For lifelong San Diegans Susan and Mark Keeter, retirement has settled into a gentle rhythm of morning coffee, sunshine in their East County backyard and friendly rounds of putt-putt golf on a course they built just for fun. The quiet hum of their newly efficient home now provides the backdrop to those simple pleasures, a sound that feels less like machinery and more like reassurance.
Married for decades and deeply rooted in the El Cajon community, the Keeters recently found themselves doing the familiar retirement math of a fixed income. When a neighbor mentioned a program offering free home upgrades, skepticism flickered. But with an aging air conditioner struggling against the summer heat, they took a chance, one that would transform their home without touching their wallet.
That chance was the Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) Whole Home Pilot managed by SDG&E.
For income-qualified customers, the program provides no-cost energy-efficient improvements designed to lower monthly bills and elevate home comfort.
For the Keeters, the outcome was staggering: nearly $20,000 in upgrades, and a renewed sense of ease.
“I’ll be honest, I was a little intimidated when they installed the new induction oven,” Susan said, letting out a warm laugh as she described her first encounter with the sleek digital display. “I’m from a generation that grew up with gas ranges and knobs. But once I got familiar with the controls, I realized my baking has never been more precise. My cakes come out perfectly even every single time—it’s a game changer.”
The ESA program addresses more than just appliances. It meets a household where it lives, literally. After a comprehensive in-home assessment, the Keeters’ residence received a full suite of modernizations tailored to their specific needs. The scope of potential upgrades available to eligible renters and homeowners alike can include attic insulation, energy-efficient refrigerators, LED light bulbs, low-flow showerheads, and high-efficiency furnaces. In areas like El Cajon, where temperatures soar, the repair or replacement of air conditioning systems becomes a critical health and safety measure.
For Mark, the surprise wasn’t just the quality of the equipment; it was the effortless dignity of the entire process. Bracing for a mountain of paperwork, he instead found a streamlined application and a team of representatives who treated their home with respect. “The representatives walked us through every step, and the installers were the most courteous professionals we’ve ever met,” Mark said. “The whole thing cost us nothing—well, except for a few bottles of water we insisted on giving the crew on a hot day.”
The project stripped away the financial barrier that prevents many from modernizing their homes. By sealing the building envelope and upgrading major systems, the ESA program directly attacks the cycle of energy waste, leading to lower utility bills and a lighter environmental footprint.
To learn more about the Energy Savings Assistance Whole Home pilot Program, qualification requirements, or to submit an application, visit sdge.com/ESA-wholehome. A cooler, more comfortable home—and a little more breathing room in the budget—might be simpler to unlock than you think.