Last updated: March 29, 2026
HEAR program status: LIVE — Washington's HEAR program is active, administered by the Washington State Department of Commerce through regional third-party administrators (TPAs). Rebates are point-of-sale through enrolled contractors.
Find your regional TPA first. Washington uses multiple third-party administrators by region. Before advising a client, email
HomeRebates@commerce.wa.gov or check
wahear.com to identify the administrator for your client's county. Tacoma Public Utilities, Seattle City Light, and SNAP (Spokane) each have their own HEAR implementations.
HEAR Rebate Amounts
| Measure | LMI (<80% AMI) | Moderate (80–150% AMI) | Above 150% AMI |
|---|
| Heat Pump HVAC (air source / mini-split) | Up to $8,000 | Up to $4,000 | Not eligible |
| Heat Pump Water Heater | Up to $1,750 | Up to $875 | Not eligible |
| Electric Stove / Induction Range | Up to $840 | Up to $420 | Not eligible |
| Electric Dryer | Up to $840 | Up to $420 | Not eligible |
| Electrical Panel Upgrade | Up to $4,000 | Up to $2,000 | Not eligible |
| Insulation & Air Sealing | Up to $1,600 | Up to $800 | Not eligible |
| Household cap | $14,000 LMI / $7,000 Moderate |
Equipment must meet ENERGY STAR or AHRI certification. Covers single-family homes, small businesses (≤50 employees), and adult family homes licensed by DSHS.
Washington AMI — County-Based
Washington uses county-by-county AMI from HUD income limits. The spread between King County and rural eastern Washington is significant — always verify the specific county:
| Area | 80% AMI (4-person HH, approx.) | 150% AMI (4-person HH, approx.) |
|---|
| King County (Seattle) | ~$100,000 | ~$188,000 |
| Snohomish County | ~$96,000 | ~$180,000 |
| Pierce County (Tacoma) | ~$85,000 | ~$160,000 |
| Clark County (Vancouver) | ~$84,000 | ~$158,000 |
| Spokane County | ~$73,000 | ~$137,000 |
| Yakima County | ~$63,000 | ~$118,000 |
| Eastern WA (rural) | ~$60,000–$70,000 | ~$113,000–$131,000 |
Verify current figures at huduser.gov. King County is one of the highest AMIs in the country — moderate-income eligibility goes up to ~$188K for a 4-person household.
Utility Programs That Stack with HEAR
Washington's major utilities run independent programs that can stack with HEAR for significant combined benefits:
Puget Sound Energy (PSE) — King, Pierce, Kitsap, Thurston, Whatcom, and surrounding counties
| Measure | Standard Rebate | Income-Qualified Bonus |
|---|
| Electric resistance to heat pump conversion | $1,500 | +$2,400 (Efficiency Boost) |
| Natural gas to heat pump (income-qualified) | — | Up to $4,000 |
| Heat pump water heater (Tier 3-4) | $1,000 | Enhanced for income-qualified |
PSE Trade Ally requirement effective April 2, 2026. Starting April 2, heating system installations must use a PSE Trade Ally or Recommended Energy Professional to qualify for PSE rebates. Verify contractor enrollment status before quoting a PSE-territory project.
Seattle City Light — Seattle and surrounding areas
| Measure | Rebate | Notes |
|---|
| Oil furnace to heat pump conversion | $2,000 instant rebate | Base rate |
| Moderate-income bonus (81–150% AMI) | +$4,000 | Combined: up to $6,000 total |
| Clean Heat Program (LMI, <80% AMI) | Full installation at no cost | No upfront cost for eligible households |
| Heat pump water heater | Digital instant coupons | Available at Home Depot and Lowe's |
| Smart thermostat | Rebate through Dec 31, 2026 | Check current amounts at seattle.gov/city-light |
Tacoma Public Utilities — Tacoma and Pierce County
Tacoma Public Utilities administers HEAR directly and offers the most comprehensive coverage:
- Can cover 100% of project cost for qualifying installations (equipment + installation + electrical upgrades)
- Priority Tier 1: households at ≤60% AMI
- Priority Tier 2: households at ≤100% AMI
- Funding is limited and first-come, first-served
Avista Utilities — Eastern Washington (Spokane, eastern WA)
- Electric baseboard to ductless heat pump: up to $500
- Additional HVAC and water heating rebates available
- All equipment installed by licensed contractor required
Seattle City Light LMI stack example: An income-qualified household (≤80% AMI) in Seattle replacing an oil furnace with a heat pump could receive: $8,000 HEAR + $2,000 SCL base rebate + SCL Clean Heat Program covering any remaining gap + $2,000 25C federal tax credit = potentially zero out-of-pocket for the homeowner.
Income Verification Notes
- AMI is county-based — verify the specific county using HUD tables before qualifying a client
- Income verification is conducted by the regional third-party administrator, not Washington Commerce directly
- Small businesses (≤50 employees) and adult family homes licensed by DSHS are eligible separately from household income limits
Federal 25C Credits — Expired December 31, 2025 (OBBBA)
25C Credit Expired (OBBBA): The Section 25C Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit was terminated by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed July 4, 2025. Improvements installed on or after January 1, 2026 do not qualify. Clients with 2025 installs can still claim on their 2025 tax return. HEAR and HOMES rebates are unaffected.
See historical 25C reference →
| Credit | Amount | Income Limit |
|---|
| 25C — Heat Pump HVAC | 30% of cost, max $2,000/year | None |
| 25C — Heat Pump Water Heater | 30% of cost, max $600/year | None |
| 25C — Insulation & Air Sealing | 30% of cost, max $1,200/year | None |
| 25C — Panel Upgrade | 30% of cost, max $600/year | None |
| 25D — Solar PV / Battery | 30% of cost, no cap | None |
25C credits are not reduced by HEAR rebates. Clients get both the rebate and the full tax credit on the same installation.
Washington Practitioner Checklist
- Identify the regional TPA before advising any client — email HomeRebates@commerce.wa.gov or check wahear.com with the client's county.
- Check utility service territory to determine which utility program applies (PSE vs. Seattle City Light vs. Tacoma vs. Avista).
- If client is in PSE territory, verify contractor is on PSE Trade Ally list before quoting (required as of April 2, 2026).
- If client is in Seattle City Light territory, run the moderate-income bonus calculation — the combined SCL + HEAR stack for moderate-income households is one of the strongest in the country.
- If client is in Tacoma, contact TPU directly — their no-cost full-coverage program may eliminate any client cost entirely for qualifying households.
- Always layer in 25C credits — available on top of HEAR for all income levels.
Track Washington program changes weekly
Washington's HEAR program is one of the most active in the country, with multiple utility administrators each running parallel programs. The IRA Practitioner Brief tracks changes across all of them.
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