What is the HEAR Program?

The Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate (HEAR) program provides rebates to help homeowners and renters upgrade to energy-efficient, electric appliances, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. It is managed by the Colorado Energy Office and is funded under the federal Inflation Reduction Act.

Who is running the HEAR Program?

The HEAR program is managed by the Colorado Energy Office and is funded under the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

When does the HEAR Program start?

A limited rollout began in October 2024 through the Weatherization Assistance Program. The full program launched for income-qualified households in Q2 2025. The portal for income verification is now open.

Who is eligible for HEAR rebates?

Colorado households earning below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) are likely eligible for the highest rebates, covering up to 100% of costs. Households at 80-150% of AMI are likely eligible for rebates covering up to 50% of costs.

What if my income is above 150% of AMI?

Households above 150% of AMI are not eligible for HEAR rebates, as the program prioritizes low- and moderate-income households. Check other programs like Xcel Energy rebates or the Colorado state tax credit that don't have income restrictions.

Can renters get HEAR rebates in Colorado?

Yes, renters qualify for the same rebates as homeowners. You'll need written permission from your landlord through the Landlord Authorization Form in the application portal. Your landlord doesn't pay anything; they just need to approve the installation.

What happens if my HEAR application expires?

Applications expire 90 days after submission if you don't complete all steps, including connecting with a registered contractor and confirming your upgrade plan. If it expires, you'll need to start over with a new application. Avoid this by only applying when you're ready to move forward with installation.

What appliances are eligible for HEAR rebates?

The program covers heat pumps (up to $8,000), heat pump water heaters (up to $1,750), electric stoves and cooktops (up to $840), weatherization measures (up to $1,600), electrical panel upgrades (up to $4,000), and home wiring improvements (up to $2,500). UniColorado offers heat pumps and panel upgrades in conjunction with heat pumps only.

Does UniColorado participate in the HEAR Program?

UniColorado is a registered HEAR contractor but is not accepting new HEAR projects as of April 10, 2026. Front Range funding is expected to be fully reserved soon, and the typical timeline between getting an estimate and being ready to submit means we can't guarantee funds will be available. Existing customers with HEAR rebates are not affected. We still install heat pumps with Xcel Energy rebates and the Colorado state tax credit.

How long will the HEAR Program last?

The program runs until funding is exhausted. As of April 2026, the Colorado Energy Office reported that Front Range funding is expected to be fully reserved in the coming weeks. Funds are limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The state is allocating remaining funds across two regions (Front Range and all other counties).

What does HEAR stand for?

HEAR stands for Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates. It's a federal program funded by the Inflation Reduction Act to help low- and moderate-income households upgrade to electric appliances like heat pumps, water heaters, and stoves.

Who qualifies for HEAR rebates in Colorado?

Colorado households at or below 150% of Area Median Income (AMI) qualify. Those at or below 80% AMI get up to 100% coverage (up to $8,000 for heat pumps). Households at 80-150% AMI get up to 50% coverage (up to $8,000).

How much can I get from HEAR rebates?

Up to $8,000 for heat pumps, $1,750 for heat pump water heaters, $4,000 for electrical panel upgrades, $1,600 for insulation/air sealing, and $840 for electric stoves. Total maximum per household is $14,000. UniColorado offers heat pumps, water heaters, and panel upgrades.

How do I apply for HEAR rebates in Colorado?

Start by registering at the Colorado Energy Office portal (portal.neighborlysoftware.com/ENERGYREBATES-CO) and uploading income documents. Then contact UniColorado for an in-home assessment and quote. After you review and sign the proposal, we submit the project to the state - applications with active projects are prioritized for income review. The quote itself can take up to a week to prepare on our end, and state reviews add another 3-6 weeks. Once everything is approved, the rebate appears as an upfront discount on your invoice.

Is HEAR the same as the Colorado Home Energy Rebate Program?

HEAR (Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates) is one of two programs under Colorado's Home Energy Rebate umbrella. The other is HER (Home Efficiency Rebates), which covers whole-home projects for manufactured homes and large multifamily buildings. When people say 'Colorado home energy rebate program,' they usually mean HEAR for individual appliance upgrades.

Can I combine HEAR rebates with Xcel Energy heat pump rebates?

Yes. HEAR and Xcel Energy rebates stack. A 3-ton cold-climate heat pump could qualify for up to $8,000 from HEAR plus $6,750 from Xcel, plus the Colorado state tax credit. Total incentives cannot exceed the project cost. UniColorado handles the paperwork for both programs.

Funding Limited

Colorado HEAR Rebate

Name: Colorado HEAR Rebates
Brand: Colorado Energy Office
Rating: 5 (138 reviews)

Colorado's HEAR rebate program is still active, but Front Range funding is expected to be fully reserved soon. As of April 10, 2026, UniColorado is not accepting new HEAR projects. Existing customers with HEAR rebates are not affected. For program questions, contact the HEAR Help Center below.

