Home Uplift provides home energy improvements at no charge to qualified residents
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (October 22, 2024)—Like many Chattanoogans, Gigi Gross faces increasing costs. With monthly obligations like energy bills and the costs of managing a chronic illness, Gigi has been hard-pressed to afford home energy improvements that could help lower her energy costs.
“I was recovering at home from surgery when I heard about Home Uplift on the news, so I applied immediately,” Ms. Gross said. “I’ve lived in my home for 52 years and desperately needed to lower my power bill, but medical bills kept me from being able to afford improvements.”
Ms. Gross will never forget when the EPB Energy ProsSM contacted her with good news: “I could not believe it when I heard I qualified! Thank you to everyone who made this possible. I still think it is a dream.”
Ms. Gross represents one of more than 900 households that have received home energy improvements through Home Uplift, a partnership of EPB Energy Pros and TVA EnergyRight® that helps recipients save an average of $450 per year on energy costs.
In addition to annual funding provided for Home Uplift by EPB and matched by TVA, the City of Chattanooga invested $100,000 in the program to increase the number of customers reached. With funding from EPB, TVA and the City, EPB Energy Pros expect to complete an additional 100 homes by next summer.
“As we fight inflation and the national affordable housing crisis, we know it’s difficult for long-time residents of Chattanooga to afford the cost of living,” said Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly. “The City of Chattanooga is proud to support EPB and TVA's Home Uplift program which makes it possible for working Chattanoogans to lower their energy bills and stay in their homes.”
As part of the program, EPB Energy Pros conduct a thorough inspection to prioritize what improvements will make the biggest reduction in customers’ monthly energy bills. This work can include such improvements as home air sealing, duct replacement, water heater and HVAC replacement, cleaning and tune-up, depending on customers’ unique circumstances. When necessary, the program can also replace doors, heat pumps, water heaters, refrigerators and more. EPB customers can learn more about the popular program and verify eligibility at epb.com/homeuplift.
“Home Uplift is a special program that TVA has been proud to extend across our service territory, and EPB in Chattanooga has been a leading partner in Home Uplift’s success,” said Bert Robinson, east regional executive with TVA, which celebrated reaching 6,000 homes through the program this summer. “Together, we’re helping our neighbors save money, reduce energy use and create healthier home environments.”
“Home Uplift is one of EPB’s most meaningful programs because we see the immediate relief it provides our customers in need,” said Ryan Keel, president of the Energy and Communications Business Unit at EPB. “It’s an important part of our mission to enhance quality of life by creating long-term household savings, giving people more control over their personal finances to address other needs.”
Since the program formally began in Chattanooga, EPB, TVA, the City of Chattanooga, The Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) have invested over $8.6 million in Home Uplift. Across the Tennessee Valley, TVA has invested more than $32.4 million in the program. Locally, Home Uplift evolved from a 2014 Chattanooga community-led pilot led by EPB and green|spaces in partnership with nonprofit, local government partners and philanthropic organizations. The 14-home pilot gave the team valuable insight to optimize savings and community engagement.
As our community’s energy experts, EPB Energy Pros share free home energy advice and resources with all customers to help improve efficiency through in-person or phone consultations:
As our community’s energy experts, EPB Energy Pros can offer expertise on a wide range of efficiency topics to residential customers:
Call 423-648-1372 or visit epb.com/energypros to learn more about home energy efficiency tips or schedule time with an EPB Energy Pro.
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About EPB
EPB is a customer-focused technology company that delivers innovative power and telecommunications solutions to the Chattanooga area in pursuit of its mission to enhance the quality of life for the community it serves. In 2010, EPB completed a 100% fiber optic network accessible to all its customers as the basis for launching America’s first community-wide Gig speed internet. The company still operates the world’s fastest community-wide internet service today at speeds up to 25 Gig. EPB also utilizes Chattanooga’s fiber optic network as the communications backbone for the most advanced and highly automated power distribution system in the United States. In 2022, EPB continued its commitment to keeping Chattanooga on the cutting edge by establishing our nation’s first commercially available quantum network — EPB Quantum Network℠ powered by Qubitekk. This effort aligns local job creation efforts with the national priority to accelerate the commercialization of quantum technology.
Since switching the lights on for its first electric customer in 1939, EPB has grown to serve nearly a half a million people across a 600-square-mile service area with cutting-edge infrastructure that integrates power distribution and telecommunications. At the same time, EPB keeps customer benefit at the center of all its efforts, earning recognition from J.D. Power as the #1 Mid-Sized Utility in the South for the last eight consecutive years based on customer satisfaction ratings. Learn more at epb.com.
About TVA
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a corporate agency of the United States that provides electricity for business customers and local power companies serving nearly 10 million people in parts of seven southeastern states. TVA receives no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all of its revenues from sales of electricity. In addition to operating and investing its revenues in its electric system, TVA provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system, and assists local power companies and state and local governments with economic development and job creation.
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