Home Energy Rebates for San Diego Homeowners: What the Heat Pump Rebate Offers and Where It Stands

by Trevor Landress

California's home electrification rebate, called HEEHRA, offers up to $8,000 toward a heat pump for households under 80% of area median income and up to $4,000 for households from 80% to 150%. At the time this article was written in October 2026, the California Energy Commission and TECH Clean California said single-family rebates had been fully reserved statewide since February 24, 2026.

The short answer

HEEHRA pays up to $8,000 (under 80% of area median income) or $4,000 (80% to 150%) toward a qualifying heat pump HVAC system.
You must verify your income and have a contractor reserve the rebate before you buy or install equipment.
Single-family funds were fully reserved statewide as of February 24, 2026.
The Energy Commission warns about scammers posing as rebate representatives.

The programs

The California Energy Commission's page describes the state's federally funded residential energy rebate programs. HEEHRA, the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates, covers appliances and equipment for income-eligible households, and Phase I is open. HOMES, the Home Owner Managing Energy Savings program for whole-home efficiency upgrades, was listed as not yet available. A contractor training program was also listed.

I am a REALTOR, not an energy or tax advisor. This is a summary of what those pages said at the time I checked, and the status of funds can change quickly.

What HEEHRA pays

Household	Single-family rebate
Under 80% of area median income	Up to $8,000
80% to 150% of area median income	Up to $4,000

For a single-family home, the qualifying upgrade is a new, energy-efficient heat pump HVAC system that replaces an existing non-heat-pump heating source. TECH Clean California's page adds that the program covers homes with four or fewer units, condos, and manufactured or mobile homes, and that an owner who rents to a qualifying household may also apply.

Equipment must be ENERGY STAR certified where that exists. Beginning January 1, 2026, systems must use refrigerants with a global warming potential of 700 or lower. HEEHRA cannot be combined with a TECH incentive, under a rule that took effect July 15, 2025.

How to apply, in order

Verify your income through TECH Clean California and get an income verification code or approval.
Find a TECH-certified, HEEHRA-trained contractor.
Have the contractor submit a reservation request with your code and income range.
Do not buy or install equipment before the reservation is approved, because HEEHRA rebates are not retroactive.
Receive the rebate as an instant discount on the invoice or as a check after installation.

Income is verified for all adults in the household. The page lists accepted forms such as W-2, 1099, 1040 and 4852.

Where funding stands

The Energy Commission's page says that as of February 24, 2026, single-family HEEHRA rebates were fully reserved statewide, with unapproved requests waitlisted and no new income verification requests being accepted. TECH Clean California's page repeats that status and says multifamily rebates were fully reserved as of September 1, 2026. Neither page lists San Diego separately.

The history on the Energy Commission's page shows funds have reopened before, in November 2024, March 2025 and October 2025, and have been reserved again each time. Check TECH Clean California before you plan around the rebate.

Scam warning

The Energy Commission warns that scammers may pose as Commission or federal program representatives. It says the only federally funded home electrification rebates currently available to Californians are HEEHRA rebates through TECH-certified, HEEHRA-trained contractors. Do not share financial information with anyone offering to submit rebates for you, and do not let uncertified contractors into your home.

What buyers and homeowners should do

If a home has an older heating system, ask the seller about its age, and include replacement in your budget whether or not a rebate is available. If you are considering a heat pump, it also changes how you use electricity, so look at the time-of-use options in my SDG&E rate plans guide, including SDG&E's plan for electrified homes.

Water and sewer bills are part of the same ownership picture, and I explain the City's water charges in my San Diego water rates guide. For other upgrade costs and permits, see my permit history guide.

My advice for San Diego homeowners

Do not buy or install a heat pump until a rebate reservation is approved, if you plan to use one.
Check TECH Clean California for the current status before you plan around a rebate.
Use only TECH-certified, HEEHRA-trained contractors for the rebate.
Ask a lender or a CPA about financing and tax questions, since I cannot advise on them.
Review your SDG&E plan before and after an electrification upgrade.

A note on advice

I am a REALTOR®, not a lender, attorney, tax professional or financial advisor, so this guide is general information. Your lender can tell you what you qualify for, and a CPA or attorney can answer tax and legal questions.

Call or text me at (619) 402-4614 or send me a message.

Call or text (619) 402-4614 Contact Trevor Landress

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

What is HEEHRA?

It is California's Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates program, which helps income-eligible households pay for equipment such as a heat pump HVAC system.

How much does the single-family rebate pay?

Up to $8,000 for households under 80% of area median income and up to $4,000 for households from 80% to 150%.

Can I buy the heat pump first and apply later?

No. HEEHRA rebates are not retroactive, so a reservation must be approved before the equipment is installed.

Is HEEHRA funding open now?

At the time this article was written in October 2026, both the Energy Commission and TECH Clean California said single-family rebates had been fully reserved statewide since February 24, 2026.

How can I avoid rebate scams?

Use only TECH-certified, HEEHRA-trained contractors, and do not share financial information with anyone offering to submit rebates for you.

About the author

Trevor Landress is a San Diego REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker West (DRE# 02126901). He was born and raised in San Diego and has been licensed since 2021.

Trevor helps homeowners sell, guides first-time buyers through the home buying process and assists investors with their next acquisition. His work includes negotiating offers, analyzing market trends, building pricing strategies and running marketing campaigns for his listings.

He serves clients across San Diego County, from coastal communities like La Jolla, Del Mar and Carlsbad to neighborhoods inland.

Trevor is part of the Campbell Group, a three-generation real estate team, and he and the Campbell Group consistently rank as a top producing team at Coldwell Banker West each month. He writes these guides to help San Diego buyers and sellers navigate an ever-changing market. To talk through your plans, call or text (619) 402-4614 or contact Trevor Landress.

How I help San Diego home buyers

I help buyers sort out their budget, understand their loan options with a lender, search for homes, write and negotiate offers, keep track of inspection and contingency deadlines and stay organized through closing.

How I help San Diego home sellers

I help sellers price their home, prepare it for the market, market it to buyers, review and negotiate offers and manage the steps from an accepted offer to closing.