Small Business Energy Advantage (SBEA)
EnergizeCT — Eversource and United Illuminating (Avangrid)
Up to 50% of installed cost + 0% financing
Researched for this program: 4 rejection traps · 3 required documentsWhat decides this award ↓
Free CT small-business energy upgrades
Connecticut's Small Business Energy Advantage program gives small commercial customers a no-cost, no-obligation energy assessment performed by a utility-authorized contractor, followed by a turnkey installation of efficient lighting, controls, refrigeration, heating, and cooling upgrades. The program pays incentives up to 50% of the installed cost of the recommended measures, and the remaining balance can be financed at 0% interest (often repaid conveniently on the utility bill). Because the authorized contractor handles both the audit and the installation, participating businesses get the upgrades with little upfront cost and no competitive application. Eligibility is for Eversource commercial/industrial customers using under 3,000,000 kWh annually per location, and United Illuminating customers with average 12-month peak demand between roughly 10 and 200 kW.
- Funding type
- Program
- Level
- Private
- Amount range
- Up to 50% of installed cost + 0% financing
- Realistic amount
- A typical CT small business completing a lighting and controls retrofit receives roughly half the project cost as an incentive (commonly a few thousand dollars) and finances the balance at 0%, so net monthly cost is often offset by the energy savings.
- Deadline
- Rolling — assessments scheduled year-round.
- Status
- active
- States
- Connecticut
- Payment model
- in-kind
Who qualifies
- Eversource CT commercial/industrial customer using under 3,000,000 kWh annually per location, OR United Illuminating customer with average 12-month peak demand roughly 10–200 kW
- Facility located in Connecticut and served by the sponsoring utility
- Measures must be those recommended in the no-cost SBEA assessment and installed by an authorized contractor
- Account in good standing to qualify for 0% on-bill financing
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Interior and exterior lighting upgrades
- Lighting and occupancy controls
- Commercial refrigeration
- Heating systems
- Cooling/HVAC systems
- Other recommended efficiency improvements
Ineligible expenses
- Measures not recommended in the SBEA assessment
- Self-installed equipment outside the authorized-contractor process
- Facilities not served by Eversource or United Illuminating in CT
How to apply
-
1
Schedule the no-cost assessment
Request the free Small Business Energy Advantage assessment via EnergizeCT. A utility-authorized contractor surveys your facility at no charge.
~1 hrs
-
2
Review the customized upgrade proposal
The contractor presents recommended efficiency measures, the up-to-50% incentive, your net cost, and 0% financing terms for the balance.
~1 hrs
-
3
Approve and schedule installation
Approve the proposal; the same authorized contractor installs the measures. The incentive is applied to the project cost so you finance only your net share.
~0.5 hrs
-
4
Repay the balance on your utility bill
If financed, the 0% balance is repaid through scheduled charges on your utility bill, frequently offset by the resulting energy savings.
~0.25 hrs
Because the incentive is applied at installation and the rest can be financed at 0% on your utility bill, many CT small businesses upgrade with essentially no upfront cash — the bill savings frequently exceed the financing charge from month one. Start with the free assessment; there's no obligation to proceed.
Deadline & timing
No annual deadline. The process begins with a free assessment; the authorized contractor then schedules installation. Program budgets are set annually by the CT utilities under the Conservation & Load Management plan.
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