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This research paper examines on-bill financing programs as a tool to increase energy equity and clean energy adoption in rural, low-income, and under-resourced communities. It highlights how these programs remove barriers to entry by eliminating upfront costs and replacing traditional credit checks with utility bill payment history. Through case studies of the Hawaii GEM$ and OPALCO Switch It Up! programs, the paper demonstrates how tying financing to the utility meter rather than the individual allows renters and low-income homeowners to access solar PV and beneficial electrification projects while achieving net monthly energy savings.

This research paper examines on-bill financing as a tool to expand access to energy efficiency, clean energy, and electrification, particularly for low-to-moderate-income (LMI) households and rural communities. It highlights how specific program designs—such as tying obligations to utility meters and using payment history instead of credit scores—can overcome traditional financial barriers and address racial and income disparities in clean energy adoption.