When Riverside was settled in the 1870s, water was a key commodity for growth. Completed in 1890, the Gage Canal played a vital role in bringing water to key areas throughout the city and helped establish Riverside’s rich agricultural history and overall development. Nearly 100 years later, this important waterway led to the creation of Riverside’s “Greenbelt,” the agricultural and low-density residential area surrounding the Gage Canal in Arlington Heights.
To preserve Riverside’s ongoing agricultural heritage, Riverside Public Utilities (RPU) now offers special programs and rates that support local agriculture and grove replanting.
Metropolitan Water District’s Water Savings Incentive Program Metropolitan Water District of Southern California offers its Water Savings Incentive Program for local agricultural water users. Program participants can receive rebates when they make improvements to their existing irrigation systems and landscaping.
To get more information on this program go to BeWaterWise.com or call 213-217-6244.
Agricultural Water Rates To preserve and promote Riverside’s agricultural lands, the City offers water rates applicable to qualifying Greenbelt area customers. For Greenbelt properties with access to the Gage Canal system, the WA-8 Greenbelt Irrigation Service can help customers receive water from the canal.
Properties without access to the Gage Canal may be eligible for the WA-9 Grove Preservation Service. This service was created by Riverside’s City Council to preserve the City’s citrus heritage. The rate is designed for properties predominantly covered in groves with minimal landscaping.
For more information on these rates or to apply, see call 951-826-5485.
Domestic Time-Of-Use Tiered Rate Plan
Who qualifies for this rate? RPU residential electric customers with good utility payment history who live in single-family residences are eligible for this rate. Before applying, please review the Domestic Time-of-Use Tiered Rate guidelines below.
Program Participation Cap The total number of customers receiving service under this rate schedule shall not exceed 500. Once the program cap is reached, this rate schedule will be closed to any new customers.
How do I apply? To apply for or learn more about RPU’s Domestic TOU Tiered Rate, call 951-826-5485, or complete and return the application form.
Customers must fulfill all program guidelines, program specific and general RPU program guidelines, to be eligible.
Applicant must be the same as the utility billing customer for electric service.
Applicant must sign an authorization/agreement form.
Application is subject to RPU General Manager approval.
Applicants must occupy a single-family metered residence.
Customer must exhibit an exemplary utility payment history based on the last 12 months of RPU receiving an application.
Applicants must provide unobstructed access to the electric meter and permit RPU to make necessary time-of-use meter modifications.
Customers applying for the Domestic TOU Tiered Rate with electric vehicles must provide RPU with the make, model, and year of the vehicle along with the type of charger (i.e., level 1 or level 2).
Customers may choose to return to the standard residential electric rate by submitting written notification to RPU. The change will become effective for service rendered after the next regular meter reading following RPU’s receipt of written notification.
Once a customer has returned to the standard residential electric rate, the customer must remain on the standard residential electric rate for 12 months prior to reapplying to the Domestic TOU Tiered Rate.
Green Power Premium
The Green Power Premium is a voluntary program available to all RPU electric customers interested in helping Riverside achieve and surpass its renewable energy goals. As we work together to develop energy resources like wind, solar, geothermal,
and biomass, we reduce our use of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. This is how
we’ll achieve a green energy future.
How does the Green Power Premium work?
Customers who opt into this voluntary program agree to contribute an additional two cents ($0.02) per kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity used, at their current per-kWh rate.
Funds raised through this program will go directly toward the purchase of renewable energy for the city of Riverside.
How will contributing affect my monthly utility bill?
As an example, a residential customer whose typical monthly energy use is 600 kWh (or approximately $73 per month) would pay an additional $12 per month in Green Power Premium for a total monthly bill of $85.
Individual customer costs will vary. To find out what your average Green Power Premium might be, multiply your monthly bill by $0.02 (kWh usage x $0.02). Green Power Premium charges will appear on your utility bill within two billing cycles.
For more information, call 951-826-5485.
Renewable Generation, Energy and Water Conservation Loans
Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG) The WRCOG HERO Program provides HERO Financing to residential property owners to install eligible energy and water saving products and renewable energy systems. HERO Financing has flexible terms and payments are made with your property taxes.
Find a Contractor for your job Search for contractorsthat are registered with the WRCOG HERO Program. You can search for contractors by zip code, specific license classifications, or company name. There are many contractors in the WRCOG region ready to help you save money and energy.
Explore Eligible Products Visit eligible productsto explore the broad range of Eligible Products for your home. You can learn how energy and water efficient products and renewable energy systems can save energy and money and also lookup eligible product models.
Geo Smart Geo Smart provides home improvement financing that is sponsored by the Electric & Gas Industries Association (EGIA). Learn more about this program.
Viewtech Viewtech financial services, located in Anaheim, CA, offers RPU customers home energy loans for a variety of energy efficiency projects. Viewtech works with independent consumer benefit organizations (such as the League of California Homeowners), for the benefit and protection of utility customers.
For more information about loan terms and qualifying projects, please call (714) 695-3375 and ask to speak to a representative.
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program
Beginning in 2008, several bills were signed into law allowing local legislative bodies like the City of Riverside to designate areas where residential and commercial property owners can enter into voluntary contractual assessments to finance 100% of the cost of eligible energy efficiency, renewable energy and water conservation improvements that are permanently affixed to real property.
The intent of the legislation was to make conservation enhancements more affordable by creating a property based financing tool that offers little or no upfront cost. The cost of improvements are placed on the property tax rolls and repaid through the property tax bill for the term of the loan, not to exceed the useful life of the improvements installed. There is no impact to personal credit scores because borrowers are not qualified based on their credit, but on the equity in the property.
Examples of some conservation enhancements include: solar panels, home solar batteries, solar pool and water heaters, heating and air conditioning units, windows, skylights, duct and ventilation fans, lighting and control systems, artificial turf, irrigations systems, rainwater catchment systems, high-efficiency faucets, toilets and showerheads and more.
Participation in the PACE financing program is 100% voluntary and it is the responsibility of the property owners to perform their due diligence by reading all contractual documentation before selecting any company to provide PACE financing.
Program Providers
Currently, the following lenders are authorized to provide PACE financing on properties in the City of Riverside. These lenders can finance improvements on residential or commercial properties.
There is no affiliation between the City of Riverside and the PACE providers listed below. Further, we do not endorse any of the companies, contractors, employees or the work they perform. City residents and businesses are advised to carefully evaluate any proposed provider and review all contractual assessment terms and conditions before participating in any PACE program. The State of California Contractors State License Board offers helpful publications to consumers when interviewing contractors.
Please visit their website for downloadable guides and publications.