EcoHome Payment Plan

Interest-free Payment Plan for up to $5,000 to electrify your home!

San José Clean Energy’s EcoHome Payment Plan can help lower the upfront costs of installing electric heat pumps and battery storage. The Payment Plan is interest-free, with no-money down, for up to $5,000, for a term of up to 5 years. The Payment Plan amount is repaid conveniently through your monthly electric bill. All of the upgrades eligible for the Payment Plan are also eligible for our EcoHome Rebate Program.

Switching from gas to electric heat pumps will likely reduce energy bills, improve indoor air quality, and make your home more efficient and comfortable year-round. Adding battery storage and solar to your home can help further reduce your bill and keep your home powered through an outage. Whether you’re a homeowner or renter, our Payment Plan can help you make your home more efficient, comfortable, and resilient.

Apply Today!

Eligibility Requirements

Customer Eligibility

To be eligible for the Payment Plan, customers must:

Be a San José Clean Energy customer on a residential rate
Own the residence where the upgrades will be installed or rent the residence where the upgrades will be installed and have obtained the homeowner’s written approval
Have a zero-dollar ($0.00) past-due balance on your last three PG&E billing statements
Have no other active loan with the City of San José
Install eligible upgrades with a program eligible contractor

Participant Requirements

Have a completed and signed Customer Loan Agreement prior to the start of installation
Install upgrades with a program eligible contractor

Eligible Upgrades

The following upgrades are eligible for the Payment Plan:

Heat pump water heater
Heat pump heating, venting, and cooling system (HVAC)
Battery storage (must be paired with existing or newly installed solar)
Pre-wiring/electrical circuit for electric dryer
Pre-wiring/electrical circuit EV charger
Pre-wiring/electrical circuit for induction/electric cooking
Electric service panel upgrade
Circuit pauser/splitter device
Attic insulation

To qualify for a EcoHome Payment Plan, all eligible upgrades must meet the Equipment Specifications and include a heat pump water heater, heat pump HVAC system, or battery storage system. All upgrades must be completed by the same program eligible contractor. Attic insulation upgrades must be paired with a heat pump HVAC upgrade. Gas-powered appliances are not eligible.

All of the upgrades eligible for the Payment Plan are also eligible for our EcoHome Rebate Program. The rebates reduce the total project cost and therefore the total amount funded. The Payment Plan amount will be provided directly to your contractor, reducing your balance owed to the contractor.

Eligible Costs

Equipment costs include:

Installation costs, including equipment, materials and labor
Electric infrastructure (including conduit, wiring, etc.)
Design & engineering services

Payment Plan Steps

Get estimates and select your program eligible contractor 
1
Decide on your eligible upgrades and then find a program eligible contractor from the contractors list or encourage your preferred contractor to enroll. We recommend that you contact more than one contractor to find the right contractor for your project.
Apply for the Payment Plan
2
Once you select a program eligible contractor, apply using the EcoHome Payment Plan Application with your contractor bid. We will process your application within five (5) business days.
Sign the Customer Loan Agreement
3
Once your application is approved, we will email you the agreement for review and signature. Your Payment Plan amount will be reserved for 120 days after you’ve signed the agreement.
Install the eligible upgrades
4
After you’ve received a final, fully executed Customer Loan Agreement, your contractor can start installing your upgrades.
Project documentation submission and payment
5
Once installation is complete, your contractor will prepare forms for you to sign. They will submit those forms to SJCE for you through the Claim Form. We will email you final Payment Plan terms and send payment to your contractor for the funded amount.
Make monthly payments through your electric bill
6
We will add the Payment Plan amount to your account. You will repay your financed amount directly through your monthly electric bill.

Apply Today!

Loan Terms

Max amount you can borrow: $5,000 per household
APR: 0%
Fees: None
Credit requirement: None
Repayment terms: 2, 3 or 5 years. You choose!
Restrictions: You must be the owner of the property or be the PG&E account holder with written consent from the property owner and have lawful authority to initiate and install the equipment and upgrades.

EcoHome Network Contractor List

Only work completed by a program eligible contractor is qualified for the EcoHome Payment Plan. Please review the list of eligible contractors below or encourage your contractor to enroll.

To enroll as a program eligible contractor, contractors will need to:

Complete the EcoHome Payment Plan Eligible Contractor Application
- Attend a 30-minute virtual training with Program Specialist
- Submit required documentation:
  - IRS W-9 Form
  - Copy of active Contractor License
  - Copy of general liability insurance
  - ACH Form for faster payment via Direct Deposit
- Complete the EcoHome Payment Plan Pilot Program Contractor Participation Agreement

Eligible Contractor List (PDF)

Important Documents

EcoHome Payment Plan Equipment Specifications

SJCE EcoHome Payment Plan Claim Form

Exhibit F Property Owner Attestation of Approval

EcoHome Payment Plan Pilot Program Contractor Participation Agreement

Payment Plan FAQ

What upgrades are eligible for the EcoHome Payment Plan?

The following upgrades are eligible:

Heat pump water heater
Heat pump HVAC
Battery storage (paired with solar)
Pre-wiring/electrical circuit EV charger
Pre-wiring/electrical circuit for induction/electric cooking
Electric service panel upgrade
Circuit pauser/splitter device
Attic insulation

To be eligible for the Payment Plan, a project must include a heat pump water heater, heat pump HVAC system, or battery storage. Any upgrade not listed here is not eligible. Additionally, the attic insulation upgrade must be paired with a heat pump heating, venting, and cooling (HP HVAC) upgrade.

