Free home energy scores available for Ashlanders until May 

By Sydney Seymour, Ashland.news 

As energy costs for heating a home peak in winter months amid a recent increase in city electric rates, a local nonprofit continues to provide energy assistance while the city of Ashland launches a free Home Energy Score program. 

Local nonprofit ACCESS will offer energy assistance on an appointment basis from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, at Ashland Senior Center to help low-income renters and homeowners manage energy costs and pay utility bills. After a successful turnout earlier this month, ACCESS wanted to return to Ashland, according to ACCESS Housing Director Rose Reeser, rather than having participants come to their Medford Office.

The ACCESS Energy Assistance Program gives income-eligible households a one-time payment, typically once per program year, toward their energy bill. This “fuel-blind” program, which applies to all energy types, runs on about $930,000 in funds from federal, state and utility grants to serve Jackson County with a focus on Ashland, Reeser said.

Before rate increases began in 2026, an Ashland household using 500 kilowatt-hours (kWh) a month paid $67.63, while an Ashland household using 1,000 kWh a month paid $124.56, as previously reported by Ashland.news.

“Tell your friends,” Reeser continued. “We have this funding and we want to use it, so the more the merrier. The quicker we can get people assistance, the better — they don’t need to wait until it’s an emergency.” 

In 2024, 33% of Jackson County households were energy-burdened, according to the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE). Most Oregon government agencies define an energy-burdened home as one spending 6% or more of income on energy costs, ODOE says.

To qualify for energy assistance, a household income must be at or below 60% of Oregon´s median income, or at or below  200% of the Federal Poverty Level. 

In-person or phone appointments can be scheduled through the ACCESS energy assistance hotline at 541-779-9020. Friday participants should bring with them required documents — proof of income, most recent utility bill, identification and a Social Security card copy — to start receiving benefits from the program. 

Reeser said in a phone call to Ashland.news that the goal of energy assistance is to “provide that breathing room.” During the holidays, Reeser continued, she hears participants say they can buy gifts because of the energy assistance.

Reeser mentioned added stress for low-income families considering last year’s reduction in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, among other benefits, as Ashland.news earlier reported. In addition to energy assistance, ACCESS connects participants with resources for food, shelter and rental assistance. 

Free home energy scores until May

The city of Ashland launched a free Home Energy Score program in January to help residents identify ways to save money on energy bills. The program runs through May 7 while funding lasts, according to a Jan. 8 city press release. 

Similar to a vehicle’s miles-per-gallon rating, the Home Energy Score measures how well a home uses energy based on an on-site evaluation. 

Ashland’s is the first Oregon Home Energy Score program to include carbon emissions and emissions reductions in home energy recommendations, the news release says. Participants receive their home score, estimated energy costs and emissions and recommendations to improve efficiency. 

A pilot home assessed through the program produced 1.5 metric tons of carbon emissions per year — 10 times fewer emissions than an average U.S. home — due to Ashland’s clean electricity. The press release continues to say emissions could be reduced to 37.5 times lower than those of a typical U.S. home with recommended upgrades, including a 100% electric heat pump, hot water heating and some weatherization improvements.

The free program is open to all Ashland Electric utility customers. Eligible residents can schedule a free evaluation with a certified assessor, and some may qualify for incentives to cover the cost of improvements. All single-family homes, including side-by-side townhomes, are eligible. Stacked duplexes, triplexes and smaller multi-unit homes may participate if property owners and residents approve scoring for the entire structure. Alternative assessment methods are available for multi-family buildings.

Email Ashland.news reporter Sydney Seymour at [email protected].

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