Rocky Mountain Insulation opens Coeur d'Alene office

Rocky Mountain Insulation, a Pocatello-based business, has opened a regional office in Coeur d'Alene, said owner Matt Jolley.

Jolley and business partner Gabe Robinson, in business as Rocky Mountain since October 2009, are leasing space at 840 E. Best Ave., he said.

The Coeur d'Alene office will be sending people out door-to-door to sell insulation for homes, he said.

There will be nine people working out of the Coeur d'Alene office, with half of them being employees and half being independent contractors, Jolley said.

The company sells attic insulation primarily, but it also hopes to help customers receive power company incentives for making their homes more energy efficient, he said.

There are other satellite offices for Rocky Mountain, with two in Virginia, and one in Minnesota. The business hopes to open one soon in Las Vegas and one in Kansas City, Jolley said.

John Padula, office manager in Coeur d'Alene, said business "was awesome" when they opened the office several weeks ago.

But it slowed down when people started getting concerned it was a scam.

Avista, Kootenai Electric issue joint statement

A month ago, Avista Corp. and Kootenai Electric Cooperative sent out a joint press release saying they had received reports of a business going door-to-door selling energy conservation products and services to area utility consumers.

"Only Avista can tell a customer if they qualify for a rebate and how much that would be," Debbie Simock, an Avista spokeswoman, told The Press Tuesday.

Both utilities have standard business practices in place to help keep consumers safe from scams or misrepresentations.

Consumers can ask for identification if someone is on their property claiming to be a Kootenai Electric or Avista employee or to represent either utility. Kootenai Electric and Avista employees carry identification badges and generally drive company vehicles.

Kootenai Electric and Avista both offer a number of energy efficiency rebates and incentives, but work directly with consumers on those programs.

Employees typically do not need access to a home or business unless the consumer has contacted the appropriate utility about a specific problem or program. Also, employees do not phone or email consumers asking for confidential information.

Kootenai Electric members can call (208) 765-1200 to verify information. Avista customers can call the utility at (800) 227-9187.

When considering a home improvement project, it is always a good idea to be aware of aggressive sales tactics, get multiple bids from contractors, check a contractor's Better Business Bureau rating before signing an agreement and verify that the contractor is licensed and bonded in the state where the work is to be done.