NES announces $750k state grant to help customers with energy efficient home improvements

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nashville Electric Service (NES) has approved new funding that will help customers in need make energy efficient improvements to their homes. The new grant of $750,000 from the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation (TDEC) will go toward NES’ Home Uplift Program.

The Home Uplift Program is available to limited income homeowners in the NES service area and is a joint endeavor between NES and the Tennessee Valley Authority. TDEC’s $750,000 grant builds upon TVA’s initial $750,000 contribution for Home Uplift.

Customers who qualify for the program receive valuable energy efficiency upgrades. In addition to homeowners saving money on their energy bills, many participants report improvements in the comfort and air quality of their homes. Eligible energy efficiency upgrades include air sealing, duct sealing/replacement, attic insulation, water heater and pipe insulation, wall insulation, HVAC clean and tune, HVAC replacement, windows and door replacement, heat pump water heater, refrigerator replacement, LED bulbs, and low­flow showerheads.

The Home Uplift Program recently resumed after in-home upgrades were suspended last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the approval of the TDEC grant, eligible customers are now allowed a maximum expenditure of $14,000 per home. 

“NES is proud to do its part in helping limited-income homeowners make the adjustments needed to lower their bills,” says Sylvia Smith, NES Vice President of Customer Services. “The Home Uplift Program is designed to help customers stay in their homes longer by making them more sustainable.”

According to Cindy Herron, vice president of TVA EnergyRight, “This program is about more than power bills and energy savings. It’s also about our neighbors feeling safe and comfortable in their own homes. Through Home Uplift, families no longer have to worry about how they will stay warm in the winter or cool in the summer – they know and trust that NES and TVA are there to help them through good days and bad days.”

To qualify, customers must:

  • Be a residential homeowner and currently reside in the home where the energy efficiency measures could be implemented 
  • Reside in NES’ service area and be the primary account holder 
  • Be of limited income status as defined by Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Guidelines 
  • Be willing to schedule an in-home energy audit if approved 
  • Share home energy performance information  

For more information on Home Uplift, visit EnergyRight.com/residential/home-uplift/.

About NES

Nashville Electric Service (NES) is the 12th largest public electric utility in the nation, distributing energy to more than 418,000 customers in Middle Tennessee. For more information, visit nespower.com or nespowernews.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.

About TDEC

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation exists to enhance the quality of life for citizens of Tennessee and to be stewards of our natural environment by protecting and improving the quality of Tennessee’s air, land, and water through a responsible regulatory system; protecting and promoting human health and safety; conserving and promoting natural, cultural and historic resources; and providing a variety of quality outdoor recreational experiences.