decide how much of the lending work to keep in house. It has limits. It says little about peak demand or rate impacts on non-participants, the savings calculator is narrow, and the framing leans on emissions benefits, which some boards and members may read as advocacy. Even so, it offers practical guidance on on-bill financing that is often hard to find in one place.
Key Takeaways
| › | A program needs clear goals, a defined set of actions, a budget, and measurable outcomes. Informational outreach alone is a starting point, not a program. |
| › | Rebates tend to reach members who can already afford upgrades. Pairing them with financing extends participation to lower-income members and renters. |
| › | On-bill financing tied to the meter, screened by bill payment history and backed by a loan loss reserve, has historically had low default rates. |
| › | Co-ops can run lending themselves, share tasks with a financial partner, or act only as a pass-through for repayments. The last option keeps staff time and default risk lowest. |
Implementation Considerations
- Cost or Funding Requirements: The toolkit does not model how new electric load affects peak demand, G&T demand charges, or rates for members who do not participate. Co-ops should do that analysis separately before scaling a program.
- Staffing or Technology Requirements: Running lending in house may take at least one full-time staff member. Smaller co-ops may prefer a third-party lender, and should confirm early whether their billing software supports an on-bill module.
- Time-Sensitive Information: Federal funding programs change often, so treat the toolkit's funding page as a starting list rather than a current one. Some programs it lists, such as the Grid Resilience grants (GRIP), are no longer available to co-ops without an approved award. Confirm RESP availability and terms with USDA before planning around it.
Notable Examples
- Orcas Power and Light Cooperative (OPALCO): Switch It Up! on-bill program financed 210 projects worth over $2 million using RESP capital.
- Mountain Parks Electric: Electrify Everything on-bill tariff program financing heat pumps, EV charging, insulation, and solar with a $10 million RESP loan.
- Umatilla Electric Cooperative: On-bill program credited with zero defaults in its first three years.
- USDA Rural Development: Rural Energy Savings Program providing zero-interest loans that co-ops re-lend to members.
Estimated reading time: 30+ minutes
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