Apply for Affordable Home Electrification & Solar for All
Take advantage of two no-cost programs for income-qualified District residents that will help you cut costs and emissions in your home.
Before you apply, gather the following documents & check your eligibility
Read this application guide in full before you apply
STEP 1: DETERMINE YOUR HOME AND INCOME ELIGIBILITY
For both programs, you must:
- Own or rent in DC
- Live in a Single-Family home (four units/apartments or less)
- Have a total annual household income equal to or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) or receive assistance from a federally approved program
- You can also determine your home and income eligibility on:
Affordable Home Electrification Program (AHEP) additional eligibility:
- All participants must fully electrify all gas and/or oil equipment in the home to join the program.
- You can qualify as an individual unit owner in an apartment/multifamily building with 5 or more units and in-unit equipment eligible for replacement. If this does not apply to you, you should not apply through this application. Your property will only be eligible if the electrification process has no impacts to the rest of the building. This will be determined once you are income qualified and a walkthrough is conducted. However, your building may qualify for the Affordable Multifamily Electrification Program. Eligible equipment upgrades for individual unit owners are:
- In-unit ducted furnace
- In-unit domestic gas hot water heater
- In-unit gas clothes dryer
- In-unit gas stove/ranges
Solar for All (SFA) additional requirements:
- Do not have a solar system installed on your home or have a signed a contract to install one.
- Do not live in an apartment/multifamily building (five units/apartments or more) that is master metered.
- Receive electric services from PEPCO.
STEP 2: GATHER ALL YOUR INCOME VERIFICATION AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
You will need the following documentation to apply to both programs:
- A Social Security Card and government-issued ID for every household member
- The most recent copies of your Pepco and Washington Gas Utility Bills
- Income verification documentation for each household member earning an income
- See the Homeowners & Renters Income Verification Guide for more detailed information for proof of income
- A signed Pepco Authorization Form
Affordable Home electrification specific documentation:
Online Application specific documentation:
- A signed Home/Property Owner Agreement Form (if you are applying online)
STEP 3: APPLY ONLINE, BY MAIL, OR IN-PERSON
Apply Online
- Visit the Online Program Application below
- Follow the on-screen prompts to fill in information about you, your home, and upload your supporting documentation utility information
Or Apply by Mail
- View and complete the program application form
- Follow the form instructions and mail the print application along with the above documentation to:
DCSEU AHEP & SfA
1 M Street SE
3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20003
Or Apply In-Person
- Print and complete the program application form
- Book an office visit online to apply in-person or call (202) 479-2222 and ask to book a visit. Please note that office hours are limited and prioritize customers with issues accessing technology required to apply online.
- Bring your completed application and supporting documentation for every member of the household to the office visit at the scheduled date and time.
- Present and review your application with DCSEU staff.
WHAT'S NEXT: HOW LONG DOES THE PROCESS TAKE?
- A DCSEU program staff member will contact you within 3 business days to confirm receipt of your application. If your application has incomplete or missing information, we will request the additional documents needed to process it.
- The DCSEU will verify your income qualification documents within 3 business days to inform you of your eligibility to participate in the AHEP program.
- An initial walkthrough of your home with DCSEU Staff and Subcontractor, is scheduled to determine if your home qualifies for program.
- If your home qualifies, a Homeowner Agreement form is issued for your signature before equipment installation can begin.
- Subcontractor begins installation
- Upon completion of installation, the District Department of Buildings (DOB, formerly DCRA) inspection is scheduled. Please note DOB inspections require 1 full business day of availability for DC code adherence. Additional days may be required if reinspection needs to take place.
- Upon completion of DOB inspection, a DCSEU Quality Control inspection is scheduled. Please note additional days may be required if reinspection needs to take place.
- A DCSEU program staff member will contact you within 3 business days to confirm receipt of your application. If your application has incomplete or missing information, we will request the additional documents needed to process it.
- You can expect a follow-up within 5 business days to inform you of your eligibility to participate in the SFA program. If deemed eligible, the DCSEU will provide essential details regarding the fy2025 program and its timeline.
- A subcontractor will be assigned to visit your home, if you’re eligible to have a solar system installed. During the walk-through, they will assess whether your home is a suitable candidate for a solar system. If any issues are identified during the site visit, they will be communicated to you. If the DCSEU cannot resolve the issues, the DCSEU will provide your information to DOEE to determine if you are eligible to receive community solar bill credits.
- If you and your home are deemed eligible for the program, you will need to sign a homeowner agreement agreeing to the SFA program requirements. Upon signing, the DCSEU will authorize the subcontractor to proceed with the solar system installation at no cost to you.
- Your home’s solar system will generate electricity output to offset your home’s electricity use and costs for a period of 20-years, or you will receive community solar electricity bill credits until your income exceeds the income limits.