North Georgia EMC - Residential Heat Pump Loan Program

North Georgia Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) is an electric cooperative that serves 97,000 residential and commercial customers in the northwest Georgia counties of Catoosa, Chattooga, Floyd, Gordon, Murray, Walker and Whitfield. To encourage residential customers to purchase energy efficient heat pumps and geothermal heat pumps, North Georgia EMC offers the Energy Right Heat Pump Loan program. Residents can borrow up to $10,000 for the purchase of one heat pump, at 13.0 SEER or higher, or up to $12,500 for the purchase of two heat pumps or one Advanced heat pump unit. Advanced heat pumps are defined as variable speed heat pumps, triple function heat pumps, water source heat pumps and earth-coupled or geothermal heat pumps. The loan has a fixed 8% interest rate for up to 10 years with no prepayment penalty. A special rate of 6% is being offered for higher efficiency heat pumps which are installed and inspected by September 15, 2010. Minimum requirements are 14.5 SEER, 12 EER and 8.2 HSPF for split system heat pumps and 14 SEER, 11 EER and 8 HSPF for package system heat pumps and Advanced Heat Pumps. Deadline must be met in order to receive special offer rate. A loan application fee of $75 applies and can be paid with the monthly electric bill. No money down is required for this loan. The loan application is available at the program web site.