Governor Rell Announces New Energy Audit

Program for Homes with Oil and Propane Heat

Program Offers Clean, Tune and Test Services, Home

Energy Audit and Weatherization Services for $75

            Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced a new program to help Connecticut residents save money by making their heating systems and homes more energy efficient.

            The new program, which is set to begin November 15, starts with the cleaning, tuning and testing of a customer’s furnace. The efficiency of the heating system is then audited. The program is an $800 value but costs the consumer just $75.

            Once the audit is complete, the customer will be referred to the existing Home Energy Solutions program, which performs a whole-house energy audit as well as some weatherization measures. The Home Energy Solutions program is administered by the state’s electric and gas utilities.

            “This program will help people to achieve both short- and long-term savings on their energy bills,” Governor Rell said. “We want to provide consumers with a whole range of energy services at a tremendous value – helping with immediate out-of-pocket costs as well as with ongoing energy expenses.”

            The program will also work in the reverse – oil-heated households that work with the Home Energy Solutions program will be referred to a local licensed heating, piping and cooling contractor to have their systems cleaned, tuned and tested. In either case, the customer will only be asked to pay $75 for both services. The state and the ratepayer-funded Home Energy Solutions program will pick up the rest of the costs.

            To qualify for the program, consumers need to schedule whole-house audit services with their electric utility or contact their licensed heating system service company to schedule clean, tune and test services between November 15 and June 30, 2009. The customer will pay $75 for the first audit service and the rest will be paid for through the program.

            In an effort to get licensed heating, piping and cooling contractors registered quickly to participate in the program, the Office of Policy and Management will hold an informational session for interested contractors at 2 p.m. on November 10, 2008, at Northeast Utilities headquarters in Berlin, Connecticut. Officials from OPM and the Home Energy Solutions program will explain the new audit program, advise how to get registered to provide heating system audit and whole house audit services and discuss billing and reimbursement procedures.

            Licensed contractors wishing to attend the informational forum should register by calling (866) 940-4676 or e-mailing Julie.cammarata@ct.gov.