Contractor Energy Resources

Add your business to directories that specialize in energy-efficiency upgrades, electrification, and decarbonization. This will help you get in front of potential customers who are looking for reliable contractors.

Clean Energy Connection Contractor Database
Enroll your company in Clean Energy Connection’s directory of contractors that homeowners use to search for qualified and vetted contractors by specialty, location, rebate and incentive offers, and more.

GoGreen Financing
GoGreen Business is administered by the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority within the State Treasurer’s Office. The program finances project costs in partnership with finance companies and contractors. Once enrolled, you may present financing through GoGreen Business as an option to your customers. Finance companies will usually pay contractors directly for their work.

The Switch Is On Contractor Database
Sign up to be included in the contractor database. Homeowners can search for a local contractor by location, specialty, and more. The Building Decarbonization Coalition (BDC) founded The Switch Is On campaign to educate everyone about the importance of home electrification. As a contractor, you can add customer value by directly applying for contractor incentives that you can pass on to your customers for appliances, installation, and whole-house electrification projects.

Are you prepared to educate customers about energy efficiency and electrifying buildings? Can you install, maintain, and repair electric equipment and appliances like heat pumps and stoves? Increase your knowledge to support the transition to decarbonized buildings. Training for contractors is available in person and remotely via on demand videos.

Continuing Education for Contractors
Efficiency First California, a nonprofit trade organization supporting California’s transition to clean, carbon-free energy, provides a list of educational resources for contractors. There is a wide variety of industry-specific educational offerings available, including webinars and on-demand classes. Continuing education credits may be available. Content is updated regularly.

BayREN Events and Training
Created by the Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN), a coalition of the Bay Area’s nine counties, the local government resources aim to reduce energy and water use for a more cost-effective, sustainable, and resilient future. BayREN offers events, workshops, and trainings for jurisdictions, building departments, contractors, and others.

Electrical Training Alliance Learning Center
Register and attend electrical seminars, online learning, and locate training centers. These offerings are hosted by the Electrical Training Alliance (previously called National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee), a collaboration to train electrical workers.

Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP)
Charging station projects or programs receiving state funding must use EVITP-certified electricians. This program provides training and certification for eligible electricians to safely construct, install, and maintain electric vehicle chargers. EVITP also provides certification of electrical contractors that employ EVITP certified electricians and maintains a database of electrical contractors on their website.

Energy Code Ace
Energy Code Ace is a one-stop shop for no-cost tools, training, and resources to help comply with California’s Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Energy Code). The program is administered by utilities and funded by their customers. All information is vetted by the California Energy Commission.

PG&E Energy Center
The energy center provides professional training, a tool-lending library, on-demand courses, and real-time access to industry experts at no cost.

Plug-in Electric Vehicle Charging Station Readiness
The plug-in electric vehicle charging station readiness resources assist communities in understanding the permitting process for charging stations throughout the state, helping to streamline the permitting process.

Reach Codes
The California Statewide Codes and Standards Program provides cost-effectiveness studies to assist local jurisdictions in considering ordinances that reach beyond the mandatory requirements of the Energy Code.  

Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH) Job Training Directory
Search for SOMAH-eligible job training programs throughout California. To qualify, you must be enrolled in or have graduated from a 40-hour course within the last 12 months from an eligible job training program. SOMAH is administered by the California Public Utilities Commission.

The Switch Is On Training Hub
A collaboration between The Switch Is On and TECH Clean California provides trainings at low or no cost for contractors. The Building Decarbonization Coalition (BDC) founded The Switch Is On campaign to educate everyone about the importance of home electrification. The TECH Clean California initiative is funded by California gas corporation ratepayers under the guidance of the California Public Utilities Commission.

The Building Decarbonization Practice Guide
The guide is a tool to advance carbon reduction and resilience strategies and increases practitioner carbon and emissions understanding. The guide, a project of the William J. Worthen Foundation, is an up-to-date reference tool that architects, engineers, contractors, developers, funders, and policy makers can apply now.

Tri-County Regional Energy Network (3C-REN)
3C-REN, serving San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties, provides live and on-demand trainings for free. In addition to training, 3C-REN offers contractor incentives for energy upgrades and customized energy code support for projects.

When a home or building adds more electric appliances or devices, an electrical panel upgrade may be required, especially if it is older. However, with thoughtful appliance choice and whole-home decarbonization planning, it may not be necessary.

PG&E Energy Education Center
Learn more about how to electrify a building without upsizing the electric panel. Create a free account to enroll in live and on-demand courses. Search for the course titled “Home Electrification Retrofits Without Upsizing the Electric Panel,” which explores the electric code, methods of electrifying without upsizing, and important pitfalls to avoid.

