Roanoke Electric Cooperative customers, North Carolina · Loan
Upgrade to $ave (U2$) Program
Run by Roanoke Cooperative
Roanoke Cooperative pays upfront for insulation, air and duct sealing, heat pump upgrades, water heater wraps and LED lighting after a free assessment, and recovers the cost through a fixed monthly charge on the bill tied to the meter (not a loan, no credit check).
Amounts
How much you get
No upfront cost: the co-op pays for the upgrades and recovers them through a fixed monthly charge (tariff) on the electric bill that it says is significantly less than the estimated savings. The charge starts 45 days after the work is done and stays with the meter until the cost is recouped. Upgrade amounts depend on the free assessment.
Eligibility
Do I qualify?
You need to meet all 4 of these.
Roanoke Cooperative member (homeowners and renters, regardless of financial status).
Owners and renters can request the free assessment; for a rental, the property owner must agree and sign the Owner's Agreement before work begins.
What to doIf you rent, ask your landlord to sign the program's Owner's Agreement.
Mobile homes qualify if 25 years old or less, on a permanent foundation, with wheels removed and hitch cut off.
Homes with unsound structure, mold needing professional remediation, or a major renovation open to the outside can't proceed.
What to doFix the structural, mold or renovation issue first; the program operator will discuss options after the assessment.
Equipment
What equipment counts
Applying
How to apply
You apply online.
- Request a free energy assessment through the online intake form.
- An auditor assesses the home and the program operator explains the offer.
You are under no obligation to accept the offer.
- Local contractors install the upgrades.
An assessment after the work checks that the measures yield the estimated savings.
- Fixed monthly charge appears on your bill.
Starts 45 days after the work is completed and stays with the meter until the cost is recovered.
Forms and instructionsUpgrade to $ave FAQs · Contact Us
Questions about applying(252) 209-2236
Stacking
Use it with
Your address
Next steps
Check that it covers your address. Then, if you want, ask for a contractor quote.
Is it available at your address?
Before anything else
Your quote request is in If a contractor we work with serves your ZIP, they can contact you. We take one request per person; contact us to change it.
Get an email if this program changes
We'll write if its amount, status or deadline changes. Nothing else.
FAQ
Questions
How much does Upgrade to $ave (U2$) Program pay?
No upfront cost: the co-op pays for the upgrades and recovers them through a fixed monthly charge (tariff) on the electric bill that it says is significantly less than the estimated savings. The charge starts 45 days after the work is done and stays with the meter until the cost is recouped. Upgrade amounts depend on the free assessment.
Do I need to be a Roanoke Electric Cooperative customer?
Yes. It’s only for homes in Roanoke Electric Cooperative customers, North Carolina. See Do I qualify for the details.
Do renters qualify?
Owners and renters can request the free assessment; for a rental, the property owner must agree and sign the Owner's Agreement before work begins. If you rent, ask your landlord to sign the program's Owner's Agreement.
Is it still available?
Yes. It was open when we last checked, on October 25, 2026.
Does the program replace windows, water heaters or refrigerators?
No. The FAQ says new windows never justify the cost in energy savings, and the program does not cover appliances.
What happens to the monthly charge if I sell or move?
It stays with the meter. The charge is applied to the next member's bill at that address until the upgrade cost is recouped.
Does my old HVAC system have to be working to get a heat pump?
No. A heat pump can be installed through the program even if the existing unit isn't working.
Plain words
Words used on this page
References
Sources
This page is built from these official pages, run by the program itself.
When one of these pages changes, we re-check this page against it.
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