Maine Heat Pump Rebates
Stackable incentives available to Maine homeowners installing a qualifying heat pump in 2026.
What's available in Maine
Maine runs one of the most generous heat pump rebate landscapes in the US through Efficiency Maine, the state-designated efficiency administrator funded by ratepayer surcharges from both Central Maine Power and Versant Power. Because Efficiency Maine administers incentives statewide, CMP and Versant do not run separate utility-level heat pump rebate programs and rebate amounts are identical regardless of utility territory. Tiered rebates run $1,000, $2,000, or $3,000 per indoor unit (max 3 units) based on income, with single-zone ENERGY STAR cold-climate units installed by registered contractors and applied at point of sale. A $500 whole-home bonus is available for projects completed March through December 2026. The federal Section 25C 30% tax credit expired Dec 31 2025 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, making state rebates the primary remaining incentive. Maine is partially deploying the federally-funded HEAR program, currently active for mobile homes (up to $8,000) and affordable multifamily; broader HEAR rollout is still pending. Maine surpassed its first heat pump goal of 100,000 installs in 2023 and is now targeting 175,000 more by 2027.
HEEHRA in Maine
HEEHRA rebate: Point-of-sale rebate up to $8,000 for households at or below 80% of area median income. Funded by the IRA, administered by each state. Maine is finalizing program rules.
How heat pump rebates work in Maine
Maine runs one of the most generous heat pump rebate landscapes in the US through Efficiency Maine, the state-designated efficiency administrator funded by ratepayer surcharges from both Central Maine Power and Versant Power. Because Efficiency Maine administers incentives statewide, CMP and Versant do not run separate utility-level heat pump rebate programs and rebate amounts are identical regardless of utility territory. Tiered rebates run $1,000, $2,000, or $3,000 per indoor unit (max 3 units per home, so up to $9,000 total) based on income, with single-zone ENERGY STAR cold-climate units installed by registered contractors and applied at point of sale. Income tiers: standard at $1,000/unit, moderate-income at $2,000/unit for households at or below 150% AMI (AGI up to $70k single / $100k joint), and low-income at $3,000/unit for households at or below 80% AMI or enrolled in MaineCare/HEAP/SNAP/TANF. An additional $500 whole-home bonus is available for projects completed March through December 2026 where a heat pump serves as the primary heating system. The federal §25C 30% tax credit expired December 31, 2025 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, making state rebates the primary remaining incentive. Maine is partially deploying HEAR (currently active for mobile homes up to $8,000 and affordable multifamily); broader HEAR rollout is still pending.
Maine rebate programs
Efficiency Maine Residential Heat Pump Rebate (Standard Tier)
$1,000Per-unit rebate for ENERGY STAR single-zone air-source heat pumps installed by a registered contractor; up to 3 indoor units per home for a max of $3,000. Multi-zone and dual-fuel systems are not eligible.
Efficiency Maine Heat Pump Rebate (Moderate-Income Tier)
$2,000Per-unit rebate for households at or below 150% of Area Median Income (AGI up to $70k single or $100k joint); up to 3 indoor units for a max of $6,000; applied at point of sale by a registered contractor.
Efficiency Maine Heat Pump Rebate (Low-Income Tier)
$3,000Per-unit rebate for households at or below 80% AMI or enrolled in MaineCare, HEAP, SNAP, or TANF; up to 3 indoor units for a max of $9,000; applied at point of sale by a registered contractor.
Efficiency Maine Whole-Home Heat Pump Bonus
$500Additional $500 per housing unit for whole-home heat pump upgrades completed and claimed March 1 through December 31, 2026. Stacks on top of per-unit rebates. Requires heat pump as primary heating system.
2 utility-specific programs not shown here. Enter your ZIP in the calculator to filter to just your utility.
A worked example: mini-split system in Portland
Owen owns a 1,500 sq ft single-family home in Portland, currently heated by an aging oil furnace with no central AC. He's a Central Maine Power customer. He gets quotes for three single-zone ENERGY STAR cold-climate ductless mini-splits (one each in the living room, master bedroom, and second-floor open space) plus retention of the oil furnace as backup. Installed cost: $13,500 for the three-head system. Because Owen's household income is approximately 140% of Cumberland County AMI — under the moderate-income threshold at 150% AMI — he qualifies for the $2,000/unit moderate tier. Three indoor units × $2,000 = $6,000 in Efficiency Maine rebate, applied at point of sale by the registered contractor. The federal §25C credit is gone. Combined stack: $6,000 against $13,500 installed. Net out-of-pocket: $7,500. The point-of-sale structure means he sees the discount on the contractor's invoice directly — no separate rebate application or waiting period.
Choosing a contractor in Maine
Maine doesn't have a single statewide HVAC contractor license — licensing is municipal or carried as part of plumbing/electrical credentials at the state level (Master Oil & Solid Fuel Burning Technician, etc.). Efficiency Maine's rebate is gated by the Efficiency Maine Registered Heat Pump Installer designation, not by HVAC license alone. The registered installer list is on efficiencymaine.com — a non-registered contractor cannot file the rebate even with qualifying equipment, and rebates are processed at point of sale rather than after the fact, so the contractor's registration status must be verified before signing. Ask 'are you a registered Efficiency Maine heat pump installer?' as the first question.
Common pitfalls for Maine homeowners
- Stacking dual-fuel or multi-zone units. Efficiency Maine's standard heat pump rebate covers single-zone ENERGY STAR mini-splits — multi-zone (one outdoor unit serving multiple indoor heads) and dual-fuel systems do NOT qualify under the standard rebate. A homeowner who wants a multi-zone system instead receives a smaller rebate (or none, depending on configuration). Confirm system type against Efficiency Maine's qualified products list before signing.
- Counting on 4+ indoor units. Efficiency Maine caps the rebate at 3 indoor units per home regardless of income tier. A homeowner installing 4 or 5 heads gets rebates on the first 3 only. For larger homes that justify 4+ heads, the math sometimes favors installing one full system (3 heads, rebated) and a separate smaller standalone system (not rebated) rather than a single 4-head system.
Estimate your net cost
Used to determine HEEHRA eligibility (under 80% area median income).
- Efficiency Maine Residential Heat Pump Rebate (Standard Tier)−$1,000
- Efficiency Maine Whole-Home Heat Pump Bonus−$500
Estimate only. Includes only programs accepting applications today — waitlisted or closed programs are excluded. Mutually exclusive programs (e.g. HEEHRA vs HOMES) and project-cost caps are applied per current program rules; confirm with your installer and utility before signing.
How to claim each rebate
- Get pre-approved (where required). Some utility programs require approval before install. Check program details before signing a contract.
- Use a participating contractor. Many programs require a licensed installer from an approved contractor list — especially HEEHRA, which routes through CEC-approved contractors who process the rebate at point of sale.
- Save documentation. AHRI certificate, model numbers, and itemized invoice are required for most utility rebates.
- Submit utility rebate within 60–90 days of install. Some programs are first-come first-served and close mid-year — funding can run out before the calendar year does.