Watt Diet Calculator
Created by Redwood Energy, the Watt Diet Calculator uses the characteristics and location of a building to estimate the size of the electrical panel needed for the home. It can help homeowners and contractors determine if a panel must be upsized to electrify the home.

Learn more about “Title 24” Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Energy Code) and “Title 20” Appliance Efficiency Standards.

California Energy Commission (CEC) Energy Code Outreach and Education
The Online Resource Center provides educational assistance about the Energy Code to building and enforcement communities. After reviewing the information, if you still have a question, call the Building Standards Hotline at (800) 772-3300 or email title24@energy.ca.gov.

CEC Appliance Efficiency Program: Outreach and Education
The CEC offers fact sheets, frequently asked questions, and training tools about the appliance efficiency requirements.

Energy Code Ace
A one-stop shop for no-cost tools, training, and resources to help comply with California’s Energy Code and Appliance Efficiency Standards. The program is administered by utilities and funded by their customers. All information is vetted by the CEC.

California Department of Housing and Community Development CALGreen
Learn about California’s first green building code (CALGreen). CALGreen aims to improve public health, safety, and general welfare through enhanced design and construction of buildings.

Reach Codes
The California Statewide Codes and Standards Program provides cost-effectiveness studies to assist local jurisdictions considering ordinances that reach beyond the mandatory requirements of the Energy Code.

Energy use calculators and data enable a building owner to estimate energy use based on the characteristics and location of a building and your mix of specific products. Some calculators enable users to estimate the cost to operate specific products.

Cool California
Cool California is a California Air Resources Board web page that provides tools for homes, local governments, schools, and small businesses to save money and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Tools include a carbon footprint calculator, map to recognize local government climate action planning efforts, a funding wizard, and a best practices for K-12 schools.

Renewable Energy Integration and Optimization Platform (REopt®)
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) created this tool to identify and prioritize cost-effective renewable energy projects across a portfolio of sites. It also can be used to optimize the size and operating strategy of microgrids, storage, and energy and water systems.

Watt Diet Calculator
Created by Redwood Energy, the Watt Diet Calculator uses the characteristics and location of a building to estimate the size of the electrical panel needed for the home. It can help homeowners and contractors determine if a panel must be upsized to electrify the home.

Xerohome -Home Upgrade Calculator
This calculator helps homeowners and utilities in select cities transition to a low carbon future by providing energy use information tailored to each home. Xerohome provides information on likely energy and bill savings, to help users prioritize which upgrades will benefit them most.

Contact a local electric utility to find out whether financing may exist to fund energy efficiency and sustainability programs. Some have specific resources for contractors.

Utilities
California’s investor-owned and the largest publicly owned utilities are listed below.

• LADWP
• Pacific Power 
• PG&E
• Riverside Public Utility
• Southern California Edison (SCE)
• SDG&E 
• SMUD
• SoCalGas
• Southwest Gas

COMMUNITY CHOICE AGGREGATORS (CCA)
Cities, counties, and other qualify government entities can buy or generate electricity for residents and businesses.

• California Choice Energy Authority
  Serving Apple Valley, Palmdale, Lancaster, Pico Rivera, Pomona, Rancho Mirage, San Jacinto, and Santa Barbara.
   
• Central Coast Community Energy
  Serving Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties and Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande, Del Rey Oaks, Grover Beach, Guadalupe, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, Santa Maria, Solvang, Carpinteria, Goleta, and Buellton.
   
• Clean Energy Alliance
  Serving Carlsbad, Del Mar, Escondido, Oceanside, San Marcos, Solana Beach, and Vista.
   
• Clean Power Alliance
  Serving Agoura Hills, Alhambra, Arcadia, Beverly Hills, Calabasas, Camarillo, Carson, Claremont, Culver City, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, Hawthorne, unincorporated Los Angeles County, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Moorpark, Ojai, Oxnard, Paramount, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills Estates, Santa Monica, Sierra Madre, Simi Valley, South Pasadena, Temple City, Thousand Oaks, Ventura, unincorporated Ventura County, West Hollywood, Westlake Village and Whittier. 
   
• CleanPowerSF
  Serving San Francisco.
   
• Desert Community Energy
  Serving Palm Springs.
   
• East Bay Community Energy
  Serving Alameda County.
   
• MCE Community Choice Energy
  Serving Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, and Solano Counties.
   
• Orange County Power Authority
  Serving Buena Park, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, Irving, and unincorporated areas of Orange County.
   
• Peninsula Clean Energy
  Serving San Mateo County and the City of Los Banos.
   