What costs are eligible?

Equipment costs
Installation costs, including materials and labor
Electric infrastructure (including conduit, wiring, etc.)
Design & engineering services

The loan applies to the installed cost of your project, including both equipment and labor.

Can I receive a rebate and also participate in the Payment Plan for the equipment?

Yes. All of the upgrades eligible for the Payment Plan are also eligible for a rebate from San José Clean Energy. The rebates reduce the total project cost and therefore the total amount funded. The Payment Plan will be provided directly to your contractor so that you do not have to put any money down for this amount.

How will I receive payment for the Payment Plan amount?

Payment for the amount funded will be paid to your eligible contractor on your behalf after installation is complete. The contractor will then be required to submit the project documents to us.

Can I use any contractor to complete the project?

No. In order to participate in the EcoHome Payment Plan from the San José Clean Energy, the contractor you use must be a program eligible contractor. If your preferred contractor is not part of the Network, please encourage them to apply.

If my project costs more than $5,000 can I participate in the Payment Plan?

Projects of any value are allowed, however you can only finance up to $5,000 of eligible upgrades. As an example, if your project costs $20,000 and you receive $4,000 in rebates, the San José Clean Energy will fund $5,000 towards the project. You will need to cover the remaining $11,000 to your contractor.

Can I apply for multiple Payment Plans?

No. Residents must apply, be approved for the program, sign the EcoHome Payment Plan Agreement, and receive a final executed agreement prior to completing the upgrades to qualify.

I am a landlord, do I qualify?

It depends. The applicant must be the PG&E account holder. If you own the home and are the PG&E account holder (i.e., the bill is under your name), then yes, you qualify. If the PG&E account holder is your tenant, then the tenant would be the eligible applicant. Tenants/renters are eligible to apply for the Payment Plan and install the eligible upgrades with written consent from the owner.

How will this affect my bill?

Your Payment Plan amount will be itemized on page 4 of your bill (Details of San José Clean Energy Generation Charges) in the line called “EcoHome Payment Plan”. This line will tell you how many monthly payments you have left. On page 1 of the bill, however, the monthly Payment Plan amount will be combined with San José Clean Energy’s monthly electricity generation charges into a single line.

Who can I contact with additional questions about the EcoHome Payment Plan Program?

If you have further questions, please email info@sanjosecleanenergy.org with the subject line “EcoHome Payment Plan question”.

Are there any penalties for late payments or non-payment?

Amounts due under the Payment Plan agreement will be due pursuant to the terms of each PG&E electric utility bill to the Customer’s service accounts(s). Failure to pay, including partial and non-payment of the installment payments, may result in the Customer’s removal from SJCE service for non-payment pursuant to SJCE’s Terms and Conditions and the Payment Plan Agreement, adverse credit reporting and/or collection procedures, including, without limitation, legal action. After ninety (90) days of non-payment, SJCE will issue a delinquent payment notice. You will have ninety (90) days to bring the account current or the Payment Plan will be terminated, and full payment will be required within thirty (30) days of the invoice.

I’m thinking about installing a 120v heat pump water heater, does that qualify?

Absolutely. If it has a capacity of 40 gallons or greater, it qualifies for a rebate.

Will this appear on my credit report?

Neither applying for the Payment Plan nor having an active Payment Plan affects your credit report, and SJCE will not conduct credit checks. However, per San José’s Municipal Code and the Payment Plan Agreement, unpaid accounts may be referred to a collection agent, in which case your credit report would be impacted.

How long do I have to repay the Payment Plan amount?

You can repay the loan over 2, 3, or 5 years – you select the term option when you fill out the application. You can change the Payment Plan term before the installation is complete, however, once the installation is completed, this cannot be changed.

Can I pre-pay part or all of the Payment Plan amount?

You may pre-pay in full, but we cannot process any partial pre-payments. Full loan pre-payments must be sent directly to San José Clean Energy via check. You cannot make a pre-payment by overpaying your PG&E bill. Please contact us at askprograms@sanjoseca.gov to arrange details.

What happens if I sell my home and/or move?

You will need to pay the balance of the Payment Plan amount in full. Any closure of the PG&E account or change of address will require payment of the balance in full. Send this payment directly to San José Clean Energy via check or through our online payment portal. Please contact us at info@sanjosecleanenergy.org to arrange details.

What happens if I opt out of SJCE before Payment Plan amount is repaid?

The Payment Plan will be considered terminated, and the remaining balance will be immediately due within thirty (30) days of the date of invoice sent by SJCE. Unpaid balances can be paid by mailing a check to San José Clean Energy.

Can I transfer the Payment Plan to someone else?

No, the Payment Plan is associated with the PG&E account holder and PG&E account number of the property at the time the upgrades were completed. It cannot be transferred.

How can my preferred contractor join the EcoHome Network as an eligible contractor?

Contractors are required to execute a program participation agreement with SJCE and attend a 30-minute online training on the program. If your preferred contractor is not already part of the Network, please encourage them to complete an application.

EcoHome Payment Plan

Interest-free Payment Plan for up to $5,000 to electrify your home!

Eligibility Requirements

Payment Plan Steps

Get estimates and select your program eligible contractor

Apply for the Payment Plan

Sign the Customer Loan Agreement

Install the eligible upgrades

Project documentation submission and payment

Make monthly payments through your electric bill

Loan Terms

EcoHome Network Contractor List

Important Documents

Payment Plan FAQ

Get estimates and select your program eligible contractor 