Is the HEAR program ending?

Not nationally. The HEAR Single-Family Program for Region 1 (Front Range) closed on April 28, 2026 — project proposals submitted after April 27 will be denied. CLEAResult told contractors that if Region 1 funding becomes available again, registered contractors will be notified. Region 2 (all other Colorado counties) is still accepting applications; the program dashboard updates Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Front Range residents are effectively shut out of the program for new applications.

Why is UniColorado no longer including HEAR?

The timeline from first estimate to an approved state proposal is several weeks. By April 24, CLEAResult had told contractors that Region 1 funds would be fully reserved by April 28. The state had also stopped reviewing new income verifications on April 17 unless an approved Project Proposal was already on file. A brand-new HEAR application started in late April couldn't realistically land in time, so we stopped including HEAR on new estimates rather than quote a rebate we couldn't be confident would be there.

Can I still get a heat pump without HEAR?

Yes. Xcel Energy rebates ($6,750 for a 3-ton cold-climate system) and the Colorado state tax credit ($1,000) stack to around $7,750 on a 3-ton cold-climate install today, applied as upfront discounts. Power Ahead Colorado ($1,500, no income limit) is launching early summer 2026 and will layer on top once DRCOG opens the program.

What if my HEAR project was already submitted?

If your signed estimate is on file and we submitted your project proposal to the state on or before April 27, you're in the review queue and Region 1's closure on April 28 doesn't kick you out. The rebate is not guaranteed until the state issues a reservation notice, and CLEAResult has noted review times have extended due to high demand. We'll notify you when that notice comes through.

When does Power Ahead Colorado launch?

Per CLEAResult's April 28 communication to contractors, DRCOG's Power Ahead Colorado heat pump incentives are launching early summer 2026. The rebate is $1,500 with no income limit. Once the program goes live, we'll add it to estimates automatically — it stacks on top of Xcel Energy rebates and the Colorado state tax credit but does not stack with HEAR (both are federally funded).

HEAR Rebate Update April 2026 | Front Range program closed

What's happening with HEAR

On April 28, 2026, CLEAResult — the administrator of the Colorado Energy Office's HEAR program — confirmed to participating contractors that the HEAR Single-Family Program for Region 1 (Front Range) is now closed. Any project proposals submitted after April 27, 2026 for Region 1 will not be reviewed and will be denied.

“The HEAR Single-Family Program for Region 1 - the Front Range […] is now closed. Any project proposals submitted after April 27, 2026 for Region 1 will not be reviewed and will be denied. If Region 1 funding becomes available again in the future, we will provide an update to registered contractors.”- Colorado Home Energy Rebate Partners (CLEAResult), contractor communication, April 28, 2026

Region 1 covers Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, El Paso, Gilpin, Jefferson, Larimer, Teller, and Weld counties. That's UniColorado's entire service area. Region 2 (all other Colorado counties) is still accepting HEAR applications — the program dashboard is updated Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

On April 17, 2026, the Colorado Energy Office had already announced that it would no longer review new income verifications unless an approved Project Proposal was already on file. In practice, the door for new Front Range applications had been shut for over a week before the formal closure on April 28.

UniColorado has not included HEAR on new projects since April 24, 2026. For new customers on the Front Range, we're using Xcel + the Colorado state tax credit today. Power Ahead Colorado ($1,500, no income limit) is launching early summer 2026 — we'll add it to estimates when it goes live.

Timeline

April 8, 2026: Colorado Energy Office reports $15.6M reserved for 1,300+ Front Range households. First warning that funds are running out.
April 10, 2026: UniColorado stops including HEAR in new estimates.
April 17, 2026: State stops reviewing new income verifications without an approved Project Proposal on file.
April 24, 2026: CLEAResult tells contractors Region 1 will be fully reserved by April 28. UniColorado emails existing customers with their application status.
April 27, 2026: Last day project proposals could be submitted for Region 1 review.
April 28, 2026: Region 1 (Front Range) HEAR Single-Family Program officially closed by CLEAResult and the Colorado Energy Office.
Early summer 2026: DRCOG's Power Ahead Colorado heat pump incentives expected to launch.

What this means for your estimate

On April 24 we emailed every customer with HEAR activity on file. Which version you got depended on where your estimate stood with us and the state at that point. Region 1 has now closed, so the path forward depends on whether your project proposal made it in before April 27.

“Your HEAR rebate is in the queue”

You signed your estimate, we submitted your project proposal to the Colorado Energy Office, and your project is in the state review queue. Proposals submitted on or before April 27 stay in the queue even though Region 1 is now closed to new applications. The rebate is not guaranteed until the state issues your reservation notice — CLEAResult also told contractors that review times have extended due to high demand on remaining proposals. We'll notify you as soon as your reservation is confirmed.

“HEAR funding runs out Monday. Approve by Saturday.”

We sent you an estimate with HEAR on it but hadn't received your approval by April 24. If you approved and signed before end of day Saturday April 25 (so we could submit a project proposal on April 27), your project is now in the queue — see the section above. If the deadline passed without an approval, HEAR is no longer on the table for Region 1; we can switch your estimate over to the non-HEAR rebate stack below.

“Let’s refresh your estimate.”

We sent you a HEAR estimate a while back and it expired before you moved on it. With Region 1 closed as of April 28, a refreshed HEAR estimate is no longer something we can put together. We can still send a refreshed estimate using Xcel and the Colorado state tax credit — that stack is around $7,750 on a 3-ton cold-climate install today, and Power Ahead Colorado ($1,500) is expected to layer on top once DRCOG launches it early summer.

What you need to do

If your project is already in the queue: Nothing on your end. We'll notify you when your reservation notice is confirmed. Review times have extended due to high demand, so it may take longer than it would have earlier in the year. If any of your contact details have changed (phone, email, address), reply so we can update the state's records.

If we sent you an estimate and the Saturday April 25 deadline passed without an approval: HEAR is no longer an option for Region 1. Reply or call/text 303-961-1582 and we'll switch your estimate to Xcel + Colorado state tax credit. Power Ahead Colorado ($1,500) is expected to layer on once DRCOG launches the program early summer.

If your estimate had expired before April 24: A refreshed HEAR-inclusive estimate isn't possible for Region 1 now. Reply or call/text 303-961-1582 and we'll send a refreshed estimate using the non-HEAR stack. Same equipment, same install, just a different rebate mix.

Brand-new customer: We're still installing heat pumps every day. For new Front Range projects we're quoting with Xcel Energy and the Colorado state tax credit — around $7,750 on a 3-ton cold-climate install. Power Ahead Colorado ($1,500, no income limit) is launching early summer 2026 and will layer on top once it goes live. No income verification required, no funding uncertainty.

What your project looks like without HEAR

HEAR was a significant rebate, but the stack without it still pencils out well. New Front Range customers currently qualify for:

Xcel Energy rebates: up to $6,750 for a 3-ton cold-climate heat pump (no income requirement, no funding cap)
Colorado state tax credit: $1,000 per household (passed through at invoice)
Power Ahead Colorado: $1,500 for cold-climate heat pumps, no income limit. Per CLEAResult's April 28 update, DRCOG is launching the heat pump incentives early summer 2026. Once it goes live, it stacks on top of Xcel and the state credit.

Today that is $7,750 on a 3-ton cold-climate system with no income verification, no state approval process, and no funding uncertainty. Once Power Ahead launches, the stack reaches around $9,250. We apply qualifying programs as upfront discounts on your invoice.

For more on all available programs, see our Colorado heat pump rebates guide.

HEAR Rebate Update: Region 1 (Front Range) closed April 28, 2026