Frequently Asked Questions about HomeIntel

Questions About HomeIntel

What is HomeIntel?

Is HomeIntel a PG&E program?

Who can participate in HomeIntel?

How is HomeIntel different?

Are there any restrictions because I'm participating in HomeIntel?

How much does it cost to participate in HomeIntel?

Will I have to pay for anything?

How do I sign up?

Can I stop participating in HomeIntel?

Questions About HEA's Smart Audit

What is Smart Audit?

Is Smart Audit different from PG&E's My Energy?

What happens when I create a Smart Audit account?

How do you decide which energy-saving solution is right for my home?

What kinds of recommendations will you make?

Will someone come to my house?

How much time does the online Smart Audit take?

Will my data be safe?

What information do I need to use Smart Audit?

How long can I use my Smart Audit account?

What happens if I need help?

About HomeIntel


What is HomeIntel? 

HomeIntel is a new type of energy efficiency program offered by PG&E known as "pay for performance". HomeIntel consists of Smart Audit, our online energy analysis tool and Energy Coach support. HEA manages the program.

HomeIntel is unique because PG&E pays us only for the measured savings based smart meter data. All California IOUs (PG&E, SCE, Southern California Gas and SDG&E) are required to run programs to reduce energy use. In the past, these programs have been prescriptive, mandating that only certain actions could be taken to reduce the energy used in a home. Many times these mandated actions didn't reduce energy use as much as was estimated and other actions, that could help, weren't allowed. Paying for measured savings lets us focus on recommending actions that result in the biggest savings for the least cost. California ratepayers are getting the actual savings they pay for with HomeIntel.

Is HomeIntel a PG&E program?

HEA offers HomeIntel on behalf of Pacific Gas and Electric to it's customers. You can find the reference on the PG&E website. Scroll down and select "Residential" to see the list of programs.

Who can participate in HomeIntel? 

Any PG&E customer with a utility account can participate as long as: It doesn't matter if you own or rent, or if you live in a single family home, townhome, condo, apartment or other structure as long as you have an individual smart meter measuring your energy use.

How is HomeIntel different?

Most energy efficiency programs focus on heating and air conditioning. Research shows that an increasingly high proportion of residential energy is consumed by a home's always-on load, as described in this NRDC report. Always-on includes appliances and electronic systems that are consuming energy all the time even when they aren't being used such as TVs, set-top boxes, game consoles, hot water recirculation pumps, etc. Lots of energy is also used by intermittent plug loads (e.g., refrigerators and pool pumps). The primary focus of HomeIntel is to quantify energy use in these categories, and identify simple and cost-effective opportunities to reduce energy waste.

Are there any restrictions because I'm participating in HomeIntel? 

You may not be able to participate in other PG&E energy efficiency programs for 5 years. This would include rebates for appliances or home upgrades. The current list of rebates is here. If you would like to take advantage of another PG&E program you need to contact us and let us know - support@hea.com

This sounds limiting, but it's not as restrictive as it appears. You can still take advantage of energy efficiency programs from other sources such as Community Choice Energy like Silicon Valley Clean Energy, Peninsula Clean Energy, Marin Clean Energy, and any other CCEs in PG&E territory.

How much does it cost to participate in HomeIntel?

Nothing for the Smart Audit account and Energy Coach support.

Will I have to pay for anything?

Not for the analysis or support, but you may choose to buy energy saving devices such as smart power strips, new light bulbs, timers, etc. We may recommend such devices, but as a rule we do not promote specific brands or services in order to remain a trusted and unbiased source of energy saving recommendations.

How do I sign up?

The first step is to locate or create your free PG&E online account. See instructions at the PG&E website. Then you're ready to create your Smart Audit account. Go to the Smart Audit registration page and enter your PG&E username and password.

Can I stop participating in HomeIntel? 

Yes, just send us an email and let us know why - support@hea.com and we'll remove you from the program. Please let us know why, we're always trying to learn and make improvements.

About HEA's Smart Audit


What is Smart Audit?

