Heat pump rebates in Wisconsin (2026)

Unlike several states where HEAR is still pre-launch, Focus on Energy says plainly: “Both Home Efficiency Rebates (HOMES) and Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate (HEAR) are NOW AVAILABLE.” Contractor-installed rebates launched in December 2024 and the retail path followed in September 2025.

• Up to $8,000 — ENERGY STAR electric heat pump for space heating and cooling (registered contractor)
• Up to $1,750 — heat pump water heater
• Up to $840 — heat pump clothes dryer
• Up to $4,000 electrical panel · up to $2,500 wiring · up to $1,600 insulation, ventilation and air sealing
• “A single household cannot receive more than $14,000 total in rebate dollars from this program.”

Income rules are strict and worth reading twice. Focus on Energy states: “All participants must verify their gross household annual income is less than 150% of the Area Median Income (AMI)”, and bluntly, “Higher income households (>150% AMI) are NOT eligible for this program.” Below 80% AMI covers 100% of project cost up to the caps; 80–150% AMI covers 50%.

The PSC of Wisconsin adds an important caveat: “Wisconsin has received updated federal guidance regarding the Home Energy Rebate Programs. Wisconsin’s programs remain operational while the guidance is under review.” Operational today, under review — which is part of why the September date matters.

This is the layer everybody qualifies for, and the delivery is the appealing part: “Instant discounts are paid to the participating distributor and passed through your contractor, onto you. No forms. No waiting for a check in the mail.”

Replacing propane? The amounts drop sharply — $100–$150 standard, $300–$350 income-qualified. That is stated in the same table and catches people out.

Geothermal is a separate mail-in rebate for equipment installed on or after 1 January 2026: $750 with auxiliary electric resistance or LP, $1,000 with auxiliary natural gas. It is limited to “customers of participating electric utilities who do not have access to natural gas service”.

Focus on Energy sets the stacking rules explicitly:

• “One street address may not receive a rebate from both IRA Home Efficiency Rebates (HOMES) and HEAR for the same upgrade type.”
• “Projects receiving rebates from either of these programs may also be eligible to receive Focus on Energy rebates.” — so HEAR plus the instant discount is allowed.
• “If you qualify at 80% AMI for IRA programs, you are already qualified for income-based Focus on Energy programs.”

There is also HOMES, which is not income-restricted — “All homeowners are eligible to participate in HOMES” — and pays on modelled whole-home savings: at 35% or greater savings, up to $10,000 below 80% AMI, up to $4,000 at 80–150% AMI, and up to $3,000 above 150% AMI. Projects must cut energy use by at least 20%, and you can only participate in HOMES or HEAR, not both.

Focus on Energy states that new eligibility requirements take effect on 1 September 2026 but the published detail concerns the retail and coupon path. Whether the $8,000 contractor-installed heat pump rebate changes on that date is not stated on the page. We are not going to guess. If that figure is load-bearing in your decision, confirm it with Focus on Energy directly before you sign anything.

• Focus on Energy — Heating and Cooling (instant discount tiers, deadlines)
• Focus on Energy — HEAR / IRA rebates (amounts, AMI rules, September 2026 changes)
• Focus on Energy — Geothermal rebate (2026 programme year)
• Focus on Energy — Home Efficiency Rebates / HOMES
• Public Service Commission of Wisconsin — federal funding / programme status

Programmes change without notice. If a figure here is out of date, tell us — we fix it and change the date at the top.