Commonwealth Wood Stove Change-Out Program
Program Manual
Sponsored by:
The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources
Issued: April 10, 2015
1. Program Overview
The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), along with the Massachusetts Department of
Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER),
have committed funding to support the 2015 Commonwealth Wood Stove Change-Out Program (the
“Program”). This Program offers rebates toward the replacement of non-EPA-certified wood stoves with
new, low-emission EPA-certified wood or pellet stoves. All Massachusetts residents that currently
operate a non-EPA-certified wood stove in Massachusetts are eligible to apply. The program is
administered by MassCEC, while MassDEP and DOER provided guidance on program requirements and
maximum emissions levels for new stoves.
EPA-certified wood or pellet stoves can provide significantly increased efficiency and reduced emissions
when compared to non-EPA-certified wood stoves. The increased efficiency of EPA-certified stoves
reduces the amount of wood consumed and ultimately saves residents money.
Residents interested in receiving a rebate for a stove change-out must apply through a participating
stove retailer or installer (“Participating Stove Professional” or “Stove Professional”) at the time of
purchasing their stove. A list of Participating Stove Professionals can be found on our website at
www.masscec.com/woodstove.
2. Stove Eligibility and Performance Standards
Only existing and operational non-EPA-certified wood stoves are eligible for replacement under this
Program. Homemade or modified wood stoves are not eligible for replacement under this Program.
Existing non-EPA-certified wood stoves must be replaced with new, low-emission, wood or pellet stoves
that are EPA-certified and meet the stove performance standards outlined in Table 1 (“Qualified
Equipment”). A list of Qualified Equipment is posted at www.masscec.com/woodstove. Stoves removed
through this Program must be rendered permanently inoperable at a recycling facility.
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3. Rebates and Funding
Participating Stove Professionals must submit rebate applications (“Application”) on behalf of the
homeowner. If the Application is approved, the rebate will be reserved (an “Award” or “Rebate”) and
the Participating Stove Professionals will issue a discount off the cost of the Qualified Equipment and
costs associated with the purchase and installation of the Qualified Equipment (“Eligible Project Costs”)
to the homeowner (“System Owner”). Upon submission and approval of project completion
documentation (“Project Completion “, or “Project Completion Form”), the rebate will be paid to the
Participating Stove Professional. Rebate values are listed in Table 1.
Table 1 - Stove Performance Standards and Rebate Levels
Maximum PM2.5
Emissions
Stove Type
Rebate Value
Standard Rebate
Low-Income Rebate
Pellet Stove
2.0 g/hr
$1,250
$2,250
Catalytic Wood Stoves
2.0 g/hr
$1,000
$2,000
Non-Catalytic Wood Stoves
>3.0 and ≤3.5 g/hr
$750
$1,750
Non-Catalytic Wood Stoves
≤3.0 g/hr
$1,000
$2,000
- All stoves installed under this Program must be EPA-certified.
- Hybrid stoves are considered catalytic stoves.
- Fireplace inserts are considered stoves and are subject to emissions limits and rebate values of the emissions control
technology utilized in the model being installed.
Eligible Applications submitted from April 10 through the end of the application period (“Application
Deadline”) (initially set at May 22) are guaranteed funding. If sufficient funds remain upon approaching
the Application Deadline, MassCEC will post an extension to the Program at
www.masscec.com/woodstove at least 10 days before the Application Deadline. MassCEC will email all
Participating Stove Professionals any such announcement. MassCEC reserves the right to allocate more
or less funding than stated.
Average costs for the previous year’s program are presented in Table 2 below as a reference point for
customers.
Table 2 - MassCEC Average Change-Out Costs from Prior Year
Average Stove
Cost
Average Project
Cost
Average Out-ofPocket Cost
Wood Stove – Standard Rebate ($750)
$2,139
$3,007
$2,257
Pellet Stove – Standard Rebate ($750)
$2,783
$3,582
$2,832
Wood Stove – Low-Income Rebate ($2,000)
$1,990
$2,805
Pellet Stove – Low-Income Rebate ($2,000)
$2,671
$3,679
$805
$1,679
Stove Type and Voucher Value
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4. Rebate Application Process and Requirements
The application, approval, and project completion process consists of four steps, as outlined in Table 3
below. The submission of an Application does not guarantee that a rebate will be awarded.
Rebates shall be treated as an instant discount from the Participating Stove Professional to the System
Owner at the time of final payment of the invoice. If the total Eligible Project Costs are less than the
value of the rebate, then the rebate will be reduced to the value of the total Eligible Project Costs.
