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Clean Heat RI requires participating installers. A Home Energy Assessment is mandatory. Equipment must be ENERGY STAR 6.1 Cold Climate certified. Here is everything you need to know before hiring.
Requirement #1
Your installer must be a registered Clean Heat RI participating contractor to access state rebates.
Requirement #2
A Home Energy Assessment is mandatory before installation. Schedule it early — wait times can be 2-4 weeks.
Requirement #3
Equipment must be ENERGY STAR 6.1 Cold Climate certified. Standard heat pumps do not qualify for Clean Heat RI.
Clean Heat RI is Rhode Island's flagship heat pump incentive program, offering 60% of project cost (up to $11,500) for standard households and 100% (up to $18,000) for income-eligible households. But there is a critical requirement: your installer must be a registered participating contractor.
Verify your installer's participating status through the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (OER) or ask the installer directly for their Clean Heat RI registration number. NuWatt Energy is a registered Clean Heat RI participating installer.
Before any heat pump installation can proceed under Clean Heat RI, your home must undergo a Home Energy Assessment. This is not optional — it is a program requirement.
Use this checklist to evaluate any heat pump installer before signing a contract. Every item matters for Rhode Island installations specifically.
Your installer MUST be a registered Clean Heat RI participating contractor. Without this, you cannot access the 60% rebate (up to $11,500) or income-eligible 100% coverage (up to $18,000). Verify their status through the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources.
Rhode Island requires HVAC contractors to hold a valid state license. Verify their license number through the RI Department of Business Regulation. Unlicensed work voids warranties and rebate eligibility.
Clean Heat RI mandates ENERGY STAR 6.1 Cold Climate rated equipment. Your installer should be fluent in which models qualify — Mitsubishi Hyper-Heating, Fujitsu XLTH, Daikin Fit, and similar units rated to perform at 5°F or below.
Rhode Island follows the 2021 IECC with state amendments. Your installer should understand local permitting requirements, electrical code for panel upgrades, and refrigerant line set regulations.
A proper Manual J heat load calculation is essential for correct system sizing. Oversized systems short-cycle and waste energy. Undersized systems cannot keep up in January. Insist on seeing the calculation before signing.
Ask for at least 3 references from Rhode Island installations completed in the last 12 months. Check Google reviews, BBB rating, and ask about performance during the coldest weeks of winter.
Top manufacturers offer 10-12 year warranties when installed by authorized dealers. Get the warranty terms in writing before installation. Ask whether the warranty is through the manufacturer or installer.
Verify general liability insurance ($1M minimum), workers compensation coverage, and bonding. Ask for certificates of insurance. If a worker is injured on your property without coverage, you could be liable.
Beyond Clean Heat RI, Rhode Island Energy offers additional heat pump rebates up to $1,200. An experienced installer knows how to stack these programs and handles the paperwork for both.
The federal HEAR (Home Efficiency Rebates) program launched for low-income households in RI on September 17, 2024 — the first in New England. Installers familiar with HEAR can help income-eligible households access up to $8,000 in additional rebates.
Schedule and complete the mandatory Home Energy Assessment through Rhode Island Energy. Address any recommended weatherization work. This step is free.
Choose a Clean Heat RI participating installer. They will visit your home, perform a Manual J load calculation, and recommend equipment. Get at least 2-3 quotes.
Sign the contract. Your installer submits the Clean Heat RI rebate pre-approval application. If income-eligible, documentation is submitted at this stage.
Your installer pulls necessary permits from your municipality. Equipment is ordered. Installation date is scheduled. Electrical panel upgrade is coordinated if needed.
Ductless mini-split installations typically take 1-2 days. Ducted systems or full replacements take 2-3 days. Electrical panel upgrades add 1 day.
Municipal inspection verifies code compliance. Your installer commissions the system, tests all modes, and walks you through operation. Rebate completion paperwork is filed.
Clean Heat RI rebate is processed. Standard households receive up to $11,500 (60% of cost). Income-eligible households receive up to $18,000 (100% of cost). RI Energy utility rebates are processed separately.
If you encounter any of these warning signs, walk away and find a different installer. Rhode Island homeowners lose thousands every year to unqualified contractors.
