ACA/NE Works For HVAC Contractors at the Legislative and Regulatory Level
July 2022
Good News - Under Ten Ton Refrigeration License Legislation Defeated Again
For the past several years, ACA/NE has worked to defeat legislation to require that residential HVAC contractors obtain a refrigeration license. As ACA/NE had hoped, H.313 did not make it out of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure before the June 30th deadline.
However, amendments to require that HVAC contractors obtain a refrigeration license were filed and attached to other bills in the House and Senate,
Amendment #701 to H5007-Refrigeration Technicians was added to the Massachusetts Economic Development Bill in mid-July. The amendment was successfully defeated.
Amendment 309 - Refrigeration Technicians was filed in the Senate and was also withdrawn.
To voice the industry’s opposition to the amendments, ACA/NE sent letters to House and Senate Leadership, and members engaged in letter-writing campaigns to their representatives and senators to ask that they oppose the amendments.
While ACA/NE is pleased the legislation did not pass the House, we will remain vigilant in our opposition during the rest of the year when the Massachusetts Legislature moves into informal session.
Between now and the start of the 2023 legislative session, ACA/NE will redouble its efforts to have the Board of Building Regulation and Standards (BBRS) approve the HVAC Construction Supervisor License. ACA/NE believes that the appropriate licensing authority and expertise that fits with HVAC residential work is under the BBRS.
However, amendments to require that HVAC contractors obtain a refrigeration license were filed and attached to other bills in the House and Senate,
Amendment #701 to H5007-Refrigeration Technicians was added to the Massachusetts Economic Development Bill in mid-July. The amendment was successfully defeated.
Amendment 309 - Refrigeration Technicians was filed in the Senate and was also withdrawn.
To voice the industry’s opposition to the amendments, ACA/NE sent letters to House and Senate Leadership, and members engaged in letter-writing campaigns to their representatives and senators to ask that they oppose the amendments.
While ACA/NE is pleased the legislation did not pass the House, we will remain vigilant in our opposition during the rest of the year when the Massachusetts Legislature moves into informal session.
Between now and the start of the 2023 legislative session, ACA/NE will redouble its efforts to have the Board of Building Regulation and Standards (BBRS) approve the HVAC Construction Supervisor License. ACA/NE believes that the appropriate licensing authority and expertise that fits with HVAC residential work is under the BBRS.
New ACA/NE Board of Directors Elected
The election results are in! ACA/NE is pleased to present the FY 2022.2023 Board of Directors
|
Officers
President: Doug Hamilton, Central Cooling and Heating Vice President: Mike Briggs, Briggs Mechanical First Vice President: Mike Donaghey, SG Torrice Treasurer: Rick Barker, Homans Associates Immediate Past President: Brian Cristman, Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating |
Directors:
Joel Boucher, Boucher Energy Mike Cappuccio, NETR Inc. Manny Chaves, Chaves Heating & AC Todd Cook, Victory HVAC Peter Donati, ABCO Refrigeration Supply Tom Favazza, Preferred Air Chris Morin, Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating Rick Pothier, EDOS, Manufacturing Reps. John Sinclaire, Sinclaire Oil & Heating, Inc. Joseph Wood, Boston Standard Legal Counsel: David Kerrigan, Kenney & Sams, P.C. Director Emeritus: Don Chaisson, Alfieri Proctor Associates Inc. Northern New England Representative: Roger Willett, Homans Associates LLC. |
March 2022
Massachusetts Three-Year Energy Efficiency Plan -- Good News
The Mass Save Air Source Heat Pump Rebate Program will include natural gas-heated homes!
Earlier this year, ACA/NE members had expressed concern about the new Massachusetts Three-Year Energy Efficiency Plan. Members were specifically concerned that the rebate for natural gas would not be the same as oil and propane.
ACA/NE members worried that customers would not participate in the Mass Save Program without a good heat pump rebate for natural gas.
Mass Save conducted a Kick-Off Meeting for contractors earlier this week. A link to the meeting recording and rebate forms is below.
Residential Rebate Information Links
Mass Save Residential Rebate and Incentives
Mass Save Contractor Kick-Off Meeting Recording
Mass Save Contractor Kick-Off Meeting Presentation
Earlier this year, ACA/NE members had expressed concern about the new Massachusetts Three-Year Energy Efficiency Plan. Members were specifically concerned that the rebate for natural gas would not be the same as oil and propane.
ACA/NE members worried that customers would not participate in the Mass Save Program without a good heat pump rebate for natural gas.
Mass Save conducted a Kick-Off Meeting for contractors earlier this week. A link to the meeting recording and rebate forms is below.
Residential Rebate Information Links
Mass Save Residential Rebate and Incentives
Mass Save Contractor Kick-Off Meeting Recording
Mass Save Contractor Kick-Off Meeting Presentation
January 2022
Legislation to Require HVAC Contractors Obtain Refrigeration License
H313 & S173 An Act relative to refrigeration technicians
For several years, ACA/NE has worked to defeat the passage of legislation to require that residential HVAC contractors obtain a refrigeration license.
