Ohio Energy Rebates 2026

Quick answer: In Ohio, the federal HEAR program offers up to $8,000 for income-qualified heat pump installations (under 150% AMI) through the Ohio Department of Development — confirm current availability at development.ohio.gov before scheduling work. AEP Ohio offers a $50–$100 smart thermostat rebate; AES Ohio and Duke Energy Ohio have no residential HVAC rebate programs. The federal 25C home improvement tax credit expired December 31, 2025.

Ohio's federal HOMES and HEAR rebates are part of the DOE Home Energy Rebates program. We could not confirm from an official government source whether they are open to the public as of July 2026, so treat the amounts on this page as the federal framework and check with the administering agency first. The utility and weatherization programs listed further down this page are available today. The 25C and 25D federal tax credits expired December 31, 2025.

Status not confirmed. We could not confirm the current status of Ohio's HOMES and HEAR programs from an official government source, so the amounts below should be read as the federal framework rather than as a confirmed Ohio offer. The Ohio Department of Development's site does not mention the Home Energy Rebates anywhere, so neither a launch nor a refusal could be established. Check with the administering agency before starting a project. Source: Ohio Department of Development.

Program status and income limits on this page were last checked against official state and federal sources on . These programs change without notice.

HOMES Rebate Program in Ohio

Status: Status not confirmed

Administered by: Ohio Department of Development

Income Level Max Rebate Cost Coverage
Low income (≤80% AMI)Up to $8,00080% of project cost
Moderate income (80-150% AMI)Up to $4,00050% of project cost
Above 150% AMINot eligibleN/A

The Ohio Department of Development's site does not mention the Home Energy Rebates anywhere, so neither a launch nor a refusal could be established.

Official HOMES Program Page

HEAR (HEEHRA) Rebates in Ohio

Status: Status not confirmed
EquipmentMax Rebate
Heat Pump HVACUp to $8,000
Electrical PanelUp to $4,000
Wiring UpgradeUp to $2,500
Heat Pump Water HeaterUp to $1,750
Insulation & WeatherizationUp to $1,600
Electric Stove/CooktopUp to $840

Maximum total: $14,000 per household (low-income, ≤80% AMI). Moderate income (80-150% AMI) can receive up to $7,000.

Official HEAR Program Page

Find Pre-Screened Installers in Ohio

Get free, no-obligation quotes from certified local contractors for heat pumps, solar, and insulation — and see your total after Ohio rebates.

Compare Solar & Heat Pump Quotes Find Insulation Contractors

Free quotes · No commitment · Local contractors in Ohio

Ohio State Incentive Programs

Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)

Free weatherization for income-qualified Ohio households at or below 200% of federal poverty level. Administered through the Ohio Development Services Agency and local Community Action Agencies. Covers insulation, air sealing, furnace tune-ups, and window weatherstripping.

LIHEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program / HEAP)

Ohio's HEAP program helps income-qualified residents pay heating bills and covers emergency furnace repair and replacement. Ohio's HEAP program is one of the most generous in the Midwest.

Utility Rebate Programs in Ohio

AEP Ohio

Columbus, central and southeastern Ohio

FirstEnergy Ohio (Ohio Edison / CEI / Toledo Edison)

Northeast Ohio (Ohio Edison), Cleveland area (CEI), Northwest Ohio (Toledo Edison)

AES Ohio (formerly Dayton Power & Light)

Dayton and surrounding southwest Ohio

Duke Energy Ohio

Cincinnati and southwest Ohio

Columbia Gas of Ohio / Dominion Energy Ohio

Statewide natural gas

Area Median Income (AMI) in Ohio

HOMES and HEAR rebate amounts depend on your household income relative to the Area Median Income in your area. AMI varies by county and household size.

Area80% AMI (Family of 4)150% AMI (Family of 4)
Franklin County $89,200 $167,200
Cuyahoga County $84,000 $157,500
Hamilton County $87,900 $164,800
Montgomery County $82,400 $154,500
Summit County $77,700 $145,600
Lucas County $76,300 $143,000

Eligibility is set by county and household size. The 80% figures are the HUD FY2026 income limits published for each county and are reproduced as-is. HUD does not publish a 150% limit, so that column is computed from the 80% limit; checked against Minnesota's official 2026 county table, the method lands within $200 on every county, but where your state publishes its own table, that table governs. Figures are for a 4-person household and change with household size.

