Not all IRA HEAR programs are created equal. The federal law sets maximums, but states have wide latitude on implementation: processing speed, point-of-sale vs. mail-in, income documentation flexibility, contractor enrollment friction, and how well utility rebates stack with federal programs vary dramatically.
This ranking is written for practitioners — home energy auditors, electrification consultants, and HVAC contractors — who work in multiple states or want to prioritize client work geographically. It is based on four dimensions that actually affect whether clients get money and whether contractors get paid without a bureaucratic nightmare.
Massachusetts is the single best stacking state in the country. HEAR + Mass Save utility rebates + 25C credits combine for $18,000–$22,000 for the right LMI household. MassCEC coordinates with utilities, so enrolled contractors can bundle rebates from multiple sources through one process. Boston metro's extremely high AMI (~$125K for 80% 4-person household) means households earning $80,000–$90,000 qualify as LMI — creating a large market of people who can access full rebates.
Practitioner note: The Mass Save contractor enrollment process involves training requirements that take 2–4 weeks but are worth completing. Once enrolled, Massachusetts is the most financially rewarding state for HEAR work.
NYSERDA's HEAR program is mature with the highest client volume in the country. New York's special sauce: Categorical Eligibility — SNAP/Medicaid/HEAP-enrolled households automatically qualify without income documentation. This reduces the verification burden significantly for LMI clients. NYC metro AMI means a family earning $90,000 qualifies for LMI rebates.
Main friction: New contractor enrollment has a 4–6 week backlog. Apply now if you're planning NY work. Once enrolled, processing is 2–4 weeks. Con Edison, National Grid, and NYSEG utility rebates stack well.
Maryland is the speed leader: 2–3 week processing from application to approval. MEA (Maryland Energy Administration) built a streamlined system. DC suburb counties (Montgomery, Prince George's) have AMI thresholds that make $120,000+ households moderate-income eligible. BGE, Pepco, SMECO, and Delmarva utility rebates stack effectively.
Standout fact: A Montgomery County family earning $100,000 is at approximately 80% AMI — qualifying for the full LMI HEAR rebate on a heat pump system. This is an extraordinary market opportunity for practitioners covering the DC suburbs.
Michigan Saves' pre-existing contractor network makes Michigan the smoothest launch of any Midwest state. Enrollment friction is lower than most states because many contractors were already in the Michigan Saves system. DTE Energy and Consumers Energy rebates stack with HEAR. The combination of cold-climate heat pump demand and active program creates a strong market.
Unique feature: Michigan Saves offers on-bill financing that can be layered with rebates — meaning contractors can offer a zero-upfront solution even after rebates. This is a powerful client pitch not available in most states.
Washington's standout: Seattle City Light's Clean Heat Program covers 100% of cost for LMI oil-heat conversions on top of HEAR. King County 80% AMI is approximately $100,000 for a family of 4. The HEAR + Seattle City Light combination can make a heat pump system essentially free for qualifying Seattle households. Puget Sound Energy also has competitive stacking.
Friction note: Washington uses regional Third-Party Administrators (TPAs) whose processes vary. Contractor enrollment and documentation requirements differ by TPA. Allow 3–5 weeks to understand your regional TPA's workflow.
Colorado's point-of-sale model is among the best-executed. Enrolled contractors deduct rebates at installation — clients never see the paperwork. Colorado Energy Office processing is typically under 3 weeks. Xcel Energy utility rebates layer effectively.
April 2026 funding alert: Front Range (Region 1) HEAR funding is expected to be fully reserved within weeks. UniColorado not accepting new Front Range HEAR projects. Region 2 (mountain/rural counties) may still have funds. Call (866) 336-0016 for current status. HOMES remains fully funded and unaffected — pivot Front Range clients to HOMES + Xcel stack while HEAR situation resolves (25C expired Dec 31, 2025 under OBBBA).
Illinois works well within ComEd or Ameren territory but not between them. A contractor enrolled with ComEd cannot process Ameren territory work without a separate enrollment. This dual-enrollment gap is the primary friction point. Strong Elevate Energy ecosystem for LMI programs. Chicago metro AMI is reasonable but not exceptional.
Arizona's mail-in rebate model (6–10 week processing) is the primary weakness. Clients pay full price upfront and wait for a check — a very different client conversation than point-of-sale states. Limited to HVAC, HPWH, and panel upgrades; electric stoves and insulation expected mid-2026. APS and SRP utility rebates are available now. Program is functional but less friction-free than top states.
Indiana's Indiana Energy Saver Program (IndianaEnergySaver.com) launched May 2025. The rebate stack for LMI households is among the highest of any live state: HEAR up to $14,000 + HOMES up to $18,000 = $32,000 combined for an LMI household doing a full whole-home electrification project. Indiana's 76% gas heat penetration and large rural propane market mean nearly every homeowner is a HOMES candidate — gas-to-electric conversions routinely hit the 35%+ savings tier.
Main friction: Indiana uses a Regional General Contractor (RGC) structure where contractors must complete 5 projects under provisional status before receiving full approval. This is a longer runway than most states. Contractors enrolled now will be through provisional status before summer. NIPSCO, Duke Energy Indiana, and AES Indiana utility rebates stack. AMI is moderate — Indianapolis 80% AMI is ~$58K, meaning fewer middle-class households qualify at the LMI tier compared to coastal states.
