Insurance & License Requirements for EnergySage Network Partners

1. Insurance Requirements at a Glance

All EnergySage network partners must maintain the following coverage at all times. Your Certificate of Insurance (COI) must clearly show each coverage type, policy limits, and the required EnergySage additional insured and waiver language.

Coverage Type	Minimum Limits	Additional Requirements
Workers' Compensation	Statutory (as required by your state)	Waiver of subrogation in favor of EnergySage required. State qualified self-insured status is acceptable.
Employers' Liability	$1,000,000 Each Accident & Disease	Waiver of subrogation in favor of EnergySage required. Must appear on the same certificate as Workers' Compensation.
Commercial General Liability (CGL)	$1,000,000 per Occurrence $2,000,000 Aggregate	Occurrence form only — Claims-Made policies are not accepted. Must include: Premises/Operations, Products/Completed Operations, Contractual Liability, Third Party Property Damage, and Independent Contractors Coverage. EnergySage must be named as additional insured on a primary and non-contributory basis. Waiver of subrogation in favor of EnergySage required.
Automobile Liability	$1,000,000 per Accident (Combined Single Limit)	Covers: Any Auto, OR Scheduled/Hired/Non-Owned Autos. EnergySage must be named as additional insured on a primary and non-contributory basis. Waiver of subrogation in favor of EnergySage required.
Independent Contractor Coverage (ICC)	Endorsement on CGL policy (no separate limit)	Required if you subcontract all or any portion of your work. ICC is an endorsement on your CGL policy that extends coverage to work performed by subcontractors on your behalf. Without it, your GL policy may explicitly exclude liability arising from subcontractor work. Must be confirmed in the Description of Operations on your COI.
Umbrella / Excess Liability (if used to meet minimums)	Sufficient to bring underlying coverage up to required minimums	Must follow the form of underlying policies. Additional insured and waiver of subrogation must extend to the Umbrella.

 

 

2. How to Read Your COI

A Certificate of Insurance (ACORD 25 form) is the standard document used to evidence coverage. Below is a guide to the key sections EnergySage reviews. Have your insurance agent use this as a reference when preparing your COI.

INSURED — Your company information

Your company's legal name and address must appear here. Make sure this matches your business registration exactly and the name you submitted to us to create your profile on the marketplace.

COVERAGES — The most important section

General Liability: The "OCCUR" (Occurrence) checkbox must be checked — not "CLAIMS-MADE." Limits must show at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate. Both the ADDL INSD and SUBR WVD columns must be checked.

Auto Liability: "COMBINED SINGLE LIMIT" must show $1,000,000 minimum. Both ADDL INSD and SUBR WVD columns must be checked.

Workers' Comp / Employers' Liability: Must show $1,000,000 for E.L. Each Accident, E.L. Disease - EA Employee, and E.L. Disease - Policy Limit. SUBR WVD must be checked.

DESCRIPTION OF OPERATIONS — Where EnergySage language must appear

This section must contain the following language exactly (your agent can copy and paste this):

Why this matters: Blanket additional insured language (e.g. "additional insured as required by written contract") is NOT sufficient. EnergySage must be explicitly named.

CERTIFICATE HOLDER — Must be EnergySage

The Certificate Holder box at the bottom must list:

 

ENERGYSAGE
201 Washington St.,  Suite 2700,
Boston, MA 02108

 

3. Do's and Don'ts

✅ DO

❌ DON'T

✓ Use an Occurrence form CGL policy (not Claims-Made) ✓ Have your agent name EnergySage explicitly in the Description of Operations ✓ Check the ADDL INSD box for General Liability and Auto ✓ Check the SUBR WVD box for all coverage lines ✓ Upload your COI as a PDF or clear image (JPG/PNG) ✓ Submit a current, unexpired COI — check expiration dates before uploading ✓ Include Independent Contractors Coverage on your CGL policy ✓ List EnergySage as the Certificate Holder at the bottom of the form ✓ Ask your agent to copy the exact required language provided in this guide ✓ Upload your renewed COI as soon as your policy renews

✗ Submit a Claims-Made CGL policy — these are not accepted ✗ Use blanket additional insured language without explicitly naming EnergySage ✗ Submit a COI without the waiver of subrogation (SUBR WVD) column checked ✗ Upload a COI where coverage has expired ✗ Submit a personal/individual trade license in place of a business license ✗ Upload an insurance certificate in place of a contractor or business license ✗ Leave any required document field blank or indicate "N/A" if you have coverage ✗ Submit a scanned document that is blurry or cut off ✗ Assume your policy automatically meets our limits without verifying

 

4. Most Common Errors and How to Fix Them

These are the most frequent reasons documentation submissions are rejected. Review each carefully before submitting.

