Colorado HEAR Rebates: What You Actually Need to Know (2026)

The Colorado HEAR program (Home Electrification & Appliance Rebate) is still accepting applications, but Front Range funding is expected to be fully reserved in the coming weeks. This is a contractor's guide to how the program works, current funding status by region, and your options if HEAR no longer applies.

For a complete overview of all Colorado rebate programs (Xcel, state tax credits, HEAR, and local programs), see our Colorado Heat Pump Rebates & Incentives guide. This article focuses specifically on HEAR.

TL;DR

• Front Range: HEAR funding nearly exhausted. UniColorado not accepting new HEAR projects in this region.
• Western Slope / Mountains: Funding may still be available. Check with the state portal.
• Xcel Energy rebates and the Colorado state tax credit are still available for all qualifying households.
• If you already have an estimate with HEAR, contact us immediately - see our customer update.

HEAR provides up-front, point-of-sale rebates for income-qualified households making electric upgrades in existing homes. Below is the complete list of eligible measures based on current Colorado Energy Office guidance.

Electrification & Appliances

• Cold-climate heat pumps (space heating and cooling)
• Ductless heat pumps
• Heat pump water heaters
• Electric stoves, cooktops, ranges, and ovens
• Electric clothes dryers

Electrical System Upgrades

• Electrical panel upgrades (load service center)
• Electrical wiring upgrades
• New or modified circuits required for eligible electric appliances

Building Shell & Efficiency Measures

• Insulation improvements
• Air sealing
• Ventilation upgrades
• Indoor air quality (IAQ) improvements

Important Requirements

• Replacements only; no new construction
• Heat pumps must replace an existing heating system
• Heat pumps cannot replace an existing heat pump (pending final CEO clarification)

UniColorado offers cold climate heat pumps and electrical panel upgrades (in conjunction with heat pumps, no standalone projects).

You may qualify if:

• Your household income is at or below 150% AMI, and
• The upgrade is happening in an existing home (no new construction)

Homes eligible for HEAR include:

• Single-family homes (active now)
• Townhomes
• Condos (expanding late March 2026)
• Apartments (expanding late March 2026)
• Manufactured/mobile homes (expanding late March 2026)

Renter households can participate, but must obtain landlord permission using the official authorization form included in the state application.

Use the calculator below to check whether your household income qualifies for HEAR rebates in your county. Select your county, household size, and see the AMI thresholds that apply.

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See If YouQualify

HEAR Rebate Calculator

Uses official AMI tables. Answer three quick questions and see if you qualify in seconds.

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2Household Size

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Based onOfficial HUD AMI tables$14,000 household aggregate cap

+Program Eligibility Requirements

Households ≤80% AMI can receive up to 100% of project cost. Households at 80-150% AMI receive up to 50%. Total HEAR rebates cannot exceed $14,000 per household. For a sense of what projects cost before incentives, see our heat pump installation cost guide. For full HEAR program details, see the HEAR rebates page.

HEAR is currently rolling out the full program; some details are still pending finalization.

1. Verify income in the state portal
2. Meet with a registered contractor to scope eligible upgrades
3. Contractor reserves your rebate before installation
4. Contractor installs the system and applies your up-front discount
5. Contractor submits documentation; rebate is processed in the background

This is different from a tax credit as you receive the discount immediately.

1. Front Range funding nearly exhausted

“As of April 8, 2026, the HEAR Single-Family Program has disbursed $1.3 million in rebate funds with an estimated $15.6 million in rebates reserved for over 1,300 households, nearly all of which are in the Front Range.”

- Colorado Energy Office, Contractor Newsletter, April 8, 2026

Front Range HEAR funding is expected to be fully reserved in the coming weeks. Only households with a submitted Project Proposal will be reviewed going forward.

2. Regional funding breakdown

• Front Range: Nearly exhausted. UniColorado is not accepting new HEAR projects in this region.
• Western Slope: Funding may still be available.
• Eastern Plains / San Luis Valley / Mountain Communities: Funding may still be available.

If you're in the Western Slope or other regions, check with the state portal for current availability.

3. Program still active but constrained

HEAR is still technically active. Applications are being processed. But the practical reality is that Front Range funds will likely be gone before most new applicants can complete the 60-120 day process from income verification to project completion.

4. Alternatives still available

If HEAR no longer applies, these programs are still available:

• Xcel Energy utility rebates - up to $2,250/ton for cold-climate heat pumps
• Colorado state heat pump tax credit - $1,000-$1,500
• Local programs (EnergySmart, United Power, etc.)
• Power Ahead (DRCOG) - launching April 2026

For a full breakdown of alternatives, see our Colorado Heat Pump Rebates guide.

HER (Home Efficiency Rebates) is a separate $56 million program for manufactured/mobile homes and large multifamily buildings (50,000+ sq ft). It rewards whole-home efficiency projects that achieve 20%+ energy savings. HER is expected to open in Q1 2026.

If you live in a site-built single-family home, HER does not apply to you. HEAR is your program. Key differences:

• HEAR = individual appliance rebates, single-family now, expanding to other home types (income-based)
• HER = whole-home efficiency, manufactured homes & large multifamily only (not yet open)

HEAR has created a gold rush. Some companies are running aggressive ads promising low prices on heat pump installs, specifically targeting income-qualified homeowners who can get $8,000 off.

Here's what we're seeing: bottom-tier equipment, minimal engineering, and smoke-and-mirrors pricing designed to maximize the contractor's cut of the rebate. The homeowner gets a system that technically qualifies but won't last. A cold-climate heat pump is a 15-20 year investment. The cheapest option upfront is rarely the cheapest option over the life of the system.

What to ask before you sign:

• What brand and model? Look up its HSPF2 rating and cold-climate performance specs.
• Is it a true cold-climate heat pump, or a standard unit being sold as one?
• Does the quote include a Manual J load calculation?
• What warranty comes with it, and who backs it if the company disappears?

A good contractor will show you why a system fits your home, not just that it qualifies for a rebate.

If you already have an estimate with HEAR

Contact us immediately. If you want to proceed with HEAR, we need to submit your Project Proposal before Front Range funds are fully reserved. See our customer update for deadline details.

If you're starting fresh

UniColorado is not accepting new HEAR projects as of April 10, 2026 due to the funding situation. However, you can still get a heat pump with Xcel Energy rebates and the Colorado state tax credit.

Request a free estimate - we'll show you the net price after all non-HEAR rebates that apply to your situation.

If you're on the Western Slope or outside the Front Range

HEAR funding may still be available in your region. Check with the state portal for current availability. UniColorado primarily serves the Front Range and cannot take HEAR projects in regions we don't serve.

UniColorado is the most experienced heat pump installer in Colorado. We've designed and installed thousands of systems across the Front Range.

While we're not accepting new HEAR projects due to the funding situation, we still apply Xcel Energy rebates and state tax credits as upfront discounts, keeping your project simple and cost-effective.

If you're planning a heat pump upgrade, you're in the right place.