Efficiency Delivered^® for Landlords

• Must have an active OUC account in good standing.
• Must show proof of property ownership. A copy of the property deed will provide proof of ownership to the business entity filing.
• Must complete a free home energy and/or water conservation audit.
• The property where the measures will be performed must have at least six (6) months of continuous usage history.
• The property must be a single-family home, townhome, condominium, apartment, duplex, triplex or quadplex. Multifamily properties with 1 to 4-unit dwellings are eligible. Properties containing 5 or more units are not eligible to participate in the program.
• Business entities, such as an LLC, can participate in the program should that business entity own the home or multifamily dwelling. Business entities must show proof of income documentation to be eligible for potential Tier 1 or Tier 2 cost-sharing benefits. Please note that the program loan will be placed on the landlord’s account if they provide household/business entity income to qualify.
• Customers can potentially participate multiple times until they have reached the maximum cost of improvements made through the program. Up to $2,500 in improvements is available for each uniquely billed premise. For example, a legal triplex can potentially qualify for up to $2,500 for each unit, provided income documentation supports cost-sharing eligibility.
• Tenants can participate in the program if the property owner provides authorization for the work by signing the landlord section of the estimate provided by Ferran Services. If the tenant chooses the participate, repayment will be between the tenant and OUC as agreed to on the Efficiency Delivered agreement. The landlord will not be held responsible for payments and is required to sign off on the Efficiency Delivered agreement. Learn More About the Renters & Homeowners Program >
• To be eligible for an energy improvement, the property must be located within OUC’s electric service territory and the customer must receive service from OUC.
• To be eligible for a water improvement, the property must be located within OUC’s water service territory and the customer must receive service from OUC.

How long will the entire process take?

The time it takes to schedule a home conservation audit and complete the improvements may vary based on availability, time of year and the scope of the work. Below is an estimate of what you can expect:

• Audits are scheduled one to six weeks after a request is made. During our peak season (June through October), we may be booked with appointments for up to six weeks.
• The audit, performed by an OUC conservation specialist, is completed in one day.
• Your application is sent to our preferred contractor (Ferran Services) within one week of when we receive income verification documents or within one week of the audit.
• The contractor will schedule an appointment based on their availability, which can be up to 4 weeks.
• Home improvements are typically completed within one to two days.
• Your portion of the cost will be added to your OUC account approximately six to eight weeks after the improvements are made.

If I own multiple properties within OUC’s territory, can I make improvements at each?

Yes, you are eligible to receive up to $2,500 toward approved improvements at each property you own within our service territory. We also offer rebates for installing qualifying heat pump A/C systems and water heaters, along with many other energy and water rebates. For more information visit ouc.com/rebates.

Can I participate in the program even though the property is owned by a business entity?

Yes, business entities, such as an LLC, can participate in the program should that business entity own the home or multifamily dwelling. Business entities must show proof of income documentation to be eligible for potential Tier 1 or Tier 2 cost-sharing benefits.

What if the property I own is comprised of 5 or more units? Do I still qualify?

Currently, large multifamily buildings with 5 units or more do not qualify. Program eligibility may expand in the future.

What can disqualify me?

Disqualifications may occur due to insufficient income, incomplete applications (such as not including tenant leases), poor past account history or any property tampering.

Can I use my contractor?

No. This program is only available through OUC’s approved contractor, Ferran Services.

How do I prepare for the conservation audit?

To provide you with the best service, we ask that you have at least six months of consumption history at the property before requesting an audit. For more details on what to expect from an audit, including days/times available, who needs to be present and more, please visit our dedicated Conservation Audit page.

Will I receive a copy of the conservation audit?

The OUC conservation specialist will provide you with an audit report within 48 hours after their visit. This report is normally sent via email.

Do I have choices in which improvements can be made?

OUC’s conservation specialist will recommend improvements based on your needs and the services we provide. The specialist will send you a copy of the audit report, which includes these recommendations. You can choose any of the improvements recommended.

After the conservation specialist completes the audit, our preferred contractor, Ferran Services, will perform a visit and provide an estimate for the work. Some items, such as thermostats, toilets, and window film offer multiple options to choose from which will be presented by Ferran Services during your estimate appointment. We will send our recommendations to Ferran Services, and they must check with us before offering any additional improvements.

How can I compare consumption before/after work to see the savings?

One of the easiest ways to compare consumption is to review the consumption charts and average daily usage sections on the utility bill. You can also contact customer service to request the property’s billing history for comparison. In a study of over 100 participants, the average customer saved 100 kWh of energy (9%) and over 200 gallons per month.*

*The dollar amount of savings is based on current rates as of 2024.

What tier do I qualify for?

