Energy Trust of Oregon

What Energy Trust of Oregon does

Energy Trust of Oregon is an independent nonprofit corporation created by Oregon state legislation in 1999 and headquartered in Portland. The organization's mandate is to deliver energy efficiency and renewable energy programs to utility customers across Oregon and Southwest Washington, funded through the state-mandated public purpose charge and utility tariffs. Its funding base draws from the customer bills of five partner utilities: Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas, and Avista, with regulatory oversight from the Oregon Public Utility Commission and the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission.

The organization operates a portfolio of six program categories — Residential, Commercial, Multifamily, Industry & Agriculture, Solar & Renewables, and Communities — delivering cash incentives, technical assistance, financing, and grants for energy-efficient equipment, new construction design, solar and storage installations, and community-focused clean energy access. Programs reach customers via direct delivery by Energy Trust staff, a certified Trade Ally contractor network, and partner utility billing channels, supplemented by outreach through 60 community organizations and three advisory councils (Conservation, Diversity, Renewable Energy). Energy Trust does not develop proprietary technology products; rather, it facilitates adoption of solar PV, wind, hydropower, biopower, geothermal, battery storage, smart inverters, and energy-efficient building systems.

Annual program disbursements are approximately $350M, with cumulative cash incentives and services of $1.9B distributed across 840,000+ homes and businesses served since founding. The organization currently serves 2.4M people and businesses and reports 789,000 homes currently saving energy through program-installed improvements. Revenue equivalent is sourced from the public purpose charge (revised in 2022 by HB 3141), utility tariffs, and select mission-aligned contracts including Community Solar program delivery and a City of Portland rooftop solar/storage contract for low-income households. Energy Trust adopted its 2026-2030 Multiyear Plan on December 12, 2025.

Name

Energy Trust of Oregon

Legal name

Energy Trust of Oregon, Inc.

Website

https://energytrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Energy Trust of Oregon is a state-created nonprofit that delivers energy efficiency and renewable energy programs across Oregon and Southwest Washington, funded by a public purpose charge on bills from five partner utilities. It serves 2.4 million people and businesses through cash incentives, technical assistance, and financing for clean energy upgrades.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Others, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Purpose Charge Funding: Energy Trust receives funding from Oregon's public purpose charge, revised in 2022 following passage of HB 3141. This dedicated funding is used to reduce the above-market costs of small-scale renewable generation from rooftop solar, hydropower, biopower and geothermal projects. Customers of five utilities (Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas, and Avista) pay a small percentage of their utility bills to support energy-efficiency and renewable energy services.
2. Utility Tariff Funding for Energy Efficiency: Funding for cost-effective energy efficiency resources comes from utility tariffs set in accordance with public utility commission standard ratemaking processes. For Oregon customers, tariffs are approved by the Oregon Public Utility Commission; for Washington customers, they are approved by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission.
3. Contract Revenue: Energy Trust contracts with select entities to deliver programs aligned with its mission, including a subcontract to support delivery of Oregon's Community Solar Program, pilots with utilities to study targeted load management, and a contract with the City of Portland to install rooftop solar and storage systems for low-income households.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Energy Trust of Oregon is a ratepayer-funded nonprofit that delivers energy efficiency and renewable energy programs to utility customers across Oregon and Southwest Washington. It provides cash incentives, rebates, technical assistance, financing, and solar/renewable installation support to residential, commercial, multifamily, industrial, agricultural, and community customers at no direct cost.

