Washington HEAR Rebates: What's Open in Puget Sound in 2026
Washington’s HEAR rebates run through local programs, not one statewide check. Here is what is open near you, checked October 2026.
Locally-owned since 1977 • Licensed, bonded and insured in Washington (WA Contractor Reg. #HOMECCA785BD) • WA Electrical Contractor Lic. #HOMECCA782DC • NATE-certified technicians • Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Dealer • Lennox Premier Dealer
Washington HEAR rebates in one answer
HEAR stands for Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates. In Washington, the Department of Commerce runs a state HEAR program, funded by the Climate Commitment Act, for households at or below 150% of area median income. Commerce does not pay homeowners directly. It gives grants to about 40 local administrators, such as cities, counties and nonprofits, and each one sets its own rebates, equipment list and rules. So there is no single statewide HEAR amount. The separate federal version of HEAR has not launched in Washington yet. In Seattle, HEAR money pays the $4,000 Clean Heat bonus for oil-heated homes.
| Program | Status (checked October 2026) |
|---|---|
| State HEAR (Commerce, Climate Commitment Act) | Open through some local administrators; each sets its own rules |
| Federal HEAR and HOMES rebates (Inflation Reduction Act) | Not launched in Washington; Commerce is still setting up delivery |
| Seattle Clean Heat bonus (HEAR funded) | Open: $4,000 on top of the $2,000 Clean Heat rebate, for oil-heated homes at 81% to 150% of area median income, installs completed by May 30, 2027 |
| Tacoma HEAR (City of Tacoma and Tacoma Power) | Not accepting new applications |
| Federal 25C tax credit | Ended for equipment placed in service after December 31, 2025 |
Looking for every heat pump rebate by utility, not just HEAR? See our heat pump rebates and energy incentives hub.
Two HEARs: the state program and the federal one
Most confusion about HEAR comes from two programs sharing one name. Here is how they differ.
| State HEAR | Federal HEAR (Home Appliance Rebate Program) | |
|---|---|---|
| Paid for by | Washington's Climate Commitment Act | The federal Inflation Reduction Act |
| Status | Running through local administrators | Not launched in Washington |
| Who runs it | About 40 local administrators chosen by Commerce | Commerce and its rebate administrator, once launched |
| Income limit | Up to 150% of area median income, set by each administrator | Up to 150% of area median income, per Commerce |
| Amounts | Set by each administrator; Commerce publishes no statewide amount | Commerce says amounts vary by equipment and work |
| Contractors | Set by each program (Seattle Clean Heat uses participating contractors) | Commerce's Qualified Contractor Network |
| Fuel switching (gas or oil to a heat pump) | Up to the local program | Removed by the U.S. Department of Energy's Program Notice 26-2, effective May 29, 2026 |
Who qualifies for HEAR
Commerce says households with income at or below 150% of area median income can qualify, using HUD income limits for your county. That includes renters and people in multifamily buildings. Some small businesses and nonprofits with 50 or fewer employees, and licensed adult family homes, can also qualify.
Two things to know before you plan a project:
- Commerce notes that not every administrator uses these exact rules. Your local program decides who qualifies and for what.
- You do not need to be a customer of any particular utility for the state program. Programs run by a city or utility can limit help to their own customers, so check your administrator's rules.
Renting? Commerce lists renters as eligible, but a local program may need the owner's approval before work starts.
What HEAR can pay for
Commerce's equipment list for the state program includes:
- Heat pumps for heating and cooling: ducted, ductless, packaged terminal and ground source
- Heat pump water heaters
- Electric panel and wiring upgrades needed for new electric equipment
- Induction cooking and heat pump clothes dryers
Equipment must be ENERGY STAR or AHRI certified. Each administrator chooses which of these it funds. Home Comfort Alliance installs ducted and ductless heat pumps, heat pump water heaters and electrical panel upgrades. We do not install appliances such as ranges or dryers.
Where to apply for HEAR in the Puget Sound area
Apply through the local administrator for your area, not through Commerce. Here is what we found on each program's own page in October 2026.