Updated April 9, 2026•By Editorial Staff

Status

Active (Funding Limited)

Income Requirement

Under 150% AMI

UniColorado

Not Accepting New Projects

Max Heat Pump Rebate

$8,000

HEAR Help Center

For HEAR application & eligibility questions, contact the state directly

(866) 336-0016Mon-Fri, 9 AM-5 PM MT [email protected]

Apply Now

UniColorado is not accepting new HEAR projects as of April 10, 2026.

From the Colorado Energy Office (April 8, 2026): • Front Range HEAR funding is expected to be fully reserved in the coming weeks • Only Household Profiles with a Project Proposal will be reviewed going forward • Installation cannot begin until rebates are formally reserved by the state From UniColorado: • We are not including HEAR in new estimates as of April 10, 2026 • The typical timeline from estimate to submission is several weeks - we can't guarantee funds will be there • Existing customers with HEAR rebates are not affected

See available rebates without income requirements

What is the HEAR (Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate) Program?

Home Electrification Appliance Rebate

HEAR lowers the up-front cost of specific electric upgrades in existing Colorado homes. Rebates are taken as a point-of-sale discount through participating contractors. Households at or below 150% AMI qualify (those ≤80% AMI receive higher amounts).

UniColorado is a registered HEAR contractor for heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and electrical panel upgrades (in conjunction with heat pumps). However, as of April 10, 2026, we are not accepting new HEAR projects due to Front Range funding constraints. Details below.

HEAR Appliance Rebate Amounts

Appliance	Max Rebate (≤80% AMI)	Max Rebate (80-150% AMI)
Heat Pump (HVAC)	$8,000	$8,000 (50% of cost)
Heat Pump Water Heater	$1,750	$1,750 (50% of cost)
Electric Stove/Cooktop	$840	$840 (50% of cost)
Electric Clothes Dryer	$840	$840 (50% of cost)
Insulation/Air Sealing	$1,600	$1,600 (50% of cost)
Electrical Panel Upgrade	$4,000	$4,000 (50% of cost)
Home Wiring Improvements	$2,500	$2,500 (50% of cost)

See If YouQualify

HEAR Rebate Calculator

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

1County

2Household Size

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

Key Difference Between HEAR and HER

HEAR covers individual appliance upgrades (heat pumps, water heaters, panels). Currently active for single-family homes, expanding to condos, apartments, and manufactured homes in 2026.
HER covers whole-home efficiency projects but is only for manufactured/mobile homes and large multifamily buildings (50,000+ sq ft). Single-family homeowners are not eligible for HER. Learn about HER rebates.

Do I qualify for HEAR rebates?

You qualify if

Households at or below 80% AMI (highest rebates)

Households at 80-150% AMI (50% coverage)

Existing Colorado homes (replacements only)

Equipment meets HEAR efficiency requirements

Not eligible if

Households above 150% AMI

New construction projects

Multi-family, condos, or apartments (UniColorado serves single-family homes only)

DIY installations (must use a participating contractor)

HEAR Rebate Amount by Income Level

Income Level: Below 80% AMI
HEAR Rebate Amount: 100% of qualified project cost, up to the HEAR maximum rebate amounts

Income Level: 80%-150% AMI
HEAR Rebate Amount: 50% of qualified project cost, up to the HEAR maximum rebate amounts

Income Level	HEAR Rebate Amount
Below 80% AMI	100% of qualified project cost, up to the HEAR maximum rebate amounts
80%-150% AMI	50% of qualified project cost, up to the HEAR maximum rebate amounts

County and Household Income Thresholds

County	2 Person Household	4 Person Household	5 Person Household	6 Person Household
Adams	$83,400 – $168,150	$104,200 – $210,150	$112,550 – $227,000	$120,900 – $243,800
Arapahoe	$83,400 – $168,150	$104,200 – $210,150	$112,550 – $227,000	$120,900 – $243,800
Boulder	$83,400 – $180,750	$104,200 – $225,900	$112,550 – $244,000	$120,900 – $262,050
Broomfield	$83,400 – $168,150	$104,200 – $210,150	$112,550 – $227,000	$120,900 – $243,800
Denver	$83,400 – $168,150	$104,200 – $210,150	$112,550 – $227,000	$120,900 – $243,800
Douglas	$83,400 – $168,150	$104,200 – $210,150	$112,550 – $227,000	$120,900 – $243,800
El Paso	$72,000 – $135,000	$90,000 – $168,750	$97,200 – $182,250	$104,400 – $195,750

What HEAR actually involves

Household Profile + Income Docs

Register on the state portal and submit income documents. As of April 2026, only profiles with an associated Project Proposal will be reviewed.

