Kilowatt Kit
🇺🇸 Federal — Low & Moderate Income Published 2026-05-07 · 9 min read

HEEHRA Rebates 2025: Up to $14,000 in IRA Home Energy Rebates

The High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Act offers upfront cash rebates — not tax credits — for heat pumps, EV chargers, electrical panels and more. No tax liability needed. Here's who qualifies, what's covered, and how to access the money.

MUK
Written by

Muhammad founded KilowattKit after spending hours trying to decode confusing electricity bills — and realising there were no simple, jargon-free tools to help ordinary homeowners understand their energy costs. He researches electricity rates, EV charging, solar payback, and heat pump economics across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.

HEEHRA at a Glance

$14,000
Maximum per household
Upfront
Applied at point of sale
<150%
AMI income limit
No tax
liability required

Why HEEHRA Is Different from the Solar Tax Credit

The federal solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is powerful — but it only helps if you owe federal income taxes. If your income is low or you don't have significant tax liability, you may not be able to use it. HEEHRA was designed to solve exactly this problem.

Investment Tax Credit (30% ITC)

  • Reduces your tax bill after filing
  • Requires federal tax liability to use
  • Carryforward if credit exceeds liability
  • Covers solar panels, batteries, installation
  • Available to all income levels

HEEHRA Rebates

  • Reduces your upfront purchase cost
  • No tax liability needed — it's a rebate
  • Applied at point of sale by contractor
  • Covers appliances, heat pumps, chargers, panels
  • Income-limited (under 150% AMI)

What's Covered: Full Rebate Schedule

Upgrade Max rebate Notes
Heat pump (HVAC) $8,000 Largest single rebate — replaces gas furnace or AC
Electrical panel upgrade $4,000 Enables EV charger, heat pump, and solar-ready homes
EV charger (Level 2) $2,500 Home charging station installation
Heat pump water heater $1,750 Replaces traditional gas or electric water heater
Insulation & air sealing $1,600 Weatherisation, draught-proofing, attic insulation
Electric stove / cooktop / oven $840 Induction and standard electric both qualify
Electric clothes dryer $840 Heat pump dryers also eligible
Total maximum $14,000 Combined cap across all upgrades

Income Limits: How Much You Can Claim

HEEHRA rebate amounts depend on your household income compared to the Area Median Income (AMI) for your county or metropolitan area. AMI varies by location — the threshold for a household of four in San Francisco is very different from rural Mississippi.

Household income Rebate level Example: $8,000 heat pump
≤80% AMI 100% of cost (up to cap) Up to $8,000 rebate
80–150% AMI 50% of cost (up to cap) Up to $4,000 rebate
>150% AMI Not eligible for HEEHRA Use 25C tax credit instead

Check your AMI at huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html or ask your state energy office. AMI figures are updated annually by HUD.

Worked example: Full electrification upgrade

A household at 75% AMI undertakes a full home electrification project:

Heat pump (replaces gas furnace) −$8,000 rebate
Electrical panel upgrade (200A) −$4,000 rebate
Level 2 EV charger −$2,000 rebate (capped at 100% of $2k cost)
Total project cost: ~$28,000 Subtotal: $14,000 in rebates
Remaining out-of-pocket (before state credits) ~$14,000

How to Access HEEHRA Rebates

1
Check your state's programme status

Visit your state energy office website or home.energy.gov to confirm HEEHRA is active in your state and which upgrade categories are currently funded.

2
Verify your income eligibility

Look up the AMI for your county at HUD's website. Compare your household income to the 80% and 150% AMI thresholds to determine your rebate percentage.

3
Find an enrolled contractor

Only contractors enrolled in your state's HEEHRA programme can apply the point-of-sale rebate. Your state energy office maintains a list of participating installers.

4
Rebate applied at point of sale

Once the contractor confirms your eligibility, the rebate is deducted from your invoice upfront — you never see the full cost. The contractor then claims reimbursement from the state.

Also claim the 30% federal solar ITC

HEEHRA doesn't cover solar panels — but the federal Investment Tax Credit gives you 30% back on your solar system cost. Stack both programmes for maximum savings.

Solar ITC guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is HEEHRA and how is it different from the ITC?
HEEHRA (High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Act) is Part 2 of the Inflation Reduction Act's home energy provisions. Unlike the 30% Investment Tax Credit — which reduces your tax bill after you file — HEEHRA provides upfront point-of-sale rebates applied directly at the time of purchase or installation. This means you don't need to wait until tax season, and crucially, you don't need any federal tax liability to benefit. The rebates are administered through state energy offices and passed on by participating contractors.
Who qualifies for the full HEEHRA rebates?
To receive the maximum HEEHRA rebates (100% of costs up to the cap), your household income must be at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for your location. Households earning between 80% and 150% AMI are eligible for 50% rebates. Households above 150% AMI are not eligible for HEEHRA, though they can still claim the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) and solar ITC. Income and AMI thresholds are verified through state energy offices.
Can I stack HEEHRA rebates with the federal tax credit?
Yes — HEEHRA rebates and federal tax credits can be stacked, but with one rule: you cannot claim the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) on any portion of costs already covered by a HEEHRA rebate. For example, if you install a heat pump costing $12,000 and receive an $8,000 HEEHRA rebate, you can only claim the 25C credit on the remaining $4,000 ($1,200 max anyway). Solar panels and batteries claimed under the ITC (30%) are separate and not affected by HEEHRA eligibility.
How do I access HEEHRA rebates — do I apply directly?
HEEHRA rebates are administered by individual state energy offices, not directly by the federal government. You access them through participating contractors who are enrolled in your state's programme. When you hire an enrolled contractor, they apply the rebate at point of sale (reducing your upfront cost), then claim reimbursement from the state. Check your state energy office website or the US Department of Energy's rebate finder at home.energy.gov to find enrolled contractors in your area.
Is HEEHRA available in all states?
HEEHRA funding was allocated to all 50 states plus territories under the IRA, but rollout has been uneven. Some states launched programmes in 2024; others are still setting up administration. As of 2025–2026, most states have active programmes, but availability of specific rebate categories (e.g., heat pump vs. electrical panel) varies by state. Your state energy office is the authoritative source for what's currently available and what contractors are enrolled.
What is the $14,000 maximum and how is it calculated?
The $14,000 cap is the maximum total HEEHRA rebate a household can receive across all eligible upgrades combined. You cannot exceed $14,000 even if your individual appliance rebates would add up to more. Each appliance has its own separate cap: heat pump ($8,000), electrical panel ($4,000), EV charger ($2,500), heat pump water heater ($1,750), electric stove ($840), electric dryer ($840), weatherisation/insulation ($1,600). These individual caps are also subject to 100% or 50% of actual cost limits based on your income level.
Do HEEHRA rebates apply to solar panels?
No — solar panels are not covered by HEEHRA. The HEEHRA programme focuses on electrification of heating, cooling, water heating, cooking, transportation (EV chargers), and electrical infrastructure. Solar panels are covered separately by the 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC) under Section 25D. However, EV chargers (up to $2,500 via HEEHRA) and electrical panel upgrades (up to $4,000) can make your home solar-ready, complementing a future solar installation.
Sources: US Department of Energy Home Energy Rebates programme (home.energy.gov, 2025); Inflation Reduction Act (H.R. 5376, 2022), Division H — High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Act; HUD AMI lookup tool (huduser.gov, 2025); ACEEE State Scorecard 2025. Programme availability varies by state — check your state energy office for current status and enrolled contractors.