Home Energy Rebates by State: Which States Have Launched in 2026

Home energy rebates by state are now the main federal help for home upgrades, because the federal 25C and 25D tax credits ended for work done after 2025. The money comes from Washington, but each state decides whether to run a program, who qualifies and how much it pays. This guide shows which states had launched as of the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) update of September 30, 2026, what changed in 2026, and how to find and apply for your state’s program.

What are the federal Home Energy Rebates?

The Home Energy Rebates are two federal programs created by the Inflation Reduction Act and funded with $8.8 billion. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives the money to states, and states run the programs. Homeowners do not apply to DOE. You apply through your state’s program, often with an approved contractor.

The two programs work differently:

DOE’s Home Energy Rebates page confirms the up-to-$8,000 and up-to-$14,000 figures. It also tells homeowners to contact their state or territory energy office for status and eligibility.

HEEHR statutory caps per item

The original law set maximum HEEHR amounts for each upgrade. These are statutory maximums. Your state’s program sets the actual amounts, and some states pay less or limit which items qualify.

Under the statute, households under 80% of AMI could get up to 100% of project costs covered, within the caps. Households between 80% and 150% of AMI could get up to 50%. Households above 150% of AMI do not qualify for HEEHR.

What changed under DOE Program Notice 26-2 in 2026?

DOE rewrote the HEEHR rules in 2026. Program Notice 26-2 took effect May 29, 2026, and was announced June 1, 2026. The biggest change: HEEHR no longer pays to switch from gas, oil, propane or other fossil fuels to electric equipment. Heat pump rebates now go mainly to homes that already heat with electricity.

The main changes reported by DOE-funded state programs and news coverage:

• No fuel switching. HEEHR rebates no longer cover replacing a gas, oil or propane appliance with an electric one (DOE Program Notice 26-2, effective May 29, 2026; NC DEQ program update).
• Heat pumps for electric homes. Heat pump rebates are limited to homes that already heat with electricity, or to new construction.
• Insulation first. Households generally must address insulation and air sealing before appliance rebates, unless the home already meets a level the state sets.
• Equity rules removed. Diversity, equity and inclusion and Justice40 elements were removed.
• Transition period. States that were already running programs had about three months to adjust. North Carolina’s State Energy Office says the changes must be implemented by September 1, 2026.

North Carolina’s page also says electric-to-electric upgrades are now allowed, so a household with old electric resistance heat or an old electric water heater may still qualify for a more efficient electric model.

Which states have launched Home Energy Rebates?

As of NASEO’s tracker, last updated September 30, 2026, 8 states and the District of Columbia had launched HOMES programs, and 13 states and DC had launched HEEHR programs. The table lists launch dates as reported by NASEO, with links to the official program pages. Launched does not mean funds are still available today.

Source: NASEO Home Energy Rebates tracker, last updated September 30, 2026.

Notes on specific states

• District of Columbia: NASEO notes that HEEHR rebates are only available to households below 80% of AMI until 2027, and the HOMES program is for multifamily buildings.
• West Virginia: HOMES is a pilot for select households. The state page invites residents to join a waitlist and lists a contractor and agency finder line at 800-982-3386.
• Colorado: Colorado’s single-family HEEHR program was reported closed in 2026. Check the Colorado Energy Office page for current status before applying.
• Arizona: NASEO notes multifamily rebates had not yet been announced.
• Indiana and New York: both offer no-cost home energy assessments to eligible households as part of their programs.
• Not participating: South Dakota did not apply for the funds, and Idaho’s legislature acted to stop participating.

Some programs have run through their funding or paused new applications. A state appearing in this table does not guarantee money is available on the day you apply.

How do I find my state’s program?

The fastest route is your state energy office. Every state has one, and NASEO keeps a directory of state energy offices. If your state is not in the table above, its energy office page will say whether a program is planned, paused or not offered, and many offer email sign-ups for launch alerts.

Follow these steps:

1. Open the NASEO Home Energy Rebates tracker and look for your state.
2. If your state is listed, follow the link to the official program page. Do not use links from ads or sales calls.
3. If it is not listed, open the NASEO state energy office directory, click your state, and look for “Home Energy Rebates,” “HOMES” or “HEAR.”
4. Check your household against the program’s income table or AMI calculator.
5. Sign up for updates if applications are not open yet.

How do I apply for a Home Energy Rebate?

Most state programs follow a similar path. You confirm eligibility, often by uploading proof of income or showing enrollment in a qualifying benefit program. Then an approved contractor assesses your home, proposes work, and applies the rebate as a discount on your invoice. You rarely buy first and apply later.

A typical process looks like this:

1. Check eligibility. Confirm you live in a participating state and meet the income and home requirements.
2. Gather documents. Usually ID, proof of address or ownership, recent income documents and a utility bill.
3. Pick an approved contractor. Many states only pay rebates through contractors on their official list.
4. Get an assessment. Many programs now start with an energy assessment, and the 2026 rules emphasise insulation and air sealing first.
5. Approve the work scope and reservation. Make sure the rebate amount is written on the quote before work starts.
6. Complete the work and sign off. Some programs inspect the job before paying the contractor.

North Carolina tells applicants that they do not need to figure out insulation or air sealing needs themselves during the application. The contractor and program team explain which upgrades are possible. Our home energy audit guide explains what a good assessment includes.

What if my state has no program or funds run out?

You still have options. Utilities, state programs and income-based programs continue regardless of the federal rebate status. These often cover the same upgrades, such as insulation, air sealing, heat pump water heaters and smart thermostats, and some can be combined with each other.

• Utility rebates: Check your electric and gas utility websites for efficiency rebates and subsidised audits.
• DSIRE: The Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency, run by the NC Clean Energy Technology Center at NC State University, lists state and utility incentives by ZIP code.
• Weatherization Assistance Program: Income-eligible households can get free efficiency upgrades. See our guide to energy bill assistance.
• Low-cost upgrades: Air sealing and insulation often pay back without any rebate. Start with our air sealing guide.

Federal tax credits are not an option for 2026 work. Our 2026 energy tax credit guide explains what ended and what can still be claimed for 2025 projects.

Bottom line

Home Energy Rebates are real money, but they depend entirely on where you live and when you apply. As of NASEO’s September 30, 2026 update, 13 states and DC had launched at least one program. The 2026 rules ended HEEHR fuel-switching rebates and put insulation and air sealing first. Check your state energy office page for current status, use only approved contractors, and get the rebate amount in writing before work starts. This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Confirm eligibility with your state program.