• Pioneer Community Energy
  Serving Auburn, Colfax, Lincoln, Placerville, Rocklin, Loomis, and most of unincorporated El Dorado and Placer Counties.
   
• Redwood Coast Energy Authority
  Serving the Yurok Tribe, the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District, Humboldt County, and the Cities of Arcata, Blue Lake, Eureka, Ferndale, Fortuna, Rio Dell, and Trinidad.
   
• San Diego Community Power
  Serving Chula Vista, Encinitas, La Mesa, Imperial Beach, National City, and San Diego.
   
• San Jose Clean Energy
  Serving San Jose.
   
• Sonoma Clean Power
  Serving Sonoma and Mendocino Counties.
   
• Valley Clean Energy
  Serving Woodland, Davis, Winters, and unincorporated Yolo County.

REGIONAL ENERGY NETWORKS (RENS)
RENs act as regional energy managers, developing innovative methods to serve customers who historically have not participated in energy efficiency programs.

• Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN)
  Serving Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma Counties.
   
• Inland Regional Energy Network (I-REN)
  Serving San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.
   
• Rural REN
  Serving San Bernardino, Imperial, Riverside, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Tulare, and Kings Counties.
   
• Southern California Regional Energy Network
  Serving Mono and Inyo Counties.
   
• Tri-County Regional Energy Network
  Serving San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties.

NOTE: This list is not inclusive of all California load-serving entities. For a complete list of load-serving entities in California, visit Electric Load-Serving Entities (LSEs) in California.

There are many incentives for customers or contractors to help bring down the costs of a project.

COMPREHENSIVE REBATE LIST
The Switch Is On - Incentives and Rebates
Search for incentives available in your area. The Building Decarbonization Coalition (BDC) founded The Switch Is On campaign to educate everyone about the importance of home electrification. The resources include many incentives offered by utilities and regional energy networks.

How much money can you get with the Inflation Reduction Act?
Rewiring America created an incentives calculator that offers personalized information about tax credits and rebates provided by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. The information is simple with only a few required inputs.

ENERGY STAR® Tax Credits for Homeowners
Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, federal income tax credits for energy efficiency home improvements will be available through 2032. A broad selection of ENERGY STAR-certified equipment is eligible.

Inflation Reduction Act Residential Energy Rebate Programs in California
When implemented, the federal Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, will provide funding for residential energy efficiency and electrification. For households with low or moderate income, it funds point-of-sale rebates for qualified high-efficiency electric appliances, such as heat pumps for space heating and cooling. The legislation includes funding for contractor training.

Clean Energy for All
The Inflation Reduction Act lowers energy costs for consumers and small businesses while creating good-paying jobs as America’s clean energy economy and manufacturing sectors grow. Learn more below on how you or your family can save on utility bills, get support to purchase electric vehicles and energy-saving appliances, and access the economic opportunities of the clean energy future.

ENERGY STAR Federal Tax Credits
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 provides federal tax credits and deductions that empower Americans to make homes and buildings more energy-efficient to help reduce energy costs while reducing demand as we transition to cleaner energy sources.

Green Power Markets
The Inflation Reduction Act incentives reduce renewable energy costs for organizations like Green Power Partners — businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions, and state, local, and tribal organizations. Taking advantage of Inflation Reduction Act incentives, such as tax credits, is key to lowering GHG emission footprints and accelerating the clean energy transition.          

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services helps keep families safe and healthy through initiatives that assist families with energy costs. LIHEAP provides federally funded assistance to reduce the costs associated with home energy bills, energy crises, weatherization, and minor energy-related home repairs.

Weatherization Assistance Program
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) reduces energy costs for low-income households by increasing the energy efficiency of their homes while ensuring their health and safety. Through weatherization improvements and upgrades, these households save on average $372 every year according to a national evaluation of the program.

Building Initiative for Low-Emissions Development (BUILD) Program
The CEC BUILD program provides technical assistance and incentives for new all-electric low-income residential buildings that reduce GHG emissions.

California Electric Homes Program (CalEHP)
The CEC CalEHP incentive program is for the construction of all-electric, new, market-rate residential buildings. Energy storage systems are included.

CEC Solicitations Funding Opportunities
For future CEC zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure funding opportunities, subscribe and register for relevant grants. Quickly sort funding opportunities by the CEC Division (use Fuels and Transportation) on the right side of the page.

Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) Program
This California Public Utilities Commission program provides no-cost weatherization services for income-qualified consumers. A list of related statewide programs for income-qualified households is provided. 

