SECO Programs and Resources

SECO's Local Government Energy Program

The Local Government Energy Program is available to all Texas' publicly funded cities, counties, public independent school districts, and special districts (i.e. airports, port authorities, utility districts, water districts, and river authorities). Its purpose is to provide a number of integrated services to assist in setting up and maintaining effective energy efficiency programs. The program assists entity officials through energy-efficient partnerships, technical support, preliminary energy assessment services and training workshops. For more details on this program, visit: https://comptroller.texas.gov/programs/seco/programs/local/.

Community Efficiency Leadership Coalition

Through the Community Efficiency Leadership Coalition (CELC), SECO brings together Texas cities, school districts, and other public entities to advance energy management and sustainability. Through collaboration, peer learning, and resource sharing, the CELC helps communities of all sizes implement energy management best practices, exchange lessons learned, and leverage local and regional partnerships to achieve environmental and sustainability goals. Learn more about the CECL program here: https://comptroller.texas.gov/programs/seco/programs/local/leaders.php.

Preliminary Energy Assessments for Local Governments

SECO provides preliminary energy assessments (PEAs) at no charge to municipal and county governments, independent school districts, county hospitals, port authorities, major airports, public water authorities and municipally-owned utilities. A PEA details recommendations for cost-effective resource efficiency measures that could be implemented to reduce utility consumption or utility costs.

SECO's PEA services apply to public, indoor administrative or teaching facilities and infrastructure owned and operated by the public entity requesting the service. Buildings, facilities or infrastructure that are leased or rented by the entity are not eligible for these services. Visit the website https://comptroller.texas.gov/programs/seco/programs/local/pea.php for more details on the PEA process and what is included.

Technical Assistance for Local Governments

Through its Technical Assistance Program (TAP), SECO makes energy engineering expertise available to political subdivisions in Texas. Eligible public entities include municipalities, counties, and other special-purpose districts such as port and transit authorities and airports. By contracting with leading engineering firms that having a high degree of technical knowledge, customized, on-site, energy-related services across a broad spectrum, ranging from basic consultation to feasibility studies are provided. Officials of eligible entities may request assistance with either energy or water-related technical matters. To apply and learn more, visit: https://comptroller.texas.gov/programs/seco/programs/local/tech-assistance.php.

Local Government Energy Reporting

The Texas Health and Safety Code §388.005(c) requires each political subdivision in a non-attainment area or an affected county to establish a goal to reduce electric consumption by at least five percent each state fiscal year. In 2019, the 86th Legislature passed Senate Bill 241, extending the timeline for this requirement seven years beginning September 1, 2019. Visit https://comptroller.texas.gov/programs/seco/reporting/local-gov.php for general information about the reporting process and to check view the Energy Consumption Reporting Dashboard. A North Texas focused Local Government Energy Reporting page is coming soon!

Texas Building Energy Codes

Texas leads the nation in energy consumption and is the fifth largest energy consumer in the world. Buildings account for almost 40 percent of the state's total energy usage and 70 percent of electricity usage, representing a significant opportunity for energy savings. The State Energy Conservation Office provides resources and training to building professionals and the general public on the latest energy codes and standards. Visit https://comptroller.texas.gov/programs/seco/code/ for updates and resources related to building and energy codes.

LoanSTAR Revolving Loan Fund Program

The Texas LoanSTAR (Saving Taxes and Resources) Revolving Loan finances energy-related, cost-reduced retrofits of facilities supported by the state, including public school districts and public colleges and universities, as well as units of local government such as counties, cities, towns, public hospital taxing districts or political subdivisions (10 Tex. Gov. Code §2305.032). Borrowers receive low-interest loans to help pay for these efforts. Applicants repay the loans from the energy cost savings realized by the projects. To learn about project eligibility and fund availability, please visit: https://comptroller.texas.gov/programs/seco/funding/loanstar/.

HOMES and HEAR Rebate Programs

Authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the Home Efficiency Rebates (HOMES) and the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate (HEAR) programs will provide residential energy efficiency and beneficial electrification rebates to Texans. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) allocated $690 million to the state through the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) to implement the Texas HOMES and HEAR Rebate programs and assist Texans in reducing energy costs while upgrading their homes. Visit https://comptroller.texas.gov/programs/seco/funding/ira/ for up to date information on the status of the rebate program.