The EcoHome Network can help homeowners with their home electrification projects such as upgrading gas-powered HVAC systems and water heaters to electric heat pump HVAC systems and heat pump water heaters or adding home battery storage to new or existing solar systems.
* Neither the City of San José, nor San José Clean Energy make any warranties, whether express, implied, or statutory, regarding or relating to the products or any materials or services furnished to homeowner under the EcoHome program. To the fullest extent allowed by law, the City of San José and San José Clean Energy specifically disclaim all implied warranties of title, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose.
Help homeowners take advantage of our EcoHome Rebate and EcoHome Payment Plan programs. Join our contractor EcoHome Network and be a resource for customers looking to upgrade or replace their gas-powered appliances to new electric heat pumps and/or install battery storage to existing or new solar.
You must:
To become a Payment Plan eligible contractor, see instructions on the EcoHome Payment Plan page.
If you meet certain criteria for safety, training, wages, and benefits, you can be highlighted in the EcoHome Network directory with a yellow “High Road Contractor” label. The label can help values-driven customers access contractors who support good jobs in our community, safety, and quality. To qualify for the badge, contractors must first become a part of the EcoHome Network* (see the five requirements in the section above). Then they must share documents with SJCE staff detailed in the Verification column in the table below for all three qualification criteria.
*Contractors interested in the “High Road Contractor” label who have not yet completed (3) installations for the EcoHome Rebate program can share finaled permits from three (3) residential heat pump and/or battery storage installations from any Authority Having Jurisdiction in the Greater Bay Area. This will satisfy requirement #2 to be listed on the EcoHome Network for contractors pursuing the label.
Qualifications – Contractor must meet all |
Verification |
| Contractor makes health care expenditures for each decarbonization worker on payroll in an amount per hour worked equivalent to at least the 85% of the hourly pro rata cost of a Covered California Silver Level plan for up to two 40-year-old adults and two dependents 0 to 14 years of age for the Santa Clara County Covered California rating area. | On an annual basis, contractor submits to SJCE staff:
C) Proof of health care plan level of coverage and benefits policy detailing its extension to all decarbonization workers, or D) Payroll from one pay period showing separate hourly wage line item for health care coverage |
| Contractor pays residential prevailing wage for decarbonization workers. | On an annual basis, contractor submits to SJCE staff:
Payroll from one pay period or wage sheet showing hourly wages for all decarbonization workers on staff and job title and description for each worker working on EcoHome Rebate projects. SJCE reserves the right to randomly request a payroll at any time. |
| Contractor is affiliated with a plumbing, electrical, or HVAC apprenticeship program listed in the State’s Department of Industrial Relations Apprenticeship Database and workers hold OSHA-10 certification. | Contractor submits letter from apprenticeship program confirming contractor affiliation and shows OSHA-10 certification cards for workers on EcoHome projects to SJCE staff annually. SJCE reserves the right to randomly request proof of OSHA-10 certification at any time. |
If you have questions or want to apply for the “High Road Contractor” label, please email askprograms@sanjoseca.gov.
What licenses or certifications do I need to participate in the EcoHome Network?
You will need an active contractor’s license and cannot have had a labor violation or more than one OSHA violation within the last three years, nor an unpaid wage theft judgment.
Is there a membership or fee to join the Network?
No, it is free to join.
Does SJCE limit the number of contractors in the Network?
No, but we will periodically remove contractors who have not actively participated in the program in the last year, who have lost eligibility since enrollment, or in SJCE’s sole discretion.
How will SJCE pay the rebate?
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) manages payment for SJCE’s EcoHome Rebate program and payment will be sent to either the contractor, homeowner, or account holder/applicant as indicated by the customer on the claim.
How long will it take for my business to be listed on the EcoHome Network Directory?
The Network Directory is updated once you have completed three or more projects with EcoHome Rebate you will be listed on the Network Directory.
Do I have to complete a heat pump HVAC, heat pump water heater, or battery storage project in order to participate?
Yes, the SJCE EcoHome Rebate requires a heat pump HVAC, heat pump water heater, and/or battery storage to be included in the project to be eligible. Once you have completed three or more projects with EcoHome Rebate you will be listed on the Network Directory.
Does my customer need to be an SJCE customer in order to receive the EcoHome Rebate or participate in the EcoHome Payment Plan?
Yes, customers must be a SJCE customer to qualify for the EcoHome Rebate and EcoHome Payment Plan.
* Neither the City of San José, nor San José Clean Energy make any warranties, whether express, implied, or statutory, regarding or relating to the products or any materials or services furnished to homeowner under the EcoHome program. To the fullest extent allowed by law, the City of San José and San José Clean Energy specifically disclaim all implied warranties of title, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose.
