About Keystone HELP

Keystone HELP®, Pennsylvania's special program for Energy Efficiency Home Improvements, started in 2005, was enhanced in 2009 with lower loan rates and and new rebates for energy efficiency and "whole house" energy improvements as a result of the Alternative Energy Investment Fund Act (Act 1). Keystone HELP® is principally supported by the PA Department of Environmental Protection , Pennsylvania Treasury Department and the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, the Keystone HELP® program helps make affordable energy efficiency available to all Pennsylvanians. Keystone HELP® is administered by AFC First Financial Corporation (Great Bear Financial), a Pennsylvania energy efficiency lender.

Keystone HELP
c/o AFC First Financial Corporation
1005 Brookside Road
Great Bear Center
Allentown, PA 18106
1-888-232-3477

Current Pennsylvania Budget Eliminates Continuing Funding for Keystone HELP and Pennsylvania Energy Efficiency Programs

• Rebate Program Now Closed to New Applications
• Low Rate Loans Still Available for a Limited Time

Effective 11:59 PM today (August 4), no new applications for rebates will be accepted under the Keystone HELP program. Initial funding for the rebate portion of the program has been exhausted and no additional funding is scheduled to be provided. Applications received before this date will be processed as usual.

Funding for special low rate Keystone HELP loans is still available. Based on current loan volume, these Keystone HELP loans should continue to be available for another four to six months. If demand for loans increases, funding to support the current rates could be exhausted sooner.

The absence of funding for additional rebates and the expected shortfall for the current Keystone HELP loans are direct results of the failure of the recently enacted Commonwealth budget to include funding to continue this highly effective program. The Alternative Energy Investment Act, which the General Assembly passed only last year, called for eight years of funding for energy conservation efforts. At a time of constrained credit, a tough economy and rising energy costs, it is indeed unfortunate that the legislature has abruptly changed direction, failing to provide funding that would enable Pennsylvania families to save energy and money.

Keystone HELP is considered one of the most successful energy efficiency programs in the nation. More than 3,500 families obtained energy-conserving, money-saving loans in the program’s first three years. An additional 6,500 homeowners have applied to the program in just the last four months, following its enhancement by the addition of rebates and even lower interest rates made possible with funding from the Alternative Energy Investment Act. More than 1,400 Pennsylvania businesses have become Approved Contractors under the program, using Keystone HELP to deliver energy efficiency improvements and help their customers save money and energy. Keystone HELP has been cited by Energy Star, the Department of Energy and many other groups as the model of how a state program should work - a true public-private partnership that leverages state money into private investment. Over $30,000,000 of improvements have been made since the program was developed in 2005 by the West Penn Power Fund and the Pennsylvania Treasury Department. With the additional support of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, Department of Environmental Protection and the Alternative Energy Investment Act, Keystone HELP's loans and rebates have provided a critical option for Pennsylvania consumers looking to reduce their monthly utility bills and save energy.

It is imperative that you contact your state representative, state senator or the Governor's office immediately to let them know how Keystone HELP helps not only consumers save money and energy but also businesses grow their bottom line and maintain jobs, contributing to Pennsylvania prosperity. You can find contact information at this site: http://www.legis.state.pa.us by entering your zip code in the upper right hand corner. Your involvement is vital in helping Keystone HELP grow and prosper.