Use Our Calculator to Check Eligibility

Before you spend money on this

Energy Rebate Calculator is an independent website. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the U.S. Department of Energy, Ohio, or any other government agency, and nothing on this page is an offer, an application, or a promise of payment.

Federal and state rebate programs launch, pause, change their amounts and run out of funds without notice, and eligibility rules differ by county, household size, housing type and sometimes by region within a state. Most programs also refuse to pay for work completed before their launch date. Figures here are published to help you understand roughly where you stand, not to be relied on as the final word.

Confirm your eligibility and the current terms directly with the administering agency, and get written confirmation, before you sign a contract or buy equipment. Where this page cites an official source, that source governs. If you spot something out of date on this page, tell us and we will correct it.

Data vintage. The rebate data on this page was last updated on . We publish this date so you can judge for yourself how current the figures are.

Frequently Asked Questions

What energy rebates are available in Ohio in 2026?

Ohio homeowners can stack federal HEAR rebates (up to $8,000 for heat pumps, income-restricted under 150% AMI) and federal HOMES rebates (up to $8,000 for whole-home retrofits) with the utility programs that still exist. AES Ohio's mandated home efficiency programs ended in 2020 under Ohio House Bill 6, and Duke Energy Ohio has no residential rebate program. AEP Ohio and FirstEnergy Ohio offer a smart thermostat incentive for income-qualified customers. Federal 25C and 25D tax credits expired December 31, 2025.

How do I qualify for HEAR rebates in Ohio?

HEAR rebates require household income below 150% of Area Median Income (AMI). For a family of four in Columbus, that's approximately $152,700. Rebates are delivered as point-of-sale discounts on contractor invoices, you do not file a tax return or wait for a refund. Contact the Ohio Department of Development or a participating HEAR contractor to apply.

Are Ohio HEAR rebates still available, have they run out?

HEAR funding is allocated per state, and availability depends on program draw-down. Contact the Ohio Department of Development (development.ohio.gov) for current funding status. Funding is first-come, first-served, if you are income-qualified, apply before signing a contractor agreement.

Can I stack HEAR rebates with utility rebates in Ohio?

Generally yes, federal HEAR rebates and state utility rebates (AEP Ohio, FirstEnergy, AES Ohio, Duke Energy Ohio) are separate programs and can be combined. The total rebate cannot exceed the cost of the equipment. Confirm stacking eligibility with your specific utility and HEAR program contractor.

Are federal tax credits still available in Ohio?

No. Both the Section 25C Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit and the Section 25D Residential Clean Energy Credit expired December 31, 2025, eliminated by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21, signed July 4, 2025). Equipment installed in 2026 or later does not qualify for these credits.

Which Ohio utility has the highest HVAC rebate?

Ohio utility HVAC rebates have largely disappeared. FirstEnergy Ohio (Ohio Edison, CEI, Toledo Edison) currently offers a no-cost smart thermostat to income-qualified customers rather than a general HVAC cash rebate. AEP Ohio offers a smart thermostat incentive and demand response bill credits. AES Ohio ended its mandated home efficiency programs in 2020 under House Bill 6.

Does Ohio have a heat pump water heater rebate?

Yes, through the federal HEAR program (income-restricted under 150% AMI), Ohio homeowners can receive up to $1,750 for a qualifying heat pump water heater. Some utilities also offer appliance rebates, check with your specific utility. The federal 25C water heater tax credit expired December 31, 2025.

Which Ohio utility offers the highest combined energy rebate in 2026?

There is no longer a large utility HVAC rebate in Ohio. AES Ohio offers none, its efficiency programs ended in 2020 under House Bill 6. Duke Energy Ohio has no residential HVAC rebate program. FirstEnergy Ohio offers a no-cost smart thermostat to income-qualified customers. AEP Ohio offers a smart thermostat incentive and demand response credits. The federal HEAR rebate, up to $8,000 for heat pumps for households under 150% AMI, is now the main Ohio incentive.

Can I get an Ohio utility rebate for a heat pump even if I don't qualify for HEAR income limits?

Yes. Ohio utility rebates from FirstEnergy, AES Ohio, Duke Energy Ohio, and AEP Ohio have no income restrictions, they are available to all residential customers in each utility's service territory. Utility programs typically require the heat pump to meet a minimum efficiency standard (usually SEER 16 or higher) and installation by a licensed contractor. Check your utility's website for current rebate amounts and eligible equipment lists, as programs update periodically.

How to Claim Your Ohio Rebates

5-step rebate process: Check eligibility, Find programs, Apply, Get improvements, Receive rebate