How to Apply for TECH Clean California’s Heat Pump Water Heater Rebates: A Step-by-Step Guide for Contractors

The TECH Clean California Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH) rebate program offers excellent incentives for contractors and homeowners looking to switch to energy-efficient water heaters. However, the application process is long and involves several detailed steps to ensure eligibility and compliance. This guide walks contractors through every stage of the rebate process, highlighting key requirements and best practices to streamline applications and ensure claims are approved. Plus, we’ll show how Resolv can help simplify and automate the process, saving you valuable time and effort.

Looking for info about heat pump HVAC rebates from TECH and HEEHRA? Check out our guide here.

Four Steps to Claiming TECH HPWH Rebates

Step 1: Become a TECH Clean CA Contractor

Before you can start submitting claims for rebates, you need to enroll as a TECH Clean CA contractor.

New Contractors:

- First, enroll through the Switch Is On website. Make sure to sign the Trade Professional Participation Agreement (TPPA) for TECH Clean CA at the end.

- Complete the required training webinars to familiarize yourself with the rules.

- Once enrolled, new contractors will receive credentials for the Iris portal (where you submit rebate applications) within 10 business days.

Existing Contractors:

- If you participated in the earlier version of the TECH HPWH program, no additional enrollment or training is required. However, there have been significant updates to the program rules, so we highly recommend reviewing the articles in the Contractor Knowledge Hub.

Step 2: Make a Claim Reservation

To secure funding for TECH HPWH rebates, contractors must reserve funds before starting a project.

1. Log into Your Iris Account:

- Sign into the Iris platform and click on "New Claim" or"Submit New Claim."

2. Select Program and Add Project Location:

- Choose "TECH Clean California - Heat Pump Water Heating,” enter the customer’s address, and click “Continue.”

3. Add Customer Info and Upload Terms & Conditions:

- Enter the customer’s name and contact details, and upload the signed Customer Terms and Conditions (T&C) document.

   - Ensure the T&C signature date is within the program’s active date range and uses the updated version of the document. 

4. Finalize Your Reservation:

- Click "Save to Draft" to reserve funding. This reservation is valid for 120 days, provided the program budget is available.

5. Customer Program Enrollment:

- Your customer must agree to enroll in a Demand Response program (if available), a Water Heater Rewards Program, and Time-of-Use (TOU) rate schedule. Make sure they understand these requirements before moving forward with the project.

How Resolv Helps:

Resolv automates claim reservations by pulling customer details from project documents (like the T&C) and pre-filling forms. As soon as you upload project documents, Resolv instantly creates a claim to reserve your funding. Additionally, Resolv’s built-in Eligibility Checker ensures equipment compliance, reducing the risk of delays or rejections.

Step 3: Complete the Claim

After completing the HPWH installation, return to Iris to finalize the claim. Make sure to answer all required questions and upload all necessary documents.

1. Key Requirements to Remember:

- Include the TECH HPWH rebate as a line item on your invoice with the passthrough method indicated. For example: “TECH HPWH rebate……………………….$3,800 (delayed passthrough)”

- Provide a zoomed-out photo and a close-up nameplate photo for both the previous water heater and newly installed HPWH.

- Upload proof of enrollment for the Demand Response program (can be text, email, etc.) and HPWH TOU setup (screenshot from the manufacturer’s app)

- When you add your equipment using the Material Selector, select "JA-13 Compliant Heat Pump Water Heaters" to ensure TECH eligibility.

How Resolv Helps:

Contractors can upload all project documents (T&C, invoice, photos, etc.)into Resolv at once. Once you’ve provided the required documents, Resolv handles all of the application paperwork – you can forget about the manual data entry and form-filling. We submit claims as soon as we have the documents so that your rebates are always approved as quickly as possible.

Step 4: Submit the Claim

1. Review and Finalize:

- Double-check all required fields and upload additional documents or add notes, if needed. Once everything is complete, click "Submit."

2. Post-Submission:

- TECH will review your claim within 2 weeks and notify you of its status.

How Resolv Helps:

With Resolv, you don’t need to spend hours filling out applications in Iris. We complete all the forms, ensuring applications are 100% complete and accurate before submission. Resolv tracks claims in real-time and notifies you with updates. Contractors can monitor claim statuses easily via Resolv’s organized dashboard.

Tips for Customer Program Requirements

1. Demand Response (DR) Enrollment:

 - Encourage customers to enroll in DR programs, like OhmConnect, before installation to simplify the process.

- Contractors must upload proof of the customer’s enrollment in a DR program. Acceptable proof includes screenshots from texts or emails showing the customer’s name or email address.

2. Water Heater Rewards Program:

 - Customers must enroll in rewards programs like PG&E WatterSaver orSCE SmartShift Rewards, if available. Those in areas without these programs are exempt.

3. Time-of-Use (TOU) Rate Setup:

- Contractors must set the HPWH to follow a TOU rate using the manufacturer’s app. Include a screenshot of the setup as proof with the claim.

Why Use Resolv for TECH HPWH Rebates?

Applying for rebates can be a time-consuming and complex process, but Resolv simplifies the rebate process for contractors at every stage:

- Effortless Applications: Pre-fills and completes rebate claims automatically.

- Rebate Stacking: Finds and applies for all available rebates for projects.

- Eligibility Verification: Ensures equipment meets rebate requirements before installation.

- DocumentManagement: Keeps all project files organized and highlights any missing uploads.

- Reminders and Tracking: Sends notifications for key deadlines and status updates for claims and payments.

By streamlining the rebate process, Resolv saves contractors hours of administrative work and helps them close more jobs.

Get Started Today

By following this guide and leveraging Resolv’s automated rebate services, you can streamline the HPWH rebate process and maximize incentives for customers, positioning your business as a leader and selling more jobs.

Ready to simplify the process? Sign up for Resolv today and get 1 project free for your first month.

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