Midwest Energy (Gas and Electric) - How$mart Energy Efficiency Finance Program
Administered by Midwest Energy
Midwest Energy's How$mart program lets you finance energy efficiency improvements like insulation, air sealing, heat pumps, and windows with no upfront costs—you'll repay through a monthly surcharge on your bill that's estimated to be less than your energy savings. Start by calling 1-800-222-3121 to schedule a free energy audit, which will identify cost-effective improvements you can then have completed by a contractor of your choice; the surcharge is tied to the property, not the person, so it transfers if you move.
Participating contractors can access customers seeking efficiency upgrades financed through How$mart's on-bill mechanism, which eliminates customer upfront cost barriers and increases project feasibility. You must sign a Contractor Master Agreement with Midwest Energy and work with customers who have completed the program's energy audit and conservation planning process.
How$mart is an on-bill financing program available to Midwest Energy's residential and small commercial customers in good standing; the utility finances eligible improvements (insulation, air sealing, HVAC, lighting, windows, and other approved measures) and recovers costs through a monthly surcharge estimated below projected savings. The program requires an initial energy audit to identify cost-effective improvements, allows customers to select their own contractors (who must execute a Master Agreement), and ties repayment obligations to the property location rather than the individual customer, transferring to the next occupant with required disclosure. Contact Kay Unruh at 1-800-222-3121 for program operations details.
Program details
- Program ID
- 3187
- Last updated
- 7/3/2025
Eligibility
- Sectors
- commercial residential federal government multifamily residential
- Technologies
- lighting heat pumps air conditioners caulking/weather-stripping duct/air sealing building insulation windows custom/others pending approval other ee
Program summary
Midwest Energy offers its residential and small commercial electricity and natural gas customers in good standing a way to finance energy efficiency improvements on eligible properties. Under the How$mart on-bill financing program, the utility will pay the initial cost of making energy efficiency improvements, then recoup the cost of these improvements through a surcharge on the customer's bill. The surcharge is estimated to be less than the energy savings associated with the improvements. It allows customers to make efficiency improvements with no up-front costs.
In order to participate in the program, customers must first have an energy audit performed by a Midwest Energy specialist. The audit will identify cost-effective improvements which the customer may then have completed by a participating contractor. The audit will be free of charge if the customer participates in the program. Customers who elect not to participate may be charged for the audit.
To obtain complete program details, contact Kay Unruh at 1-800-222-3121.
Contact & resources
- Additional resources
Please verify current program details with the administering agency before making any financial decisions.
