What is REEnergize Lakeland Finance?
REEnergize Lakeland Finance is the financing component of the City of Lakeland’s broader sustainability initiative, REEnergize Lakeland. This Program is managed by Lakeland Electric (LE) to provide financing to eligible Customers for qualified energy improvements to their homes.
What are Qualified Energy Improvements?
Qualified Energy Improvements are defined as either the installation of energy efficiency measures or renewable energy generation systems such as Solar PV panels. Every participating Customer will have two options: 1) to install an energy efficiency or solar system from a prescribed list of upgrades; or 2) to have a whole home energy assessment conducted and to install measures identified as having a reasonable rate of return based on the anticipated energy savings. While LE employees will conduct the energy assessments, LE does not guarantee any specific energy savings due to other variables, such as a change in consumption patterns.
What are the eligibility guidelines to be placed on the Approved Contractor’s List?
The City of Lakeland sought to establish a minimum level of eligibility in order to encourage broad participation by home improvement Contractors. The criteria are: 1) Contractors must be properly licensed, certified, and/or registered to conduct business as applicable under Florida law, including maintaining the required levels of insurance; 2) Contractors must be properly licensed to conduct business in the City of Lakeland if installing upgrades to any residence located within the City limits; and 3) Contractors must be willing to provide accurate information to LE with respect to a) the equipment being replaced if the Customer chooses the Contractor-directed option, and b) the number of man-hours used in completing individual jobs.
How can I apply to be placed on the Approved Contractor’s List?
Interested Contractors should review the Terms & Conditions Contractor participation and complete an application. If you have additional questions, please contact the Chief Sustainability Officer at Lakeland Electric.
What type of information regarding the jobs I complete do I have to provide to Lakeland Electric in order to participate in this Program?
As part of the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) award to the City of Lakeland, the City is required to submit quarterly information to the Department of Energy regarding the amount of energy saved from the expenditure of the EECBG funds and job creation resulting from the expenditure of the funds as defined by the number of man-hours needed to complete individual jobs.
If a Customer chooses to participate in the Contractor-directed process, LE will require specifications of the equipment being replaced, including the estimated efficiency/SEER level if appropriate.
In all cases, we will require the total number of man-hours expended to complete each job. This information must be presented to Lakeland Electric within 24 hours of project completion.
Does Lakeland Electric recommend specific Contractors?
No. The City of Lakeland has created an Approved Contractor’s List to ensure that participating Contractors meet the minimum requirements to conduct business as a Contractor and are willing to provide LE the information necessary to perform its reporting requirements to the Department of Energy.
How can Customers take advantage of the Program?
There are two methods that Lakeland Electric Customers can take advantage of the Program offering. The first method, the Customer-directed option, requires an energy audit by LE staff to identify the three most cost-efficient upgrades to a person’s home, followed by a project proposal for one or more of those upgrades from an approved Contractor.
The second option allows Contractors to identify necessary upgrades to a Customer’s home during his/her usual course of business and have that Customer submit an application with a project proposal. The Customer must meet the eligibility requirements of the Program and the proposal must be for one or more of the eligible measures.
If I want to market this to my Customers, can I use my own marketing materials?
Contractors are encouraged to market this program to their Customers during their usual course of business. In order to ensure accurate information is being provided to LE customers, any information that uses the REEnergize Lakeland brand must receive prior approval from the Chief Sustainability Officer.
How can I ensure I am paid by the customers when they receive their check?
While neither LE nor the City of Lakeland assumes any liability to ensure that Contractors are actually paid by their Customers upon receipt of any loan proceeds, LE will endeavor to inform the Contractor of record when post-installation inspections will be conducted. We will make every effort to provide loan checks to our Customers at the time of this inspection. However, the City reserves the right to provide loan funds up to 7 days after the date of inspection.