Last verified 2026-05-17
Free home energy help from Northern REN
The Northern Rural Energy Network (Northern REN, or NREN) is a public program run by Redwood Coast Energy Authority and funded by the California Public Utilities Commission. It launched in early 2025 and serves 17 rural Northern California counties. If you live in one of those counties, you can get a free energy kit, a free home energy assessment, and help with rebates — whether you rent or own. [Source: cal-cca.org/redwood-coast-energy-authority-launches-northern-rural-energy-network (accessed 2026-05-17)]
Who qualifies
You qualify if you live in one of these California counties: Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mariposa, Mendocino, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Sutter, Tuolumne, or Yuba. Nevada County (where TechEMPOWER is based) is included. [Source: cal-cca.org/redwood-coast-energy-authority-launches-northern-rural-energy-network (accessed 2026-05-17)]
Both homeowners and renters are eligible. There is no published income limit for the kit or the assessment. You are a customer of PG&E, Pioneer Community Energy, Sonoma Clean Power, or Redwood Coast Energy Authority, which covers nearly everyone in those counties.
What you get
1. A free Energy Efficiency Kit, mailed to your home. A typical kit includes LED lightbulbs, a smart power strip, an energy usage monitor, faucet aerators, weatherstripping, and outlet gaskets, plus a tip sheet. Exact contents depend on stock. [Source: northernren.org/energy-efficiency-kits (accessed 2026-05-17)]
2. A free home energy assessment, done by phone. A Northern REN staff member walks through your home's energy use with you, points out where you're losing money, and tells you which rebates and programs you qualify for. People who finish an assessment also get an efficiency kit. [Source: northernren.org/res-assessment (accessed 2026-05-17)]
3. Help applying for rebates on bigger upgrades — heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, insulation, efficient appliances. Northern REN does not pay the rebate itself; it helps you find and stack rebates from PG&E, TECH Clean California, the federal Inflation Reduction Act, and your local community choice aggregator. Dollar amounts vary by program and equipment.
How to apply
- Go to northernren.org.
- For the kit: open the Energy Efficiency Kits page and click Apply Here.
- For the assessment: open the Home Assessments page and fill out the sign-up form. They'll call you to schedule.
- If you'd rather talk to a person first, use the contact form at northernren.org/contact. The website does not list a public phone number. [Source: northernren.org/contact (accessed 2026-05-17)]
Common pitfalls
- The kit is mailed, so you need a real mailing address. P.O. boxes appear to be accepted.
- The assessment is over the phone, not in person. Have a recent utility bill in hand when you call — it makes the conversation much faster.
- Rebates are not automatic. Northern REN helps you find them, but you still apply through the program that funds the rebate (often PG&E or TECH Clean California).
- Supplies are limited. If kits are out of stock, get on the assessment list — you'll get a kit when you finish.
Where to get help
- Northern REN website and contact form: northernren.org/contact
- Redwood Coast Energy Authority (the agency running NREN): redwoodenergy.org/about/community-impact/nren
- Your local community action agency can also help low-income residents stack NREN with LIHEAP, Weatherization, and ESA program benefits.
Sources
- Redwood Coast Energy Authority launch announcement, CalCCA, April 2025 — cal-cca.org/redwood-coast-energy-authority-launches-northern-rural-energy-network
- Northern REN program pages, northernren.org/all-residential-services, /energy-efficiency-kits, /res-assessment, /contact
- Redwood Coast Energy Authority program page — redwoodenergy.org/about/community-impact/nren
All accessed 2026-05-17.