Consumer Energy Rebates Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Last Updated On: October 13, 2026

Final guidance on qualifying purchases and how residents will access these rebates has not yet been determined. Residents seeking incentives for energy improvement purchases or projects available now should visit Virginia Energy Connect, Virginia's central hub for energy incentive information. This website will be updated as more information is available. The information below reflects the updated Program Notices released by the U.S. Department of Energy (U.S. DOE) on May 29, 2026.

What are the Home Energy Rebate Programs?

The Home Energy Rebate programs are two residential-focused energy efficiency programs.

The first program is the Home Owner Managing Energy Savings (HOMES) program. HOMES will provide up to $8,000 per household to support energy retrofit projects resulting in at least 20% modeled savings.* This program supports upgrades in single-family and multifamily dwellings, with eligibility and rebate amounts depending on household income and building type.

*Virginia Energy is currently evaluating higher rebate levels.

The second program is the High Efficiency Appliance Rebate (HEAR) program (a.k.a. the U.S. DOE's High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebates program), which will provide up to $14,000 per household in upfront rebates to support households in purchasing certain types of high-efficiency electric appliances. This rebate can support upgrades in single-family and multifamily dwellings.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) establishes the following rebate caps for HEAR, with levels available to a specific household varying based on household income and type of building:

  • ENERGY STAR-certified heat pump water heater: Up to $1,750
  • ENERGY STAR-certified heat pump for space heating and cooling: Up to $8,000
  • ENERGY STAR-certified electric stove, cooktop, range, or oven: Up to $840, subject to the combined limit below.
  • ENERGY STAR-certified heat pump clothes dryer: Up to $840 or combination washer-dryer, subject to the combined limit below.
  • Electrical load service center upgrade: Up to $4,000
  • Insulation, air sealing, and ventilation: Up to $1,600
  • Electric wiring: Up to $2,500

Each qualified appliance category can be rebated only once per dwelling unit. Within the cooking-appliance category, only one appliance (stove, cooktop, range, or oven) can receive a rebate. The cooking-appliance and clothes-dryer rebates share a combined maximum of $840 per dwelling unit. If rebates are provided for both, their total cannot exceed $840.

Are the Home Energy Rebates available now?

No. Virginia Energy's ability to launch the programs is contingent on the U.S. DOE's review and approval of Virginia Energy's application documents.

When will the Home Energy Rebates be available in Virginia?

Virginia Energy cannot provide an estimated date on when Home Energy Rebates will be available.

What is the status of Virginia's application?

Virginia Energy submitted updated application materials in September 2026. The proposed program design remains subject to the U.S. DOE's review and approval; launch timing, final eligibility requirements, and access procedures have not yet been established.

Can I get help paying for a new heat pump for space heating and cooling through the rebate programs?

Both the HOMES and HEAR programs offer rebates to help pay for a new heat pump in qualified households and projects qualified through a home assessment. Note that the two program rebates cannot be combined to pay for the same heat pump. The Home Energy Rebates Program's Verified Contractors will be assisting eligible applicants in navigating the program options and selecting the ones best suited for their individual needs.

Under current DOE program guidance, High Efficiency Appliance Rebates cannot be used to help pay for replacement of a non-electric appliance. The program may support qualifying heat-pump installations that retain existing fossil-fuel heating equipment.

What is a home assessment? Why is it required for heat pump projects?

A home energy assessment is the essential first step to lowering your energy bills. A proper home energy assessment (also called a "home energy audit") will tell you how much energy you use in your home, from daily routines to home envelope air leaks, and guide you on cost-effective measures to improve the energy efficiency of your home. The Home Energy Rebate Programs offer the required home assessments at no cost to the applicant.

The HOMES program requires a comprehensive professional energy assessment for all projects. The professional home energy assessment is a detailed, equipment-based look at the energy efficiency of a house (or any building). The energy assessor uses special equipment to measure the rate of airflow between the inside and outside of the house to detect unexpected air leaks. A heat pump, for example, will be far more energy efficient without air leakage.

The HEAR program requires a limited professional energy assessment for heat pump projects only. The professional home energy assessor will conduct a visual inspection of the insulation and air sealing prior to installation. If the home does not have sufficient insulation and air sealing for the heat pump to be effective, the applicant must also utilize an insulation rebate in addition to the heat pump rebate.

