Idaho home energy rebates & incentives (2026)
Idaho is one of only two states where IRA Home Energy Rebates won't be arriving: the Legislature's budget committee rejected the state's roughly $81 million allocation in March 2025 and the funds were returned. That leaves utility rebate programs (Idaho Power, Avista, Intermountain Gas) and, for income-qualified households, the free Weatherization Assistance Program as the practical ways to save. The federal 25C/25D tax credits ended after 2025 and no longer apply.
The Idaho Legislature declined the state's roughly $81 million IRA allocation in March 2025, so HOMES and HEAR rebates will not be offered in Idaho. Utility rebates and the Weatherization Assistance Program remain available.
Idaho home energy incentives at a glance (July 25, 2026)
- IRA rebates (HOMES/HEAR) in Idaho: Not offered — the Idaho Legislature returned the state's federal allocation in March 2025
- HEAR rebate: Not available in this state
- HOMES rebate: Not available in this state
- Federal tax credits (25C/25D): Ended December 31, 2025 — no federal home energy tax credit for 2026 installs
- Still available: Utility rebates from your electric/gas provider and free Weatherization Assistance for income-qualified households
Who runs Idaho's rebate programs
Federal update for 2026
Federal home energy tax credits (25C and 25D) ended December 31, 2025. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21, signed July 4, 2025) terminated the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (Section 25C) and the Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D). No 25C or 25D credit is available for property placed in service on or after January 1, 2026. Equipment placed in service by December 31, 2025 can still be claimed on your 2025 return (IRS Form 5695), and unused 25D credit generally carries forward. This is not tax advice — confirm with the IRS or a tax professional.
What's available now: The Inflation Reduction Act funds roughly $8.8 billion in Home Energy Rebates through two state-run programs: HOMES (Home Efficiency Rebates) and HEAR/HEEHRA (Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates). These rebates were not repealed by the 2025 tax law and remain the primary federal savings pathway. They are administered by each state's energy office and launch on different timelines; funding runs until it is used up or September 30, 2031.
Recent change: A mid-2026 U.S. Department of Energy update narrowed HEAR: rebates no longer cover 'fuel switching' (for example, replacing a gas furnace with a heat pump) and now focus on upgrading existing electric equipment to more efficient electric models. New HVAC rebates may also require insulation and air sealing to be done at the same time. Exact rules and timing vary by state.
Federal tax credits (ended)
Ended December 31, 2025These federal credits were available through 2025. They're shown here for reference and for anyone claiming a 2025 install — they do not apply to work done in 2026 or later.
Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit IRC §25C
No longer availableWas 30% of project cost, up to $1,200 per year (no lifetime limit), with a $600-per-item cap — and a higher $2,000 per year limit for heat pumps and heat pump water heaters. Home energy audits up to $150. Existing homes only.
Not available for property placed in service on or after January 1, 2026. Work completed by December 31, 2025 can still be claimed on your 2025 return.
Residential Clean Energy Credit IRC §25D
No longer availableWas 30% of cost with no dollar cap — for solar panels, solar water heating, battery storage, small wind, fuel cells, and geothermal heat pumps. Was originally scheduled to run through 2034 before it was ended early.
Not available for expenditures made on or after January 1, 2026. Costs paid by December 31, 2025 can still be claimed on your 2025 return, and unused credit generally carries forward.
What about 2027 and 2028?
- No new federal home-energy tax credits are scheduled for 2027 or 2028. The 25C and 25D credits ended after 2025 and have not been replaced.
- The IRA-funded Home Energy Rebates (HOMES and HEAR) are scheduled to remain available through September 30, 2031, or until each state's funds run out — so they can still apply in 2026, 2027, and 2028 wherever a state's program is running.
- For home solar installed through a lease or power-purchase agreement, the separate Section 48E clean-electricity credit is scheduled to end for projects placed in service after December 31, 2027 (with exceptions for projects that began construction by July 4, 2026). This credit is claimed by the system owner, not the homeowner.
- Utility rebates and the Weatherization Assistance Program don't have a national expiration tied to the tax law and are expected to continue.
IRA Home Energy Rebates are not available in Idaho
Idaho was awarded roughly $81 million for HOMES and HEAR, but the Legislature's budget committee rejected the funding in March 2025 and it was returned to the U.S. Department of Energy. Idahoans can still use utility rebates and the free Weatherization Assistance Program below — or compare programs in neighboring Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and Montana.
Utility rebates in Idaho
Your electric or gas utility likely runs its own rebate programs for heat pumps, insulation, and smart thermostats — separate from federal and state incentives, and they usually stack with IRA rebates. Find your utility's name on your monthly bill, then check its website or the ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder below.
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
A long-standing, federally funded program that provides free energy-efficiency upgrades (insulation, air sealing, and more) to income-qualified households through local providers. Unaffected by the 2025 tax law.
Who typically qualifies
- You own and occupy the home (renters usually need landlord participation)
- Your equipment meets the program's efficiency tier
- You use a participating or licensed contractor where required
- Your household income is within limits for income-based tiers
Documents you'll usually need
- Itemized contractor invoice (labor and equipment)
- Equipment model number and efficiency certificate (AHRI / ENERGY STAR)
- Proof you own and occupy the home
- Proof of income (for income-qualified rebates)
- Completed program application and any pre-approval
How Idaho homeowners cut energy costs in 2026
Idaho returned its federal Home Energy Rebates allocation, so savings here come from utility programs and weatherization assistance rather than IRA rebates. The biggest single-project savings usually come from heat pump rebates (HEAR caps them at $8,000 for income-qualified households), followed by heat pump water heaters and insulation & air sealing. If your electrical service is older, budget for a panel upgrade — HEAR reserves a separate $4,000 cap for that work, and smart thermostat rebates are the fastest win while you plan.
Not sure where to start? Check whether your income fits the HEAR income tiers, walk through the step-by-step application guide, and price the project with the rebate calculator. Comparing across state lines? See how Idaho stacks up against Hawaii and Illinois.
How to get a rebate in Idaho
- Confirm the program is open and funded
- Check that your equipment and contractor qualify
- Get pre-approval if the program requires it
- Complete the work and keep every invoice
- Submit your application with documents before the deadline