All of North Carolina · Instant discount
Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR)
Run by North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, State Energy Office (Energy Saver North Carolina)
Instant discounts of up to $14,000 per household on heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, electric cooking, heat pump dryers, insulation and air sealing, panels and wiring, for North Carolina households up to 150% of area median income, through a Registered Contractor.
Amounts
How much you get
Households below 80% of area median income (Tier 1) get 100% of project costs covered, and households between 80% and 150% of AMI (Tier 2) get 50%, both up to a lifetime maximum of $14,000 per household. The amount depends on which of these fits your install.
| What you install | You get |
|---|---|
| Tier 1 (income up to 80% AMI) | 100% |
| Tier 2 (income between 80% and 150% AMI) | 50% |
Capped at $14,000 per household.
Eligibility
Do I qualify?
You need to meet all 8 of these.
Your home is in North Carolina.
Household income up to 150% of area median income for your county and household size (Energy Saver NC publishes the county limits in its AMI Summary). Households above 150% AMI aren't eligible.
Households enrolled in certain income-based programs, such as SNAP, may be automatically eligible for Tier 1 rebates (see the Income Qualification Checklist).
Homeowners and renters can apply. Renters need landlord approval.
What to doIf you rent, get your landlord's approval (the program has a Property Owner Acknowledgement Form).
Single-family homes. Rebates for multifamily buildings are not yet available.
All work must be installed by an Energy Saver NC Registered Contractor. Self-installation doesn't qualify.
What to doUse the Energy Saver NC Registered Contractor finder and get quotes from a listed contractor.
Since Sept. 1, 2026, HEAR can't pay to replace gas or other fossil-fuel appliances; it can pay to replace existing electric appliances with more efficient electric equipment. Insulation and air sealing may be required alongside a heat pump project.
No retroactive rebates. Work already installed before you applied doesn't qualify.
Equipment
What equipment counts
The program sets these minimums.
Must be ENERGY STAR certified where an ENERGY STAR specification exists for the product.
Contractor must do a Manual J load calculation to size the heat pump.
Applying
How to apply
Your contractor applies for you. First come, first served; expected to run until 2031 or until funds run out. Get approved before you buy anything.
- Verify your income eligibility.
Apply online, by email, by phone or by mail with proof of income or enrollment in a qualifying program. Doing this doesn't commit you to a project.
- Get quotes from one or more Registered Contractors.
For a heat pump, the contractor must do a Manual J load calculation to size it.
- Sign the quote.
The quote shows the instant discount and what you'll owe the contractor.
- Contractor installs and submits the final application.
The contractor submits photos showing the work meets requirements; the rebate is taken off your bill at installation.
Proof of income or enrollment in a qualifying federal program
Property Owner Acknowledgement Form (renters)
Forms and instructions, including for applying by mailHEAR Updates and Program Changes · Energy Saver North Carolina FAQs for North Carolina Residents · Energy Saver North Carolina HOMES & HEAR Program Requirements (Version 2.0, February 2026) · Energy Saver North Carolina (NC DEQ)
Questions about applying866-998-8555 or energysavernc@aptim.com
Stacking
Use it with
You can use both HEAR and HOMES, but not for the same upgrade or equipment type. You can also get utility incentives for the same product as long as the combined rebates don't exceed the purchase price.
All of North Carolina
Homeowners Managing Efficiency Savings (HOMES)
Up to $16,000 back
Rebates of up to $16,000 for whole-home energy upgrades (insulation, air sealing, heating and cooling, water heaters, windows, appliances) that save at least 20% of a home's modeled energy use, for North Carolina households up to 150% of area median income.
Checked Oct 25, 2026
All of North Carolina
Weatherization Assistance Program
Work done at no cost
Free home energy audit and upgrades (air sealing, insulation, duct sealing, heating and cooling tune-up, repair or replacement, and safety measures) for North Carolina homeowners and renters with incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level, through local weatherization agencies.
Checked Oct 26, 2026
Your address
Next steps
Check that it covers your address. This program has to approve you before you buy anything, so start with the program, not a contractor quote.
Is it available at your address?
Before anything else
Use the Energy Saver NC Registered Contractor finder and get quotes from a listed contractor.
Your quote request is in If a contractor we work with serves your ZIP, they can contact you. We take one request per person; contact us to change it.
Get an email if this program changes
We'll write if its amount, status or deadline changes. Nothing else.
FAQ
Questions
How much does Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) pay?
Up to $14,000.
Is there an income limit?
Household income up to 150% of area median income for your county and household size (Energy Saver NC publishes the county limits in its AMI Summary). Households above 150% AMI aren't eligible.
Do renters qualify?
Homeowners and renters can apply. Renters need landlord approval. If you rent, get your landlord's approval (the program has a Property Owner Acknowledgement Form).
Do I have to use a contractor?
Yes. All work must be installed by an Energy Saver NC Registered Contractor.
Do I need approval before I buy?
Yes. Apply before you buy or install anything; purchases made first don’t qualify.
What’s the deadline?
No fixed deadline. Apply any time while it’s open.
Can I combine it with other rebates?
Yes, with Homeowners Managing Efficiency Savings (HOMES) and Weatherization Assistance Program. See Use it with.
Is it still available?
Yes. It was open when we last checked, on October 25, 2026.
Is this program for emergencies like a broken system or storm damage?
No. Energy Saver NC is for planned upgrades; if you need to replace broken equipment quickly, HEAR is the faster route because it doesn't require a full home energy assessment.
Can I apply on paper?
Yes. Mail the Income Eligibility Application to Energy Saver North Carolina, 1613 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1613.
Do I have to report the rebate as income on my taxes?
No. Per the U.S. Treasury, Home Energy Rebates are treated as a reduction in the purchase price, not income. The program doesn't give tax advice.
Can I use the wiring or insulation rebate more than once?
Yes, up to the lifetime maximum. For example, two separate electrical wiring rebates on two projects are fine as long as together they don't exceed $2,500.
My home has gas heat. Should I still apply?
Yes. The program asks current and new applicants to keep applying even with fossil-fuel systems; the processing team and your contractor will explain which upgrades are possible.
Plain words
Words used on this page
- No retroactive incentives
- Anything you bought before signing up doesn’t qualify.
- Fossil-fuel heating
- Heating that burns gas, oil or propane.
- AMI
- Area median income: the middle household income where you live, set each year by HUD.
References
Sources
This page is built from these official pages, run by the program itself.
- Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) in North Carolina
- HEAR Updates and Program Changes
- Energy Saver North Carolina FAQs for North Carolina Residents
- Energy Saver North Carolina HOMES & HEAR Program Requirements (Version 2.0, February 2026)
- Energy Saver North Carolina (NC DEQ)
When one of these pages changes, we re-check this page against it.
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