Trade Pro frequently asked questions

Take the following steps:

1. Review the rebate catalog for the technology you sell. Be sure to note all requirements and exclusions. Find catalogs for business rebates.
2. If you’re a lighting contactor, familiarize yourself with the DesignLights Consortium Also, review the Lighting Rebates section below.
3. Enroll in the Trade Professional Alliance Program.
4. Connect with your Trade Pro manager and confirm your Energy Insight™ account is approved.
5. If you plan to leverage the On-Bill Financing (OBF) program for your customers, review the handbook and video located at the bottom of the OBF webpage.
6. Feel free to send your first rebate application or On-Bill Financing project documents to your Trade Professional Manager for review, before submitting.
7. Keep your contact information up-to-date within Energy Insight and stay on top of program and product changes.
8. Once you’ve completed five or more projects, enroll in our co-marketing program. Go to Trade Pro Co-Marketing.

Deemed Rebates and Customized Incentives both offer cash back for completing a qualified energy efficiency project. The key differences between these options are the types of projects that qualify and the process for applying.

Deemed Rebates

Deemed Rebates are payments you receive after you've upgraded to new, energy-saving equipment. Qualifying products are in our rebate catalogs.

Customized Incentives

Customized Incentives are payments for pre-approved projects that retrofit or install new equipment to save energy. The projects are typically much larger in scope and sophistication than those that qualify for a Deemed Rebate. Customized Incentives payments are calculated by the amount of energy the project saves. To qualify, the project must earn an incentive of at least $5,000. Learn more at Customized Incentives for Energy Efficiency.

It's important to note two things:

1. You must pre-qualify with PG&E for Customized Incentives payments—before you begin your project prior to removal of existing equipment and installation of new equipment. We'll inspect the existing equipment to determine the potential energy savings from the proposed more efficient equipment or system. The higher the energy savings, the higher the incentive: up to 50% of the project cost, or 100% of the allowable amount. To schedule an inspection, reach out to your customer's PG&E Account Representative or contact Business Customer Service.
2. The estimated lead time for project pre-inspection and approval is 2 to 5 months, depending on the complexity of the project.

Applications are submitted through Energy Insight. The paperwork required for all projects includes:

• Itemized invoice that includes all the information listed in the example below.
• Signed and dated Licensing and Permit Certification Form (PDF, 1.1 MB). Note: Step 3 on the form is required only when replacing a furnace. Leave blank, otherwise.
• Specification Sheet(s) for the products.
• A site map with clearly labeled rooms/areas is required if your rebate exceeds $15,000. See the Post-Inspections FAQ section below.

Technology Specific

• Lighting and Food Service only: Include a screen shot of the Qualified Products Listing, as shown in Lighting Rebates FAQ section below, that includes the date the screenshot was captured and the DLC qualification date.
• Ag Pump and Process Fan VFD projects only: Include a picture of the motor nameplate.
• Other requirements do exist for some measures. For full details, review the Application Process section of rebate catalogs.

Itemized Invoice Example

This sample lists the information your invoice must include: (1) invoice number, (2) date, (3) vendor information, (4) customer information (must match application), (5) installations address, (6) quantities purchased, (7) make/model number, (8) price per unit, (9) payment terms and sales tax.

• Invoice number
• Invoice date
• Vendor Information
• Customer information
• Installations address
• Quantities purchased
• Make/Model number of product
• Price per unit
• Payment information (PAID, CC, Net 30, Subtotal, Sales tax and total)

If the error is simple, the application team will ask you to send additional information by a specific deadline. If you miss the deadline, you must submit a new application.

If your application does not meet the eligibility requirements or the terms and conditions of the rebate program, the application is rejected. Find more information in the Energy Insight™ section below.

• PG&E account number for the customer of record
• Gas or electric service ID
• Approximate year the facility was built
• The customer's business tax ID and tax status, if the rebate check is to be made payable to the customer

IMPORTANT: Confirm that the service address on the customer's PG&E bill matches the installation address. The service address is listed on page 3 of the customer's energy statement.

The account number is found on page 3 of the customer’s energy statement. Business customers may also contact Business Customer Service to retrieve their account number. They’ll have to provide their service address.

Energy Efficiency funds, including On-Bill Finance loan funds, are public funds. Depending on the project and type of work performed, a project that receives Energy Efficiency or On-Bill Finance loan funds may be considered a public work (as defined under Labor Code section 1720 et. seq.). For information on the rules and regulations that apply to public works, including payment of prevailing wages, visit the Department of Industrial Relations website.

If you created your Energy Insight account prior to 2017, your username will be your email address followed by ".pgetpa" (e.g., johndoe@yahoo.com.pgetpa).

