Texas Heat Pump Rebates 2026: Current Utility Programs

Current status: Texas HOMES and HEAR rebates have not launched

Checked August 12, 2026. The Texas State Energy Conservation Office says the state’s federally funded HOMES and HEAR rebates are not currently available. The programs remain in planning and design; Texas hired an implementation contractor in April 2026, but no homeowner launch date has been established.

Do not pay a contractor who claims to reserve Texas HOMES or HEAR funds today. SECO has not published an approved-contractor program for these rebates.

The federal Section 25C heat pump tax credit also ended for property placed in service after December 31, 2025.

What is available now

Current help is mainly local: municipal utilities and transmission-and-distribution utility efficiency programs. Eligibility follows the service territory and program sponsor, not simply the retail electricity company selected on a deregulated plan.

Austin Energy

Austin Energy publishes an average rebate of about $800 for qualifying residential air-conditioning and heat-pump work, with the actual amount determined by the equipment and program rules. The work must follow Austin Energy’s current contractor, efficiency, and application requirements.

Use the amount shown for the exact system and project on the current application. “Average $800” is not a guaranteed check for every heat pump.

Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas, and Entergy territories

These programs often deliver incentives through participating service providers. The contractor may receive the incentive and pass it through as a discount. Amounts and annual budgets can change, and a retail electricity provider’s name does not establish the transmission-and-distribution territory.

Ask the service provider to identify:

• the program sponsor;
• the current measure and incentive amount;
• whether the amount appears as an invoice discount or later payment;
• the exact matched equipment and efficiency requirements;
• whether preapproval is required.

CPS Energy and other municipal utilities or co-ops

Municipal utilities and electric cooperatives use their own offers. Check the utility shown on the bill. Rural and cooperative territories may have no residential heat pump offer, and a nearby city program usually does not cross service boundaries.

Do not budget the future federal-state rebate yet

The federal program design allows substantial income-based heat pump assistance, but Texas has not opened applications. A household’s apparent income eligibility does not reserve money or make a 2026 installation retroactively eligible. Wait for SECO to publish the launch date, approved process, contractor rules, and eligible-project dates.

Before you apply

1. Identify the transmission-and-distribution utility, municipal utility, or electric cooperative from the bill.
2. Open that provider’s current efficiency portal.
3. Use a participating contractor if the program requires one.
4. Get the incentive and delivery method in writing before installation.
5. Keep the AHRI certificate, load calculation, permits, commissioning record, application, and paid invoice.
6. Recheck SECO separately for HOMES and HEAR launch updates; do not rely on contractor marketing.

What changed in this update

The August 12 review confirms the May 19 SECO status, updates Austin Energy from “unconfirmed” to the current official offer, and removes speculative grid commentary, unsupported future-program assumptions, and unrelated product cards.

Related guides

• Estimate the room or project load
• What size mini split do I need?
• Federal heat pump incentives in 2026