Virginia Heat Pump Rebates

What's available in Virginia

Virginia homeowners face a transitional incentive landscape in 2026. The federal Section 25C tax credit for air-source heat pumps expired December 31 2025, leaving geothermal (30% through 2032) as the only remaining federal tax credit for heat pumps. Virginia's largest utility Dominion Energy Virginia offers rebates for heat pump water heaters ($250-$400) and variable HVAC rebates through its Residential Home Retrofit Program via domsavings.com, though the HVAC rebate amount requires an energy audit and is not a published flat rate. Appalachian Power Virginia offers a $300 ductless mini-split rebate and a $400 heat pump water heater rebate through its TakeCharge VA portal (takechargeva.com). Virginia's allocation of roughly $188 million in IRA Home Energy Rebates remains unlaunched as of April 2026 due to federal funding uncertainty; no confirmed launch date. Homeowners should check domsavings.com, takechargeva.com, and energy.virginia.gov for the latest program details.

HEEHRA in Virginia

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. Virginia is finalizing program rules.

How heat pump rebates work in Virginia

Virginia homeowners face a transitional incentive landscape in 2026. The federal §25C tax credit for air-source heat pumps expired December 31, 2025, leaving geothermal (30% through 2032 via §25D) as the only remaining federal tax credit. Virginia's largest utility Dominion Energy Virginia offers rebates for heat pump water heaters ($250-$400) and variable HVAC rebates through its Residential Home Retrofit Program via domsavings.com, though the HVAC rebate amount requires an energy audit and is not a published flat rate. Appalachian Power Virginia offers a $300 ductless mini-split rebate and a $400 heat pump water heater rebate through its TakeCharge VA portal. Virginia's allocation of roughly $188 million in IRA Home Energy Rebates remains unlaunched as of April 2026 due to federal funding uncertainty; no confirmed launch date. The state has no income tax credit for heat pumps. Compared to neighboring NC or MD, Virginia's 2026 stack is thinner — utility rebates are the practical incentive layer until HEAR launches.

Virginia rebate programs

4 utility-specific programs not shown here. Enter your ZIP in the calculator to filter to just your utility.

A worked example: HPWH swap in Richmond

Sasha owns a 1,800 sq ft home in Richmond served by Dominion Energy Virginia. Her 13-year-old electric tank water heater is failing. She picks an 80-gallon ENERGY STAR HPWH (UEF 3.55) at $3,200 installed by a Dominion-approved plumber. Because the equipment qualifies under the Dominion Energy Virginia HPWH rebate at the 60+ gallon tier, she receives $400 — paid as a rebate check 4-6 weeks after submitting the application through domsavings.com. Her household income is approximately 95% of Henrico County AMI — Virginia HEAR hasn't launched. The federal §25C credit for HPWHs is gone for 2026 installs. Combined stack: $400 against $3,200. Net out-of-pocket: $2,800. If Sasha had also installed a heat pump HVAC at the same time, Dominion's Residential Home Retrofit Program may have added a variable rebate determined by an energy audit — Sasha would need to schedule the audit before the install for that path to work.

Choosing a contractor in Virginia

Virginia licenses HVAC contractors through the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation under Class A or Class B Contractor with HVAC specialty. Verify at dpor.virginia.gov before signing. Dominion Energy Virginia rebates require a participating contractor enrolled with the Home Performance program; the participating contractor list is on domsavings.com. Appalachian Power Virginia rebates require a participating contractor on the TakeCharge VA portal (takechargeva.com). The two programs serve different territories — Dominion covers most of Virginia, AEP serves southwestern parts. Confirm utility and contractor enrollment at the quote stage.

Common pitfalls for Virginia homeowners

• Counting on a published Dominion HVAC rebate amount. Dominion Energy Virginia's HVAC rebate through the Residential Home Retrofit Program is not a published flat rate — it requires an energy audit and the rebate amount is determined by modeled savings. Aggregator sites that cite specific dollar figures for Dominion VA HVAC rebates may be referencing legacy programs. Confirm directly with Dominion or your participating contractor at the quote stage.
• Confusing Dominion VA and Dominion SC programs. Dominion Energy Virginia and Dominion Energy SC are different subsidiaries with different rebate structures. The published flat-rate $500-$650 heat pump rebate from Dominion Energy SC does NOT apply in Virginia. Use the correct utility's program page — domsavings.com is the Virginia-specific portal.

Estimate your net cost

How to claim each rebate

1. Get pre-approved (where required). Some utility programs require approval before install. Check program details before signing a contract.
2. 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.
3. Save documentation. AHRI certificate, model numbers, and itemized invoice are required for most utility rebates.
4. 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.

FAQ