Product overview

Energy Trust of Oregon is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. The organization provides a unified set of services organized into six program categories: Residential, Commercial, Multifamily, Industry & Agriculture, Solar & Renewables, and Communities. Within these categories, the organization delivers services including cash incentives, financing options, technical assistance, and training resources. The organization serves approximately 2.4 million people and has distributed $1.9 billion in cash incentives and services. Programs include equipment upgrades and retrofits, new construction design assistance, solar installations, community solar subscriptions, and income-qualified services. The organization is funded by utility customer charges from five Oregon and Southwest Washington utilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Programs Energy efficiency programs serving homeowners, renters, and builders in Oregon and Southwest Washington, offering incentives on equipment upgrades, home improvements, solar installations, and DIY tips.
• Commercial Programs Energy efficiency programs for commercial buildings of all types and sizes, including equipment upgrades, retrofits, new construction assistance, and cash incentives.
• Multifamily Programs Energy efficiency programs for multifamily properties, offering equipment upgrades, retrofits, and new construction support for property owners and managers, including affordable housing.
• Industry & Agriculture Programs Programs serving industrial facilities, manufacturing operations, and agricultural producers with energy-saving equipment upgrades, process improvements, and renewable energy incentives.
• Solar & Renewables Solar and renewable energy programs including solar installations for homes, businesses, farms, public entities, and nonprofits, plus renewable options like hydropower, biopower, and geothermal.
• Communities Programs Programs for municipalities and historically underserved communities in Oregon and Southwest Washington, including nonprofit support, community partner funding, and local government partnerships.
• Cash Incentives Financial incentives and rebates provided to help reduce the upfront cost of energy-efficient upgrades and clean energy investments for residential and commercial customers.
• Community Solar Solar subscription program allowing households to receive credits on their power bills from community solar installations without installing panels on their own property.
• Income-Qualified Services Special programs and reduced subscription rates for low-income households, offering up to 40% savings on power bills and eligibility for additional energy assistance.
• Net Zero Grants Grants for commercial and multifamily building projects targeting net zero energy performance, supporting the transition to highly efficient, all-electric buildings.
• Smart-E Solar Financing Financing option offered to help residential customers afford solar and renewable energy system investments.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1.9 billion in cash incentives and services distributed to people and businesses
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Portland General ElectriccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary utility partner providing funding through customer charges for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. Energy Trust programs are available to Portland General Electric customers in Oregon.
• Pacific PowercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary utility partner providing funding through customer charges for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. Energy Trust programs are available to Pacific Power customers in Oregon.
• NW NaturalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNatural gas utility partner providing funding through customer charges for energy efficiency programs. Energy Trust programs are available to NW Natural customers in Oregon.
• Cascade Natural GascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNatural gas utility partner providing funding through customer charges for energy efficiency programs. Energy Trust programs are available to Cascade Natural Gas customers.
• AvistacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUtility partner providing funding through customer charges for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. Energy Trust programs are available to Avista customers in Oregon and Washington.
• Umatilla School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership delivering energy efficiency upgrades to school facilities. Over $640,000 in cash incentives provided since 2016, including HVAC, lighting, and water heating systems.
• Multnomah CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for sustainable building projects including 188 kW solar installation at East County Library as part of county's sustainability plan funded by $387 million capital bond measure.
• Oregon Public Utility CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulatory body that approves utility tariffs and provides oversight for Energy Trust funding mechanisms and programs in Oregon.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mass Save: Mass Save is a collaborative of Massachusetts utilities and energy efficiency providers delivering statewide energy efficiency and heating programs funded through utility rates - directly comparable to Energy Trust's state-level efficiency and electrification program delivery model.
• NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority): NYSERDA is a New York state public-benefit corporation funded through a system benefits charge on utility bills to administer energy efficiency, renewable energy, and clean transportation programs - structurally the closest analog to Energy Trust of Oregon's ratepayer-funded nonprofit model.
• Efficiency Vermont: Efficiency Vermont is the nation's first statewide energy efficiency utility, funded through a charge on Vermonters' electric bills to deliver efficiency programs - a near-perfect structural analog to Energy Trust of Oregon's ratepayer-funded program administration.
• Focus on Energy: Focus on Energy is Wisconsin's statewide energy efficiency and renewable resource program, funded by Wisconsin utilities and administered under public utility commission oversight - structurally analogous to Energy Trust's state-mandated, utility-funded program model.
• Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA): NEEA is a nonprofit alliance of Northwest utilities and energy efficiency organizations that supports energy efficiency market transformation across the same Pacific Northwest region Energy Trust serves - directly comparable as a regional ratepayer-funded efficiency organization.
• Energize Connecticut: Energize Connecticut is a partnership of Connecticut's energy efficiency utilities delivering statewide energy-saving programs funded through a public benefits charge on utility bills - directly comparable in funding mechanism and program scope to Energy Trust of Oregon.

Others

• TRC Companies: TRC is an engineering and consulting firm that delivers energy efficiency, demand response, and grid modernization programs for utilities and state agencies - an adjacent services provider in the same energy program implementation ecosystem.
• CLEAResult: CLEAResult is one of Energy Trust's largest implementation contractors (powers energytrust.clearesult.com residential assessments) and a leading North American energy efficiency implementation firm - a key operating partner and adjacent player in the same ecosystem.
• Franklin Energy: Franklin Energy is a national energy efficiency program implementation contractor that delivers programs on behalf of utilities and state energy organizations - an ecosystem participant and potential contractor peer to Energy Trust's Trade Ally delivery model.

Regional players

• Bonneville Power Administration: Bonneville Power Administration is a federal agency that markets wholesale electric power and funds energy efficiency across the Pacific Northwest, including partnerships in Oregon and Washington - a regional, federally-backed peer operating in Energy Trust's same service territory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@EnergyTrustofOregon
• Facebookfacebook.com/EnergyTrustOfOregon
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/energy-trust-of-oregon
• Instagraminstagram.com/energytrustor
• Xx.com/EnergyTrustOR

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Energy Trust of Oregon