Contractor Assessment + Proposal

In-home visit, load calculation, equipment selection, and detailed proposal. Contractor submits Step A to signal an active project.

Project Proposal Submitted (Step B)

After you sign, the contractor submits the full project proposal. Only completed proposals are prioritized for review.

State Reviews Both

Income verification and project approval go through separate queues, 10-20 business days each. Document errors restart the clock.

Rebate Reserved (120-Day Window)

Once approved, the state confirms via email that rebates are reserved. Installation must be completed and payment claimed within 120 days.

The rebate is real. The process to get it is not fast or simple.

HEAR requires two rounds of state approval before any work begins. Contractors may not begin installation until the program has approved the Project Proposal and confirmed via email that the rebates have been reserved. Once reserved, installation must be completed and payment claimed within 120 days.

As of April 2026, the Colorado Energy Office will only review Household Profiles that have an associated Project Proposal. Income verification alone - without a contractor's submitted proposal - will not be prioritized for review. This means completing your Household Profile and having a contractor submit Steps A and B is now required to move forward.

Plan for 3-6 weeks minimum from application to installation. Review times are extending due to high demand.

“We understand that this level of demand for the program is higher than anticipated and may extend review times.”- Colorado Energy Office, Contractor Newsletter, April 8, 2026

This is part of why UniColorado is not taking on new HEAR projects. With Front Range funding expected to be fully reserved in the coming weeks, the weeks-long process creates real risk that funds won't be there at the end. If you're pursuing HEAR with another contractor, the steps below still apply.

Apply for HEAR Rebates

Start by verifying your income through the Colorado Energy Office portal. You'll need documentation ready before starting. Income verification takes 10-20 business days, and applications with an active project proposal from a contractor are prioritized for review.

HEAR Help Center

For application & eligibility questions, contact the state directly

Start Your HEAR Application

Opens the state income verification portal. Have your documents ready before starting.

Need help applying?

(866) 336-0016Monday - Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM MT

[email protected]

For more program details, visit the Colorado Energy Office HEAR page.

Your application expires after 90 days if you don't complete all steps. Start when you're ready to move forward with installation.

What won't work: Expired IDs, utility bills older than 90 days, benefit letters for programs not on the approved list, or documents with mismatched names or addresses.

Documents Needed for Income Verification

Document: Photo ID
Details: Driver's license, passport, state ID, or permanent resident card

Document: Proof of Ownership
Details: Deed, mortgage statement, or property tax bill

Document: Proof of Residence
Details: Utility bill from past 90 days (electric, gas, water, or internet)

Document: Proof of Income (Option A)
Details: Benefit letter from LEAP, Medicaid, SNAP, Head Start, Lifeline, FDPIR, National School Lunch (free), HIP, SSI, Aid to Blind/Needy Disabled/Old Age Pension

Document: Proof of Income (Option B)
Details: IRS Form 1040 (p1-2), W-2s/1099s, pay stubs (2 consecutive), or bank statements (3 months)

Document: Landlord Authorization
Details: Renters only — must complete in the application portal

Document	Details
Photo ID	Driver's license, passport, state ID, or permanent resident card
Proof of Ownership	Deed, mortgage statement, or property tax bill
Proof of Residence	Utility bill from past 90 days (electric, gas, water, or internet)
Proof of Income (Option A)	Benefit letter from LEAP, Medicaid, SNAP, Head Start, Lifeline, FDPIR, National School Lunch (free), HIP, SSI, Aid to Blind/Needy Disabled/Old Age Pension
Proof of Income (Option B)	IRS Form 1040 (p1-2), W-2s/1099s, pay stubs (2 consecutive), or bank statements (3 months)
Landlord Authorization	Renters only — must complete in the application portal

HEAR Application Step-by-Step

Create an Account

Upload Income Documents

Tax returns, pay stubs, or a qualifying benefit letter. Mismatched names or addresses will delay review.

Contact a Participating Contractor

In-home assessment, system sizing, and detailed proposal. UniColorado is not accepting new HEAR projects as of April 2026.

Sign Proposal, Contractor Submits Step A

Signals an active project. As of April 2026, only profiles with a Project Proposal will be reviewed.

Income Review

The state verifies your income. 10-20 business days. Only profiles with associated proposals are prioritized.

Contractor Submits Step B (Full Proposal)

The state reviews equipment, scope, and pricing. Another 10-20 business days.

Rebate Reserved, Then Installation

State confirms reservation via email. Contractor has 120 days to complete installation and claim payment. Rebate appears as upfront discount.

The HEAR application has multiple stages with separate state review queues. Missing documents or name mismatches restart the review clock. Have everything ready before you start, and only apply when you're ready to commit to a project.