Eligible Project Costs include the cost of the new EPA-certified stove or fireplace insert, stove installation
and any parts, materials or labor required for the safe and legal installation of the stove or fireplace
insert.
Qualified Equipment MUST be installed by a Participating Stove Professional and meet local fire and
building codes. Rebates are not transferable across Participating Stove Professionals. Scheduling a stove
installation may take several weeks – Stove Professionals and System Owners must plan accordingly.
Table 3 – Application Process Overview
STEP
STEP 1:
Homeowner
Initiates Stove
Purchase through
Participating
Stove
Professional
Deadline
Prior to
Application
Deadline
STEP 2:
Participating
Stove
Professional
Submits
Application
May 22, 2015
or Application
Deadline,
whichever is
later
STEP 3: MassCEC
Approves Award
and Sends Award
Letter
Within 2
Weeks of
Submission of
Complete
Application
Task
The homeowner contacts or visits a Participating Stove Professional to
determine: current wood stove eligibility, cost of the entire change-out
Project, new stove options and associated rebate values.
Once the homeowner has identified the appropriate Participating Stove
Professional to work with and eligibility for the rebate, the homeowner
must initiate the purchase of the new stove with a down payment
(minimum of 10%).
If the homeowner elects to participate in the Program (now a “System
Owner”), the Stove Professional will submit an Application on the System
Owner’s behalf. The System Owner must provide the Stove Professional
with an electric bill from the home where the stove will be installed
(“Project Site”), a signed Participant’s Agreement (available at
www.masscec.com/woodstove/stoveprofessional) and proof of LowIncome Rebate qualification if applying for a Low-Income Award.
MassCEC will review each Application to ensure the Project meets all
Program requirements, including that the new stove qualifies for the
selected rebate and to verify that Low-Income Rebate eligibility. The Stove
Professional and System Owner will be sent an email stating that the Award
is approved (“Award Letter”), typically within two weeks of submission.
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STEP 4:
Participating
Stove
Professional
Completes
Change-Out and
Submits Project
Completion
12 Weeks
from Award
Approval
Once the Award is approved, the Stove Professional and System Owner will
have 12 weeks to complete the change-out and submit the Project
Completion Form. The Project Completion Form will be available to the
Stove Professional upon Award approval. Extensions to the Project
Completion Date will not be granted. Once the Project Completion Form is
approved, MassCEC will reimburse the Participating Stove Professional for
the value of the rebate provided to the System Owner.
Detailed Step-by-Step Process and Requirements:
STEP 1: Homeowner Initiates Stove Purchase through Participating Stove Professional
Commonwealth residents interested in participating in the 2015 Commonwealth Wood Stove ChangeOut Program should contact or visit a Participating Stove Professional location. A list of Participating
Stove Professionals is available at www.masscec.com/woodstove. Participating Stove Professionals will
be able determine whether a resident’s existing stove qualifies for replacement under the Program.
Information that will be helpful to the Participating Stove Professional includes the year the stove was
manufactured, a picture of the front of the stove and a picture of the back of the stove (if possible). All
EPA-certified stoves have a metal tag on the back of the stove indicating EPA certification.
Once the homeowner has identified the appropriate Participating Stove Professional to work with and
eligibility for the rebate, the homeowner must initiate the purchase of the new stove with a down
payment (minimum of 10%). Participating Stove Professionals may not submit an Application on behalf
of a resident if the resident’s existing stove does not qualify for the program.
Participating Stove Professionals will also be able to help residents estimate the full cost of the
installation of the new stove, which new stoves are eligible for the Program, and the associated rebate
for each new stove option. Estimates and stove eligibility determinations typically require a site visit.
STEP 2: Participating Stove Professional Submits Application
If a resident decides to participate in the Program, the Participating Stove Professional will submit an
Application on behalf of the resident – now System Owner – through MassCEC’s online application
portal at https://commonwealthwoodstove.programprocessing.com/. Only Participating Stove
Professionals may submit Applications – residents must work with a Participating Stove Professional to
get a rebate through this Program.
The following information is required in order to complete an Application:
1. Answers to all questions on the Project Information Worksheet
o The Project Information Worksheet is a tool that Participating Stove Professionals can
use to track the Project before entering information into the online Application. All
questions on the worksheet are included in the online application; the worksheet will
not be required as an attachment on the application.
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The new wood stove must be included on MassCEC’s list of approved wood stoves. A full
list is available at www.masscec.com/woodstove.
