Last updated: · Sources verified
Maine’s heat pump rebates are among the largest we’ve verified in any state. Efficiency Maine pays up to $9,000 for a ducted whole-home system for low-income households ($6,000 moderate income, $3,000 any income), and a $500 limited-time bonus applies to upgrades completed and claimed by December 31, 2026. Maine’s energy office says HEAR is live through Efficiency Maine.
HEAR and HOMES in Maine
HEAR and HOMES are the federal rebate programs that replaced most of the help from the expired heat pump tax credit. Each state runs its own version. How HEAR and HOMES work nationwide.
| Program | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| HEAR (electrification rebates) | Open | Maine’s energy office says HEAR is live and administered by Efficiency Maine Trust (source) |
| HOMES (whole-home efficiency rebates) | Check current availability | Maine’s energy office said in June 2025 that its HOMES (HER) application was still pending with DOE; we couldn’t confirm a newer status. Check with Maine Governor’s Energy Office / Efficiency Maine. |
Heat pump rebates and incentives in Maine
| Program | Amount | Who qualifies | Key requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency Maine whole-home heat pump rebates Open (source) | Ducted whole-home systems: $9,000 (low income), $6,000 (moderate income), $3,000 (any income). Other whole-home systems: $3,000 / $2,000 / $1,000 per eligible outdoor unit. Lifetime limits apply | Three tiers: low income, moderate income, and any income | The heat pump must be your primary heating system. Single-wide mobile homes may qualify for up to $13,900 Combine with others: Yes: $500 limited-time bonus per housing unit (see below) |
| $500 limited-time heat pump bonus Open (source) | $500 per housing unit | Same as the whole-home rebates | Eligible whole-home upgrade completed, and the rebate claim emailed or postmarked, between March 1 and December 31, 2026. Not available with the single-wide mobile home rebate Combine with others: Yes, on top of the whole-home rebate |
Example: what a typical household could get
Example: a moderate-income household replaces an oil boiler with a ducted whole-home heat pump as its main heat source. Efficiency Maine’s rebate is $6,000, and if the work is done and the claim is sent by December 31, 2026, the $500 bonus brings it to $6,500. A low-income household with the same project would get $9,000 plus the bonus. Lifetime limits apply, so earlier rebates at the same home can reduce the amount.
How to apply, step by step
- Check your income tier (low, moderate, or any income) with Efficiency Maine.
- Plan a whole-home system. The rebates are for heat pumps that will be your primary heating system.
- Hire an installer and confirm the system type: ducted whole-home systems and other whole-home systems (paid per eligible outdoor unit) have different amounts.
- Finish and claim by December 31, 2026 to get the $500 bonus. Claims must be emailed or postmarked by then.
- Questions? Call Efficiency Maine at 866-376-2463.
Choosing a heat pump for Maine’s climate
Maine’s long, cold winters are exactly why its rebates focus on whole-home systems: a heat pump sized to heat the entire house, not just one room. Choose a cold-climate model and have the installer size it for your coldest weather.
Many Maine homes heat with oil or propane. A whole-home heat pump can take over most or all of that load, and you can keep the old system as backup if you want.
Maine heat pump rebate FAQ
How much is the Efficiency Maine heat pump rebate?
For ducted whole-home systems: $9,000 for low-income, $6,000 for moderate-income, and $3,000 for any-income households. Other whole-home systems get $3,000, $2,000, or $1,000 per eligible outdoor unit. Lifetime limits apply.
What is the $500 heat pump bonus?
An extra $500 per housing unit for eligible whole-home upgrades completed, and rebate claims emailed or postmarked, between March 1 and December 31, 2026.
Does the heat pump have to heat my whole house?
These rebates are for customers who will use heat pumps as their primary heating system.
Is HEAR available in Maine?
Maine’s energy office says HEAR is live and administered by Efficiency Maine Trust. The status of HOMES wasn’t confirmed on its page after June 2025.
Rebates in nearby states
Sources
- Maine Department of Energy Resources: Home Energy Rebates
- Efficiency Maine: Whole-home heat pump rebates
Programs change often. We verify every figure against the official source listed above; if something looks out of date, let us know.