A partnership between Couleecap, Vernon Electric Cooperative, and the Public Service Commission's Office of Energy Innovation to reduce the cost of electricity for households that qualify for Wisconsin energy assistance and have a high energy burden by offering free access to community solar benefits.

What is Energize Wisconsin?
Free solar energy benefits for households that receive state energy assistance and have a high energy burden.

Why?
The Energize Wisconsin program reduces utility bills by using locally-captured solar energy. Participating households receive monthly credits on their households' utility bills. The program is offered as an added service within the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance program at no additional cost to eligible participants.

Benefits
The Energize Wisconsin program allows more Wisconsin residents to incorporate renewable energy sources into their everyday energy use portfolio. This not only reduces utility costs for those households but creates a more sustainable community for all.

Local Families Benefit from

Locally Generated Community Solar Energy

Couleecap, the local community action agency, will subscribe to a portion of a community solar garden on behalf of income-eligible households served by the Vernon Electric Cooperative. Couleecap will then work with Vernon Electric to allocate energy bill discounts to customers based on the amount of power generated by that subscription and the number of households qualified to receive the benefits.

Solar Power Works for Everyone

1.  Does your household qualify for the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program, or WHEAP? 

Eligibility Requirements for the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP)

INCOME GUIDELINES FOR THE 2023-2024 HOME ​ENERGY PLUS PROGRAM YEAR (10/01/2023 through 9/30/2024​) 60 PERCENT OF STATE MEDIAN INCOME GUIDELINES

Household Size	One Month Income	Annual Income
1	$2,820.67	$33,848
2	$3,688.58	$44,263
3	$4,556.50	$54,678
4	$5,424.50	$65,094
5	$6,292.42	$75,509
6	$7,160.33	$85,924
7	$7,323.00	$87,876
8	$7,485.75	$89,829

Apply Online for the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP)

Start your online Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) application
​Click here for online application 

APPly with Vernon County energy assistance for WHEAP Program

Call for an appointment between October 1st and May 15th to receive a regular benefit. Applications can be accepted year round.
​Vernon County: 608.637.5210

2.  Then you could be enrolled in the Energize Wisconsin community solar program! ​
​No paperwork! No forms required!

3.  Couleecap enrolls households that are eligible. The solar energy produced is divided by the number of households enrolled in the program to determine the benefit to each household.

4.  ​Your Vernon Electric bill will show a monthly community solar​ credit.  ​It’s that easy!

5.  Enjoy lower utility bills knowing you are helping your community by using renewable energy! ​
       It’s Free! It’s Easy! It’s Renewable Energy!

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) under the State Energy Program Award Number DE-EE0008669.
 
This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.

Questions?
Contact: Lucas Gilman
Ph: 608.352.9811 or 1.866.904.4508 (toll free)