| Area | Program | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle, oil-heated homes | Clean Heat Program: $2,000 instant rebate plus a $4,000 HEAR-funded bonus for 81% to 150% of area median income | Open for installs completed by May 30, 2027 |
| Seattle, income-qualified homes | Office of Housing free heat pump conversion (listed on the Clean Heat page) | Check with the City |
| King County outside Seattle, Shoreline and the Eastside cities | Energize (Climate Commitment Act funded) | Not accepting new applicants, except a Duvall pilot |
| Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Redmond, Sammamish | Energy Smart Eastside (a Commerce HEAR awardee) | Check the program for current offers |
| Tacoma | Tacoma HEAR: up to 100% of costs for a heat pump or heat pump water heater replacing non-electric heat or gas water heating | Not accepting new applications |
| Pierce County | Pierce County (a Commerce HEAR awardee) | No current program page found; contact the county |
| Snohomish County | Snohomish PUD ran an earlier HEAR round for appliances | Closed; the PUD says it was not awarded funds this round |
| Kitsap County | No Kitsap administrator listed by Commerce | Ask Commerce at HomeRebates@Commerce.wa.gov |
Commerce adds that if you don't see an administrator for your area, its contract may not be final yet, or no group applied to serve your area.
How to apply for a HEAR rebate, step by step
- Find your local administrator in the table above or on the Commerce HEAR page.
- Check your household income against your county's area median income limits.
- Get approval or a confirmed rebate route before you buy equipment. Most programs will not pay for work already done.
- Use the contractor route your program requires. In Seattle, Clean Heat rebates go through participating contractors and a homeowner participation form.
- Keep your invoice, equipment model numbers and any AHRI certificate for the program.
What Home Comfort Alliance does
We give you a free in-home estimate with a room-by-room load calculation (ACCA Manual J), an upfront price before any work begins, and the permits for every installation. We are a participating contractor in the City of Seattle's Clean Heat Program and a partner in Commerce's Qualified Contractor Network for the federal rebates. For PSE, Tacoma Power and Cascade rebates, we handle the rebate paperwork for you. Want a ballpark first? Our instant quote tool gives a price range in about 30 seconds.
Get a free estimateAn in-home visit and a written, upfront price before any work begins.
Stacking HEAR with utility rebates
HEAR money often sits on top of a utility rebate, but each program sets its own stacking rules. In Seattle, the $4,000 Clean Heat bonus is added to the $2,000 Clean Heat rebate. A PSE customer who also qualifies for a local HEAR award may be able to combine the two. Check each program before you sign.
Read our guide to stacking PSE and HEAR rebates, see PSE heat pump rebates, or compare every utility on our rebates hub.
Federal HEAR and HOMES rebates in 2026
The federal rebates from the Inflation Reduction Act have not launched in Washington. Commerce says it and its rebate administrator are setting up delivery, and that it is reviewing the U.S. Department of Energy's June 2026 program notices. Program Notice 26-2, effective May 29, 2026, removed fuel-switching upgrades from the federal appliance rebates, so they now cover upgrades from existing electric equipment. Commerce says the federal rebates will not be retroactive and will need approval before you buy.
National figures such as an $8,000 heat pump rebate or a $14,000 household cap come from the federal framework. They are not an open Washington program today.
What's not available in 2026
- The federal 25C tax credit for heat pumps, furnaces, AC and water heaters ended for equipment placed in service after December 31, 2025.
- The 25D residential clean energy credit ended after December 31, 2025.
- The 30C credit for home EV chargers ended for equipment placed in service after June 30, 2026.
- No statewide $8,000 heat pump rebate or $4,000 panel rebate is open in Washington.
What you get with Home Comfort Alliance
- NATE-certified technicians
- Licensed, bonded and insured in Washington (WA Contractor Reg. #HOMECCA785BD; WA Electrical Contractor Lic. #HOMECCA782DC; WA Plumbing Contractor Lic. #HOMECCA751QG)
- Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Dealer, Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer, Lennox Premier Dealer
- Approved contractor for PSE (Trade Ally), Tacoma Power, Seattle City Light, Snohomish PUD and Energy Smart Eastside
- 3-year Comfort Shield labor warranty on new installations, kept active with yearly maintenance. First-year maintenance is included.
- Low monthly payment plans starting at $179/month* through financing
*Financing through Salal Credit Union or Synchrony, subject to credit approval. Rates, terms and monthly payments depend on the amount financed, the plan and your credit. 0% interest options are available to qualifying customers. See lender for full terms.
More rebate guides for Puget Sound homes
HEAR is one piece of the rebate picture. Start at our heat pump rebates and energy incentives hub, which compares every utility we serve, then go deeper:
Washington HEAR rebate FAQ
What is the Washington HEAR rebate?
HEAR stands for Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates. In Washington, the Department of Commerce runs a state HEAR program funded by the Climate Commitment Act. Commerce gives grants to about 40 local administrators, such as cities, counties and nonprofits, and each one offers its own rebates or free installs to income-qualified households. Checked October 2026.
How much is the HEAR rebate for a heat pump in Washington?