This license is currently required for work or over ten tens.
Most residential and small commercial systems are limited to 5 tons or less, and an exemption currently exists for work under 10 tons.
ACA/NE members are opposed to the bills filed because they require residential HVAC contractors to obtain a refrigeration license to work on refrigerant systems under ten tons, under M.GL. 146, which licenses commercial refrigeration technicians, 10 tons and over. These industries are different in many ways.
The legislation is currently awaiting action in the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.
ACA/NE is not opposed to licensing residential HVAC contractors. In fact, ACA/NE submitted a proposal to the Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) to create an HVAC Construction Supervisors License (CSL.
Last summer, ACA/NE submitted testimony in opposition to the legislation. Links to the testimony and legislation are below.
ACA/NE Testimony
H313
S173
For several years, ACA/NE has worked to defeat the passage of legislation to require that residential HVAC contractors obtain a refrigeration license.
This license is currently required for work or over ten tens.
Most residential and small commercial systems are limited to 5 tons or less, and an exemption currently exists for work under 10 tons.
ACA/NE members are opposed to the bills filed because they require residential HVAC contractors to obtain a refrigeration license to work on refrigerant systems under ten tons, under M.GL. 146, which licenses commercial refrigeration technicians, 10 tons and over. These industries are different in many ways.
The legislation is currently awaiting action in the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.
ACA/NE is not opposed to licensing residential HVAC contractors. In fact, ACA/NE submitted a proposal to the Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) to create an HVAC Construction Supervisors License (CSL.
Last summer, ACA/NE submitted testimony in opposition to the legislation. Links to the testimony and legislation are below.
ACA/NE Testimony
H313
S173
HVAC Construction Supervisor License (CSL) Update
ACA/NE continues to work to have an HVAC Construction Supervisor License approved by the Board of Building Regulation and Standards (BBRS).
ACA/NE filed the request in December 2019, but shortly after that, the BBRS formed a Working Group to resolve issues with the proposal identified by several industry trade boards. The Working Group included ACA/NE and representatives from the plumbing, sheet metal, refrigeration boards, and several state agencies.
The Group met several times and initially voted in favor of the proposal in early 2021. However, a few members of the Working Group asked for another meeting, and this time they voted against the proposal.
ACA/NE asked that the Working Group reconvene as we did not have sufficient time to dispute some of the concerns raised by the various trade boards and other outside interests. The Chair of the Working Group denied ACA/NE's request for another meeting.
ACA/NE nonetheless submitted a letter to the BBRS asking them to approve the proposal despite the Working Group's opposition. While we did not have the opportunity to refute the arguments against the proposal in the Working Group meetings, ACA/NE did provide the BBRS with a point-by-point rebuttal of each point.
We remain hopeful that the BBRS will pass the proposal despite the Working Group's negative vote..
HVAC CSL Proposal Fact Sheet
HVAC CSL Proposal
Letter to BBRS December 2021
ACA/NE filed the request in December 2019, but shortly after that, the BBRS formed a Working Group to resolve issues with the proposal identified by several industry trade boards. The Working Group included ACA/NE and representatives from the plumbing, sheet metal, refrigeration boards, and several state agencies.
The Group met several times and initially voted in favor of the proposal in early 2021. However, a few members of the Working Group asked for another meeting, and this time they voted against the proposal.
ACA/NE asked that the Working Group reconvene as we did not have sufficient time to dispute some of the concerns raised by the various trade boards and other outside interests. The Chair of the Working Group denied ACA/NE's request for another meeting.
ACA/NE nonetheless submitted a letter to the BBRS asking them to approve the proposal despite the Working Group's opposition. While we did not have the opportunity to refute the arguments against the proposal in the Working Group meetings, ACA/NE did provide the BBRS with a point-by-point rebuttal of each point.
We remain hopeful that the BBRS will pass the proposal despite the Working Group's negative vote..
HVAC CSL Proposal Fact Sheet
HVAC CSL Proposal
Letter to BBRS December 2021
Massachusetts Three-Year Energy Efficiency Plan
A few ACA/NE members have expressed concern about the soon-to-be-released Massachusetts Three-Year Energy Efficiency Plan.
Members are specifically concerned that the rebate for natural gas will not be the same as oil and propane. ACA/NE members worry that customers will not participate in the Mass Save Program without a good heat pump rebate for natural gas.
ACA/NE will share additional information with members as it is received.
Members are specifically concerned that the rebate for natural gas will not be the same as oil and propane. ACA/NE members worry that customers will not participate in the Mass Save Program without a good heat pump rebate for natural gas.
ACA/NE will share additional information with members as it is received.
If you have a question or need more information about legislative and regulatory issues please, contact
Cathy Flaherty, ACA/NE Executive Director, at cflaherty@acane.org.
Cathy Flaherty, ACA/NE Executive Director, at cflaherty@acane.org.
ACA/NE Membership Testimonial
"ACA/NE is a wonderful association to be a part of. Membership with ACA/NE has helped me grow my professional network and stay informed with what is happening within the HVAC industry.”
Don Chaisson | APA, LLC.