The two programs
| Program | What it pays for | Amounts DOE lists |
|---|---|---|
| HOMES, Home Owner Managing Energy Savings | Projects that significantly reduce a household’s energy use, measured against the home. | Up to $8,000 off a project. |
| HEEHR, High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebates | Efficient electric equipment and related work, such as heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, induction cooking, heat pump dryers, insulation and air sealing, wiring and panels. | Up to $840 for cooking and dryers, $1,600 for insulation and sealing, $1,750 for a heat pump water heater, $2,500 for wiring, $4,000 for a panel and $8,000 for a heat pump. |
Source: DOE home upgrades page, read October 10, 2026. DOE Program Notice 26-1 covers HOMES, 26-2 covers state HEEHR programs and 26-3 covers tribes. The listed amounts are ceilings from before the 2026 changes. Your state sets what it pays.
What changed on May 29, 2026
DOE Program Notice 26-2 revised the earlier guidance for HEEHR, which it renamed from Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates. Its changes include:
| Change | What it means |
|---|---|
| Fuel switching removed | Rebates no longer cover replacing non-electric appliances. They cover upgrades from existing electric equipment to more efficient electric equipment, and new construction. |
| Weatherization first | Homes generally need insulation and air sealing rebates before heating and cooling upgrades, unless already sealed and insulated to a state-specified level. |
| Equity requirements dropped | The 40 percent reservation for low-income households under Justice40, and the disadvantaged-community requirements, are removed. |
| Heat pump flexibility | A home may keep an existing fossil-fuel system when installing a heat pump, even if the heat pump is not the primary heat. |
| More ways to buy | Combination washer-dryers qualify, shipping and certain costs can be covered, and do-it-yourself retail purchases are encouraged except for heating and cooling installations. |
| Less paperwork for states | Some state planning documents become optional. |
Programs that had already launched must make these changes within three months of the notice unless DOE approves more time. Previously approved reservations can still be completed, but new reservations for projects that do not follow the new rules are not allowed. Programs that have not launched must follow the new rules before they launch.
Source: DOE Home Energy Rebates Program Notice 26-2 (effective May 29, 2026), read October 10, 2026.
Who can get a rebate
Federal law ties the size of a rebate to household income relative to the area median income, with the most help for lower-income households, and homeowners and renters can be eligible, depending on the program. States decide the details, the products and the application process, and they pay the rebate at the point of sale or after the project. Ask your state energy office for its income tiers and its list of qualifying products.
Income eligibility is decided by the program, not by this page. We do not collect your information.
How to find your state program
- Search for your state energy office and the words "home energy rebates."
- Check whether the program has launched, and the date. Programs launch on different schedules.
- See which contractors are approved, because many programs require a participating contractor.
- Ask whether you must reserve the rebate before you start work.
- Compare with utility rebates for the same equipment.
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
What is HEEHRA?
It is the older name for the electrification rebate program, Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates. DOE renamed it High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebates, or HEEHR.
What is the difference between HOMES and HEEHR?
HOMES pays for projects that cut a home’s energy use. HEEHR pays for efficient electric equipment such as heat pumps and heat pump water heaters.
Is my state offering these rebates?
Each state launches on its own schedule. Check your state energy office. A rebate cannot be paid by a program that has not launched.
Can I get a rebate for switching from gas to electric?
Not under the 2026 rules. DOE removed rebates for replacing non-electric appliances. Rebates now cover upgrades from existing electric equipment and new construction.