Commercial Energy Efficiency Loans

Why not make an energy efficiency upgrade now and start saving on your utility bills? We can help you with financing the upgrades. Our loans have a fixed, low-interest rate with no prepayment penalties.

Items Eligible for a Loan

Energy efficiency assessment

Air conditioner

Heat pump

Natural Gas Furnace (with Air Conditioner or heat pump)

Lighting

Solar water heater

Interest Rates

You can select your terms and interest rate by determining the length of your loan.

Up to 3 years: 1%

4 to 5 years: 3%

6 to 10 years: 5%

Loan Parameters

For commercial electric customers

Must be a property owner

Detailed energy efficiency assessment by certified consultant (ASHRAE Level II)

Minimum insulation requirements

Good credit history

DEED of Trust required

Subordination of loan only under special circumstances

No prepayment penalties

$30,000 maximum loan (commercial)

Building Assessment Requirement

The loans require an ASHRAE Level II energy assessment. Check with Columbia Water & Light if you would like a list of consultants. After the assessment, you will be given suggestions on how to make your business more energy efficient. Our loan program is a great way to finance these improvements.

Requirements for Efficiency Improvements

Energy Assessments: The cost of an ASHRAE Level II assessment can be financed.

Heating and Cooling Systems: Allows for replacement of a furnace — natural gas, propane or electric — if it is installed along with a new central air conditioner or heat pump with an efficiency rating 11 EER or greater for units that are 6 tons or larger.

Lighting: The new lighting system must be at least a one kilowatt reduction from the old lighting system. Only payments made to outside vendors for equipment, supplies and labor are eligible for financing. All requirements of the lighting incentive program must be followed.

Duct Sealing: Financing is available for sealing the supply and return ducts to achieve the lowest leakage rate possible. Requires an additional duct testing before and after the sealing is completed.

Solar Water Heaters: Solar water heaters that provide at least 50% of water heating costs are eligible. Only solar space heating systems that involve active solar heat collectors are eligible for loans. All solar heating projects must be permitted by the Public Works Department and have a completed final inspection. Pool solar water heaters are not eligible.

Subordination

Super Saver Loans DO NOT subordinate to other loans you have on your property. If you refinance your current business loan or sell your building, you will be required to pay off the Super Saver Loan. Requesting subordination of your Super Saver Loan generally takes at least two months. If you are refinancing your mortgage for a lower interest rate, shorter loan term, in order to maintain ownership of the building or borrow more money for an improvement project, you could be eligible for subordination. A copy of the customer’s current credit rating, the appraisal used for refinancing and a copy of the mortgage application will need to be submitted. A committee that meets before the tenth day of each month will review the subordination requests to determine if a customer is eligible. Please contact us if you have any questions about subordination.

REBATES: You could also be eligible for a Columbia Water & Light rebate for the energy efficiency improvements you make to your property. Make sure you fill out a rebate application and turn it in with your final loan paperwork. Check with your other utility providers, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Federal Government for additional rebates.

Loan Participation Steps

Schedule an ASHRAE Level II energy assessment and complete a commercial loan application. Your consultant can help you with the application. Please contact us at info@ColumbiaPowerPartners.com for an application.
Once notified by Columbia Water & Light that your Super Saver Loan is approved you can proceed with completing your project.
After completing all the efficiency projects, make copies of all invoices and contact Columbia Water & Light (573-874-7325) for the final inspection. Copies of invoices and equipment ratings are necessary to complete this step. At this inspection, the staff member will collect all copies of the invoice.
Two weeks after the loan inspection, you will be contacted by Columbia Water & Light to arrange an appointment.
All people listed on the loan form must be present at the loan signing appointment. Columbia Water & Light offices are located at City Hall, 701 E. Broadway, 4th floor.
A photo ID (i.e. driver’s license) is required for each applicant. A Recorder’s Office fee of $27 (amount is subject to change) will be added to your final loan amount. You will receive the check for your loan at the end of this appointment.
Monthly statements for your loan will be mailed to you. You can pay by check or electronic funds transfer. Payments for your loan can not be combined with your utility bill payment. There are no prepayment penalties if you pay the loan off early.

The Super Saver Loan program is financed from the enterprise fund of Columbia Water & Light. No general revenue funds of the city, or any other forms of public money, are used by the program.

NOTE: The parameters for the Super Saver Loan program outlined on this page are effective June 1, 2010.