If you created your account on or after January 1, 2017, your username will be your email address followed by the appendage, ".pgepartner" (e.g., johndoe@yahoo.com.pgepartner).

If you need to reset your password, you must include the appendage in order to receive the password reset email. In some cases, the password reset email will land in your spam or junk folder.

If you need help, contact Energy Insight Support at 1-925-415-6377 (M-F, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.) or at energyinsightsupport@pge.com.

1. Select the EDIT button at the top of the screen.
2. Put a checkmark next to "Data Entry Complete" found at the top left.
3. Hit SAVE.

The Stage should then read "Post Install Review" and no further action is necessary. The application is in the queue to be reviewed.

NOTE: Ignore the "Submit for Approval" button at the bottom. That button is for rebate processors only.

Sign in to Energy Insight, select the Reports tab. Open the report, "Check Number Search."

Sign in to Energy Insight and select the Projects tab. The status of your application is in the Stage column. These are the most common listings:

New: The project has not been submitted for review. If you feel this is an error, open the project and verify that "Data Entry Complete" is checked (under the "Status and Timeline" header). If it isn't, hit "edit," check the box and then save. The status should then change to "Post Install Review." No further action is required on your part.

Post Install Review: The application is in the queue to be processed.

Withdrawn: The application processor requires additional information or corrections must be made in order to proceed.

Rejected: This usually means the project did not meet eligibility requirements. Find eligibility requirements in the rebate catalog for the specified technology. Be sure to also review the terms and conditions of the deemed rebate program. Visit the PG&E Business Rebate Application Terms and Conditions (PDF, 50 KB).

Paid: The application was paid and the check was mailed.

Sign in to Energy Insight, open the project, and then scroll down to the Notes and Attachments section. You should see an attached Decline Letter or Resubmit Letter.

A Decline Letter is provided when the reviewer determines that the application does not meet the terms or conditions of the program, or if the application is not eligible for rebate. If you feel you've received a Decline Letter in error, please email your Trade Professional Manager and attach the letter. Include your application number and customer name in the subject line.

A Resubmit Letter is typically provided when a correctable mistake was found and the deadline to correct the mistake has passed. In this case, you'll need to submit a new application as we can't reinstate applications once the stage has changed to "Rejected." When doing so, please upload the resubmit letter and include any comments you feel would be helpful for the review team.

An Adjustment Letter is provided when the rebate was adjusted during the review phase. If you feel that an error was made by the reviewer, please email your Trade Professional Manager and attach the letter. Include application number and customer name in the subject line.

The deemed rebate program does not require a pre-inspection. However, we do conduct post-inspections. If the expected rebate exceeds $15,000, an inspection is mandatory. Projects below $15,000 are inspected at random.

When inspectors start an inspection, they receive a report with the number of items per rebate code and a brief description of the rebate measure. They also receive notes you've included in the Measure Comments field in Energy Insight (see below). Here's an example of the notes an inspector would find helpful:

Best Contact: Jim Stanley Cell: 555.555.5555

LED Troffer Installation locations:
4 Fixtures - Lobby
6 Fixtures - Offices
2 Fixtures - Breakroom
1 Fixtures - Electrical Room (Ask Jim to Unlock)
9 Fixtures - R&D Area

To schedule a second inspection, submit an application for the items missed in the original count and provide location information in the Measure Comments. For example, if the inspector found only 117 of 144 fixtures, submit an application for 27 fixtures missed and include a note in your Measure Comments like this:

I'm submitting this application to make up the difference of items not counted in the original inspection. The original inspection counted 117 of the expected 144 fixtures.

Best Customer Contact: Jim Stanley Cell: 555.555.5555.

LED Troffer Installation locations:
4 Fixtures - Lobby
112 Fixtures - Offices
14 Fixtures - Breakroom
5 Fixture - Electrical Room (Ask Jim to Unlock)
9 Fixtures - R&D Area

This error typically occurs when the material cost is not entered correctly. We do not pay a rebate more than 100% of the material costs. When entering the measure in Energy Insight, be sure to type in the material cost for all the fixtures applicable to the rebate code. For example, if you're installing nine fixtures that cost $121 each, you'd enter $1,089 as the total material costs.

Also, if the measure you are applying for has a cap, be sure to enter the each measure separately to ensure the rebate is not capped in error. For example if you're applying for rebates for three 60 HP process fan VFDs, enter the measure three times with a UOM (Unit of Measure) of 60 on each entry.

