Can I still get heat pump rebates in Denver?

Yes, more than ever. Denver CARe ended, but Xcel Energy ($6,750+), HEAR (up to $8,000 if income-qualified), and the Colorado state tax credit ($1,000) are all available now. Combined savings of $7,750 to $15,750 exceed what was possible under CARe.

What replaced Denver CARe?

CARe wasn't replaced by a single program. Instead, Xcel Energy increased rebates significantly (from ~$2,500 to $6,750+), federal HEAR rebates became available, and DRCOG is launching Power Ahead Colorado mid-2026. The combination exceeds what CARe offered.

Why did Denver CARe end?

Success. The program was fully subscribed and all allocated funds were claimed by March 2025. It achieved its goal of accelerating Denver's transition to electric heating. The sales tax that funded it continues, but is now directed to other climate initiatives.

Do I need to be income-qualified to get rebates?

No. Any Denver homeowner with Xcel gas service qualifies for at least $7,750 (Xcel + state credit) with no income check. HEAR adds up to $8,000 more for households under 150% AMI, but the base rebates are available to everyone.

How does the Xcel rebate work?

UniColorado applies it as an upfront discount on your invoice. You pay the net price, not full price. We handle the application and Xcel pays us directly. No waiting for reimbursement checks.

Should I wait for DRCOG to launch?

We don't recommend it. Current programs already exceed what CARe offered. DRCOG (mid-2026) will stack with existing programs, not replace them. Waiting means paying higher prices if tariffs increase equipment costs.

What's the difference between AC and heat pump?

An AC only cools. A heat pump cools in summer and heats in winter. In Colorado, cold climate heat pumps can cover 80-100% of your heating needs while qualifying for the largest rebates.

What are the next steps?

Schedule a free estimate. We'll assess your home, calculate your rebate eligibility across all programs, and provide a quote showing your net price after all discounts.

What is the Denver Climate Action Rebate (CARe)?

Denver CARe was a rebate program funded by a 0.25% sales tax that ran from 2021 to May 2025. It offered $1,200 for heat pumps, $1,000 for electrical upgrades, and rebates for water heaters and solar. The program ended after all funds were fully subscribed.

Can I stack Denver rebates with Xcel and federal credits?

Yes, but note that Denver's CARe program ended in 2025. What's still available for Denver residents: Xcel Energy rebates ($2,250/ton for cold-climate), Colorado state tax credit ($1,000), and HEAR (up to $8,000 if income-qualified). Denver homes on Xcel gas service qualify for the highest Xcel tier. We verify your Xcel account type during the estimate and apply all qualifying rebates as upfront invoice discounts.

3 Programs Active

Denver Heat Pump Rebates

Name: Denver Heat Pump Rebates
Brand: Unicolorado
Availability: LimitedAvailability
Rating: 5 (1280 reviews)

Denver CARe ended in May 2025, but you can now save more than it ever offered. Stack Xcel, HEAR, and state programs for $7,750 to $15,750 in rebates.

Updated February 9, 2026•By Editorial Staff

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Blue^TM AI Summary

Denver CARe ended in May 2025 after all rebates were fully subscribed. Current programs offer more: Xcel Energy ($6,750+ for cold climate heat pumps), HEAR (up to $8,000 for income-qualified households), and the Colorado state tax credit ($1,000). Total: $7,750 to $15,750, applied as upfront discounts rather than tax returns. DRCOG adds more mid-2026.

Denver CARe

Ended May 2025

Current Max

$15,750

Base Savings

$7,750

Programs

3 Active Now

Blue can make mistakes. Check important info.

Denver CARe Amounts (Historical)

For reference. This program ended May 2025. Current programs above offer more.

Denver CARe Equipment (Ended)	Was	Notes
Cold Climate ASHP	$1,200	Xcel now offers $6,750+ for same equipment
Cold Climate MiniSplit	$1,200	Xcel now offers $6,750+ for same equipment
Electrical Upgrade	$1,000	HEAR covers electrical work up to $4,000
Heat Pump Water Heater	$500	Xcel offers $2,250; HEAR up to $1,750

What's Available for Denver Homeowners in 2026

If you came here looking for Denver CARe rebates, you're in good company. This page still gets hundreds of visits each month. The program ended in May 2025 after all funds were claimed. Read the full story of why it ended.

You can now save more than CARe ever offered. Denver is 100% Xcel Energy territory. Every Denver homeowner with gas service qualifies for Xcel's rebates with no income check and no application lottery. Add the federal HEAR program if you're income-qualified, plus the Colorado state credit, and you're looking at $7,750 to $15,750 in savings.

That's more than the $14,500 max that was possible when CARe was running.

Denver Rebate Programs (2026)

Program	Amount	Who Qualifies
Xcel Energy	$6,750–$9,000	Any Xcel gas customer
HEAR	Up to $8,000	Household income under 150% AMI
CO Tax Credit	$1,000	All Colorado residents
DRCOG	TBD	Coming mid-2026

How to Stack Your Rebates

These programs stack. You're not choosing between them. You're combining them.

If you have Xcel gas service (and most of Denver does), you automatically qualify for Xcel's rebate. That's $6,750 for a typical 3-ton cold climate heat pump, applied as an instant discount. Add the $1,000 Colorado tax credit and you're at $7,750 without even checking your income.

If your household income is under 150% AMI (about $168,000 for a household of 2), you can add HEAR for up to $8,000 more. That's $15,750 total, applied upfront rather than as a tax return you wait for.

UniColorado handles all the paperwork. You sign a few forms, we submit everything to Xcel and the state, and your invoice reflects the discounted price from day one.

What Happened to Denver CARe

Denver CARe ran from 2021 to 2025. Funded by a 0.25% sales tax that Denver voters approved, it offered rebates on heat pumps ($1,200), electrical upgrades ($1,000), water heaters, and solar. The program was wildly successful, so successful that it ran out of money.

By March 2025, all heat pump rebates were fully subscribed. The program officially ended in May 2025 after achieving its goal: accelerating Denver's transition to electric heating. UniColorado helped hundreds of Denver homeowners through this program.

Read the full story →

What's Coming Next

The Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) is launching Power Ahead Colorado mid-2026. It's not a direct replacement for CARe. It's a regional program covering 58 communities across the Denver metro, backed by $273 million in federal funding through 2030.

Rebate amounts haven't been announced yet, but the program includes a low-income component offering free home upgrades worth an average of $20,000. For everyone else, we expect rebates that will stack with Xcel and HEAR.

If you're waiting for "the next Denver CARe," there's no need. The current programs already exceed what CARe offered, and DRCOG will only add more.