 EnergySage is not listed as Additional Insured  

Contact your insurance agent and ask them to add the required language (shown in Section 2) to the Description of Operations. Also confirm the ADDL INSD checkbox is checked for GL and Auto lines. This is typically a same-day update.

What we see: The COI has blanket language like "Additional Insured as required by written contract" but does not name EnergySage explicitly or is missing language entirely.

How to fix it: Contact your insurance agent and ask them to add it in the Description of Operations.

 No Waiver of Subrogation in favor of EnergySage  

Ask your agent to check the SUBR WVD box for all applicable coverage lines (GL, Auto, WC) and include explicit waiver language naming EnergySage in the Description of Operations. The required language block in Section 2 covers both requirements.

What we see: The SUBR WVD column is blank, or only blanket waiver language is present without explicitly naming EnergySage.

How to fix it: Contact your insurance agent and ask them to add it in the Description of Operations, and check the SUBR WVD checkbox. 

 Coverage is expired  

Contact your insurance provider to obtain an updated COI reflecting your renewed policy. Upload the new COI to your EnergySage portal as soon as it is available.

What we see: The policy expiration date shown on the COI has passed.

How to fix it: Contact your insurance agent to get a renewed COI. 

Missing coverage type — document not submitted  

A member of our team will follow up with you if it is determined that you are missing a required document type. If you believe a coverage type does not apply to your business, contact your Partner Success Manager.

What we see: One or more required document fields are blank — no file was uploaded — or you answered “no” to a required document type.

How to fix it: Obtain the required insurance type. 

Indicating "I don't have this coverage" when the policy is on your COI  

Review your COI carefully before completing the form. If Auto Liability and General Liability are on the same certificate, accurately indicate that you have both types of insurance and that they are on the same policy. Employers' Liability always appears on the same form as Workers' Compensation.

What we see: Partners sometimes select "I do not have this insurance type" for coverages that are actually present on their COI — commonly Auto Liability or Employers' Liability, which often appear alongside other coverages on a single ACORD 25 form.

How to fix it: Ensure you carefully review the form questions against your COI and submit the correct answers. 

 

Wrong document type uploaded to a field  

Match each document to the correct field. License fields require a state-issued business or contractor license in the name of your company. Insurance fields require a COI. Contact your Partner Success Manager if unsure.

What we see: An insurance certificate uploaded in place of a license (or vice versa), or a personal individual trade license submitted in place of a business/contractor license.

How to fix it: Send us the correct file.

 

5. License Requirements

In addition to insurance, EnergySage requires active, valid licenses to verify your company is legally authorized to operate.

Business / Contractor License

A state or local government-issued license or registration demonstrating your company is authorized to operate as a contractor. This may be called a Business License, Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration, Contractor License, or similar — names vary by state. The license must be issued to your business entity, not an individual person.

Electrical License

A state-issued license demonstrating your company is authorized to perform electrical work. Requirements vary significantly by state. An individual Master Electrician license held by a person (not the business) is generally not sufficient on its own.

 

6. Submission Checklist

Before submitting your documentation, run through this checklist to avoid the most common rejection reasons.

• COI is current — all policy expiration dates are in the future

• EnergySage is explicitly named as additional insured in the Description of Operations (not just blanket language)

• Waiver of subrogation in favor of EnergySage is included in the Description of Operations

• ADDL INSD checkbox is checked for General Liability and Auto lines

• SUBR WVD checkbox is checked for all coverage lines (GL, Auto, WC)

• CGL is Occurrence form — not Claims-Made

• GL limits meet minimums — $1M per occurrence, $2M aggregate

• Auto limit meets minimum — $1M Combined Single Limit

• Employers' Liability limits meet minimum — $1M Each Accident & Disease

• EnergySage is listed as Certificate Holder (3 Center Plaza, Boston MA 02108)

• All required document fields are filled — no blank fields unless confirmed exempt

• Licenses are in the name of your business entity — not an individual person

• Files are legible PDFs or clear images — all text and fields are readable

 

7. Frequently Asked Questions

UPLOADING & DOCUMENTS

My General Liability and Auto are on the same COI. Do I upload it twice?

No. Upload the COI to the General Liability field and select the option to inform us that your Auto Insurance is on the CGL policy. Our system reviews each coverage type independently, whether they are on the same certificate or not. The same applies to any other coverage types that appear on a single certificate.

My Workers' Comp and Employers' Liability are on the same certificate. Do I upload it to both fields?

No — you will only be asked to upload the Workers’ Comp Insurance. Then select the option to inform us that your Employers’ Liability is included with the WC Insurance.

My COI looks the same as last year. Do I still need to re-upload it?

Yes, if your policy has renewed. Even if coverage terms and limits are identical, the expiration date will have changed. Our system validates expiration dates, so an outdated COI — even one day past expiration — will not pass review.

