FAQs

General Information

What is the MPOWER Placer program?MPOWER Placer is a financing mechanism that allows commercial property owners to install energy and water efficiency retrofits and renewable energy systems. (Renewable energy is energy that comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat.) The financed amount is amortized and the annual amount due is added to the property tax bill.
Why is the MPOWER Placer financing program needed?Most buildings, with few exceptions, have not been constructed with a high degree of energy efficiency. As a result, these buildings are wasting energy, releasing greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, and costing property owners huge amounts of money for energy. MPOWER Placer makes it easy and affordable to finance upgrades that will result in reduced operating costs.
Who can apply for MPOWER Placer financing?All commercial, industrial, agricultural, or multi-family residential (5 units or more) property owners located in any of Placer County’s incorporated cities or towns or in the unincorporated area of Placer County who receive a secured property tax bill are eligible to apply. The following requirements must be satisfied:
- Applicant must be the legal owner of the property described in the application or have the authority to encumber the property.
- Property taxes are current with no notices of default within the last 3 years.
- Property owner is current on mortgages with no notice of default within the last 5 years.
- Property owner has not been subject to bankruptcy within the last 5 years.
- Property must not be subject to any involuntary liens.
- There are no recorded easements or covenants prohibiting the improvement.
- The current mortgage lender(s) has/have given consent for the MPOWER Placer financing.
How does MPOWER Placer financing work?Property owners apply for financing of energy and/or water efficient upgrades for their business. If approved, the property owner and the County enter into an assessment contract. After the improvements have been installed and verified the County will pay the cost of the improvements and place an assessment lien on the property. The assessment is amortized for 5, 10, 15, or 20 years, depending on the useful life of the product. The property owner repays the County for the improvements as an assessment on their property tax bill.
How do I apply for MPOWER Placer financing?There are three ways to apply: online at www.mpowerplacer.org, by fax (530) 889-4100, or in person at 2976 Richardson Drive in Auburn.
How is my personal information collected and managed?We maintain the privacy of your personal information. Please refer to the Placer County Web Data Protection and Privacy Statement for details.
What is the interest rate being charged for MPOWER Placer financing?The current interest rate for MPOWER Placer assessment financing is fixed at 6 percent.
How long will it take before I know if I qualify for MPOWER Placer financing?One of our program specialists will contact you within three business days of submitting your application to let you know, based on the accuracy of the information and completeness of your application, whether or not you qualify. After that, we will work directly with your lender to obtain the required acknowledgement for the MPOWER Placer assessment lien.
Can I use MPOWER Placer financing for improvements on my house?No. Currently financing is only available for commercial, industrial, agricultural, or multi-family residential (5 units or more) properties.
My commercial business is located on the same parcel as my residence. Can I still apply for financing?Mixed use properties that have a residence may not qualify for MPOWER Placer financing. A Program Specialist will work with you to determine if your property is eligible.
If the property is owned by a corporation or in a trust can I still apply?Yes. Trust, corporation, or LLC documents showing that the applicant has the legal right to encumber the property are required at the time of application.
Is my property eligible since it is located within the city limits?All commercial, industrial, agricultural, or multi-family (5 units or more) residential properties located in any of Placer County’s cities or towns or in the unincorporated area of Placer County are eligible to participate in the MPOWER Placer program.
Are there limits on the amount of financing I can apply for? What are the terms?Except in limited circumstances, the assessment lien cannot exceed 10% of the value (value = the assessment or market value, whichever is greater plus the cost of the proposed improvement). The minimum amount eligible for financing is $2,500. Repayments are made over 5, 10, 15, or 20 years, depending on the useful life of the product. A shorter payback period may be requested. Projects less than $60,000 require staff approval. Projects of $60,000 to $500,000 will require MPOWER Placer committee approval. Projects valued at over $500,000 will require Board of Supervisor’s approval.
Does MPOWER Placer also issue building permits for the improvements?No. All building permits are issued by the local authority.
Can I finance work that has already been started and/or completed?No. Once labor associated with the projects has begun or if the project is completed it is no longer eligible for MPOWER Placer financing. However, energy audits and estimates do not qualify as “started”. Therefore, any costs incurred in obtaining an audit can be included in the MPOWER Placer financing.
Do I have to use a designated contractor, or can I hire my own?MPOWER Placer has no restrictions on the selection of a contractor. We will, however, verify that the contractor is licensed and bonded. We also offer guidance in the selection of a contractor at our informational seminar, a required element of our program.
How do I determine my property’s assessed value?The amount of your property’s Assessed Value can be found on your most recent tax bill. Or you can visit the Placer County Assessor website; enter your parcel number in the Assessment Inquiry; click on Submit; select your parcel number and your property information will display.

