Austin Energy - Home Energy Savings Rebate Program
Administered by Austin Energy
Austin Energy's Home Energy Savings program lets you get rebates and loans for whole-home efficiency upgrades like heat pumps, air conditioning, insulation, and duct sealing—with improvements typically lowering summer bills by an average of 20%. You must work with an Austin Energy participating contractor who will conduct a free in-home energy assessment and help you apply for rebates ranging from $25 to $1,600 depending on the improvement, plus access to zero-percent financing (through December 1, 2026–September 30) with a minimum loan amount of $1,500 and maximum of $25,000. Single-family homes, condos, townhomes, and rental properties (but not mobile or manufactured homes) in Austin Energy's service territory qualify.
Participating contractors gain a defined customer base seeking comprehensive energy efficiency work and can offer customers rebate checks at project end or reduced loan amounts when rebates apply—making projects more affordable while you deliver measurable savings. You must meet Austin Energy's requirements for licensure, insurance, and work quality; conduct no-cost energy assessments; recommend improvements from HVAC upgrades to insulation and duct sealing; and guide customers through the rebate and loan application process, with rebate values spanning $25 (fan covers) to $1,600 (high-efficiency heat pumps).
Home Energy Savings operates on a rebate-and-loan model funded through Austin Energy's utility budget, with zero-percent financing available through Velocity Credit Union (December 1, 2026–September 30) for projects meeting a 15-point energy savings threshold and including at least three efficiency measures. The program targets owner-occupied single-family, multifamily, and low-income residential properties (with free improvements available through a separate Weatherization Assistance program); eligibility requires Austin Energy residential electric service and excludes mobile/manufactured homes. Program mechanics include contractor-led in-home assessments, tiered rebate schedules for HVAC equipment (based on SEER2/EER2/HSPF2 ratings), and itemized rebates for building envelope measures (duct sealing at $0.20/sq ft floor area, attic insulation at $0.03/sq ft × R-value plus $45 setup fee).
Program details
- Program ID
- 2011
- Last updated
- 6/6/2025
Eligibility
- Sectors
- residential multifamily residential low income residential
- Technologies
- refrigerators/freezers heat pumps air conditioners programmable thermostats duct/air sealing building insulation windows comprehensive measures/whole building other ee hvac
Program summary
Austin Energy's Home Energy Savings program provides whole-home energy efficiency improvements. Customers can receive a rebate and/or a loan. An Austin Energy participating contractor is required to conduct a no-cost energy assessment of your home. Mobile or manufactured homes are not eligible for Home Performance with Energy Star improvements.
Appliances and Equipment
Austin Energy provides an $800 rebate for qualifying ENERGY STAR-certified heat pump water heaters and a $300 rebate for qualifying ENERGY STAR-certified variable-speed pool pumps.
Cooling and Heating
Austin Energy provides rebates ranging from $400 to $600 for central split AC systems and mini-split AC systems, depending on the system's efficiency. Rebates for heat pumps and heat pump mini-split systems range from $450 to $750, depending on the system's efficiency.
The utility also provides a $30 rebate for new smart thermostats; customers with existing smart thermostats can enroll in the utility's demand response program for a $50 enrollment credit and $25 annual participation credit.
Finally, the utility offers a $50 rebate for new qualifying ENERGY STAR-certified window air conditioners.
Home Improvements
Home improvement rebates are available for:
- Air infiltration and duct sealing: $0.20 per floor square foot
- Total external static pressure: $175 ($100 per additional system)
- Duct replacement/insulation: $3.25 per linear foot for replacement; $1.00 per linear foot for insulation
- Duct system performance improvement: $200 ($100 per additional system); $75 per new return air improvement
- Attic insulation to R38: $0.03 per attic square foot x R-value, plus the $45 set-up fee
- Fan cover: $25
- Solar screens/solar film on single pane windows: $1.00 per square foot
- External combustion air: $20
- Insulated box for pull-down stairs: $25
- Additional attic access: $25
- Improve supply and/or return plenum: $75
- Supply grilles: $10
- Return air grilles: $10
- AC tune up: $175
- Deep pleated media filters: $50
Low-income customers can receive free home energy improvements through the Weatherization Assistance Rebate and Loan Programs.
Instant Savings
In addition to post-purchase applications with Austin Energy, residents can also receive some of these rebates at the point-of-sale at participating stores, either through products marked as Instant Savings or through bringing a coupon. Currently, these instant rebates and coupons include:
- ENERGY STAR dryers: $100
- ENERGY STAR freezers: $75
- ENERGY STAR heat pump water heaters: $800
- ENERGY STAR refrigerators: $100
- ENERGY STAR room air purifiers: $25
- Smart thermostats: $30
- Window air conditioners: $50
- ENERGY STAR water coolers: $25
- DIY products: [rebate value not specified]
- Electric lawn mowers: $25 (from April through September)
- Electric weed eaters: $15 (from April through September)
- Electric leaf blowers: $15 (from October through December)
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Contact & resources
- Contact email
- custinfo@austinenergy.com
- Additional resources
Please verify current program details with the administering agency before making any financial decisions.
