What is ClearPath On-Bill financing?

ClearPath On-Bill is a repayment program from the Collective Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) and Xcel Energy. CCEF pays your contractor the full project cost upfront, and you repay it as a fixed monthly line item on your Xcel bill. It covers energy upgrades like heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, insulation, and electrical panel upgrades, from $1,500 to $50,000.

Do I need a good credit score?

There is no credit score requirement in the program. Approval is based on your Xcel payment history: no shutoff notices in the past 12 months and no late payment penalties in the past 6 months. If you have 1 or 2 recent late penalties, you can still qualify by enrolling in bill autopay.

Is this a loan? Does it show up on my credit report?

No. ClearPath On-Bill is a tariff-based program. The repayment obligation is tied to your electric meter, not to you personally, and the program describes it as a utility service rather than new debt. It is not structured as a consumer loan.

What are the rates and terms?

Rates are fixed by term: 3 years at 4.50%, 5 years at 4.75%, 7 years at 5.00%, and 10 years at 5.49%. You can finance $1,500 to $50,000 with no money down. There is a 2% origination fee plus customary third-party fees, including county filing fees.

How do Xcel rebates work with ClearPath?

Rebates are applied as an upfront credit, so you only finance the post-rebate amount from day one. You assign the rebate to UniColorado and we collect it from Xcel after the install is verified. If the verified rebate comes in lower than estimated, program rules say your financed amount cannot increase. That difference is on us, not you.

Can I pay it off early?

Yes. You can pay off the balance at any time with no prepayment penalty.

What happens if I sell the house?

The repayment obligation is tied to the meter, and under the program it may stay with the home and transfer to the next occupant. The specifics depend on your situation, so check with CCEF (onbill@cocleanenergyfund.com) before listing your home.

Colorado homeowners with Xcel electric service. The home must be an existing, owner-occupied property (no new construction), and you must be named on both the deed and the Xcel bill. Gas-only Xcel customers are excluded because repayment rides the electric meter. You also need a clean recent bill history: no shutoff notices in 12 months and no late penalties in 6 months.

How do payments work?

Your repayment shows up as a single line item on the Xcel bill you already pay. There is no new account, separate lender login, or extra payment method. Standard Xcel billing rules apply to the charge.

Can I finance a repair or a regular AC replacement?

No. The program excludes standalone AC installations, repairs, tune-ups, and duct cleaning. It funds efficiency and electrification upgrades: heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, insulation and air sealing, windows and doors, smart thermostats, and panel upgrades tied to a qualifying project.

What else can be financed besides HVAC?

The Xcel measure list also covers attic and wall insulation, air sealing, ENERGY STAR windows and doors, evaporative coolers, ground-source heat pumps, and solar-charged battery storage. UniColorado handles the heat pump, water heater, panel, and thermostat side; CCEF's contractor directory at ccef.info/on-bill lists contractors for envelope work.

Is UniColorado an authorized ClearPath contractor?

Yes. UniColorado is an authorized ClearPath On-Bill contractor as of June 2026. We handle the application with you, install to the program's specs (including a Manual J sizing calculation for every heat pump), and provide the written 1-year labor warranty the program requires.

ClearPath On-Bill Financing

Finance heat pumps and energy upgrades with no money down and repay through a fixed line item on your Xcel bill. Approval is based on how you pay your utility bill, not your credit score. Fixed rates from 4.50% to 5.49% depending on term.

Updated June 11, 2026•By Editorial Staff

Get Free Estimate (303) 250-1000

ClearPath at a Glance

Amount: $1,500 to $50,000
Rates: 4.50% to 5.49%, fixed by term
Terms: 3, 5, 7, or 10 years
Down Payment: None
Repayment: Line item on your Xcel bill
Origination Fee: 2% + county filing fees
Prepayment Penalty: None

Administered by the Collective Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) with Xcel Energy. Rates current as of June 2026.