Program Finance Information

What are the advantages to participating in the MPOWER Placer program?MPOWER Placer’s applicants have enjoyed the following advantages over more traditional financing:
- Easy to apply
- No money down
- Fixed interest
- No credit reports are generated and the assessment does not appear on any future credit reports
- Financing is based on the value of the property not on the applicant’s income
- Financed amount is repaid on your property tax bill
- Assessments not yet paid in full are passed on to subsequent property owners
Is there a penalty for early payment? If so, how much is it?Because there are no upfront costs MPOWER Placer needs to provide a mechanism for our bond investors to recoup their investment. A prepayment premium will be charged if the assessment is repaid within the first 5 years. The graduated premium structure is as follows:
- 5% within the first year (95% of the additional payment goes toward the principal);
- 4% within year
- 3% within years 3 through 5
Are there program fees associated with the MPOWER Placer financing? If so, can I include them in the financed amount? How much are they?MPOWER Placer incurs certain processing costs which are passed on to the applicant. These fees can be included in the financed amount. Your yearly assessment will also include an annual assessment collection fee of 1% of the annual assessment amount plus $10. They are:
- Title Costs = up to $215
- Recording Costs = $33 for the 2 Title pages, $3 thereafter
- Truth in Lending Agreement (TILA) = $50
- Permit fee = contact your local building department
What is the repayment period? Can I request a shorter term?The repayment period is based on the product(s) useful life. However, the applicant may request a shorter repayment term.
Can I participate if my property is under water?No. The sum of all debt against the property, including MPOWER Placer financing, cannot exceed 100% of the property’s assessed or market value, whichever is greater. Please refer to our Eligibility Calculator.
Can I finance my energy and water audit costs as well as engineering and design costs?Costs necessary for the planning and installation of the energy and/or water efficiency measures can be included in the MPOWER Placer financing. Those costs include the energy audit, drafting, engineering services, labor, and program fees.
What about rebates and tax credits for the improvements?Rebates and other incentives that are received at or near the time of installation cannot be included in the financed amount. However, rebates that are performance based incentives and tax credits are not taken into account when determining the MPOWER Placer financing amount.
Will my property taxes go up as a result of installing improvements?State law specifically exempts property tax increases due to the installation of most energy efficient retrofits and renewable energy generation systems. However, once the property is sold the new owner may be assessed at a higher rate due to those improvements. Applicants are urged to call the Placer County Assessor’s Office at (530) 889-4300 for clarification.
Once my project is completed how long will it take to receive payment?Payments cannot be disbursed within the first 30 days after the assessment contract is signed by the applicant. It is advised that you use this time to schedule your installation. Payments are made on the first and third Thursdays of the month. All invoices, finaled building permits, and required paperwork must be submitted to MPOWER Placer at least 5 County business days prior to the desired disbursement date.
When does the County place the assessment lien on the property?The assessment lien is placed on the property three days after the assessment contract is signed. However, interest does not begin to accrue until money is disbursed to the applicant or the contractor. (The owner can opt to have funds paid directly to the contractor.)
What will happen if I can’t make the payments?Since the payments become part of your tax bill, failure to pay will result in statutory penalties and interest being added to your bill. If left unpaid, after five years the County Tax Collector would have the right to proceed to sell the property at a property tax auction.
What will happen if I sell the property before the assessment is paid off?Since the MPOWER Placer financing is an assessment against the property and not the property owner, the assessment will stay with the property until paid in full. However, you are required by law to disclose the terms of the assessment lien to any potential buyers should you decide to sell the property.

Eligible Improvement Information

What improvements can I finance?MPOWER Placer will finance water and energy efficient retrofits and alternative energy generation equipment that are permanently affixed to the property. Refer to our list of Non-Residential Eligible Improvementsor you may request “custom measures” specific to your building needs. A few examples are:
- High efficiency lighting
- High efficiency heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment
- Tankless water heaters
- Cool roofs
- High efficiency windows & doors
- Solar or wind energy generation equipment
- Smart irrigation controllers
Can I finance solar leases or PPA agreements?No. Only equipment permanently installed and owned by the building owner is eligible.
Can I finance repairs associated with the installation of an improvement?State law limits participation in the MPOWER Placer program to energy and water efficiency improvements. Any repairs and/or new construction do not qualify for financing.
I would like to reduce my company’s water use, particularly in the area of landscaping. Will MPOWER Placer finance xeriscaping (landscaping that conserves water)?No. MPOWER Placer will finance water conservation measures such as smart irrigation controllers and rainwater cisterns but will not include the cost of new landscaping.