Energy Saver NC launched January 16, 2025 and is available in all 100 NC counties as of February 2026. NC DEQ administers through energysavernc.org. The program has categorical eligibility (SNAP/Medicaid/LIHEAP enrollment = automatic LMI qualification without documentation), which significantly reduces income verification friction for LMI households. Duke Energy and Dominion Energy rebates stack effectively.
Opportunity: Western NC mountain counties have significant oil and propane heat — excellent HOMES conversion candidates. Charlotte and Research Triangle metro areas have higher AMIs that qualify more middle-income households for moderate-tier HEAR rebates.
Georgia's Home Energy Rebates (energyrebates.georgia.gov) launched pilot fall 2024 and fully launched statewide March 31, 2025. GEFA administers. The HVAC market is strong given Georgia's hot summers — heat pump installations are natural. Georgia Power utility rebates stack. Standard HEAR income tiers apply.
Note: Georgia Power's residential rebate program has one of the better stacking relationships with HEAR in the Southeast. Check current Georgia Power rebate amounts at georgiapower.com/efficiency/rebates before quoting projects — amounts updated seasonally.
New Mexico is the first state in the country to offer point-of-sale rebates at retail — income-eligible residents receive appliance rebates instantly at checkout. More importantly for practitioners: renters are eligible at 150% AMI (vs. the typical homeowner-only ≤80% AMI cutoff), dramatically expanding the eligible population. Franklin Energy administers; NEIF RebateBridge provides same-week contractor payment (no 6-12 week reimbursement wait). $43M in funding with substantial runway remaining.
Opportunity: NM's manufactured housing rate is above national average and propane heat penetration is high in rural areas — strong conversion economics. The renter eligibility provision is unique nationally and opens apartment and rental housing markets in a way no other state has yet.
Rhode Island launched in September 2024 — the first New England state to go live. The LMI pathway (≤80% AMI) covers 100% of installation cost up to $14,000. The unique element: intake is mediated through Community Action Partnership (CAP) agencies, not direct contractor applications. This creates friction (contractors must build CAP relationships for referrals) but also means less competition for enrolled contractors who invest in those relationships. Stacks with Clean Heat RI for up to $0 net cost for LMI households — the best LMI stack in New England.
Constraint: Moderate income (80-150% AMI) pathway still pending. Until it launches, practitioners can't serve the middle-income segment. Ranked lower for this limitation; rank will improve significantly when moderate income launches.
California exhausted its initial HEAR allocation in February 2026 — one of three states to do so along with Vermont and Rhode Island (which relaunched with additional funding and is now active for LMI households). But California is not dead for practitioners: HOMES is open, PG&E/SCE/SDG&E/LADWP utility rebates are among the most generous in the country, and 25C credits have no income limit. A San Jose household at 80% AMI earns ~$130,000 — meaning a huge swath of residents would have been LMI-eligible. When (if) additional HEAR funding arrives, California will be extremely active.
Current practitioner strategy: HOMES + utility rebates = $4,000–$8,000 on a typical project (25C expired Dec 31, 2025). Not as much as HEAR, but still significant.
| State | Expected Launch | Why It Matters | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | Spring 2026 | Two-administrator structure (Energy Trust + Earth Advantage). Contractors need to enroll with the correct administrator for their territory. Apply now. | OR guide |
| Pennsylvania | August 2026 | PUC published draft rules February 2026. Large oil-heat market in rural PA = strong HOMES conversion candidates. Get enrolled before backlog builds. | PA guide |
| New Jersey | Summer–Fall 2026 | $91.3M BPU allocation. Dense suburban market with high incomes. PSE&G already has competitive 0% financing that will stack. | NJ guide |
| Connecticut | Q3 2026 (tracking) | High AMI state (Greenwich/Stamford area). DEEP administering. Pre-enrollment may open May 2026. | CT guide |
Not every pending state is equal. Here are three that practitioners in the right territory should be building pipeline for now:
When deciding where to invest enrollment time, use this framework:
| Factor | What It Means for You | Best State |
|---|---|---|
| Point-of-sale rebate | You deduct the rebate; client pays less upfront. Easier close, no waiting. | CO, NY, MA, MI |
| Categorical eligibility | SNAP/Medicaid = automatic LMI qualification. No income verification burden. | NY (clearest pathway) |
| High AMI limit | More clients qualify at full LMI tier. Bigger market. | MA (Boston), MD (DC suburbs), NY (NYC) |
| Fast processing | You get paid faster. Client satisfaction higher. | MD (2–3 weeks) |
| Strong utility stacking | Utility rebates multiply the total client benefit. | MA (Mass Save), WA (SCL), NY (ConEd/NYSERDA) |
| Low enrollment friction | Faster time-to-first-job after deciding to enter the program. | MI (Michigan Saves) |
Rankings change as programs evolve. New states launch. Processing times improve or worsen. The IRA Practitioner Brief tracks all of it weekly — free for three issues.
See the complete tracker at ira-rebates-by-state-2026.html — updated weekly with program status, rebate amounts, and notes for practitioners.
Last updated: March 30, 2026. Rankings are the editorial judgment of The IRA Practitioner Brief based on publicly available program information. Program details change — verify current status before advising clients or making enrollment decisions.