-Adin

I’m in the same boat you were before you joined MassSave. Spent nearly $18K for equipment and training and many months on the way to developing an “Independent Energy Advisor” (deep whole-house audit only) business but found that to join MassSave, I need 3 years construction experience (required for Const Supervisor’s license OR Insulattion Contractor’s license) to apply to become a MassSave contractor. I haven’t heard of such a barrier in any other state program.

I suspect that you are also a member of Efficiency First. So I hope to meet you at the Mass Chapter meeting Tuesday, September 14th. I am hoping you have some advice for me..

Ron Montgomery
Montgomery Home Performance
Townsend, MA
978-597-3121

Am really impressed with the efforts to open up the market for energy audits–the program recommendations and approach to the state are very strategic and thoughtful.

Had a similar problem a couple of decades ago with the MA hazardous waste site cleanup (SARRS) program. As a project manager for a major national environmental engineering firm with a lot of experience in the business, we were able to land some contracts from DEP but almost all of the projects went to a very few contractors who had historically close ties to DEP. I was able to pick up a few specialized projects and began to develop personal professional relationships with DEP but found that breaking through at a corporate level was extremely difficult.

One observation which might have some application for your efforts–meeting the extensive administrative and financial accounting requirements was extremely burdensome, and seemed to be even more so for those who were not part of the inner circle. We had similar contracts with other states and EPA in which we were quite successful, but found that the work required to respond to MA DEP’s highly detailed reporting requirements and other burdens which were basically unbillable costs made participation in the program unprofitable for us. This is a big issue which needs to be addressed explicitly so that you all don’t end up with a “Pyrrhic victory”.

It is understandable that a state agency is more comfortable working with a firm with which it has had a long, (usually) successful history and which understands and is responsive to the agency’s needs.

However, it is critically important that additional contractors must be given a fair and and reasonable opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities, including a startup period in which the agency and the firm make extra efforts to 1) build a professional relationship and 2) develop a functional understanding of the opportunities and requirements of the program and the most efficient ways to meet those.

It should be recognized that this startup period requires extra time and effort by both the agency and the new firm to communicate actively and in good faith–both in an initial orientation and during the technical and administrative implementation of the first projects.

Good luck with your efforts.

Rick

Richart Keller, AICP
120 Pulpit Hill Road #27
Amherst MA 01002
413 835-0011
401 486-2677 (c)
richart.keller@gmail.com