A February pulse check on the Home Energy Rebates programs

The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced updates to the $8.8 billion Home Energy Rebates programs, and here’s what to know. 

The latest: Four states — California, Hawaii, New Mexico, and New York — were the first to apply for DOE funding to kickstart their programs.

• Wisconsin is now making progress, announcing it’ll work with the DOE for funding. 

• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), in partnership with the DOE, is developing technology to help states verify homeowner incomes, which is crucial for determining rebates based on area median income (AMI).

What else to know: A tracker that shows which states have applied for funding was put together — see it here.

• Retroactive rebates will be allowed for projects initiated on or after August 16, 2022, under the Home Efficiency Rebates program. 

• “Stacking Home Energy Rebates with non-federal funds (like utility programs) is generally allowable and encouraged only if the total rebated value does not exceed the total cost of the project,” the DOE said.

• The DOE anticipates the launch of the first state rebate programs this summer, with more to follow in the fall and winter, however, industry experts tell Homepros that most launches may occur in 2025.

For contractors: $200 million in grants is available for states to train contractors on all things related to the programs.

• As it stands, states are required to pay contractors “within 4 weeks” of receiving an eligible rebate application, though processes may vary by state. 

Looking ahead: It’s recommended that contractors check for updates from their respective State Energy Offices, as program details may vary from state to state — see yours.

General FAQs for the programs are available here, and Homepros will continue to cover DOE updates as the industry pieces this puzzle together.