Energize Connecticut℠ Insulation Installer Network

Participation Agreement

This Participation Agreement ("Agreement") is between the contractor whose signature appears below ("Participating Contractor") The Connecticut Light and Power Company and Yankee Gas Services Company each dba Eversource Energy (Eversource), The United Illuminating Company, The Southern Connecticut Gas Company, and Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation, (collectively the "Companies") and sets out the terms and conditions under which the Participating Contractor shall participate in the CT Insulation Installer Network ("CTIIN" or the “Network”).

This Agreement supersedes any previous agreement with respect to the subject.

WHEREAS, the Companies are offering customers ("Customers") access to rebates for eligible insulation measures ("Insulation Incentives"); and,

WHEREAS, in order for Customers to qualify for eligible Insulation Incentives available through the Companies’ programs, the Customers are required to use contractors who are included in the CTIIN; and,

WHEREAS, the Participating Contractor wishes to participate in the CTIIN and intends to remain in good standing; and,

WHEREAS, the Participating Contractor acknowledges that insulation and decarbonization are a priority for the state of Connecticut; and, 

WHEREAS, the Companies have contracted with a third-party, Center for EcoTechnology ("Program Vendor"), to help support the administration of the CTIIN.

NOW therefore, in consideration of the terms of this Agreement, the Participating Contractor agrees to the following: 

SECTION 1. CT INSULATION INSTALLER NETWORK SERVICES: 

Services available to Participating Contractors through the network include but are not limited to: 

Access to utilize Home Energy Solutions (HES) Insulation rebates with customers’ installations
Be an approved contractor with Energize CT financing products to be utilized by customers for their projects.
Listing on Energize CT.com and leads through the contractor locator tool
Marketing materials and sales tools, (e.g. brochures and flyers) 
Quarterly e-newsletter, including program updates, upcoming industry trainings, and installation best practices.

SECTION 2. PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS 

2.1 Participating Contractor Requirements: In order to join the CT Insulation Installer Network:

1. All principals, owners, crew leadership, supervisors, and installers have successfully completed the Insulation Boot Camp training

2. Insulation installers must provide:

1. Current Home Improvement Contractor License

2. Current CT Business Certificate of Authority

3. Certificate of Liability Insurance

4. Building Performance Institute credentials (required for post blower door test)

3. Domestic and Foreign Background Checks & Employee Attestations

1. Company must perform an annual background check per the Companies’ guidelines found in Exhibit’s A and B.

2. Company principals or lead administrative staff must provide attestation documents when (1) background checks are renewed, (2) new employees are hired, and (3) staff is terminated.

Attestation documents for any of the aforementioned company employee changes must be provided to the Program Vendor within three (3) business days of the known change. Attestation templates are provided by the Program Vendor.

2.2 General Business Practices: While active in the Network, Participating Contractor shall:

Respond to Customer inquiries within 3 business days;
Properly and fully present CTIIN features and benefits to the Customer so that they can make an informed decision about the implementation of measures in their residence;
Conduct itself in a professional manner and refrain from inaccurate characterizations of Energize CT, the Companies, CTIIN, or Program Vendor when interacting with Customers and any personnel of the Companies;
Comply with all the Companies’ program, marketing and communications guidelines;
Participating Contractor shall not use any Energize CT logo in promotions or advertising without the prior express written consent of the Companies;
Participating Contractor shall not communicate with the media about CTIIN; 
Provide, for any insulation installed, the manufacturer's warranty plus optional extended warranty coverage, if applicable; 
Follow all Insulation Rebate Change Order protocols when original rebate values need to be changed;
Adhere to all insulation rebate requirements, terms, and conditions;
Comply with inspections performed by the Companies and in a timely manner work to correct any issues found. Rebate payments may be placed on hold during inspections and until issues found by the Companies are resolved;
Immediately upon notification, provide the Program Vendor and their inspection firm on a weekly basis a listing of all scheduled insulation projects utilizing the Energize CT Insulation Rebate. Any scheduling changes must be provided to the Program Vendor and their inspection firm the same business day the change is made, no less than thirty (30) minutes before the appointment time. Schedules are necessary for in-progress insulation inspections. If any work requires correction during the in-progress inspection, the inspection firm will note the concern and work with the Participating Contractor staff on site to ensure the issue is corrected. Continuous installation issues shall result in compliance actions set forth in this Agreement.
If an inspection is performed before or after rebate payment is made, regardless of payee, and installation issues are found, the Participating Contractor must work to resolve the issues found within thirty (30) business days, unless the reported issue is related to safety, then the installation must be corrected within one (1) business day. An inspection to confirm the resolved work may be performed during or after the service. The Companies may also request photo and document evidence to confirm the corrected installation. If no correction is complete by the listed timeframes, the Participating Contractor may be terminated from CTIIN or be placed on compliance actions. If the work is not corrected and the rebate has been paid, the rebate payment for the uninstalled or improperly installed work will be due to the Companies;

1. Failed inspections for any of the reasons below will be cause for compliance actions.

- Claimed measure not-installed;

- In-eligible location installed;

- Insulation installed over knob and tube wiring or other electrical hazard;

- Combustible material installed in contact with heat source (e.g., chimney, non-contact-rated light fixture);

- Any other safety, savings, or incentive related concerns;

2. Compliance actions will usually take a three-step approach. Companies reserve the right to accelerate any specific compliance actions.

