General

Energy Efficiency Assistance Program makes a difference one home at a time

Drafty windows, inadequate insulation, and old, inefficient appliances are just a few things that can drive up your energy use and power bill. And for some OPPD customers, the cost of solving problems like those can be prohibitive.

That’s where OPPD’s Energy Efficiency Assistance Program (EEAP) can come into play. The program is designed for low-income customers across the OPPD service territory. It provides assistance to help cover the costs of qualifying energy efficiency projects.

“We want to help you find ways to bring down your monthly bills, make your family’s home more comfortable and reduce your overall energy use,” said Britton Gabel, Manager of Advocacy Solutions at OPPD.

The program has two simple requirements to qualify:

• Your household income is below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
• You own a home within OPPD’s service territory. Renters of properties with eight or fewer units may apply with written permission from their landlord/property owner.

The program helps qualifying households make efficient improvements to their home and connects them with knowledgeable professionals. At no cost to you, the EEAP may help:

• Reduce your monthly utility bills
• Grant up to $3,000 in energy-efficient home upgrades
• Teach valuable cost-cutting energy-saving tips
• Improve your household’s comfort

Households accepted into the program receive a complimentary in-home energy audit to identify areas most in need of energy-efficiency upgrades. The audit provides a detailed overview of a customer’s energy use and determines which upgrades best qualify for up to $3,000 in improvements. The audit and improvements are implemented by our contract partners.

OPPD also collaborates with the Metropolitan Utilities District to help customers with water and natural gas efficiency issues in customers’ homes.

Last year, OPPD helped provide weatherization services to 86 homes across the district. This year, the utility is on track to help 120 homes.

New collaboration

This fall, OPPD is collaborating with Google and United Way of the Midlands (UWM) to launch a transformative weatherization initiative in Douglas County.

The initiative, funded through a $300,000 contribution from Google, aims to bolster energy efficiency and reduce home energy costs for households facing high energy burdens and energy insecurity. It will provide upgrades such as insulation, furnace replacements and window improvements.

Up to 75 low-income households are expected to receive weatherization services by the end of 2025 as part of the initiative.

“Through this partnership, we will make homes more energy efficient and create healthier living environments,” Gabel said. “This collaboration will reduce energy costs. It will also increase investment in addressing one of the biggest drivers of energy burden in our community.”

The initiative also aims to expand workforce development in underserved communities. That expansion will happen through contractor training and partnerships with community-based organizations such as Blair Freeman and Habitat for Humanity.

“At Google, we believe that being part of a community means actively working to strengthen it,” said Allie Hopkins, Area Lead for Google Data Centers.

The weatherization services provided through this initative can reduce monthly utility bills by an estimated 20% to 30%, translating into an average . Customers interested in this initiative can contact 211 to apply for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). They can also dial 211, text 898211 or inquire online.

“We are proud to work alongside tremendous partners like Google, OPPD and local community organizations to make this initiative possible,” said Shawna Forsberg, president & CEO, United Way of the Midlands.

Seeking assistance?

Customers who meet the requirements to apply for OPPD’s Energy Efficiency Assistance Program can do so by visiting OPPD’s EEAP page or by calling one of seven programs across the utility’s 13-county territory.

• In Douglas County, contact Habitat for Humanity of Omaha (HFHO), 402-457-5657, select Option 3; or United Way of the Midlands Weatherization Assistance Program, 402-342-8232.
• In Douglas or Sarpy Counties, homeowners age 60 or older can contact Project Houseworks, 402-965-9201.
• In Sarpy, Cass, Otoe, Johnson, Nemaha, Pawnee or Richardson Counties, contact Southeast Nebraska Community Action Partnership (SENCA), 402-862-2411.
• In Washington, Burt, Dodge, or Colfax Counties, contact Northeast Nebraska Community Action Partnership (NENCAP), (402) 385-6300.
• In Saunders County, contact Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders Counties (CAPLSC), 402-875-9322.
• In Carter Lake, Iowa contact Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs (HFHCB), 712-328-9476.