JUNE 2026: We recently launched Cohort #11 of the live Electric Coach Course with Rewiring America.
At the same time, we’re also running our second asynchronous version of the course; a self-paced experience with recorded lessons and weekly live office hours.
And with that launch, we officially passed a major milestone: more than 2,100 Electric Coaches enrolled nationwide.
That number matters.
Not just because it reflects growth, but because it reflects something bigger happening across the country: people are actively looking for trusted guidance to help them navigate home electrification, energy upgrades, and the overwhelming number of decisions tied to modernizing their homes.
And increasingly, organizations on the national stage are turning to Abode to help lead that conversation.
Why This Program Exists
For many homeowners, electrification sounds great in theory.
But once real decisions start showing up: heat pumps, electrical panels, rebates, fuel switching, contractor quotes, insulation, timelines, financing; things get confusing fast.
Most people are trying to make smart decisions about one of the biggest assets in their lives: their home. That’s where Electric Coaches come in.
The program, developed through a partnership between Rewiring America and Abode Energy Management, trains people to become trusted community guides for electrification conversations.
Not salespeople. Not influencers.
Trusted neighbors, local leaders, volunteers, advocates, municipal staff, and community connectors who can help people make sense of the process.
Because when someone is overwhelmed, having a knowledgeable person in your corner changes everything.
A coach becomes a sounding board.
A confidence boost.
A second set of eyes.
A guide through the noise.
And that often leads to better outcomes and more action.
A Different Kind of Training Program
The Electric Coach Course is intentionally designed to be practical, approachable, and community-centered.
The live cohort runs over four weeks with approximately two hours of live course time each week. Participants can also dive deeper through optional learning modules, recorded sessions, national office hours, and regional office hours that allow for continued discussion and support.
The asynchronous version, which launched earlier this year, gives participants even more flexibility through self-paced lessons paired with live weekly office hours.
The structure matters because this isn’t just about information transfer. It’s about building confidence.
Participants learn foundational electrification concepts, communication strategies, how to think about homes as systems, and how to guide people through real-world questions around comfort, cost, climate, timing, and decision-making.
At the end of the program, participants complete a capstone credential that recognizes their training and commitment.
Why People Apply
Demand for the course has grown dramatically. Each cohort now receives roughly 500 applications for about 240 available spots.
Applicants come from across the country, often connected to:
- Local climate groups
- Municipal sustainability teams
- Green teams
- Community organizations
- Nonprofits
- Local government
- Advocacy groups
- Energy and housing organizations
That group-based approach is intentional. People trust people they already know.
The most effective energy conversations often happen neighbor-to-neighbor, community-to-community, and through existing trusted networks.
The course helps equip those trusted voices with accurate information, practical tools, and a stronger understanding of how to help others move forward.
From a Pilot to a National Program
The Electric Coach program has evolved significantly since its early pilot cohorts.
The conception and creation of the program was a group effort by Abode’s Kristin Dupre, Travis Estes, Christopher Haringa, Mike Simons, and Mike Ostiguy. The Community Heat Pump Advocate pilot was tested in 2022-2023 in four Massachusetts towns: Acton, Arlington, Lexington, and Melrose. Once the programs proved successful, the idea was pitched (and accepted) to create a national model through Rewiring America. As the program expanded nationally, Abode Training Manager Edith Buhs took over leadership of the live training experience and helped scale the program into what it is today.
Now entering Cohort #11, the program continues to grow both in reach and in impact. For Abode, this work represents something important.
It demonstrates that the expertise we’ve built supporting clean energy programs in New England translates nationally.
The same challenges homeowners face in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, or Connecticut are showing up across the country:
- Confusion about incentives
- Questions about fuel costs
- Contractor uncertainty
- Project timing
- Fear of making the wrong decision
- Feeling overwhelmed by the process
The details may vary by region, climate, or utility landscape, but the core human challenge is remarkably consistent.
People want trusted help.
And increasingly, the industry is recognizing that education and guidance are just as important as technology itself.
Helping People Take Action
One of the most valuable aspects of the Electric Coach model is that it creates space for ongoing conversations.
Most homeowners don’t make electrification decisions overnight.
They ask questions.
They revisit ideas.
They compare options.
They wait until equipment fails.
They come back months later.
A trusted coach helps people move through that process at their own pace.That support can make the difference between someone feeling stuck and someone actually taking action. And at scale, that matters. Because the future of electrification isn’t just about equipment. It’s about trust, confidence, education, and helping people navigate change in a way that feels manageable.
We’re proud that Abode continues to play a role in shaping that work nationally alongside Rewiring America. And with more than 2,100 enrolled coaches and Cohort #11 now underway, we’re just getting started.
Learn more about the Electric Coach program through Rewiring America’s Electric Coaches page.