City of Columbia Water & Light - Commercial Energy Efficiency Loans
This program is for commercial customers, not homeowners.
Columbia Water & Light's Commercial Energy Efficiency Loans provide financing up to $30,000 at fixed rates (1% for 3 years, 3% for 4–5 years, 5% for 6–10 years) with no prepayment penalties for commercial clients upgrading lighting, HVAC, solar water heaters, and other efficiency measures. Your customers must obtain an ASHRAE Level II energy assessment, meet credit requirements, hold a deed of trust on the property, and complete a loan application; you can help guide them through the process and provide invoices for final inspection. Loans do not subordinate to other mortgages, so customers must plan for payoff if they refinance or sell the building.
The program is financed from the City of Columbia Utilities enterprise fund with no general revenue or public money involved. Commercial electric customers who are property owners with good credit history and a deed of trust may borrow up to $30,000 for eligible efficiency improvements including ASHRAE assessments, HVAC upgrades (minimum 11 EER for units 6 tons or larger), lighting (minimum 1 kW reduction), duct sealing with pre/post testing, solar systems, and other measures. Application involves customer-initiated ASHRAE Level II assessment, loan application submission, project completion with invoiced expenses, final inspection, and loan signing at City Hall; funding arrives after the loan appointment. Subordination requests require two months' processing and committee review before the tenth of each month.
Program details
- Program ID
- 4243
- Effective
- 6/1/2010
- Last updated
- 2/7/2025
Eligibility
- Sectors
- commercial industrial nonprofit
- Technologies
- solar water heat solar space heat lighting furnaces heat pumps air conditioners other ee led lighting
Program summary
Columbia Power Partners offers fixed, low-interest rate loans with no prepayment penalties to commercial customers making energy efficiency improvements under the commercial energy efficiency loan program. Financing is available to approved C&I rate customers for a variety of energy efficiency improvements, including the initial energy efficiency assessment, air conditioners, heat pumps, lighting, and solar water heaters. All requirements concerning minimum insulation levels, energy efficiency technologies, credit history, deed of trust, and ASHRAE Level II energy assessments must be met.
The process involves several steps. First, the customer should have an ASHRAE Level II energy assessment conducted and complete a commercial loan application. Upon approval, the customer may proceed with completing the energy efficiency project(s). After a post-assessment and final inspection, the customer will receive the check for the loan. Visit the program website for more information.
Super Saver Loans do not subordinate to other loans a customer may have on its property. If a customer refinances a current business loan or sells its building, the customer is required to pay off the Super Saver Loan. Requesting subordination of your Super Saver Loan generally takes at least 2 months. Contact CWL with any questions about subordination.
Contact & resources
- Contact email
- Efficiency@CoMo.gov
- Additional resources
Please verify current program details with the administering agency before making any financial decisions.