Equitable Building Decarbonization Program
The CEC’s Equitable Building Decarbonization Program seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in homes and advance energy equity. The program is under development but will have two components: a direct-install program providing decarbonization retrofits to low- and moderate-income households and the statewide incentive program providing incentives to promote low-carbon technologies in homes to reduce GHG emissions.

GoGreen Home Energy Financing
The California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority within the State Treasurer’s Office administers the GoGreen Home Energy Financing program. The program partners with lenders and approved contractors to offer low-interest loans to homeowners and renters as self-install projects.

Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP)
Energy storage rebates for homes, apartments, and critical facilities available through the California Public Utilities Commission. Available to electric and/or gas customers of PG&E, Southern California Edison, SoCalGas, and SDG&E.

Technology for Equipment and Clean Heating (TECH) Initiative
TECH Clean California is a statewide initiative to accelerate the adoption of clean space and water heating technology within homes to help California meet its goal of being carbon-neutral by 2045.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
BayREN Rebates
Rebates are available to Bay Area residents on a first-come, first-served basis.

MCE Community Choice Energy Home Energy Savings Program
The program offered by MCE Community Choice Energy encompasses Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, and Solano Counties. Qualifying single-family homeowners and renters can receive a home energy assessment, upgrades, and even gifts with energy-saving products for the whole family – all at no cost.

City of Roseville
The City of Roseville offers home and business rebates to lower the cost of your utility service and help pay for a portion of the upfront costs for energy and water efficiency improvement projects.

County of Marin
The County of Marin offers rebates to single-family homeowners for water heaters, furnaces, ranges, and cooktops. In cases where installing a new electric appliance requires a service panel upgrade, additional rebates are available. These rebates can be used in conjunction with BayREN or other regional rebates.

Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) Rebates
SMUD offers rebates and savings for SMUD customers. Find information about electrifying your home. Rebates for appliances such as induction cooktops, heat pump water heaters, and HVAC systems. Information on the SMUD Home Performance Program (HPP), a whole-house approach that bundles energy-efficiency upgrades to deliver more savings, comfort, and rebate options. Rebates are subject to availability.

Silicon Valley Clean Energy — Small-to-Medium Business Rebate Program
Get up to $20,000 in rebates for updating your old gas equipment to new electric equipment. Plus, get an additional $5,000 if your business is a nonprofit.

Sonoma Clean Power Residential Incentives
Sonoma Clean Power offers incentives to residential customers in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties who are improving the energy efficiency of their homes by purchasing and installing efficient appliances and equipment.

CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
3C-REN Home Energy Savings
3C-REN, serving San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties, programs help residents and multifamily property owners save money and make their homes healthier with energy efficient upgrades. Includes incentives for heating and cooling and water heating.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Electrify Santa Monica
The City of Santa Monica is offering home rebates for qualified efficient all-electric equipment. Funding is limited, and applications are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Home Energy Improvement Program
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) offers residential customers the opportunity to improve their energy and water performance through the Home Energy Improvement Program (HEIP). The program is free to eligible customers in the LADWP service area.

South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Residential Electric Vehicle Charging Incentive Program
Residents in parts of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties may qualify for incentive program to offset Level 2 (240V) electric vehicle charger hardware costs. The program on a first-come, first-served basis and provides up to a $250 rebate or the cost paid for the charger, whichever is lower. Low-income residents can qualify for a total rebate of $500 or the cost paid for the charger, whichever is lower.

City of Azusa
The city offers residential home weatherization and ENERGY STAR appliance rebates. Products include clothes washers and dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, air cleaner and humidifiers, ceiling fans, LED light fixtures, various electronics, insulation, and more.

City of Pasadena
The Pasadena Department of Water and Power offers rebates on select appliance. Rebates are subject to availability. Current rebates include electric heat pump water heaters, electric and electric heat pump clothes dryers, electric water heaters, electric range/ovens, electric wall ovens, heat pumps, and electrical panels.

Riverside Public Utilities Electric Vehicle (EV) Rate Program
Riverside Public Utilities offers customers the opportunity to charge their EV using a separate meter provided by the utility. Single-family homes are eligible and can receive a rebate to cover the cost of the EV meter adapter installation.

SoCalREN Residential Homeowners
A wide variety of resources and energy efficiency programs are available for homeowners interested in making energy efficiency updates or simply understanding more about how to incorporate energy efficiency into their daily life at home.

SoCalREN Multifamily Program
The SoCalREN Multifamily Program provides technical assistance and incentives to help upgrade your property. Opportunities for improvements can range from a system replacement to a full rehabilitation. The program design is based on an analysis of how your property uses energy and encourages full building-integrated upgrades rather than individual measures.