Participant’s Agreement (Attachment) – Signed by the System Owner and Participating Stove
Professional. Agreement is available at www.masscec.com/woodstove/stoveprofessional.
Invoice (Attachment) – Showing new stove model and that a minimum 10% down payment was
paid
2015 Electric Bill (Attachment) – Showing address of Project Site (Service Address)
o The electric bill does not need to show the System Owner’s name.
Demonstration of Low-Income Rebate Qualification (Attachment) - If applying for a Low-Income
Rebate. To qualify for a Low-Income Rebate, the System Owner must demonstrate that their
household income is less than 60% of the estimated median state household income relevant to
their tax filing status (Table 4).
o
2.
3.
4.
5.
Table 4 - Low-Income Threshold by Household Size
Size of Household
1-Person
2-Person
3-Person
4-Person
5-Person
6-Person
Gross Annual Income Limits
(60% of estimated state
median income)
$32,618
$42,654
$52,691
$62,727
$72,763
$82,800
System Owners can demonstrate Low-Income Rebate eligibility by using any of the following
three methods:
a. Electric Bill – System Owners are eligible for Low-Income Rebates if they have a low-income
rate code on their 2015 electricity bill. For customers served by National Grid or Unitil, the
low-income rate code is R2. For customers served by Eversource (formerly including NSTAR
and WMECo), the low-income rate codes are A2 and A3.
b. Fuel Assistance Letter of Acceptance for the 2014-2015 heating season – Showing the date,
System Owner’s name and Project Site address.
c. Third Party Income Verification – System Owner can submit a no-cost application to
Spillane Consulting Associates to have their income verified against the income limits in
Table 4. This application will include a submission of a completed IRS Form 4506-T. Each
individual/joint taxpayer must complete an IRS Form 4506-T. Any other adult within the
residence who files taxes separately must also submit a 4506-T.
i.
Third Party Income Verification can take up to four (4) weeks.
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ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
System Owners will receive a letter from Spillane Consulting Associates indicating
whether the System Owner qualifies for the Low-Income Rebate when the income
verification is complete. MassCEC will receive a copy of this letter.
If the System Owner receives an income verification letter from Spillane Consulting
Associates before the Application is submitted, the Participating Stove Professional
may include the income verification letter with the Application.
Funding will be reserved (but not awarded) for submitted low-income Applications
even if Third Party Income Verification is not complete. System Owners must submit
required documents to Spillane Consulting Associates within one (1) week of
Application submission. The appropriate rebate will be awarded when MassCEC has
received a copy of the income verification letter from Spillane Consulting Associates.
If the required documentation is not submitted to Spillane Consulting Associates
within one week of Application submission, the Application will be processed as a
Standard Rebate and will not be changed to a Low-Income Rebate.
If the income verification letter indicates the System Owner does not qualify for the
Low-Income Rebate, the Application will be processed as a Standard Rebate.
Stove Professionals should not handle or submit income verification documentation
to Spillane Consulting Associates on behalf of the System Owner.
STEP 3: MassCEC Approves Award and Sends Award Letter
MassCEC will review each Application to ensure the new stove qualifies for the selected rebate and to
verify that any Low-Income Rebate documentation qualifies. Once the Application is approved, the
Stove Professional and System Owner will receive an email notifying them of the Award, which
constitutes the Award Letter.
STEP 4: Participating Stove Professional Completes Change-Out and Submits Project Completion
The Stove Professional and System Owner will have 12 weeks from the day the Award is approved to
complete the change-out and submit the Project Completion Form. Extensions will not be granted.
Upon completing the installation of the new EPA-certified stove and recycling of the existing non-EPAcertified stove, the Participating Stove Professional will submit the Project Completion Form to
MassCEC. Within 28 days of approving the Project Completion Form, MassCEC will reimburse the
Participating Stove Professional in the amount of the Award. The following information is required in
order to complete a Project Completion Form:
Project Completion
1. Verification of Project Cost
2. Identification of the EPA-certified stove installed
3. Stove Disposal Form signed by the stove recycler certifying the non-EPA-certified stove has been
rendered inoperable (Attachment)
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4. Picture of existing installed non-EPA-certified stove (Attachment)
5. Picture of installed EPA-certified stove (Attachment)
5. Additional Information
To become a Participating Stove Professional, stove retailers and installers must complete and submit a
Participating Stove Professional Agreement found at www.masscec.com/woodstove.
Questions and inquiries can be directed to [email protected] or (617) 315-9340.
