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The Ipswich Electric Light Department (IELD) has been recognized with an Energy Innovator Award by the American Public Power Association at its National Conference in New Orleans.
The award celebrates public power utilities that implement innovative, energy-efficient solutions to improve customer service or enhance operational efficiency.
With around 7,000 customers, IELD was recognized for its forward-thinking approach to advancing decarbonization and electrification in support of Massachusetts’ clean energy goals.
After conducting a feasibility study in 2021 on Inclusive Utility Investments (IUI), the utility launched a pilot IUI program in 2023 with plans for a full-scale rollout in 2025.
The IUI program offers customers the ability to finance energy-efficient home upgrades — such as whole-home heat pumps, weatherization, and other electrification measures — without any upfront payment.
Instead, costs are repaid over time through a fixed monthly charge on the utility bill, designed not to exceed the estimated energy savings.
By linking the repayment to the property rather than the individual, the program ensures that future occupants continue to benefit from lower energy costs.
In 2024, the program received a major boost when the U.S. Department of Agriculture committed a $5 million loan through its Rural Energy Savings Program to support the full launch. The program’s rollout is pending final disbursement of those funds.
