Today there were no breakthroughs at a DOER hosted meeting intended to find a balance to satisfy Utility PAs and the Weatherization contractors- contractors who have benefited from open access to Mass Save incentive money as part of the NGrid/NStar Gas programs.

The Weatherization contractors are facing significant slow downs in business as NStar and NGrid employ a program more consistent with other programs statewide by requiring a Lead Vendor audit prior to any incentive eligible work-scope being installed.

It makes sense to move  immediately away from the open incentive Gas program model. A positive transition is dependent on the Weatherization contractors being supported under the Lead Vendor sub umbrella- no easy task due to a challenging past.

We must move away from this arcane program to lay the foundation for a program that is better designed. Mas Save RCS needs to ‘raise the bar’ by having:

• greater quality of energy efficiency install measures-   held to industry best BPI Standards.

• stringent quality assurance through all stages of the process from audit to install.

• energy efficiency measures installed according to a house-as-a-systems approach based on building science. Yes, that means a BPI audit must happen before a contractor provides a work-scope or implies what the best fixes are.

As an ‘independent’ Home Performance contractor, I sympathize with many of the concerns the Weatherization contractors are bringing. It is a tough economy and phones are very quiet- for everyone. Cozy Home is perpetually in competition with the Mass Save RCS program even while we invest hundreds of hours contributing to program design discussions two hours down i90. We are eager to work with the program yet there is still no clear word from PAs if, and when, our services will be incorporated into the program.

The Mass Save RCS program will  benefit from a structure that supports strong relationships between qualified independent contractors and utility customers. Specifically, the RCS program will benefit from a transition to a more open-market model with less central control by Lead Vendors of intake, audit, install and Q/C processes. (It was announced today that an RFP for a third party Q/C vendor will be released within several weeks taking this responsibility away from Lead Vendors and leveling the playing field)

Recent RFQs for additional energy assessment providers (auditors) for a July – Dec. 2010 pilot is an important first step. On the install side, Boot Camp and a new set of Standards touting BPI protocols are a good start.

I recommend that the disgruntled contractors in Eastern MA get significant air sealing training, invest in BPI Certifications, be open to adjusting business models, and sign up with Lead Vendors as sub contractors to take advantage of the referral (tag) program.

As the Mass Save RCS program evolves, it needs to look ahead to a State wide consistent program and raise the quality bar. The best thing Independents can do is prove that we are committed to that model by jumping on the fast moving Home Performance train. (joining Efficiency First MA Chapter is a good first step)

Finally, lessons we learned from working with WAP:   Every contractor working with a utility energy efficiency program must realize- at all times- that the incentive program is designed to meet the Program Administrators’ needs first and foremost- don’t put your eggs in one basket as the rug could be pulled out at any time and then… the eggs might crack.