What Energy Coordinating Agency does

Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1984 by the City of Philadelphia in response to a tenfold spike in residential utility terminations. The organization delivers free energy efficiency, heating repair, weatherization, utility bill assistance, and clean energy workforce training services to income-eligible households in Philadelphia and Delaware. ECA serves approximately 4,500 households annually in Philadelphia and 1,500+ in Delaware, delivering services through a network of 16 Neighborhood Energy Centers, two phone hotlines (the Philadelphia Heater Hotline at 215-568-7190 and the Delaware Heating Support line at 302-803-6935), online application portals, and direct field operations.

Core operations span three integrated programs: residential weatherization and heating system repair/replacement delivered through federal Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and LIHEAP funding; utility bill assistance navigation and termination prevention; and the Knight Green Careers Training Center, a 58,000 sq ft LEED Gold Certified facility in West Kensington offering IREC-accredited programs in HVAC, heat pump installation, weatherization, environmental remediation, and green construction. Since 2009, the training center has credentialed over 5,000 students, and in 2024 alone trained 278 students across 19 cohorts.

ECA is grant-funded with no direct service revenue. Its funding base comprises federal grants (LIHEAP, WAP, EPA, HUD, DOE), state grants (PA DCED, Delaware DHSS, DNREC), foundation support (William Penn, Knight, Kresge, Green Family), corporate philanthropy (PECO, PGW, Bank of America, Vanguard, Johnson Controls, Bradford White), and individual donations. ECA was designated lead LIHEAP administrator for the entire State of Delaware in 2025, a material expansion of administrative scope. A $20 million EPA Community Change grant awarded in early 2025 was subsequently frozen under federal funding actions, with partial access later restored.

Name

Energy Coordinating Agency

Legal name

Energy Coordinating Agency

Website

https://ecasavesenergy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Energy Coordinating Agency is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit delivering free weatherization, heating repair, utility bill assistance, and clean energy workforce training to income-eligible households across Philadelphia and Delaware.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Energy Efficiency Services

NAICS

Electric Power Distribution (221122), Facilities Support Services (561210)

SIC

Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Performance Contracting & Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) for Buildings (BPABAGAN)

Keywords

• Energy efficiency services
• Weatherization assistance
• Clean energy training
• Utility bill assistance
• Community energy programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Government Grants: ECA receives substantial funding from federal programs including LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program), WAP (Weatherization Assistance Program), EPA Community Change grants ($20 million EPA grant frozen in January 2025), EPA Brownfields Job Training Program, and HUD grants. These grants fund direct service delivery to income-eligible residents.
2. State Government Grants: Funding from Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, PA Energy Office/DEP, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, DE DNREC for state-wide programs.
3. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Support from William Penn Foundation, Green Family Foundation, W.W. Smith Charitable Trust, Bradford White Industry Forward program, Bank of America, Vanguard, and other foundations for training center operations and program expansion.
4. Individual Donations: Donations from individuals supporting ECA's mission to help communities transition to clean energy. All donations support general operating expenses.
5. Utility Partner Programs: Partnerships with utilities including PECO (CAP-PIP program), Philadelphia Gas Works (CRP and hardship funds), and PSEG for energy assistance and weatherization programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free energy efficiency and energy assistance services to income-eligible residents of Philadelphia and Delaware. Its core offerings include emergency heating system repair and replacement (Heater Hotline), residential weatherization (air sealing, insulation, duct sealing, heating pipe wrapping), utility bill assistance (LIHEAP coordination), and IREC-accredited clean energy workforce training through the Knight Green Careers Training Center. ECA coordinates a 16-site Neighborhood Energy Center (NEC) network that acts as a community one-stop-shop connecting residents to all programs.

