Mass Save-style HEAT Loans Now Available to Municipal Light & Power Towns
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By Kimberly Rau, MassLandlords, Inc.
Residents in municipal light and power (MLP) communities can now access up to $25,000 in zero-interest, Mass Save-style HEAT loans for energy efficient upgrades through the state Department of Energy Resources (DOER).
There are 41 municipal light plants in Massachusetts, serving 50 communities across the state. New MLP Z-Loans similar to MassSave HEAT loans can help MLP customers with energy upgrades. (Image: Derived from public domain color map)
The Mass Save program has long offered utility upgrade incentives, including zero-interest HEAT loans, to residents in communities served by its sponsors: Eversource, National Grid, Liberty Utilities, Cape Light Compact, Berkshire Gas and Unitil. Residents in towns serviced by municipal light and power companies were left out.
To address this, the DOER launched the MLP-Z Loan program, which offers interest-free loans between $500 and $25,000 for up to five years for energy efficient upgrades to households in MLP communities.
“Modeled on the Mass Save HEAT Loan, the Z-Loan will help households reduce upfront costs and provide important long-term grid resilience benefits by ensuring more efficient electric homes,” states the announcement on mass.gov.
Qualifying residents can access MLP Z-Loans for insulation, air sealing, heat pump and heat pump water heater installation, and barrier removal, such as rewiring or asbestos removal.
Loans may not be used for solar power systems, electric vehicles or EV chargers, or measures not deemed “cost effective.”
How To Qualify for an MLP Z-Loan
Qualifying residents will live in an MLP community and receive electric service from an MLP, and receive gas service from a municipal gas company. Residents of these communities who get oil or propane delivered are also eligible.
To participate in the program, residents must first complete a home energy assessment through one of two approved vendors. Depending on which MLP serves your community, it will either be ENE – Sustainability or NextZero.
Once that is completed, get a quote for the work you want to have done. You must work with your contractor and have a proposal ready before applying for the loan.
With your proposal ready, apply for your loan at www.myz-loan.com. Once a participating lender approves your application, you can get to work. The state website currently lists 28 lenders participating in the loan program.
