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Home - Northern Rural Energy Network

Home - Northern Rural Energy Network

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Contact via northernren.org/contact/
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Eligibility
Residents in 17 rural Northern California counties: Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Mariposa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Sutter, Tuolumne, and Yuba. Customers of PG&E, Pioneer Community Energy, Sonoma Clean Power, or Redwood Coast Energy Authority.
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The Northern Rural Energy Network (Northern REN) supports, advises, and empowers rural energy solutions and cost savings across 17 counties in rural Northern California. They offer free home energy assessments, energy efficiency kits, rebates for upgrades, and guidance on energy-efficient appliances for residential customers.
Value
Free home energy assessments, free energy efficiency kits, and rebates for energy upgrades to reduce bills and improve home comfort
Espanol
Language selector available on website for multilingual support
URL
https://northernren.org/

What this is

The Northern Rural Energy Network (NREN) helps rural Northern California residents lower their energy bills through free home energy assessments, free energy efficiency kits, and rebates for electrification and weatherization upgrades. NREN is a coalition serving customers of PG&E, Pioneer Community Energy, Sonoma Clean Power, and Redwood Coast Energy Authority.
Source: northernren.org (accessed 2026-05-17).

Who it is for

Residents in these 17 rural Northern California counties:
Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mariposa, Mendocino, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Sutter, Tuolumne, Yuba.
You must also be a customer of one of: PG&E, Pioneer Community Energy, Sonoma Clean Power, or Redwood Coast Energy Authority.
Nevada County (Grass Valley) residents on PG&E or Pioneer qualify.

What you actually get

  • Free home energy assessment — a walkthrough of your home to identify where you're losing energy and what upgrades would help most.
  • Free energy efficiency kit — a starter pack of low-cost items (LEDs, weatherstripping, etc.) you can install yourself.
  • Rebates for upgrades to energy-efficient electric appliances, heating and cooling equipment, and insulation. Exact rebate amounts depend on the upgrade and your utility — use the rebate finder on the site for current numbers.

How to start

  1. Go to northernren.org/residential and use the rebate finder. You'll enter your utility account info to see what you qualify for.
  1. For the free assessment or kit, contact NREN directly: info@northernREN.org, or use the form at northernren.org/contact.
  1. No phone number is published — email is the main contact channel.

Worth knowing

  • The website lists business, public-sector, workforce, and financing programs as "Coming Soon" — residential is the live track right now.
  • Rebates stack with utility programs (PG&E Energy Savings Assistance, TECH Clean California) but rules vary. Ask in your intake email if you're stacking.
  • If you rent, ask your landlord before scheduling the assessment — some upgrades need owner approval.