- First Action – one on one meeting with the Participating Contractor to formulate an improvement plan and any additional training

- Second Action – Participating Contractor suspended for three (3) months from CTIIN

- Third Action – Termination from CTIIN

13. Install insulation using high quality practices, including those identified through the Insulation Boot Camp;

14. New principal, owner, crew leadership, supervisor, and installer employees will be required to enroll in the next available Insulation Boot Camp training. Until the training is completed, the Participating Contractor will be required to understand and uphold the CTIIN installation requirements;

15. Train and hold all field employees to standards set in this agreement and the Insulation Boot Camp;

16. Work with the Program Vendor and, if applicable, the Companies on Participating Contractor-wide or employee retraining based on the discretion of the Program Vendor and the Companies for practices that do not adhere to the Agreement, CTIIN, and/or the Insulation Boot Camp training;

17. If the Participating Contractor becomes involved in a dispute with a customer regarding work performed or business practices, the Participating Contractor shall promptly notify Program Vendor and shall work with the Companies and Program Vendor to resolve the dispute expeditiously and amicably; and

18. Perform all work in a safe manner, taking all precautions necessary to prevent illness or injury to any person or damage to any property and complying at all times with applicable laws and regulations, including OSHA.

2.3 Use of Subcontractors to complete projects:

Participating Contractor is responsible for all of the work performed by its subcontractors and may only utilize subcontractors that have successfully participated and passed the CT Insulation Installer Boot Camp and adhere to all CTIIN policies and standards. Subcontracting to an insulation contractor outside of the CTIIN network is expressly prohibited.

SECTION 3. TERMS AND CONDITIONS

3.1 Limitation of Liability and Indemnity: THE COMPANIES’ AND PROGRAM VENDORS’ ASSUME NO LIABILITY TO PARTICIPATING CONTRACTOR FOR ANY AND ALL CLAIMS OF ANY KIND, WHETHER BASED UPON CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), WARRANTY, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE, FOR ANY LOSSES ARISING OUT OF, OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE PERFORMANCE OR BREACH OF THIS AGREEMENT. THE COMPANIES AND PROGRAM VENDOR, THEIR AFFILIATES AND EACH OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES AND SUBCONTRACTORS SHALL NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, BE LIABLE TO PARTICIPATING CONTRACTOR FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL LOSSES. 

Participating Contractor shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Companies and Program Vendor and any subsidiaries or affiliates thereof, and each of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, and representatives ("Indemnitees") from and against any and all liabilities, losses, claims, damages, fines, penalties, costs, expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees), demands and causes of actions of every kind or character ("Losses") arising, or alleged to have arisen out of any claims (just or unjust) relating to a breach of or an act incident to the performance of this Agreement; or the acts or omissions of the Participating Contractor, its employees and/or subcontractors.

Participating Contractor shall hold the Companies and Program Vendor harmless from any claim or suit arising from work in the Insulation offering, including, but not limited to any claim or suit resulting from mechanical equipment combustion safety, fire, indoor air quality, asbestos, vermiculite, lead abatement, mildew, fungus, moisture intrusion, or mold of every type and nature.

3.2 Term and Termination: Regardless of the execution date, this Agreement will remain in effect, unless otherwise noted in writing by the Companies or Program Vendor or terminated earlier by the Companies or Program Vendor for cause or convenience. The Companies or Program Vendor may at any time terminate this Agreement or the available Insulation Incentives in whole or in part, from time to time, for its convenience by providing written notice to the Participating Contractor. Such termination shall be effective in the manner and upon the date specified in said notice and shall be without prejudice to any claims that the Companies or Program Vendor may have against the Participating Contractor. 

3.3 Miscellaneous: 

This Agreement shall be construed by, and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the state of Connecticut without regard to its conflicts of law provisions.
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between the Parties concerning the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior written and oral agreements, proposals, promises, and representation of the Parties respecting the subject matter hereof.
Any private and/or sensitive customer data or information that may be shared with the Participating Contractor must be treated as confidential and not disclosed to any party other than the Companies and Program Vendor.
The Companies reserve the right to make changes to the Insulation Incentives upon notice to the Participating Contractor. Notification of material changes shall be made by email and/or posting on the Energize CT website.
Participating Contractor, its employees, agents, and subcontractors shall at all times act as independent contractors and shall not represent themselves as employees or agents of the Companies or Program Vendor.

SECTION 4. PARTICIPATING CONTRACTOR CERTIFICATION

By signing this Agreement the Participating Contractor's representative is certifying that:

Participating Contractor does not have any unresolved or outstanding complaints before any licensing board or outstanding litigation that involves the work of Participating Contractor or any of Participating Contractor's principals; 
Participating Contractor's representative has the necessary legal authority to act on Participating Contractor's behalf; 
All of the information supplied herein is accurate; 
Participating Contractor has read, understood, and agreed to all of the definitions, terms, and conditions that are a part of this Agreement and the referenced Insulation guidelines or any manuals provided;
Participating Contractor acknowledges that failure to follow CTIIN and Insulation Incentive requirements and procedures, including submitting necessary documents, will jeopardize Participating Contractor's ability to receive Insulation Incentives or retain participation in CTIIN; and
The Companies may use the information collected herein for purposes of communicating with CTIIN Participating Contractors.

I certify under the penalties of law that the statements made in this Agreement, and in supporting documentation provided along with this Agreement, have been examined by me and are true and complete. I understand that by signing this Agreement, I consent to any other inquiry to verify or confirm the information I have given. I hereby authorize any reference identified or provided to the Companies by Participating Contractor to release to the Companies and Program Vendor any information pertaining to past or present relevant work. I hereby release from any liability or damage the Companies, Program Vendor, and those persons, agencies, or organizations who may furnish such information.

Some or all of the information being collected below may be made available in the CTIIN Directory and on the Energize CT website for customers to search for companies like yours to help support their search for qualified contractors.

Company Information Must match W-9 where applicable.