Switch it Up! Program Support
Financial Details
The interest ensures that costs are born by the participants of this program, not the general membership. Our lender, USDA/RUS requires that we maintain a reserve in case loans are not paid back. Costs covered by the 2% interest include staff time, county filing fees, marketing costs, loss reserves, etc.
You are required to disclose the Energy Conservation Charge to the subsequent purchaser. The charge is a tariff of the utility for electric service. The repayment obligation is assigned to the premises and survives changes in ownership and/or tenancy. No action is required from OPALCO if you refinance. Consult your lender.
After the project is completed, the contractor will send the invoice and the Contractor Release Form to OPALCO. Once OPALCO verifies all documents are complete the funds will be disbursed directly to the contractor, usually within one to two weeks.
OPALCO may require a filing based on several criteria: 1) amount requested for project financing, 2) total balance of all active OPALCO financing, and 3) payment and credit history with OPALCO. If a filing is required, it will be noted on your project approval letter.
No, but we do record a filing with the San Juan County Auditor. The actual document filed is a Memorandum of Meter Conservation Charge (MMCC), which is a recorded public notification that a financial obligation is attached to the metered location. While this filing does not place a lien on the homeowner’s property, the tariff charge is required to be disclosed to the subsequent home purchaser when selling the home. Since the charge stays with the home, you are required to disclose it when selling your house.
After OPALCO receives the completed application, approval may take up to 15 days. You will receive a letter and/or an email from OPALCO notifying you of approval or denial.
Yes, your monthly tariff charge will appear as a separate line item on your bill.
Yes, the same limits per meter apply.
The cost ceiling per membership is $100,000 - including any and all Switch it Up projects financed on a member's bill. Larger projects require the approval of the General Manager.
No. OPALCO charges no administration fees. However, San Juan County recording fees paid by OPALCO to record the Memorandum of Meter Conservation Charge (MMCC) will be passed through to the member and included in project financing.
No. Members may still choose to install and pay for the measure themselves and then submit to OPALCO for a rebate OR apply for on-bill financing. However, if you’re doing a fuel-switching measure (propane, oil, wood, etc. to electricity), there may be additional incentives available. Please contact us for more information.
No. Members sign an agreement with OPALCO to opt-in to a meter conservation charge tariff which is placed on the metered utility service. The tariff includes the calculation factors included in the meter conservation charge. The tariff is just like any other charge for electric service on your bill.
Switch it Up projects can be financed for up to 10 years. The financing terms are determined by the amount of each project. For example: a DHP financed for $15k would be on a ten-year term. If later you finance an $3,500 EV charger, then the EV project would be on a 5-year term with its own amortization. Terms per project are:
- Up to $5,000: five-year term
- $5,001 - $100,000: ten-year term
- 2% amortized for projects under $100,000
- 3% amortized for projects over $100,000
Program Details
When OPALCO pays a material deposit on a Switch It Up project, that deposit payment we make triggers the on-bill repayment. We don’t wait until the project is complete/installed to begin the on-bill repayment in those cases of a material deposit. If there isn't a deposit then it shows up on the bill when the project is complete or OPALCO pays for the project.
Yes, printable applications can be found here.
Members are fully responsible for selecting and coordinating with contractors.
- Barron Heating 360-676-1131
- Bion Island Plumbing 360-376-6700
- Harbor Heating 360-298-5518
- Rex Ellsworth 360-378-5259
- Sage Building Solutions 360-468-4040
- San Juan Heating 360-378-4328
- Streamside Renewables 360-472-1946
- West Mechanical 360-378-5519
- Rainshadow Solar – (360) 376-5336
- WESTERN SOLAR – (360) 312-4708
- Ecotech Solar - (360) 318-7646
- Fire Mountain Solar (360) 422-5610
With your approval letter, you will also receive an Energy Conservation Agreement. Your next step is to review and sign the ‘Switch It Up! On-Bill Energy Conservation Agreement’ and, once the signed agreement is returned to OPALCO, you are ready to contact your contractor for installation. For all measures, the member is responsible for selecting and coordinating installation with the contractor. Once OPALCO received the signed Agreement, your contractor can do the work.
Your application (including a quote from your contractor) and project approval is valid for six months. If your application is older than six months, you may be required to complete a new application.
OPALCO uses a decision matrix that considers the amount of the project, your OPALCO payment history, and the details of the installation. On occasion, you may be asked for additional information to determine eligibility.
Members can apply for as many projects as they like up to a cost ceiling of $100,000 per membership. Larger projects require approval from the General Manager.
No. However, owners of record must complete an application and sign an agreement to accept responsibility for communicating the charges with their current and any future tenants. OPALCO will only finance projects if the verifiable property owner(s) sign an agreement.
To remove the main barrier to entry: the up-front costs. Providing low-interest financing allows more members to tap into the significant energy savings offered by modern ductless heat pumps and heat pump water heaters. A connection to fiber give members the tools they need to better monitor and control efficiency measures, maximizing savings.
All OPALCO members may apply. Eligibility is determined by two factors: 1) your credit rating with OPALCO (no arrears and a good bill payment history); and 2) your proposed equipment is qualified for the measure. Your contractor will know which equipment meets the standards.
If you are not the property owner, the owner must sign an agreement, since the improvements and financing charges stay with the property.