California Hub for Energy Efficiency Financing (CHEEF) Programs

CAEATFA administers CHEEF and its public-facing GoGreen Financing programs, as part of a public-private partnership among state agencies and investor-owned utilities (IOUs) to help California meet its energy savings goals by increasing private investment in energy efficiency retrofits. By the authority of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), IOU ratepayer funds support administration of GoGreen programs as well as a credit enhancement for participating finance companies. GoGreen Home, the residential program, also receives funding for administration and a credit enhancement from California gas corporation ratepayers through the TECH Clean California Initiative.

Access to the credit enhancement, which takes the form of a loss reserve fund that functions like insurance in the event of default, allows finance companies to offer more attractive financing to a broader base of customers. In turn, more Californians are able to undertake energy efficiency improvements for their homes and businesses. This mechanism for leveraging private capital is at the heart of GoGreen programs.

GoGreen Financing is the public face of the CHEEF programs. Here, California residents and business owners can connect with participating contractors and finance companies in an online marketplace designed to make energy efficiency upgrades simple and attainable.

In August 2021, the names of the CHEEF programs were changed to more closely align with the GoGreen Financing platform. The Residential Energy Efficiency Loan (REEL) Assistance program became GoGreen Home Energy Financing (GoGreen Home), the Small Business Energy Efficiency Financing (SBF) program became GoGreen Business Energy Financing (GoGreen Business), and the Affordable Multifamily Energy Efficiency Financing (AMF) program became GoGreen Affordable Multifamily Energy Financing (GoGreen Multifamily).