Product overview

Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA) is a nonprofit offering an integrated suite of energy assistance and workforce development services. The core offerings include: the Heater Hotline for emergency heating repair/replacement, Weatherization Services for home energy efficiency, a network of 16 Neighborhood Energy Centers for utility bill assistance and community support, and the Knight Green Careers Training Center providing credentialed clean energy workforce training programs. Services span Philadelphia and Delaware, with programs addressing immediate energy burden relief (heating, cooling, utility bills) alongside longer-term climate resilience through weatherization and professional training in heat pump technology, HVAC, solar installation, and environmental remediation. The training center operates from a LEED Gold Certified 58,000 square foot facility in West Kensington, Philadelphia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Knight Green Careers Training Center: ECA's workforce development center that prepares students for careers in clean energy sectors including solar, HVAC, residential energy efficiency, green construction, and environmental remediation. Named after the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation which helped fund its creation.

Products and services

• Philadelphia Heater Hotline Free emergency heating system repair or replacement for income-eligible homeowners in Philadelphia (household income at or below 150% of Federal Poverty Level). Coordinates with contractors to restore heat during winter crises for gas, oil, or electric heating systems, covering oil burners, gas valves, thermostats, heating controls, chimneys, flues, circulators, blowers, and heating pipes.
• Philadelphia Weatherization Services Free home energy efficiency improvements for income-eligible Philadelphia residents (at or below 200% of Federal Poverty Level). Includes air sealing, insulation, duct sealing, heating pipe wrapping, and auditor-recommended measures to reduce utility costs and increase home comfort.
• Neighborhood Energy Centers (NECs) Network of 16 community locations across Philadelphia serving as one-stop-shops where residents can apply for utility bill assistance, get referred for home repair and weatherization, access budget counseling, and connect to services across the city.
• Delaware Utility Bill Assistance (LIHEAP) Coordination of LIHEAP applications and energy assistance grants for income-eligible Delaware residents statewide, helping approximately 11,000 at-risk residents access heating bill assistance and emergency repair support.
• Knight Green Careers Training Center Free, grant-funded, IREC-accredited clean energy workforce training facility at a 58,000 sq ft LEED Gold Certified building in West Kensington, Philadelphia. Programs prepare students for clean energy careers in HVAC, solar installation, weatherization, green renovation/retrofit, gas technician, heat pump, and environmental remediation.
• Community Programs (Workshops and Resource Fairs) DIY energy conservation workshops, community resource fairs, and homebound resident support services delivered at community spaces for groups of 20-100+ attendees, plus accompanying free weatherization materials for workshop participants.
• Delaware Weatherization Assistance Program Statewide weatherization services for income-eligible Delaware residents through the DE WAP program, including Pre-WAP home stabilization repairs needed before weatherization can be performed.
• Delaware Heating Support Free heating system repair or replacement for income-eligible New Castle County, Delaware residents (household income at or below 200% of Federal Poverty Level) for gas, oil, or electric heating systems.
• Heat Pump Installation Training 22-week training program credentialing students in HVAC heat pump technology and electrification as an alternate fuel source for heating and cooling, delivered at the Knight Green Careers Training Center's Heat Pump Training Lab.
• Green Renovation + Retrofit Training 18-week program covering sustainable energy-efficient construction fundamentals including carpentry, plumbing, water conservation, electrical work, and heating/cooling systems.
• Environmental Remediation Training 10-week training program for improving abandoned or underused land, including solar installation training and environmental remediation techniques.
• HVAC Maintenance Technician Training Training program covering commercial HVAC system maintenance fundamentals including basic electricity and plumbing, with 7 industry credentials earned.
• Gas Technician Training (PECO) 11-week training program for installing and repairing gas meters and equipment including piping, valves, gauges, and regulators.
• Integrated Pest Management Training 5-week training program teaching elimination of common household pests using non-toxic methods, earning the Pest Management 101 industry credential.
• Cooling Crisis Program Distribution of free air conditioning units and fans, or coordination of cooling system repairs, for income-eligible Philadelphians during summer heat emergencies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Avert 41,445 metric tons of carbon emissions annually through weatherization work
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPGW partners with ECA on energy conservation programs including CRP (Customer Responsibility Program) and hardship funds for Philadelphia residents. ECA coordinates utility bill assistance and termination prevention through the NEC network.
• PECOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPECO partners with ECA on CAP-PIP (Customer Assistance Program - Patient Information Program) and gas technician training programs. PECO is an employer partner for ECA's training center.
• PSEGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPSEG partners with ECA on Delaware programs supporting income eligible residents with energy assistance and weatherization services.
• Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPEA partners with ECA on holistic home repair programs including Built to Last and Healthy Homes Production Program. Collaborated on Heat Pump Training Lab grand opening in 2023.
• Philadelphia Green Capital Corp. (PGCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPGCC is a featured partner supporting ECA's green initiatives and climate resilience programs in Philadelphia.
• Philadelphia Office of SustainabilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Philadelphia's Office of Sustainability partners with ECA on energy efficiency initiatives and climate action programs.
• Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDHSS partners with ECA for statewide LIHEAP administration, helping approximately 11,000 Delaware residents access heating assistance.
• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNRDC is a core supporter of ECA's environmental and climate justice initiatives.
• School District of PhiladelphiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to train high school students in clean energy career pathways, including HVAC Level I maintenance training (40 students annually) and Apprenticeship Programs in HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, and Pipefitting.
• Community College of PhiladelphiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner collaborating on clean energy workforce development programs.
• Johnson ControlscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer partner providing equipment, financial support, and curriculum input for ECA's training programs. Participated in Heat Pump Training Lab grand opening.
• Peirce-PhelpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer partner providing HVAC equipment and support for ECA's training center and heat pump lab.
• Bradford WhitecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEquipment partner supporting ECA's training programs through Industry Forward giving program, providing water heating equipment for heat pump training.
• Synergy3coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer partner and training collaborator for ECA's clean energy workforce development programs.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA): City of Philadelphia's energy office and a strategic partner of ECA. Both are nonprofit/quasi-public entities delivering weatherization, workforce training, and clean energy programs in Philadelphia, often collaborating on Heat Pump Training Lab and Built to Last.
• Dollar Energy Fund: Pennsylvania-based nonprofit providing utility hardship fund and bill assistance to low-income households — directly overlapping ECA's LIHEAP and utility-assistance programs across shared geography.
• Energy Outreach Colorado: Nonprofit administering LIHEAP and energy assistance programs in Colorado for income-eligible households. Closest functional analog to ECA's LIHEAP and weatherization service model in a different state.
• Green and Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI): National nonprofit focused on healthy homes and weatherization for low-income families, with similar federal/state grant funding model and overlapping program set (Built to Last, weatherization).
• Self-Help Enterprises: California-based community development nonprofit providing home repair, weatherization, and workforce training for low-income residents — directly overlapping ECA's integrated service model.

Broad incumbents

• Community Action Partnership: National membership association representing 1,000+ Community Action Agencies delivering weatherization, energy assistance, and workforce programs across the U.S. Represents the broader competitive pool from which ECA's federal grant revenue is drawn.
• Cenergistic: Large-scale energy management and building performance services firm operating across K-12, healthcare, and government. A broader incumbent in building-level energy efficiency services where ECA's nonprofit weatherization work competes for federal and utility dollars.
• Franklin Energy: National energy efficiency program administrator for utilities and government agencies. Operates weatherization and energy efficiency programs at scale that compete with community-based providers like ECA for program administration contracts.

Emerging players

• Build It Green: Nonprofit training provider for green building workforce, including curriculum and certification aligned with ECA's Knight Green Careers Training Center. Overlaps on training programs and credentialing partnerships.

Others

• National Energy & Utility Affordability Coalition (NEUAC): National association supporting LIHEAP and energy affordability programs. Functions as an industry association and policy advocate for organizations like ECA that administer energy assistance at the community and state level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/energy-coordinating-agency
• Xx.com/phillyenergy
• Facebookfacebook.com/ecasavesenergy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

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 Coordinating Agency