Energy Trust FAQs

In 1999, Oregon lawmakers, citizens, utility companies, businesses, industry groups and community service organizations envisioned a future with Oregon homes and businesses powered by clean, affordable energy. They established stable, consistent funding to help Oregonians invest in energy efficiency and renewable resources. A new nonprofit organization—Energy Trust of Oregon—was created to lead the way.

Read more about our history here.

Energy Trust is working to fulfill Oregon’s vision to meet future energy needs through safe, secure and clean energy sources. Our success is measured in kilowatt hours of electricity and therms of natural gas saved, and in renewable energy produced.

Between 2010 and 2014, we expect to save 256 average megawatts of electricity, save 22.5 million annual therms of natural gas and generate 23 average megawatts from renewable energy sources, while expanding markets for hydro, solar, geothermal, biopower and wind.

View our 2010-2014 strategic plan and goals.

Our work helps keep energy costs as low as possible for all Oregonians. Utilities rely on Energy Trust savings from efficiency to meet future energy needs for their customers at a far less cost than building new fossil fuel power plants—less than 1/4 the cost for electricity and less than 1/2 the cost for natural gas.

In addition, independent economic analysis shows that our investments have helped create almost 2,500 full- and part-time jobs, and stimulated $81 million in wages and $12 million in new business income since 2002. Our network of nearly 2,100 trade ally contractors and other allied professionals are important contributors to local economies across the state.

Since 2002, Energy Trust has helped Oregonians avoid emitting more than six million tons of carbon dioxide emissions—the equivalent of removing one million cars from our roads for one year.

Cumulatively, we have saved and generated enough clean electricity to power 292,000 Oregon homes and saved enough natural gas to heat another 35,000 homes. Since 2002, we have provided incentives for the installation of more than 22 megawatts of new solar electric capacity, helping maintain Oregon's leadership position as one of the top 10 states in the nation for solar electric systems installed on homes and businesses.

Through state legislation, tariffs and other requirements, Energy Trust is funded exclusively by customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural and Cascade Natural Gas. Customers of all four utilities pay a dedicated percentage of their utility bills to support a variety of energy efficiency and renewable energy services and programs.

Read more about our funding sources.

As a nonprofit, Energy Trust strives to operate efficiently. We manage our programs with minimum staff and operate our programs through contracts with service providers. Our work is overseen by a citizen board, and we take pride in being open, accessible and accountable to the public.

Home Energy Solutions

• Existing homes and mobile homes
• New homes and manufactured homes
• ENERGY STAR® products: clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and compact fluorescent light bulbs
• Solar electric and solar water heating systems

Business Energy Solutions

• Existing buildings, including multifamily
• New buildings, including multifamily
• Industrial buildings and processes
• Energy from renewable sources such as solar, organic waste and wind

Renewable Energy Solutions

• Solar electric, solar water heating and solar pool heating
• Wind generation from single turbines to community scale
• Biopower from wood waste, landfill and wastewater gas, manure and other organic sources
• Other sources, including hydropower and geothermal

Energy Trust can offer cash incentives for a variety of energy-efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems for homes, businesses, industrial facilities and agricultural operations and public and nonprofit buildings. You may also benefit from information, services and technical assistance we can provide to help you identify and prioritize projects that fit your budget and goals. See the programs listed above.

Your household or business can benefit from investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy. With help from Energy Trust, you can manage energy costs, increase comfort at home, improve productivity in the workplace and protect the environment.

To date, Energy Trust has provided resources for utility customers to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy at more than 420,000 residential, commercial and industrial sites statewide. These investments have saved and generated enough electricity to power 292,000 homes and saved enough gas to heat another 35,000 homes. So far, participating customers have saved nearly $800 million on their energy bills from their energy investments.

In addition, Energy Trust has helped utility customers avoid more than $1.8 billion in energy costs by delivering the least expensive energy resource available. For every $1 Energy Trust invests in energy efficiency, we save ratepayers $4 in costs that would be required to provide energy from other sources. This is how Energy Trust helps keep the cost of energy as low as possible for all utility ratepayers.

Energy Trust investments also benefit Oregon’s economy. Independent economic analysis shows that Energy Trust has helped create nearly 2,500 jobs, generate $81 million in wages and stimulate $12 million in new business income.

To learn how you can participate with Energy Trust, visit our web pages for homes, businesses, industrial and agricultural or public and nonprofit facilities. If you have further questions, or would like to get connected to an expert, call 1.866.368.7878 or email info@energytrust.org.