How much funding is planned for rebates in Virginia?

Virginia's proposed program budgets include approximately $75.2 million for HEAR rebates and $75.6 million for HOMES rebates. These amounts represent funding budgeted for rebates and remain subject to DOE approval. Here

Will the rebates be available at point-of-sales?

HEAR rebates are expected to be delivered through participating retailers or contractors, with the rebate reflected as a discount or other approved point-of-sale transaction. Final procedures remain subject to approval.

How do I get a rebate?

The process by which eligible recipients will access the rebates has not yet been established.

Who is eligible for the HOMES program?

Certain owners and tenants of single-family and affordable multifamily residential buildings are eligible for the HOMES program. Under Virginia's proposed HOMES design, eligible projects must be modeled before installation to achieve at least 20% energy savings. Virginia Energy is in the process of establishing detailed eligibility criteria for this program.

Are the rebates retroactive? Can I get reimbursed for an energy-efficiency purchase made before the rebate becomes available in Virginia?

The Inflation Reduction Act does not authorize states to offer High Efficiency Appliance Rebates retroactively. Virginia's proposed HOMES treatment remains under DOE review. Virginia will publish applicable project-timing requirements when finalized.

Interested individuals should review the U.S. Department of Energy's Home Efficiency Rebates (50121) Retroactivity Fact Sheet and Eligibility Checklists: Here

Please note that DOE requires all projects to be completed by a Verified Contractor to qualify for a rebate. Virginia's list of Verified Contractors has not yet been established. To that end, Virginia Energy cannot guarantee that a project with any contractor will qualify for a retroactive rebate. Beware of contractors who guarantee eligibility for the Home Energy Rebates prior to program launch. Households that pursue projects prior to program launch are cautioned that they may assume full risk of project ineligibility.

DOE strongly recommends waiting until the rebate programs launch before beginning your projects: Here

For more tips, visit: Here

I need to make a home energy upgrade now. What other resources are available?

Existing programs, including the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and utility energy efficiency programs, may be available. Residents currently looking for incentives for energy improvement purchases or projects that are available now should visit Virginia Energy Connect, Virginia's central hub for energy incentive information.

Who is eligible for HEAR?

Certain owners and tenants of single-family and affordable multifamily residential buildings are eligible for the High Efficiency Appliance Rebates. The Inflation Reduction Act restricts eligibility for High Efficiency Appliance Rebates to households earning up to 150% of the area median income. Virginia Energy is in the process of establishing detailed eligibility criteria for this program.

I am a renter. Do I still qualify for the rebates?

Tenants of single-family and multifamily residential buildings can apply for the rebates if they get written permission from their landlords. For the Home Energy Rebate programs, household income status is based on tenant income.

I live in a mobile home. Will I be eligible for rebates?

Manufactured and mobile homes are eligible housing types for Home Energy Rebates.

What technologies qualify for rebates?

HOMES projects are primarily evaluated based on modeled energy savings. An assessment may recommend insulation, air sealing, or other improvements; participants are not automatically required to implement every recommendation. All work must comply with applicable program requirements, building and energy codes, and permitting and safety requirements.

The High Efficiency Appliance Rebate is technology specific. Qualifying technologies include:

  • Heat pump for space heating and cooling,
  • Heat pump water heater,
  • Electric stove,
  • Cooktop,
  • Range or oven,
  • Heat pump clothes dryer and combination washer-dryer,
  • Electrical load service center upgrade,
  • Insulation,
  • Air sealing and ventilation, and
  • Electric wiring.

Can I apply for a rebate under both HOMES and HEAR?

Eligible households may access both rebates to pay for different purchases. Both rebates cannot be used to pay for the same purchase.

I am eligible for the Weatherization Assistance Program. Can I also apply for the Home Energy Rebate Programs?

Yes. Households may benefit from both Weatherization Assistance Program funding as well as Home Energy Rebate Program funding as long as the two funding sources are not combined to pay for the same purchase. For example, the Weatherization Assistance Program and Home Energy Rebate Program funding cannot both be used toward paying for a high-efficiency heat pump. One could be used toward a high-efficiency heat pump and another toward insulation.

Are new construction properties eligible for rebates?

New construction is not eligible for HOMES under Virginia's proposed design. Eligible HEAR measures may be available for qualifying new construction, subject to Virginia's final approved program rules.