AUTOMOBILE LIABILITY

We have no company vehicles. Do we still need Auto Liability coverage?

Yes. If your employees or 1099 contractors drive personal or rented vehicles to job sites, you still have auto liability exposure. The product you need is a Hired and Non-Owned Auto (HNOA) endorsement — not a commercial fleet policy. HNOA can typically be added to your existing GL policy for a modest cost.

Important: your installers' personal auto policies almost certainly exclude business use. If an installer is in an accident driving to an EnergySage job site, their personal policy may not respond — and without HNOA, your company has no coverage for that exposure either.

My broker quoted me $7,500 for auto coverage. That seems very high.

It likely is. That quote may be for a standalone commercial auto policy, which is not what you need. A Hired and Non-Owned Auto (HNOA) endorsement added to an existing GL policy for a small contractor with no owned vehicles typically costs a few hundred dollars per year.

Ask your broker specifically for: "A Hired and Non-Owned Auto endorsement on our existing CGL policy — $1,000,000 Combined Single Limit." If your broker is not familiar with this structure, a second opinion may be worthwhile.

The Auto requirement says $1,000,000. Does that mean each vehicle needs $1M coverage?

No. The $1,000,000 requirement is a Combined Single Limit (CSL) per accident — a single pooled limit covering bodily injury and property damage for the entire incident, regardless of how many vehicles are involved. It applies to the policy as a whole, not to each individual vehicle. If your agent is asking about per-vehicle limits, clarify that you need a $1M CSL per accident on the policy.

I have an Umbrella policy. Can that substitute for Auto coverage (or any other coverage)?

No. An Umbrella policy sits on top of underlying policies to increase their limits — it does not replace a missing coverage type. If you have no underlying Auto or HNOA policy, an Umbrella will not respond to an auto liability claim. You still need HNOA as the underlying coverage; once in place, your Umbrella will extend over it as expected. This is true for the Commercial General Liability, Auto, and Employer’s Liability Insurance.

WORKERS' COMPENSATION & INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR COVERAGE

We require all our subcontractors to carry their own Workers' Comp. Do we still need our own policy?

Yes. Requiring your subcontractors to carry Workers' Compensation is good risk management, but it does not satisfy EnergySage's requirement for your company. EnergySage's requirements exist to protect against liability that flows from our direct relationship with you as a network partner. Your subcontractor's coverage does not extend that protection to EnergySage.

Why do we need Independent Contractor Coverage (ICC)? We only use subcontractors occasionally.

The ICC requirement is based on the nature of the risk, not the frequency of sub usage. Without an ICC endorsement, your GL policy may explicitly exclude liability arising from work performed by subcontractors. If a subcontractor causes damage or is injured on even a single EnergySage-referred job, and your policy has that exclusion, EnergySage could face exposure with no coverage to respond.

The good news: many GL policies already include ICC as standard. Before assuming you need to purchase additional coverage, ask your broker specifically whether your current policy includes or excludes independent contractor coverage.

I work as a sole proprietor. Do I still need Workers' Compensation?

Requirements vary by state. Some states exempt sole proprietors or single-member LLCs from Workers' Compensation requirements.

ADDITIONAL INSURED & WAIVER OF SUBROGATION

My COI says "Additional Insured as required by written contract." Is that enough?

No. Blanket additional insured language is not sufficient — EnergySage must be explicitly named in the Description of Operations. Ask your agent to add the exact language shown in Section 2. This single language block covers both the Additional Insured and Waiver of Subrogation requirements and is typically a same-day update.

What is a Waiver of Subrogation and why does EnergySage need it?

Subrogation is the right of an insurance company to pursue a third party that caused an insurance loss. A Waiver of Subrogation means your insurer gives up the right to sue EnergySage to recover costs after paying a claim. Without it, even if EnergySage is named as additional insured, your insurer could still come after EnergySage following a claim. The waiver protects EnergySage from that scenario and is a standard requirement for marketplace partners.

UMBRELLA & LIMITS

I have an Umbrella policy. Does that count toward my coverage limits?

Yes, if your underlying limits are below the required minimums, an Umbrella or Excess Liability policy can be used to bridge the gap. The COI must state that the Umbrella follows the form of the underlying policies, and the same additional insured and waiver of subrogation requirements must also extend to the Umbrella.

My state requires Claims-Made CGL coverage. What do I do?

EnergySage requires Occurrence form CGL policies. If you are in a state where Claims-Made is the standard for your trade, please contact your Partner Success Manager before submitting to discuss options.

My policy renews — what do I need to do?

You will receive automated reminder emails as your expiration date approaches. Do not wait until after expiration — expired coverage will cause your compliance status to lapse and will result in your account being paused.