NHSaves^® Contractor Hub

The New Hampshire electric and gas utility partners seek to create a pool of qualified building professionals that may be drawn upon as program demand dictates to provide comprehensive weatherization services for the Home Energy Performance program.

The utility partners, through Home Energy Performance, offer qualified households an opportunity to increase their home’s energy efficiency through the delivery of a comprehensive, whole house audit and the installation of energy efficiency improvements. Improvements may include, but are not limited to; sealing air leaks, adding insulation, improving heating and cooling systems, sealing ductwork, upgrading lighting, appliances and water heating systems and the installation of health and safety improvements such as CO detectors and bath fans.

The program is available statewide to customers of the investor-owned electric utility partners: Liberty, New Hampshire Electric Cooperative, Inc., Eversource and Unitil Energy Systems, Inc., as well as the two natural gas utility partners; Unitil-gas and Liberty-gas (collectively referred to throughout the remainder of this section as “the NH Utilities”). Program delivery is administered by each of the utility partners through a Program Administrator who maintains program budgets and coordinates all aspects of program implementation and delivery. In-home delivery of program services is provided by a network of pre-approved program contractors.

Customers must pre-qualify for the program based on a ratio of heating fuel usage to the conditioned square footage of the home by completing the Home Heating Index (HHI) screening tool. Qualifying customers may select a qualified contractor on the enrollment form, or one will be assigned to them by the Program Administrator. Qualified customers must pay a $100 audit fee at the time of the audit and are eligible for incentives of up to $6,000 to assist in paying for the total cost of installing qualifying improvements. Additionally, zero and low percent financing is also available to qualifying households to assist with program co-payments.

Homeowners are only eligible for incentives and loan funds if their home energy audit and energy efficiency improvements have been completed by a Home Energy Performance contractor. Incentives and loan proceeds are paid directly to contractors at the completion of the project, any customer’s cost not covered under financing must be collected by the contractor from the customer. Improvements not completed by program contractors are not eligible for incentives or loans unless otherwise pre-approved by the Program Administrator. Funding comes primarily from the System Benefits Charge (SBC) paid through electric utility rates and the Local Distribution Charge (LDC) paid through natural gas utility rates. Program funding is limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applicants. The program may also receive funding from other sources including federal and state initiatives. Program budgets are developed in three-year cycles and are submitted for approval through the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission.

The utility partners are requesting qualifications of organizations or individuals that would like to provide services to homeowners as approved NHSaves Home Performance contractors under this program. The qualifications process will identify contractors with the certifications, training, insurance, experience, and professional skills required to provide energy efficiency improvements services to participating customers within New Hampshire’s regulated Utility territory. The objectives of the qualifications are to:

• Identify contractors that have the knowledge and understanding of practical solutions to improving residential homes’ energy efficiency performance with a commitment to customer service and the ability to maintain commitment to the program’s goals.
• Deliver a comprehensive assessment utilizing Building Performance Institute and Home Performance procedures and protocols.
• Develop practical and cost-effective recommendations and work scopes for the implementation of cost-effective improvements.
• Deliver and install energy efficiency improvements professionally and by following all local, state, and federal requirements, as well as BPI protocol.
• Effectively educate and inform customers on how to manage and control their energy consumption.

Program approved contractors may use subcontractors, so long as the approved contractor is acting as the general contractor on the job. Approved contractors will be held responsible for any and all program funded work performed including any performed by subcontractors of the approved contractor.

The utility partners reimburse for contractor services based on fixed pricing for labor and materials that is reviewed and may be adjusted annually based on feedback from all participating program contractors. The current program pricing will be made available to contractors accepted into the program

Standard payment terms of program incentives are 30 days from the date the final invoice is submitted to the utility through the program software. Random Quality Assurance inspections are performed for all program contractors and the utility reserves the right to hold payment of an invoice until all QA issues are fully resolved. Contractors may collect up to 50% of the customer’s co-pay amount at the start of the project unless the customer is using one of the program financing options. If program financing is used for the customer co-pay, the total amount will be issued to the contractor by the utility partner after the project is completed. If financing is not used, the final customer payment is to be collected by the contractor from the customer only after completion of all planned work.

Qualified contractors will also be required to sign separate contract agreements with each utility partner that they plan to serve. Contractors will work with the utility partners to document all jobs through the use of approved program provided software. Program software must be used for all energy modeling, customer contracts and invoicing. Customers are expected to be served in a timely and professional manner, and all program documentation must be completed in an appropriate and accurate manner.

Each contractor participating in the Home Energy Performance program must meet and maintain the minimum requirements as outlined below:

• Perform comprehensive turnkey audit and perform or oversee subcontracted installation services.
• Possess Building Performance Institute (BPI) Certification (minimum Building Analyst I) for all auditors working on Utility jobs.
• Possess EPA Lead Certification for all auditors working on Utility jobs. See 40 CFR Part 745 – Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention in Certain Residential Structures.
• Use Windows based computer(s) capable of running Utility provided software.
• Abide by established state-wide pricing for audit and energy efficiency measures installation.
• Have an established business providing similar services for not less than one year.
• Be a registered business in the state of New Hampshire.
• New contractors agree to pay $300 per Quality Assurance Inspection and Analysis for up to three projects as determined by the Program Administrator.
• Agree to allow the use of its company name for PUC regulatory activities and data reporting.
• Provide references of which a minimum of three must be from homeowners that have had comparable work performed.
• Maintain a “satisfactory” or no rating with the Better Business Bureau.
• Maintain adequate liability insurance levels as defined by each Utility’s general terms and conditions.

All requirements must be met to qualify for the approved contractor list. Upon qualification you will be notified and provided with training on the approved software.

Contractors who are approved for the program will need to contract directly with each utility partner individually and may be asked to sign additional specific Terms & Conditions statements, customer privacy documents, Hold Harmless statements and other documents as required by each contracting utility partner. The information on this page is not in itself an offer and shall under no circumstances be construed as an offer nor does it guarantee any work will be awarded.