Demands full payment upfront before any work begins
Cannot provide a Clean Heat RI participating installer number
Refuses to perform or show a Manual J load calculation
Quotes a system size without visiting your home
No written contract or vague scope of work
Pressures you to sign immediately with "limited time" offers
Cannot provide Rhode Island HVAC contractor license number
No references from RI installations
Recommends non-ENERGY STAR 6.1 Cold Climate equipment
Claims you can still get the federal 25C tax credit (it expired December 31, 2025)
No insurance certificates available upon request
Quotes over the phone without a home assessment
Print this list and bring it to every installer consultation. A reputable installer will answer all of these without hesitation.
Are you a registered Clean Heat RI participating installer?
What is your Rhode Island HVAC contractor license number?
How many heat pump installations have you completed in Rhode Island?
Will you perform a Manual J load calculation before sizing my system?
Which ENERGY STAR 6.1 Cold Climate models do you typically install?
How do your systems perform when temperatures drop below 10°F?
Do you handle the Clean Heat RI rebate paperwork, or do I?
Can you help me apply for HEAR rebates if I qualify?
What is your typical installation timeline from contract to completion?
Do you handle the mandatory Home Energy Assessment, or do I schedule it separately?
What does your warranty cover, and for how long?
Can you provide 3 references from RI installations in the last year?
Do you handle electrical panel upgrades if my panel needs it?
What weatherization work is included or recommended before installation?
How do you handle the RI Energy utility rebate stacking?
What is your payment schedule? (Never more than 10% deposit)
We are a registered Clean Heat RI participating contractor and handle all rebate paperwork.
We help income-eligible households stack HEAR rebates with Clean Heat RI for maximum savings.
We perform Manual J load calculations on every installation — no guesswork, no oversizing.
Fully licensed in Rhode Island with comprehensive insurance and manufacturer authorizations.
We exclusively install ENERGY STAR 6.1 Cold Climate equipment rated for New England winters.
Hundreds of Rhode Island installations. Ask us for references in your town.
If you are served by Pascoag Utility District or Block Island Power Company, your utility rebate programs differ from Rhode Island Energy. Clean Heat RI state rebates may still apply, but utility-specific incentives (the additional ~$1,200 from RI Energy) will not be available. Contact your municipal utility directly to learn about their heat pump incentive programs.
Yes. To receive Clean Heat RI rebates (60% of cost up to $11,500 standard, or 100% up to $18,000 income-eligible), your installer must be a registered Clean Heat RI participating contractor. Non-participating installers cannot process these rebates.
Yes. Clean Heat RI requires a Home Energy Assessment before heat pump installation. This assessment evaluates your home's energy use, identifies weatherization needs, and documents the baseline for rebate eligibility. Schedule it early — assessments can take 2-4 weeks to book.
Clean Heat RI requires ENERGY STAR 6.1 Cold Climate certified heat pumps. These units are rated to perform efficiently at 5°F and below, which is critical for Rhode Island winters. Your installer should only recommend qualifying equipment.
A typical installation takes 1-3 days depending on the system type. Ductless mini-splits are faster (1-2 days). Ducted systems or full replacements may take 2-3 days. Add time for any electrical panel upgrades or weatherization work.
No. Clean Heat RI rebates require installation by a participating contractor. Self-installation disqualifies you from all state and utility rebates. The cost savings from rebates far outweigh any savings from DIY installation.
Pascoag Utility District and Block Island Power Company have their own energy efficiency programs that differ from Rhode Island Energy. Contact your municipal utility directly to ask about heat pump incentives. Clean Heat RI may still apply, but utility-specific rebates will differ.
Check the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation website or call (401) 462-9500. You can search by company name or license number. Also verify they carry current liability insurance and workers compensation.
The federal Section 25C energy efficiency tax credit expired on December 31, 2025. It is no longer available for heat pump purchases in 2026. Any installer claiming you can still get 25C is either misinformed or being dishonest. Focus on Clean Heat RI and HEAR rebates instead.
Check if your household qualifies for 100% coverage up to $18,000.
Full breakdown of all available rebates, including Clean Heat RI and HEAR.
What Rhode Island homeowners actually pay after all rebates.
Why ENERGY STAR 6.1 Cold Climate equipment is required for RI rebates.
NuWatt Energy is a Clean Heat RI participating installer. We handle all rebate paperwork, perform Manual J calculations, and install ENERGY STAR 6.1 Cold Climate equipment. ARPA funds expire December 31, 2026 — do not wait.