Assistance levels are based on your household income or business entity gross income. A loan will be placed on your account if you provide household/business entity income to qualify. Participants will fall into one of three tiers:

Tier 1

• Participants with a household income of less than $40,000.
• OUC pays 85% of up to $2,500 in eligible improvements for each uniquely billed premise. Participants pay the remaining 15%.
• Participants qualify for interest-free installment payments, which can be spread up to a 24-month period with a minimum $10 monthly installment payment.
• Participants can choose to have all charges billed as a lump sum.
• If the OUC account closes, the loan becomes due on the final bill.

Tier 2

• Participants with a household income between $40,001 – $59,999.
• OUC pays 50% of up to $2,500 in eligible improvements for each uniquely billed premise. Participants pay the remaining 50%.
• Participants may qualify for interest-free installment payments, which can be spread up to a 24-month period with a minimum $10 monthly installment payment. Eligibility for installments is based on payment history.
• If installments are not available, the full portion becomes due as a lump sum.
• If the OUC account closes, the loan becomes due on the final bill.

Tier 3

• Participants with a household income greater than $60,000.
• OUC recommends improvements valued at up to $2,500, with instant rebates applied to chosen eligible improvements.
• Participants may qualify for interest-free installment payments, which can be spread up to a 24-month period with a minimum $10 monthly installment payment. Eligibility for installments is based on payment history.
• If installments are not available, the full portion becomes due as a lump sum.
• If the OUC account closes, the loan becomes due on the final bill.

The only fees associated with the program are those costs incurred for improvements to the property and typical payment processing fees, if applicable. OUC does not charge interest on payment installments or any additional fees upon program completion.

What if I own multiple properties?

The same rules and requirements apply to each property. The maximum amount available for small multifamily units (up to 4 units) is $2,500 for each uniquely billed premise as each electric and/or water meter is associated with one dwelling. For example, a triplex with three separate, uniquely billed premises can qualify for up to $2,500 for each dwelling, even if the triplex is owned wholly by one individual or business entity.

Tier 1 or Tier 2 cost-sharing benefits are only applicable should the landlord qualify based on household income.

How much do customers pay on average?

After an OUC conservation specialist completes the energy and/or water audit, Ferran Services will visit the property and provide you with a signed estimate and agreement for the work. Customers are encouraged to scan or take a photo of the estimate/agreement for documentation purposes. Below you can see examples of the average cost for participants since 2022:

Tier 1 Example

• Average total improvement cost: $1,837.41
• Average customer responsibility: $275.62 or 24 installment payments of $11.49 per month

Tier 2 Example

• Average total improvement cost: $1,421.54
• Average customer responsibility: $710.77 or 24 installment payments of $29.62 per month (qualifying customers only)

Tier 3 Example

• Average total improvement cost: $1,300.63
• Average customer responsibility: $1,300.63 minus the average rebate(s) amount of $251.45, for a total of $1,049.18 or 24 installment payments of $43.72 per month (qualifying customers only)

The only fees associated with the program are those costs incurred for improvements to the property and typical payment processing fees, if applicable. OUC does not charge interest on payment installments or any additional fees upon program completion.

What income documents do I need to provide, and will my information be protected?

To qualify for Tier 1 or Tier 2 benefits, you will need to provide any combination of the following documents: a copy of your most recent tax return, the current month’s paystubs, or other relevant documents. We recommend that you cover or remove any personal information on the documents that you do not wish to share. All documents remain with OUC and are not shared with our contractor.

Does OUC need to pull my credit?

No, a credit check is not required to participate. We review your internal OUC credit rating, which is based on your payment history, to determine if you qualify for interest-free installment payments for your portion of the work.

Will a lien be placed on my property?

No lien will be placed on your property as part of this program. The balance you owe for the work will be applied to your final bill if you stop service before the interest-free installments or lump sum balance has been paid off.

Can a tenant(s) also contribute to the overall costs?

Tenants can contribute towards costs should the landlord apply, but this would be a direct discussion between the tenant(s) and landlord and a private agreement between both parties.

Should the tenant apply and be approved for the program, the tenant would remain wholly responsible for payments. OUC understands that if a tenant doesn’t pay, it’s the tenant, not the landlord, who is responsible for the bill.

Who will be performing the work, and do they offer a warranty?

Our preferred contractor, Ferran Services, has partnered with us since the program began in 2012. They offer a warranty of 12 months on all work performed along with a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty for window film. For questions regarding specific home improvement services, please reach out to Ferran Services, directly at (407) 504-3459 or [email protected].

Can I use the program contractor to do other work outside of this program at the same time?

Yes, many customers obtain quotes from Ferran Services for additional work not covered by this program. In some cases when the work performed exceeds $2,500, any amount above $2,500 can be paid directly to Ferran.