3.32 Navigating the Electrification Rebates with Anita Singha

"The fact of the matter is your heating your home and cooling your home and heating your water are the two biggest loads to your electric bill. They cost the most in in your home. So this is an opportunity to yes decarbonize and do right for the environment and our grid but also for energy usage. And the products are there. There's more and more coming for sure. " - Anita Singha

The much anticipated rebate part of the Inflation Reduction Act, HEEHRA, Home Energy Efficiency Rebate program launched in California in November, 2024. Anita Singha, the Senior Marketing Manager for the Switch Is On, the administrator of the financial incentive programs in California explains how this rebate program works and how to navigate it.

She explains the program provides rebates of up to $8,000 for low-income households (80% or less of area median income) and $4,000 for moderate-income households (80-150% of area median income) to install heat pumps and heat pump water heaters. The rebates are paid directly to the contractor, and consumers must use a HEEHRA-qualified contractor to be eligible.

Anita walks through the steps for consumers to verify their income eligibility and find HEER-qualified contractors through the Switch Is On website. This includes using an online income verification tool, getting a certificate of eligibility, and then contacting multiple contractors to get quotes.

Izumi shares her experiences trying to help low-income homeowners, particularly those in remote/rural areas, navigate the HEER program. She highlights issues like lack of HEER-qualified contractors in certain regions, contractors being unfamiliar with heat pump technology, and complexities around mobile home and rental properties. Anita acknowledges these challenges and discusses efforts to expand contractor training and outreach, and reassures that the $450 million in HEER funding allocated to California is secure, even with a potential change in federal administration. However, she notes that the rebates may not last indefinitely, so consumers are encouraged to act quickly.

Additional clarifications: California state is launching the rebate program with one appliance at a time, mainly focusing on the heat pump systems. The first phase was for heat pump HVAC system, in which low-income households can get it installed for free although the homeowners may have to cover a difference if the cost of installation exceeds $8,000. Qualified householders can apply if you live in a condo, 2-4 units buildings, ADU and Junior ADU. If you live in a mobile home, you can apply as long as you’re on a foundation and not have an axle or license number.