South Carolina Public Service Authority customers, South Carolina · Rebate
Smart Energy Existing Homes Rebates (Santee Cooper)
Run by Santee Cooper
Santee Cooper's 2026 Smart Energy Existing Homes program pays rebates for heat pumps ($300 to $700 a system, mini-splits $40 to $80 per half ton), heat pump water heaters ($400), duct replacement ($500), pool equipment and ENERGY STAR appliances, through November 30, 2026.
Amounts
How much you get
Mini/multi-split heat pumps $40 or $80 per ½ ton; single-phase heat pumps $300 or $400 per system; geothermal $600; hybrid heat pumps $500 or $700; heat pump water heater $400; whole-home duct replacement $500; heat pump pool heater $225; pool pump $275 (variable speed) or $100 (dual speed); ENERGY STAR refrigerator $30, clothes washer $20. The amount depends on which of these fits your install.
| What you install | You get |
|---|---|
| 15.3 SEER2 / 7.8 HSPF2: $40 per ½ tonMini/multi-split heat pump | $40 |
| 18.4 SEER2 / 8.7 HSPF2: $80 per ½ tonMini/multi-split heat pump | $80 |
| Tier 1 (split 15.2 SEER2 / 7.8 HSPF2; packaged 14.4 SEER2 / 6.9 HSPF2): $300 per systemSingle-phase heat pump | $300 |
| Tier 2 (split 16.3 SEER2 / 8.0 HSPF2; packaged 15.2 SEER2 / 6.9 HSPF2): $400 per systemSingle-phase heat pump | $400 |
| ENERGY STAR (single family only): $600 per systemGeothermal heat pump | $600 |
| 16.7 SEER2: $500 per systemHybrid heat pump | $500 |
| 19.3 SEER2: $700 per systemHybrid heat pump | $700 |
| Heat pump water heater (ENERGY STAR): $400 | $400 |
| Whole-home duct replacement (over 50% of ductwork): $500 | $500 |
| COP 5+ (single family only): $225Heat pump pool heater | $225 |
| Variable speed pool pump (single family only): $275 | $275 |
| Dual speed pool pump (single family only): $100 | $100 |
| ENERGY STAR refrigerator (7.75 cu ft or larger): $30 | $30 |
| ENERGY STAR clothes washer: $20 | $20 |
Eligibility
Do I qualify?
You need to meet all 6 of these.
Santee Cooper residential customer on the Residential General Service (RG) rate, with the home separately metered.
The applicant must own the home or have the landlord's authorization; tenants need the homeowner to submit a Homeowner Participation Agreement.
What to doRenters: have the homeowner submit the Homeowner Participation Agreement and application.
The home must be at least five years old (not required for appliances, pool equipment and smart thermostats).
Heat pumps and duct replacement must be bought from and installed by a Santee Cooper Residential Trade Ally; heat pump water heaters need a contractor with a South Carolina Plumbing Contractor's License.
What to doPick an installer from Santee Cooper's Residential Trade Ally list. Get a quote from a contractor
Heat pumps must replace an existing electric HVAC or hybrid heat pump system; no fuel switching from gas.
Equipment must be bought and installed, and paperwork submitted, between December 1, 2025 and November 30, 2026. Funds are limited, first come, first served.
Equipment
What equipment counts
The program sets these minimums for heat pumps.
- Heat pumps
Split system at least 15.2 SEER2 and 7.8 HSPF2; packaged at least 14.4 SEER2 and 6.9 HSPF2 (Tier 1).
- Heat pumps
Mini/multi-split at least 15.3 SEER2 and 7.8 HSPF2.
Heat pump pool heater COP of 5 or greater.
Applying
How to apply
2026 program year: buy, install and submit between December 1, 2025 and November 30, 2026. Applications after funds run out can wait-list for the next program year.
- Check the home and equipment qualify.
Optional: book a free Home Energy House Call.
- Choose a Santee Cooper Trade Ally (or a licensed plumber for a heat pump water heater).
Not needed for appliances and pool equipment.
- Have the equipment installed.
- Submit the rebate application with the invoice, AHRI certificate and photos as required.
Email residential.energy@santeecooper.com or mail Santee Cooper Energy Support Services, 305A Gardner Lacy Road, Myrtle Beach, SC 29579, by November 30, 2026.
- Receive a check.
The pages say 6-8 weeks.
Forms and instructions, including for applying by mailSantee Cooper: 2026 Smart Energy Existing Homes Program Manual · Santee Cooper: Heat Pump Rebates · Santee Cooper: Heat Pump Water Heater Rebate · Santee Cooper: Duct Replacement Rebate · Santee Cooper: ENERGY STAR Appliance Rebates · Santee Cooper: Pool Equipment Rebates · Santee Cooper: 2026 Smart Energy Existing Homes Rebate Application
Questions about applying(843)347-3399 ext. 3910 or residential.energy@santeecooper.com
Stacking
Use it with
You can get these too.
South Carolina Public Service Authority customers, South Carolina
Smart Energy Loan for Energy Efficiency (Santee Cooper)
Up to $20,000 loan
Santee Cooper lends homeowners $500 to $20,000 at 5.0% for high efficiency heat pumps, duct replacement and heat pump water heaters, repaid over up to 60 months on loans of $1,000 or more.
Checked Oct 25, 2026
South Carolina Public Service Authority customers, South Carolina
Home Energy House Call (Santee Cooper)
Work done at no cost
A Santee Cooper Energy Advisor visits your home for about an hour, gives personalized energy-saving recommendations and a free smart power strip.
Checked Oct 25, 2026
Your address
Next steps
Check that it covers your address. Then, if you want, ask for a contractor quote.
Is it available at your address?
Before anything else
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 Smart Energy Existing Homes Rebates (Santee Cooper) pay?
$20 to $700, depending on what you install. The table under How much you get lists each amount.
Do I need to be a South Carolina Public Service Authority customer?
Yes. It’s only for homes in South Carolina Public Service Authority customers, South Carolina. See Do I qualify for the details.
Do renters qualify?
The applicant must own the home or have the landlord's authorization; tenants need the homeowner to submit a Homeowner Participation Agreement. Renters: have the homeowner submit the Homeowner Participation Agreement and application.
Do I have to use a contractor?
Yes. Heat pumps and duct replacement must be bought from and installed by a Santee Cooper Residential Trade Ally; heat pump water heaters need a contractor with a South Carolina Plumbing Contractor's License.
What’s the deadline?
Apply by November 30, 2026.
Can I combine it with other rebates?
Yes, with Smart Energy Loan for Energy Efficiency (Santee Cooper) and Home Energy House Call (Santee Cooper). See Use it with.
Is it still available?
Yes. It was open when we last checked, on October 25, 2026.
Plain words
Words used on this page
- SEER2 and EER2
- Cooling efficiency ratings on the model’s spec sheet. Higher is better.
- HSPF2
- A heat pump’s heating efficiency rating. Higher is better.
References
Sources
This page is built from these official pages, run by the program itself.
- Santee Cooper: 2026 Smart Energy Existing Homes Program Manual
- Santee Cooper: Heat Pump Rebates
- Santee Cooper: Heat Pump Water Heater Rebate
- Santee Cooper: Duct Replacement Rebate
- Santee Cooper: ENERGY STAR Appliance Rebates
- Santee Cooper: Pool Equipment Rebates
- Santee Cooper: 2026 Smart Energy Existing Homes Rebate Application
When one of these pages changes, we re-check this page against it.
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