Smart Audit is a web-based app developed by HEA. Smart Audit automatically retrieves the smart meter data from your utility account and performs an analysis to break all your energy use into 8 categories. You then step through Smart Audit to learn how energy is used in each category.

Is Smart Audit different from PG&E's online account?

Yes, Smart Audit is an interactive learning tool that creates an energy profile of your home based on smart meter data from your PG&E account. You learn about the unique characteristics of your home by reviewing your home's energy profile and then receive specific recommendations. Energy data in your Smart Audit account is updated regularly and you'll receive monthly emails so you can track your progress saving energy.

How do you decide which energy-saving solution is right for my home?

We use your home's unique energy profile to decide which solutions are best. Your profile is created from your PG&E data and answering a few simple questions about your home. In some cases the solution is obvious: if more than 50% of your yearly energy use is for heating and cooling, your home will probably benefit from an upgrade. But usually heating and cooling are not the largest energy use categories. Most homes have high always-on loads, meaning there are devices using energy even when you think everything is turned off. You can learn more from this report by the NRDC. It's usually inexpensive to reduce this load and makes a big difference in your energy bill.

What happens when I create a Smart Audit account?

HomeIntel uses a combination of online analysis and Energy Coaches to help you save energy and money. You start by creating a Smart Audit account to:
  1. collect your energy data from PG&E and then prompt you for basic information about your home, such as: number of occupants, do you have a pool or an EV, etc.
  2. perform an analysis to divide energy use into different categories (seasonal, base loads, variable loads, etc.), compare them to similar homes in each category, and provide simple recommendations for reducing your energy use.
  3. show you some energy-saving recommendations.
  4. alert an energy coach to reach out to you.
  5. send you monthly emails showing energy trends so you can track your progress.

What kinds of recommendations will I see?

Smart Audit recommendations will vary depending on your home and energy usage patterns. Energy use varies considerably from home to home based on many factors. A key benefit of Smart Audit is the ability to break down your energy use into categories and provide a chart of the different categories (also called a "Home Energy Profile"), so you'll know how energy is being used. You can make smarter decisions about how to conserve when you know more.

Will someone come to my house?

Not necessarily. Unlike other audits where energy efficiency experts need to explore your house from crawlspace to attic, most interactions for this audit will occur online in your Smart Audit account. An Energy Coach will reach out to you when you first register. Usually, the 2 of you can come up with an energy savings plan over email or by phone. But in homes with unusual energy profiles, the coach may come to your home to track down the problem. Ultimately, our goal is to help you save energy and money through easy and inexpensive actions that you can take on your own.

How much time do I need to complete the Smart Audit?

Depending on your level of interest, it will take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour. You will learn as you go, and there is no need to review all the information in one sitting. Smart Audit will provide a prioritized list of recommendations based on your energy profile. It may take some time for you to perform these energy-saving actions, but many of these actions can be completed in just a few minutes. Others may take more time, such as purchasing and installing a smart power strip or timer. Your Energy Coach can answer questions, provide further information on more complicated recommendations, and offer additional energy-saving solutions. If you ever have questions regarding Smart Audit or implementing recommendations, you can contact us at support@hea.com.

Will my data be safe?

Your data will be held in strict confidence on a secure server and will only be used to help you reduce your energy use. Only HEA staff and Energy Coaches will have access to your information. HEA has passed PG&E's stringent 3rd party security review annually since 2012 and was a founding member of DOE's DataGuard program.

What information do I need to use Smart Audit?

Nothing! Once you complete the Smart Audit registration page you will receive an email with a link to your account and you're ready to go.

How long can I use my Smart Audit account? 

If your account is selected for enrollment in PG&E's Pay for Performance program you will have your Smart Audit account and access to an Energy Coach for 5 years provided you don't choose to participate in another PG&E energy efficiency program. This would include PG&E rebates for appliances or home upgrades. If you would like to take advantage of another PG&E program you need to contact us and let us know - support@hea.com

What happens if I need help?

Send an email to info@hea.com. Someone will get back to you within 24 hours.

HEA manages HomeIntel;
Revised: 6/18/18.