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Northern REN: free energy assessments and upgrade incentives for small businesses

Phone number
Category
Small Business
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Eligibility
Small and medium-sized businesses and public agencies in 17 rural Northern California counties, including Nevada County, with PG&E service
Auto Summary
The Northern Rural Energy Network (NREN) gives small and medium-sized businesses and public agencies in 17 rural Northern California counties, including Nevada County, a free virtual or on-site energy assessment and report. It also pays incentives through local contractors for upgrades like heat pump water heaters and LED lighting. You must have PG&E service.
Value
Free energy assessment and report; incentives toward heat pump water heaters and LED lighting
Espanol
Northern REN: evaluaciones de energía gratis e incentivos para pequeños negocios La Red de Energía Rural del Norte (NREN) ofrece a pequeños y medianos negocios y agencias públicas en 17 condados rurales del norte de California, incluido el Condado de Nevada, una evaluación de energía gratis (virtual o en el lugar) con un informe personalizado. También da incentivos, a través de contratistas locales, para mejoras como calentadores de agua con bomba de calor e iluminación LED. Necesita servicio de PG&E. Llene el formulario de interés en northernren.org.
URL
northernren.org/commercial-di/
Lower your business energy bills. The assessment is free. (Verified 2026-09-29 on northernren.org.)

What you get

  • A free virtual or on-site energy assessment and a personalized energy report
  • Incentives that lower the upfront cost of upgrades, applied through local contractors. The amount depends on your building and the upgrade.
  • Eligible upgrades now: heat pump water heaters and LED lighting. Coming soon: heat pump HVAC and controls, and high-efficiency refrigeration.

Who qualifies

  • Small and medium-sized businesses and public agencies
  • You must have PG&E service (including Pioneer Community Energy customers)
  • In one of 17 counties, including Nevada, Placer, Sierra, Yuba, Sutter, Butte and El Dorado
  • Nonprofits: the program page doesn't say. Ask NREN when you fill out the interest form.

How to start

Fill out the interest form on the Commercial Energy Upgrades page, and NREN will contact you.
Public agencies get separate no-cost help with energy planning, grant writing and incentives, on the Public Energy Services page at northernren.org. For home energy help, see Northern Rural Energy Network (the residential entry).
[Source: northernren.org/commercial-di, "free virtual or on-site energy assessment and personalized energy report"; eligibility is "small and medium-sized businesses and public agencies" and "PG&E Customer" (fetched 2026-09-29)]