PG&E does not review applications to approve or deny fixtures. The product must be approved by DesignLights Consortium (DLC) or ENERGY STAR®. Only then can it appear on PG&E’s QPL and qualify for a deemed or distributor rebate. Additional qualifications, above and beyond those from DLC or ENERGY STAR®, may apply. Only products meeting PG&E's requirements and also listed by DLC and ENERGY STAR® will qualify for a rebate or incentive. Review DLC's manufacturer's guide on how to submit a product.

If your product is listed on either the DLC or the ENERGY STAR® list, it's likely to appear on ours. However, there are exceptions:

• Model numbers can be challenging to find, due to variations of the product. View a brief video with tips on locating fixtures with variations on the QPL:

• Even if on the DLC list, if the product does not meet state-mandated performance requirements for Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs), it will not be included on PG&E's list. The requirements are in PG&E's product catalogs under the Requirements and Exclusions sections.
• The product must be approved by DLC for 10 business days or longer.
• If the product data (lumen output, input wattage, efficacy, and CCT) is not listed on the DCL product listing, the manufacturer must update those product details within the DLC.
• If the product is listed in a family of products in the DLC and the "parent" product does not meet the above criteria, it disqualifies the whole family of products. Therefore, listing a product correctly in the DLC is critical. Any errors must be corrected through the DLC. More information on how the DLC manages product families can be found on the DLC's Manufacturer's Guide.

No, LED high bays are categorized by the DLC as an indoor fixture and therefore must be installed indoors. The same applies to exterior fixtures installed indoors. 

• Type A lamps that operate on the existing ballast are only incentivized thought our Direct Install programs.
• Type B lamps that bypass the ballast and have an internal driver do not qualify for any rebates or incentives at this time.
• Type C lamps that utilize an external driver may use PG&E's Customized Incentive Program, as long as the product is listed on PG&E's LED QPL.

If the LED product is listed as "Calculated" on DLC, the customized retrofit program may be an option. Please be aware that PG&E is required to use California building code Title 24 as the baseline to calculate energy savings, unless you can prove the lighting system qualifies for early retirement (one year or less of useful life remaining). Note that the minimum incentive must exceed $5,000 in order to qualify.

For general guidelines visit the Customized Incentive Program. For more information on proving early retirement and to view more in-depth program rules, view the Statewide Customized Procedures Manual (PDF, 760 KB). If you feel your project would qualify for the Customized Incentive Program, please have your customer sign the Customized Incentive Application and ask your Trade Professional Manager (PDF, 5.0 MB) to connect you with the Account Representative for next steps.

Yes, you may use the Customized Incentive Program as long as the lighting control system incorporates at least three of the following controls strategies:

• Scheduling
• Daylighting
• Occupant Sensing
• Task Tuning
• Demand Response

Note also, the system must not be accompanied by a luminaire modification. Most control installations accompanying luminaire modifications are required by code and therefore ineligible for incentives. For full details, view the Statewide Customized Procedures Manual (PDF, 760 KB).

Email your Trade Professional Manager and include your project address. The manager will connect you with a PG&E account representative to initiate the payment history screening.

Learn more about On-Bill Financing (also known as Energy Efficiency Financing).

PG&E's On-Bill Financing (also known as Energy Efficiency Financing) processing time depends on the complexity of the project, staff availability, and whether or not errors are found on the paperwork. In general we strive to meet the following targets.

• Payment History Screening: 3 to 5 days
• Review initial paperwork and generate loan documents (Pre-install review): 10 to 15 days (Add 2 weeks if the paperwork contains multiple errors and the numbers don't match up)
• Check Issuance: 5 to 10 days. If a loan modification is required, add 3 to 5 days.

Avoid common errors made in many of the contractor-generated submissions for OBF loans. Follow these tips:

1. Make sure the numbers on the proposal match those on the OBF workbook (linked at bottom of OBF webpage).
2. Follow the instructions provided by your Trade Professional Manager.
3. Confirm Total Cost (Before Downstream Rebate), Total Rebate, and Total KWh listed on the OBF workbook match with what is stated on your proposal. Also, make sure those totals are clearly labeled and easy to find.
4. Include the OBF # in the file name when you save your files. This will allow the reviewer to locate the files when they do a search for the application without having to open up the project. Here is a great example of how to name the files before you send them off:
   • OBF #008743 - Proposal
   • OBF #008743 – Financial Supplement
   • OBF #008743 – QPL Screen Shot – LT101
   • OBF #008743 – OBF WORKBOOK
   • OBF #008743 – Spec Sheet – LT101

Download the OBF Contractor Handbook (PDF, 1.1 MB).

When you contact your Trade Professional Manager to initiate a project, you'll also receive step-by-step instructions. In addition, you may visit OBF frequently asked questions.

Learn how one Trade Pro provided exceptional customer service by facilitating the OBF process for a school district's lighting project.