6. Definitions
Applicant: The Applicant is the Participating Stove Professional who prepares and submits the
Application on behalf of the System Owner. The Participating Stove Professional is responsible to work
with the System Owner to prepare and submit the Application.
Application: Application submitted on behalf of System Owner by the Participating Stove Professional
for an Award.
Award: Rebate funding awarded to a System Owner under the Program based on a submitted
Application that has been approved by MassCEC.
Eligible Project Costs: Costs associated with the purchase and installation of the Qualifying Equipment.
Low-Income Rebate: Rebate received for the successful installation of stove on the Qualified
Technology list if the System Owner demonstrates income eligibility. Rebate is dependent on stove
emissions and stove type installed.
Participant’s Agreement: An agreement signed by the System Owner and Participating Stove
Professional that indicates their agreement to abide by the terms and conditions required for the
Program and for the particular Project that was applied for.
Participating Stove Professional: The Participating Stove Professional is the primary entity responsible
for the installation of the Project. The Participating Stove Professional is directly responsible for turnkey
project management, submission of the Application, and installation work, although aspects of the
installation work may be sub-contracted. The Participating Stove Professional has submitted a
Participating Stove Professional Agreement to MassCEC and has been approved to participate in the
Program.
Participating Stove Professional Agreement: An agreement signed by a stove professional that indicates
their agreement to abide by the terms and conditions required of a stove professional in this Program.
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Program Documents: The Program Documents consist of the Program Manual, Application,
Participation Agreement, and Award Letter.
Project: The wood stove change-out project.
Project Completion: The status of a Project at the stage when the old stove has been removed and the
new stove has been fully installed. Project Completion has been achieved when the installation has been
completed in accordance with the Program Manual.
Project Completion Date: The date when Project Completion has been achieved.
Rebate: Rebate funding awarded to a System Owner under the Program based on a submitted
Application that has been approved by MassCEC.
System Owner: An individual who, together with the Participating Stove Professional, applies to
MassCEC for a Wood Stove Change-Out Program rebate. The System Owner is the owner of the Project
that is supported by the Program rebate.
Standard Rebate – Rebate received for the successful installation of stove on the Qualified Technology
list. Rebate is dependent on stove emissions and stove type installed.
7. General Conditions
MassCEC reserves the right to reject any Applications or Projects.
7.1 Notice of Public Disclosure
7.1.1 General Statement
As a public entity, MassCEC is subject to Massachusetts’ Public Records Law, codified at Chapter 66 of
the Massachusetts General Laws. Grantee acknowledges and agrees that all Program Documents will be
public records subject to disclosure. Thus, MassCEC urges Applicant Parties to carefully consider what
documents, materials, data and other information is submitted to MassCEC in connection with an
Application.
7.1.2 Procedures for Handling Documents Classified as “Sensitive Information”
An Applicant Party may assert a claim of confidentiality for part or all of the information submitted to
MassCEC by following the instructions on the Notice of Confidentiality Cover Letter, which can be
requested from MassCEC.
7.2 Contractual Requirements
The Participation Agreement defines the legal terms that will govern the Award and sets forth the
respective roles and responsibilities of the parties specifically as they relate to the Project that is the
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subject of the Award. The Participation Agreement is designed to be executed upon submitting an
Application. This contract language is non-negotiable.
No MassCEC funds may be used to pay rebates for Projects that reach Project Completion prior to the
program launch date or after the program deadline.
7.3 Waiver Authority
MassCEC reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to waive minor irregularities in submittal
requirements, to request modifications of the Application, to accept or reject any or all Applications
received, and/or to cancel all or part of this Program at any time prior to Awards.
7.4 Disclaimer
This Program Manual does not commit MassCEC to award any funds, pay any costs incurred in preparing
an Application, or procure or contract for services or supplies. MassCEC reserves the right to accept or
reject any or all Applications received, negotiate with all qualified Applicants, cancel or modify the
Program Manual in part or in its entirety, or change the application guidelines, when it is in its best
interests.
7.5 Changes/Amendments to the Program Manual
The requirements listed herein are subject to change without notice to potential Applicant Parties. This
Program Manual has been distributed electronically using MassCEC’s website. It is the responsibility of
Applicant Parties to check MassCEC’s website for any addenda or modifications to the Program Manual
to which they intend to respond. MassCEC, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and its subdivisions
accept no liability and will provide no accommodation to Applicants who submit an Application based on
an out-of date Program Manual and/or related document.
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