Contractor Requirements for Energy Rebates
The most common reason a rebate is refused is not the equipment but who installed it, or the order things were done in. Here is what each program page requires, grouped by upgrade.
Heat pumps
- Massachusetts: ENERGY STAR Cold Climate and on the Mass Save Heat Pump Qualified Products List; Installed by a Mass Save Heat Pump Installer Network contractor.
- Connecticut: Energize CT Heat Pump Qualified Product List and Installer Network.
- New Hampshire: On the NHSaves heat pump Qualified Product List (NHEC: ducted ≥15.2 SEER2, ≥8.1 HSPF2, ≥1.75 COP at 5°F); the electric-resistance rate needs pre-verification before installation.
- Rhode Island: From January 1, 2026: ENERGY STAR 6.1 Cold Climate and on the RI Energy/NEEP qualified list; Clean Heat RI: weatherization completed and a Clean Heat RI network installer.
Water heaters
- Massachusetts: Installed by a licensed plumber.
- Rhode Island: Installed by a licensed contractor or plumber between January 1 and December 31, 2026.
- Maine: A registered vendor is not required.
Insulation
- Connecticut: Recommended during a Home Energy Solutions visit and approved before installation; Insulation Installers Network contractor.
- Maine: Installed by an Efficiency Maine Residential Registered Vendor.
- Vermont: Work done by an Efficiency Excellence Network contractor.
EV chargers
- Unitil (Massachusetts): Project approval before buying or installing; Own a plug-in hybrid or battery EV; post-installation inspection.
- Eversource (Massachusetts): Wi-Fi Level 2 smart charger, 80 amps or less, on the Qualified Product List; Enrollment in Managed Charging required (from March 2, 2026).
What a pre-approval step costs you if skipped
Take a 3-ton heat pump replacing electric baseboard in New Hampshire. With pre-verification it qualifies for the higher rate; without it, the standard rate applies:
- With pre-verification (resistance replacement): $6,000
- Standard rate: $750
- Difference: $5,250
The site's New Hampshire heat pump page and the calculator show this for your size. For how offers combine, see how rebates stack.
Sources
- Mass Save: Air Source Heat Pumps
- Energize CT: Residential Energy Optimization incentive
- NHSaves: Electric heating & cooling equipment
- Rhode Island Energy: Heat pumps
- Mass Save: Heat Pump Water Heaters
- Rhode Island Energy: Heat pump water heaters
- Efficiency Maine: Heat pump water heater program
- Energize CT: Residential insulation
- Efficiency Maine: Insulation rebates
- Efficiency Vermont: Home Performance with ENERGY STAR
- Unitil: Ready2Charge rebate program
- Eversource: EV charging stations (Massachusetts)
Checked October 21, 2026.
Questions
Can I install a heat pump water heater myself and still get a rebate?
It depends on the program. Efficiency Maine says a registered vendor is not required; Mass Save requires a licensed plumber; Rhode Island Energy requires a licensed contractor or plumber.
Do heat pump rebates need a network contractor?
Mass Save and Energize CT require installers from their heat pump installer networks; NHSaves requires a qualified product installed in the utility's territory.