UniColorado Is Not Accepting New HEAR Projects

As of April 10, 2026, UniColorado is no longer including HEAR rebates in new estimates.

The Colorado Energy Office reported on April 8, 2026 that HEAR funding for the Front Range is expected to be fully reserved in the coming weeks.

“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

To ensure access across the state, HEAR funds are now allocated across two regions by population: Region 1 (Front Range) covers Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, El Paso, Gilpin, Jefferson, Larimer, Teller, and Weld counties. Region 2 covers all other Colorado counties. UniColorado serves the Denver metro area, which falls entirely within Region 1.

The typical timeline from first estimate to HEAR submission is several weeks - customers get quotes, compare options, and then decide. By the time a new customer is ready to move forward, we cannot guarantee that Front Range funds will still be available.

We don't think it's right to quote a rebate we can't be confident will be there when you're ready. Existing customers with HEAR rebates are not affected.

You can still get a heat pump with significant rebates. Xcel Energy rebates don't require income verification, have no funding cap in sight, and we can typically schedule within days of your estimate. A 3-ton cold-climate heat pump qualifies for up to $6,750 from Xcel plus $1,000 from the Colorado state tax credit.

If you're income-qualified and want to pursue HEAR with another contractor, the program is still active. Start at the state income verification portal and find a participating contractor through the Colorado Energy Office.

What HEAR Covers

The HEAR program covers heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, electrical panel upgrades, insulation/air sealing, electric stoves, and home wiring. UniColorado previously participated for heat pumps, water heaters, and panel upgrades (in conjunction with heat pumps) for single-family homes.

For general questions about the HEAR program, eligibility rules, or application status, contact the state's HEAR Help Center at (866) 336-0016.

Eligible Appliances & Max Rebates

Appliance	Max Rebate	UniColorado	Note
Heat Pump (Space Heating/Cooling)	$8,000	We install	Ducted and ductless cold climate
Heat Pump Water Heater	$1,750	We install	-
Electric Stove/Cooktop	$840	Not offered	-
Weatherization (insulation/sealing)	$1,600	through NetZero Insulation	-
Electrical Panel Upgrade	$4,000	We install	In conjunction with heat pump only
Home Wiring Improvements	$2,500	We install	With panel upgrade

RebateStacking

Stack Your Savings by Income Level

Real savings for income-qualified households. HEAR can be combined with Xcel rebates and state tax credits.

Most Common

80-150% AMI, Xcel Customer

Most common scenario for income-qualified households.

HEAR (50%)$8,000

+Xcel Energy$6,750

+CO Tax Credit$1,000

Up to Total Savings

$15,750

Below 80% AMI, Xcel Customer

Lower income households get higher HEAR coverage.

HEAR (100%)$8,000

+Xcel Energy$6,750

+CO Tax Credit$1,000

Up to Total Savings

$15,750

80-150% AMI, Non-Xcel

Income-qualified without Xcel utility service.

HEAR (50%)$8,000

+CO Tax Credit$1,000

Up to Total Savings

$9,000

Based on cold climate heat pumps (ccASHP/ccMSHP) at $2,250/heating ton. HEAR amounts depend on income level and household size.

$8,000Max Heat Pump Rebate

$14,000Max Total Rebate

150%AMI Threshold

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions?

HEAR or not.We Install Heat Pumps

Still Looking for a Heat Pump?

UniColorado is not accepting new HEAR projects, but we still install heat pumps every day. Xcel Energy rebates, the Colorado state tax credit, and other programs can save you $7,750-$11,750 with no income requirements and no funding uncertainty.

Heat Pump Installation

Ducted systems for homes with ductwork

Ductless Mini-Split

No ductwork needed

Cold Climate Heat Pump

Rated for Colorado winters down to -13°F

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Colorado HEAR Rebate

HEAR Help Center

What is the HEAR (Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate) Program?

HEAR Appliance Rebate Amounts

HEAR Rebate Calculator

Key Difference Between HEAR and HER

Do I qualify for HEAR rebates?

HEAR Rebate Amount by Income Level

County and Household Income Thresholds

What HEAR actually involves

Apply for HEAR Rebates

HEAR Help Center

Documents Needed for Income Verification

HEAR Application Step-by-Step

UniColorado Is Not Accepting New HEAR Projects

What HEAR Covers

Eligible Appliances & Max Rebates

Stack With Other Rebate Programs

Xcel Energy Rebates

Colorado Heat Pump Tax Credit

Power Ahead / DRCOG

Stack Your Savings by Income Level

80-150% AMI, Xcel Customer

Below 80% AMI, Xcel Customer

80-150% AMI, Non-Xcel

Frequently Asked Questions