The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has allocated nearly $72 million to support home energy rebates for income-eligible households in Maine, funded by the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
Maine’s Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate (HEAR) program, created with funding awarded to the Governor's Energy Office (GEO) and administered by Efficiency Maine Trust, is offering rebates for efficient heat pump systems in two categories of buildings occupied by income-eligible households: 1) new construction of affordable multifamily housing and 2) single-family manufactured (mobile) homes. Click on the links below for additional detail on each active initiative, including program eligibility requirements and application instructions:
- Initiative for Electrification in New Affordable Multifamily Housing
- Manufactured (Mobile) Home Initiative
These rebates are limited to residential efficiency upgrades and prioritize low-income households. More information is available on Efficiency Maine’s website. If you have questions about rebate eligibility or other details, please contact Efficiency Maine at (866) 376-2463.
Program Background
The Home Energy Rebates program is made up of two distinct programs: Home Efficiency Rebates (HER) and Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR). GEO will receive at least $71.7 million in formula funds for HER ($35.9 million) and HEAR ($35.7 million). The HER program will focus on qualifying energy efficiency upgrades that achieve minimum energy savings thresholds set by the federal government. As of June 2025, this application is still pending with the U.S. Department of Energy. The HEAR program is now live and promoting qualifying electrification measures.
Maine’s application to DOE for home energy rebate funding was the product of extensive public engagement facilitated by GEO, Efficiency Maine, and MaineHousing, and reflects input received through this process as well as the goals outlined in Maine Won’t Wait. In January 2024, GEO, Efficiency Maine, and MaineHousing hosted a public meeting in person and via Zoom to present a draft proposal and solicit stakeholder feedback. Meeting slides are available to view and download here. More details about Maine’s IRA-funded rebate programs are included in the 2-page summary below, updated September 2024. Download the 2-page PDF summary of the programs by clicking here.
