Wisconsin launched HEAR on December 18, 2024, making it one of the earlier Midwestern states to go live. The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin selected Focus on Energy to administer both HEAR and HOMES programs. Wisconsin's income threshold is 150% AMI — higher than most states — which means a larger share of households qualify for some rebate level.
Administrator: Focus on Energy (chosen by PSC of Wisconsin). focusonenergy.com/ira-hear
HEAR Phase 1 Launch: December 18, 2024 (contractor-installed equipment)
HEAR Phase 2 Launch: September 30, 2025 (store-purchase appliances)
Eligible housing: Single-family homes and multifamily buildings for Wisconsin residents
Income cutoff: 150% AMI — households above this threshold are ineligible for any HEAR rebate
| Equipment | Maximum Rebate | Installation Method |
|---|---|---|
| Heat pump (heating & cooling system) | $8,000 | Contractor only |
| Heat pump water heater | $1,750 | Contractor or store purchase |
| Electrical panel upgrade | $4,000 | Contractor only |
| Electrical wiring | $2,500 | Contractor only |
| Insulation, ventilation, air sealing | $1,600 | Contractor only |
| Heat pump clothes dryer | $840 | Store purchase or contractor |
| Electric stove/cooktop/range/oven | $840 | Store purchase or contractor |
| Combined maximum | $14,000 |
LMI households (below 80% AMI): rebates cover 100% of project costs up to the per-item and aggregate caps above.
Moderate-income households (80–150% AMI): rebates cover 50% of project costs up to the same caps.
Wisconsin's HEAR income limits are based on HUD Area Median Income (AMI) by county. The critical threshold is 80% AMI — below it, rebates cover 100% of cost. Use these estimates as a screening tool; verify current limits using the HUD AMI lookup tool at huduser.gov.
| Metro Area | Est. Median Family Income | 80% AMI (family of 4) | 150% AMI (family of 4) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha MSA | ~$80,000 | ~$64,000 | ~$120,000 |
| Madison (Dane County) | ~$95,000 | ~$76,000 | ~$142,500 |
| Green Bay (Brown County) | ~$75,000 | ~$60,000 | ~$112,500 |
| Racine/Kenosha | ~$74,000 | ~$59,000 | ~$111,000 |
| Appleton / Fox Cities | ~$80,000 | ~$64,000 | ~$120,000 |
| Rural Wisconsin | ~$65,000 | ~$52,000 | ~$97,500 |
Wisconsin has a substantial manufacturing and trades workforce. Many working-class households in Milwaukee, Racine, and Green Bay fall under 80% AMI — especially 1–2 person households and households with a single earner. These clients qualify for the 100% rebate tier.
To participate in Wisconsin HEAR, contractors must be enrolled as a Focus on Energy Trade Ally and IRA-registered. The key requirements:
Wisconsin does not publish specific BPI certification requirements for contractor enrollment as of May 2026, but ENERGY STAR certification of installed equipment is required for all rebate-eligible measures.
Wisconsin has two major utilities serving the most HEAR-active territory, each with their own rebate programs that stack with Focus on Energy HEAR:
Serves Milwaukee metro and southeastern Wisconsin — the highest-population HEAR territory.
Serves south-central Wisconsin, including parts of Madison corridor.
Serves western and northern Wisconsin including Eau Claire, La Crosse, and the twin cities area.
Federal tax credits under 25C stack with HEAR for any HEAR-eligible household:
Household income: $54,000 (family of 4 in Milwaukee — well under 80% AMI). Installing ducted heat pump, HPWH, and electrical panel upgrade to support them.
| Incentive Source | Item | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Focus on Energy HEAR (LMI 100%) | Heat pump HVAC | $8,000 |
| Focus on Energy HEAR (LMI 100%) | Heat pump water heater | $1,750 |
| Focus on Energy HEAR (LMI 100%) | Panel upgrade | $4,000 |
| WE Energies rebate | Heat pump HVAC | $400 |
| WE Energies rebate | Heat pump water heater | $150 |
| 25C tax credit | Heat pump HVAC + HPWH | $2,000* |
| Total incentives | ~$16,300 |
*25C credit requires sufficient tax liability. Project cost assumption: heat pump $10K + HPWH $1,500 + panel $4,500 = ~$16,000 total. Net cost to client: ~$0 before 25C; panel upgrade fully covered.
All contractor-installed measures must be performed by a registered Focus on Energy Trade Ally IRA contractor. Work performed before enrollment or by a non-enrolled contractor will be denied. Enroll before quoting any project with HEAR in scope.
The heat pump must be ENERGY STAR certified. Wisconsin is cold-climate territory — cold-climate rated heat pumps (NEEP list) are strongly preferred and sometimes required for the highest rebate tiers. Standard ENERGY STAR certification alone may not cover HVAC systems in northern Wisconsin's climate zone (5A–6A). Verify equipment against both the ENERGY STAR list and the NEEP cold-climate ASHP list before quoting.
Wisconsin uses gross household income for the prior 12 months. Income documentation must match the household composition on the application. Self-employed income requires Schedule C or business tax return, not just a bank statement.
Clients sometimes assume the contractor handles the store-purchase rebate (HPWH, dryer, stove). They don't — the homeowner applies directly. Provide clients with the Focus on Energy application link at time of purchase and walk them through the documentation requirements.
Wisconsin HOMES is administered by Focus on Energy alongside HEAR. Key points for practitioners:
The Wisconsin opportunity: Western and northern Wisconsin still has significant oil and propane heating stock (20–30% of rural homes). These conversions hit HOMES thresholds and may stack HEAR + HOMES + 25C + WE Energies/Alliant rebates for LMI households. Total stack in strong scenarios can reach $18,000+.
The IRA Practitioner Brief tracks Focus on Energy program changes, processing timelines, and equipment eligibility updates weekly. Free for the first three issues.
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