Who Qualifies

Approval Is Based on Your Xcel Bill

Xcel Energy electric customer in Colorado (gas-only accounts don't qualify)
You own and live in the home; existing homes only, no new construction
You're named on both the property deed and the Xcel bill
No utility shutoff notices in the past 12 months
No late payment penalties in the past 6 months (1 or 2 can still qualify if you enroll in autopay)

CCEF makes all final approval decisions and can grant exceptions case by case. We confirm eligibility with you during the estimate.

Program Details

Not a Loan. A Line Item on Your Xcel Bill.

ClearPath On-Bill is a tariff-based repayment program run by the Collective Clean Energy Fund (CCEF), the same Colorado green bank behind RENU. CCEF pays UniColorado the full project cost upfront. You repay it monthly on the Xcel bill you already get, at a fixed rate, over the term you choose.

Because the obligation is tied to your electric meter rather than to you personally, the program does not treat it as consumer debt and there is no credit score requirement. What CCEF looks at instead is your Xcel payment history over the past year.

Two honest caveats: gas-only Xcel customers can't participate since repayment rides the electric meter, and the program funds upgrades only. Repairs, tune-ups, and standalone AC replacements are excluded.

Eligible Projects

What You Can Finance

Air-Source Heat Pumps

Ducted and ductless systems, including cold climate models

Heat Pump Water Heaters

ENERGY STAR rated models

Electrical Panel Upgrades

With a qualifying heat pump project, up to 30% of project cost

Smart Thermostats

ENERGY STAR models eligible for Xcel AC Rewards

The Xcel measure list also covers insulation, air sealing, windows and doors, ground-source heat pumps, evaporative coolers, and solar-charged battery storage. Equipment must meet the program's efficiency minimums; we verify that during your estimate.

Rebates Come Off the Top

You Only Finance the Post-Rebate Amount

Under most financing, Xcel rebates arrive as a check weeks after installation. ClearPath credits them upfront instead: the estimated rebate reduces your project cost before financing is calculated, and we collect the rebate from Xcel ourselves after the install is verified.

There's a customer protection built in. If Xcel verifies a smaller rebate than estimated, your financed amount stays exactly where it was. Program rules put that difference on the contractor, not on you.

From the program agreement: "Under no circumstances shall the customer's financed amount increase due to a reduction in rebate value."

Example: 3-Ton Cold Climate Heat Pump

Installed Cost$18,000

Xcel Rebate ($2,250/ton)−$6,750

Amount Financed$11,250

10 years at 5.49% fixed

$122/mo on your Xcel bill

Illustrative. Excludes the 2% origination fee and county filing fees. Rebate amounts depend on equipment and are verified by Xcel after installation.

The Process

How ClearPath On-Bill Works

Get an Estimate

We scope qualifying upgrades for your home and put together exact pricing, including any Xcel rebates.

Apply Through Us

The application goes through CCEF's portal. Xcel checks your account history and you get a decision notice.

Sign Electronically

You sign the funding package by DocuSign. No deposit, no money down.

We Install, CCEF Pays Us

You pay nothing out of pocket. CCEF pays UniColorado directly after the work is verified.

Repay on Your Xcel Bill

One fixed line item on the bill you already pay. Pay it off early any time without penalty.

Is ClearPath the Right Fit?

It depends on your situation. If you can pay off the balance within 12 months, our 0% promotional plans cost less in interest. For projects over $50,000 or terms beyond 10 years, RENU goes further. ClearPath wins when you want fixed published rates without a credit pull, one bill instead of a new account, or your credit score would price you out of a traditional loan.

Compare All Financing Options

Frequently AskedQuestions

ClearPath On-Bill Questions

No Money Down, Repaid on Your Xcel Bill

UniColorado is an authorized ClearPath On-Bill contractor. Fixed rates from 4.50%, approval based on your bill history, and rebates credited upfront.

orSend Photos Compare a Quote

(303) 250-1000