There is no single statewide amount. Commerce does not list rebate amounts; each local administrator sets its own. For example, Seattle’s Clean Heat Program uses HEAR funds for a $4,000 bonus for oil-heated homes at 81% to 150% of area median income, on top of a $2,000 instant rebate. Checked October 2026.
Is the $8,000 federal heat pump rebate available in Washington?
Not yet. Commerce says the federal Inflation Reduction Act rebates have not launched; it is still setting up delivery with its rebate administrator. Figures like $8,000 or $14,000 come from the federal framework, not an open Washington program. Commerce says the rebates will not be retroactive. Checked October 2026.
Do I have to be a PSE customer to get HEAR?
No. Commerce’s state HEAR rules are based on household income, up to 150% of area median income, and include renters. Commerce does not require you to be a customer of PSE or any other utility. A program run by a city or utility may limit help to its own customers, so check your local administrator.
Who qualifies for HEAR in Washington?
Commerce says households at or below 150% of area median income can qualify, based on HUD income limits for your county, including renters and multifamily households. Some small businesses, nonprofits and licensed adult family homes also qualify. Commerce notes that not every administrator uses these exact criteria, so your local program’s rules decide.
How do I apply for HEAR in Seattle, King County or Tacoma?
Apply through your local administrator, not through Commerce. In Seattle, oil-heated homes use the Clean Heat Program’s homeowner participation form with a participating contractor. King County’s Energize program was not accepting new applicants outside its Duvall pilot, and Tacoma’s HEAR program was not accepting new applications, when we checked in October 2026.
Can renters get HEAR rebates?
Commerce lists renters as eligible for the state HEAR program. Your local administrator may require the property owner’s approval before work starts. Ask your administrator before you get quotes.
Is there a $4,000 electrical panel rebate in Washington?
No statewide panel rebate is open. The $4,000 figure belongs to the federal program, which has not launched in Washington. Electric panel and wiring upgrades needed for new electric equipment are an eligible item under the state HEAR program, but only where your local administrator offers them.
Can I combine HEAR with PSE or Seattle City Light rebates?
Often yes, but each program sets its own stacking rules. Seattle’s $4,000 Clean Heat bonus sits on top of the $2,000 Clean Heat rebate. Check each program before you sign, and see our stacking guide and our rebates hub for current utility amounts.
Do I need a special contractor for HEAR?
It depends on your administrator. Seattle’s Clean Heat rebates go through participating contractors, and Tacoma’s program used Tacoma Power-approved contractors. Commerce’s Qualified Contractor Network is for the federal rebates. Home Comfort Alliance is a participating contractor in the City of Seattle’s Clean Heat Program and a partner in Commerce’s Qualified Contractor Network.
Can I get HEAR money after my heat pump is installed?
Usually no. Commerce says the federal rebates will not be retroactive and need approval before you buy. Local HEAR programs set their own rules, so get approval or a confirmed rebate route before installation.
Does switching from gas or oil to a heat pump qualify?
Under the state HEAR program, local administrators decide; Seattle’s Clean Heat bonus, for example, is for homes leaving oil heat. For the federal program, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Program Notice 26-2, effective May 29, 2026, removed fuel-switching upgrades, limiting federal rebates to upgrades from existing electric equipment.
Is there still a federal tax credit for heat pumps?
No. The 25C credit ended for equipment placed in service after December 31, 2025, and 25D ended after the same date. The 30C EV charger credit ended for equipment placed in service after June 30, 2026. Utility rebates, local HEAR programs and financing are what remain.
Sources
- Washington State Department of Commerce, State Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR), read October 15, 2026
- Commerce, Inflation Reduction Act Home Energy Rebates, read October 15, 2026
- U.S. Department of Energy, Program Notice 26-2
- City of Seattle, Clean Heat Program, read October 15, 2026
- Tacoma Public Utilities, HEAR program, read October 15, 2026
- Snohomish County PUD, Climate Commitment Act programs, read October 15, 2026
Why Choose Home Comfort Alliance for Your Heat Pump Project?
Your Comfort is Our Promise
We promise...
Reliable heating, air conditioning, plumbing and electrical service, all from one trusted company.
To educate and guide you through your options so you’ll find the right solution at the right price.
Knowledgeable and respectful workers who ensure both your own comfort during the installation process, and lasting comfort from your home systems.
Outstanding service, communication, and follow-up, so your home is comfortable now and for years to come.
Plan a heat pump with the right rebates
Free in-home estimates, upfront pricing, and we check which rebate routes fit your home. 4.8 stars from 5,000+ reviews.
Get a free estimate
Our phones are answered and bookings are accepted 24/7. Technicians work during business hours.